明教并无张无忌
《明朝那些事儿》（三）
一、在游方的生活中，朱元璋一边走，一边讨饭，每敲开一扇门，对他都是一种考验，因为他面对的往往只是白眼、冷嘲热讽，对朱重八来说，敲开那扇门可能意味着侮辱，但不敲那扇门就会饿死。
1. During his wandering years, Zhu Yuanzhang begged for food as he traveled. Every door he knocked on was a trial, for he was often met with scorn and sarcasm. For Zhu Chongba, knocking on a door might mean humiliation, but not knocking meant starvation.
二、发端于古代波斯的摩尼教传入中国后，因其崇拜光明，被形象地称为“明教”。中国的明教成功地融合了佛道两派及白莲教的成分，从五代始就是农民起义的常用工具。
2. Manichaeism, which originated in ancient Persia, was vividly called the "Ming Cult" in China due to its worship of light. The Chinese Ming Cult successfully integrated elements from Buddhism, Daoism, and the White Lotus Society. From the Five Dynasties period onward, it became a common tool for peasant uprisings.
三、朱元璋做了皇帝后，深知明教的力量，于是下令把取缔明教写进“宪法”《明律》中。
3. After Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, well aware of the Ming Cult's power, he ordered the suppression of the Ming Cult to be written into the "constitution" — the "Great Ming Code".
四、在讨饭的时候，朱元璋仔细研究了淮西的地理、山脉、风土人情，他开阔了视野，丰富了见识，认识了很多豪杰（实际上也是讨饭者）。
4. While begging, Zhu Yuanzhang carefully studied the geography, mountains, and local customs of Huaixi. He broadened his horizons, enriched his knowledge, and met many heroic figures (who were actually also beggars).
五、此时朱元璋相信了明教，他相信当黑暗笼罩大地的时候，伟大的弥勒佛一定会降世的。或许在潜意识中他慢慢相信其实弥勒是他自己。
5. At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang believed in the Ming Cult. He was convinced that when darkness covered the land, the great Maitreya Buddha would surely descend to the world. Perhaps, subconsciously, he gradually came to believe that he himself was Maitreya.
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