Answering Minister Wenzhong Kong written by Sima Guang in the Northern Song Dynasty.
This famous saying reflects orthodox Confucianism. "Not more expensive than knowing" here does not mean that knowing is not as important as doing, but that knowing should pay more attention to cultivating the ability to do (practice) than doing.
The purpose of learning knowledge is to apply knowledge to practice. If you learn a lot of knowledge, but you can't use it at all, then this kind of "knowledge" is useless. This is a view that emphasizes applying what you have learned.
Extended data
Sima Guang (10 19-1086), whose real name is Shi Jun, is called Mr. Xu Shui, a historian and writer in the Northern Song Dynasty. After four dynasties of Renzong, Yingzong, Zongshen and Zhezong, it was presented to surname, Wenguogong and Zheng Wen, and he presided over the compilation of the first annalistic general history "Zi Tong Zhi Jian" in the history of China. He is gentle, humble and upright. He is a model of Confucianism and has always been admired by people.
Sima Guang's main achievements are embodied in his academic research. Among them, the greatest contribution is to preside over the compilation of Zi Tongzhi Jian.
During the Xining period in Song Shenzong, Sima Guang strongly opposed Wang Anshi's political reform and asked to go abroad. In the fourth year of Xining (107 1), he was sentenced to Xijing Yushitai, and lived in Luoyang for the next fifteen years without asking about political affairs. During this leisurely time, Sima Guang presided over the compilation of 294 volumes of nearly 4 million words of chronological history book Zi Tongzhi Jian.
Sima Guang's paradise is not only his apartment, but also the location of Zitongzhi Bamboo Slips Bookstore. The environment here is beautiful and the style is simple, which reflects the owner's interest and pursuit. Its publishing house was established in Bianjing. In addition to Sima Guang, famous scholars at that time, such as Liu Shu, Liu Ban and Fan Zuyu, participated in the work of the publishing house. Among them, Sima Guang is the editor-in-chief, Liu Shu, Liu Ban and Fan Zuyu are co-schools, and Sima Kang, the son of Sima Guang, is responsible for collating the text.
After Sima Guang came to Luoyang, he moved the bookstore of Zi Tong Zhi Jian from the capital of song dynasty to Luoyang. Not only the staff of the bookstore live in the park, but also celebrities such as Er Cheng, Shao Yong and Wen Yanbo often come here for parties. This is an academic center. From the publication of Zi Tongzhi Jian to the abridged and finalized version of Zi Tongzhi Jian, Sima Guang wrote it himself, and so did others. Sima Guang devoted himself to this book all his life, and died of overwork in less than two years.
Zi Tongzhi Jian is the largest chronicle in China, with 294 volumes, which runs through ancient times and modern times, starting from the early Warring States when Korea, Zhao and Wei were divided into Jin Dynasty (403 BC), ending at the end of the Five Dynasties (Hou Liang, Later Tang Dynasty, Later Jin Dynasty, Later Han Dynasty and Later Zhou Dynasty) and ending before the destruction of the Later Zhou Dynasty (Song Taizu) (959 AD).
The author recorded the historical facts of this year 1362 in chronological order, taking the year and month as the longitude and the historical facts as the latitude. The cause and effect of major historical events are clearly explained, so that readers can see the development of historical facts at a glance.
Sima Guang wrote a lot. In addition to Zi Jian, there are 80 volumes of Tong Jian Li, 20 volumes of Lu and 6 volumes of Guan Bai Gong Qing Biao. "Frugal training, showing health" is included in the Chinese textbook of senior high school.
In addition, he has research and writings in literature, Confucian classics, philosophy and even medicine. His main representative works are Hanlin Cao Shi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi and Shuowen Jiezi.
Historically, Sima Guang was once regarded as one of the three saints of Confucianism (the other two were Confucius and Mencius).
Baidu Encyclopedia-Sima Guang