Grand Confucian
The Scholar of Great Wei
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Original Name:大儒 (dà rú)Gender:NeutralKind:TitleScope:Novel-specificStatus:ActiveSource:AIOccurrences:1,518Chapters:150
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Context Up ToCh. 312
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Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Grand Confucian |
| Original Name | 大儒 |
| Occupation/Role | High-ranking Confucian cultivator, teacher, and influential scholarly authority 39 57 247 |
| Cultivation Rank | Fifth Rank of the Confucian Dao 82 101 |
| Higher Realm | Fourth Rank: Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian 82 |
| Affiliation | Held by scholars of different schools; not exclusive to Sage Zhu’s Lineage or the Great Wei Literary Palace 140 156 |
| Source of Recognition | Heaven and Earth, rather than appointment by the emperor or Literary Palace 155 |
| Typical Lifespan | Around 120 years; qi-nurturing techniques and spiritual medicines can extend this to a maximum of approximately 150 years 89 |
Power Progression
- Scope: Documented attainments of the Grand Confucian and Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian realms by named holders.
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth Rank — Grand Confucian | 155 | Xu Qingxiao writes the revised Thousand Character Classic. Its recognition as a Peerless Divine Book supplies the literary qi for his breakthrough after only half a year of study. |
| Fourth Rank — Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian | 201 | Xu Qingxiao is confirmed to have reached Fourth Rank by this chapter. |
| Fourth Rank — Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian | 215 | Chen Zhengru receives Xu’s sacred blessing after sacrificing his Haoran qi to defend Great Wei; his cultivation is restored and elevated. |
| Fourth Rank — Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian | 215 | Wang Xinzhi likewise has his cultivation restored and elevated through Xu’s blessing. |
| Fifth Rank — Grand Confucian | 215 | Gu Yan advances directly through Xu’s blessing, without personally completing Illuminating the Will, Establishing One’s Words, or Writing Books. |
| Fifth Rank — Grand Confucian | 215 | Li Yanlong receives the same direct advancement through Xu’s sacred proclamation. |
| Fifth Rank — Grand Confucian | 215 | Zhou Yan becomes a Grand Confucian through the proclamation. |
| Fifth Rank — Grand Confucian | 215 | Zhang Jing becomes a Grand Confucian through the proclamation. |
Rank and Attainment
Position in the Confucian Dao
| Rank | Realm | Defining Requirement or Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Sixth | Orthodox Confucian | Establishing the heart or one’s words, then acting according to that resolve 76 101 |
| Fifth | Grand Confucian | Writing Books; the work must gain the people’s recognition 155 |
| Fourth | Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian | Higher attainment associated with popular will and understanding Heaven’s mandate 150 193 |
| Third | Half-Saint | The sage realm beyond Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian 89 215 218 |
- The Sixth-to-Fifth-Rank barrier is substantial. Wan Anguo is an eighty-year-old Orthodox Confucian who considers further advancement unlikely; the difference of one rank is described as a gap as vast as Heaven and Earth 76.
- Exceptional talent does not guarantee rapid attainment. Yan Lei spends sixty years reaching Grand Confucian, while Sun Jing’an spends fifty-five; both were first-rate talents in their youth 155.
- Writing alone is insufficient. A book ordinarily needs circulation, explanation, and public acceptance before it can support a breakthrough. Xu’s Thousand Character Classic receives immediate recognition through its extraordinary manifestation 155.
- Sacred blessing provides another route. Xu’s proclamation raises worthy officials directly to Grand Confucian because his own will, words, and writings fulfill the preceding requirements on their behalf 215.
Independent and Lineage-Based Paths
| Path | Basis of Attainment | Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Independent recognition | Serving the people or all living beings, following nature, or answering Heaven’s mandate | Recognition rests on the cultivator’s own guiding purpose 140 |
| Sage-lineage recognition | Spreading an already acknowledged sage’s teachings | Faith in the sage contributes to cultivation and remains relevant to higher advancement 140 |
- School allegiance is not identical to loyalty to Great Wei. Chen Zhengru explains that some lineage-based cultivators prioritize Sage Zhu’s Literary Palace over the dynasty itself 140.
- Rank does not prove virtue. Xu repeatedly distinguishes principled scholars from Grand Confucians who use their standing to bully others or protect their faction 85 156.
Abilities & Skills
Righteous Haoran Qi
- Demon suppression: The Grand Confucians Chen Xin and Zhou Min are described as capable of striking demons dead with a single glance 57.
- Higher-quality literary qi: Upon Xu’s Fifth-Rank breakthrough, his righteous Haoran qi transforms into Grand Confucian literary qi 155.
- Unequal strength within the same realm: Xu’s peerless attainment surpasses the other named Fifth-Rank Grand Confucians present; only Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucians remain capable of suppressing him 155.
Appraisal and Scholarly Techniques
- Heart Appraisal: Chen Xin and Zhou Min examine Xu’s will and character through this technique before offering him patronage 57.
- Heavenly eye: Chen Zhengru uses a Confucian heavenly eye to verify Wang Chaoyang’s abundant Sage Qi 240.
- Private communication: Scholar Peng uses a Confucian divine ability to communicate silently with Sun Jing’an, Yan Lei, and others 155.
- Teaching: Daily guidance from Grand Confucians is a major attraction of Wang Chaoyang’s Sage Academy, even for students who do not expect instruction from Wang himself 247.
Literary Artifacts
- Rank-linked crafting: Xu’s literary qi strengthens his six artifact embryos toward Grand Confucian quality during his breakthrough 155.
- Popular Will Stele: Xu plans a stele bearing the Thousand Character Classic, intended to use popular will against demons, hostile Grand Confucians, and rebels 155.
- Mystic Flame Treasure Mirror: Xu later forges his Grand Confucian-realm artifact using Great Sun Golden Crow Divine Flame to burn away evil 218.
Limits
- Limited longevity: Grand Confucian cultivation does not confer immortality; even a Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian faces death if unable to advance before exhausting his lifespan 89.
- Competing cultivation systems: Strong Confucian cultivation can suppress progress in a weaker Martial Dao. This explains why adding another path is not a straightforward solution to a Grand Confucian’s lifespan limits 121.
- Vulnerability to superior power: Grand Confucians accompanying Wang Chaoyang are injured by First-Rank experts during Xu’s effort to compel Wang’s vows 245.
Social and Political Standing
- Access to the sovereign: A Grand Confucian can address the emperor directly, debate affairs under Heaven, and receive distinguished treatment inside and outside court 39.
- Authority beyond scholarship: Even Immortal Dao followers must show deference to a Grand Confucian 39.
- Influence over local government: Yan Lei’s arrival prevents Prefectural Lord Li Guangxin from treating the Southern Yu dispute as a routine local matter 82.
- Court influence: Sun Jing’an’s intervention silences Zhao Yan, while the Duke of An is presented as sufficiently influential to meet a Grand Confucian on equal terms 87.
- Family prestige: Military nobles hope their descendants will become Grand Confucians, securing both civil and martial standing and protecting their households against future decline 93.
- Scholarly seniority: Other scholars address Xu as their teacher after his breakthrough despite his being only twenty years old 155.
- National-fortune protection: Killing recognized Confucian scholars can damage a dynasty’s fortune; the Female Emperor later warns that mass killing could bring a Sage’s curse and other calamities 14 191.
Notable Holders
| Holder | Attainment and Role |
|---|---|
| Xu Qingxiao | Peerless Fifth-Rank Grand Confucian and founder of the School of the Mind; later reaches Fourth Rank and Half-Saint 155 201 215 |
| Chen Zhengru | Grand Confucian whose established purpose is Great Wei’s prosperity; later blessed as a Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian 101 125 215 |
| Wang Xinzhi | Grand Confucian and Minister of Rites; later elevated to Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian 125 191 215 |
| Chen Xin | Hanlin Academy Grand Confucian of Sage Zhu’s Lineage; supports and protects Xu, then renounces his lineage and rank to aid Xu’s ascent 57 94 96 214 |
| Zhou Min | Hanlin Academy Grand Confucian; eventually abandons Sage Zhu’s Lineage and dies in remorse for supporting the Literary Palace 57 96 214 |
| Yan Lei | White Deer Academy chief head who confronts Xu in Southern Yu; forced to renounce his rank 82 156 |
| Sun Jing’an | Influential opponent of Xu who likewise renounces his rank under pressure 87 156 |
| Zhengming | Literary Palace Grand Confucian involved in its response to Xu’s new teachings and appointment 89 96 |
| Zhang Ning | Literary Palace Grand Confucian whose suicide in prison becomes a major political controversy 194 |
| Scholar Peng | Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian who directs efforts against Xu and offers to impart sage words to accelerate his advancement 150 153 |
| Bright Confucian | Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian outside Sage Zhu’s Lineage who supports holding Sun and Yan to their promises 156 |
| Confucian Xun | Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian who advises Xu on higher attainment and is expected to remain with Great Wei after the Palace’s departure 193 208 |
| Confucian Cao | Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian reduced to Grand Confucian by Xu’s first Gentleman’s Sword 213 |
| Ji Yuan | Grand Confucian at twenty-five, alongside Third-Rank Martial Dao cultivation 260 |
Loss of Rank
- Voluntary renunciation: Sun Jing’an and Yan Lei surrender their Confucian ranks to fulfill their promises after Xu proves his innocence. Yan yields only when Xu orders the troops to act 156.
- Failed restoration: Yan later hopes to regain Grand Confucian standing through the Literary Palace’s undertaking, but Xu destroys the gathered popular will and literary qi sustaining that hope 166 168.
- Higher spiritual judgment: Xu’s first Gentleman’s Sword lowers Confucian Cao from Fourth to Fifth Rank. His second sword punishes false gentlemen while leaving a principled Grand Confucian unharmed 213 214.
- Sage-imposed stripping: Sage Zhu removes the ranks of thousands of corrupt Literary Palace scholars, including Grand Confucians and two Half-Saints 229.
Notable Quotes
“Who bestowed your title of Grand Confucian upon you, sir?”
— Xu Qingxiao, challenging Yan Lei’s conduct 85
“I said I have no need for handwritten notes. I want only justice.”
— Xu Qingxiao, rejecting compensation in place of accountability 155
Appearances
1,518
Total Mentions
150
Chapters Appeared
10.12
Avg. per Chapter