1644年(nian)4月(yue)(崇(chong)禎(zhen)十七年(nian)三月(yue)),明王朝覆亡。吳(wu)道行“郁(yu)郁(yu)不自(zi)得(de),一日趨(qu)吉(ji)藩(fan)故邸,望闕(que)痛(tong)哭展(zhan)拜,輿歸(gui)(岳麓)山中,不食而(er)卒(zu)”,以(yi)身(shen)殉(xun)國(guo)(guo)殉(xun)君,表(biao)現(xian)了“衡湘賢哲”的清(qing)白與高(gao)潔。死(si)(si)前他留(liu)下(xia)遺言:“驚聞北(bei)事,主(zhu)亡臣辱,痛(tong)之如何!予以(yi)諸(zhu)(zhu)生,食恩累代,獨非(fei)草(cao)莽之臣哉!……筆擱而(er)輿至,將以(yi)吉(ji)日成遄歸(gui),集兒女羅拜,從(cong)此從(cong)先帝(di)于地下(xia)矣(yi)!”他面(mian)對李自(zi)成攻占北(bei)京、崇(chong)禎(zhen)皇帝(di)自(zi)縊煤山和(he)清(qing)兵入關、長驅中原的“北(bei)事”,作(zuo)為(wei)受明朝之皇恩的諸(zhu)(zhu)生,既痛(tong)恨傾覆明王朝的農民軍,又(you)不堪(kan)忍受滿(man)族入侵(qin)的殘酷現(xian)實,只得(de)以(yi)死(si)(si)明志,最(zui)終實現(xian)了他的老師張元忭所教誨的“愛國(guo)(guo)忠君仗到誠,休將一念壞(huai)平(ping)生,勿(wu)欺請(qing)繹宣尼訓,留(liu)取(qu)丹(dan)心答圣明”的人生理想。
吳(wu)道(dao)行(xing)死后,就葬于岳(yue)麓(lu)山(shan)云(yun)麓(lu)宮(gong)絕(jue)食(shi)地,長沙(sha)知府堵允錫(xi)特撰《吳(wu)嶁(lou)山(shan)墓(mu)碑(bei)》。根(gen)據史(shi)載,吳(wu)道(dao)行(xing)之墓(mu)位(wei)于飛(fei)來(lai)石(shi)(shi)右側(ce)山(shan)墈上,其(qi)原配夫人石(shi)(shi)氏與(yu)其(qi)同穴而葬,墓(mu)區簡約。2012年(nian)3月在(zai)(zai)云(yun)麓(lu)宮(gong)下發現了吳(wu)道(dao)行(xing)墓(mu),在(zai)(zai)云(yun)麓(lu)宮(gong)飛(fei)來(lai)石(shi)(shi)南側(ce)約100米的茂密樹叢中,一塊飽經風雨侵蝕的簡約石(shi)(shi)墓(mu)碑(bei)立在(zai)(zai)其(qi)中,“明崇禎”、“吳(wu)嶁(lou)山(shan)墓(mu)”、“石(shi)(shi)氏”等(deng)石(shi)(shi)刻(ke)字樣仍隱約可見。
吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing),字(zi)見可(ke),號嶁山,善化人,是張栻(chi)高(gao)(gao)足、南宋學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)者吳(wu)(wu)(wu)獵(lie)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)因歷鄉(xiang)試不果,終未走上(shang)(shang)仕途,一(yi)(yi)生(sheng)(sheng)以(yi)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)授徒為(wei)(wei)業。他(ta)從小就(jiu)對岳(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)有傾(qing)慕之(zhi)(zhi)情,“方七歲,聞(wen)長(chang)(chang)老談岳(yue)麓(lu)先(xian)(xian)賢講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),便肅然傾(qing)聽,指示古來(lai)忠義(yi)大(da)(da)(da)節,輒色喜”,為(wei)(wei)先(xian)(xian)賢之(zhi)(zhi)忠義(yi)大(da)(da)(da)節所(suo)感動(dong)。1582年(nian)(nian)(nian)(萬歷十年(nian)(nian)(nian)),張元忭(bian)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)岳(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),已逾“而立”之(zhi)(zhi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing),從游就(jiu)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)其(qi)門下(xia),與(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)“大(da)(da)(da)暢(chang)良知孝(xiao)弟之(zhi)(zhi)旨(zhi),一(yi)(yi)時遂(sui)相引重”,深得張元忭(bian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)贊賞。其(qi)時,被張居正禁廢的(de)(de)(de)(de)長(chang)(chang)沙惜(xi)陰書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)恢復,吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)被聘為(wei)(wei)山長(chang)(chang),人稱“嶁山先(xian)(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)”。1633年(nian)(nian)(nian)(崇禎六年(nian)(nian)(nian)),他(ta)任(ren)岳(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)山長(chang)(chang),長(chang)(chang)達10年(nian)(nian)(nian),臨終前2年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1642年(nian)(nian)(nian),明朝覆亡前2年(nian)(nian)(nian))仍講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)其(qi)間。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)作為(wei)(wei)明代(dai)岳(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)最后(hou)一(yi)(yi)任(ren)山長(chang)(chang),致力(li)于殷勤講(jiang)貫朱(zhu)張之(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),力(li)糾王學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)空疏(shu)流(liu)(liu)弊(bi),使明末(mo)長(chang)(chang)沙岳(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)與(yu)無錫東(dong)(dong)林(lin)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)成(cheng)(cheng)遙(yao)相呼應之(zhi)(zhi)勢。《善化縣志》稱他(ta)“留心(xin)經史(shi),百家(jia)(jia)諸(zhu)子(zi),兵餉軍(jun)政之(zhi)(zhi)屬,部(bu)決利弊(bi),悉見施(shi)行(xing)”,可(ke)見其(qi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)注重務實。在學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)術上(shang)(shang),他(ta)反對王學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)末(mo)流(liu)(liu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)荒誕,“篤倫(lun)敦義(yi),講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)窮(qiong)理”,“自余著述,藏之(zhi)(zhi)家(jia)(jia)乘,揚之(zhi)(zhi)國華”。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)思(si)想與(yu)提倡治(zhi)國平天下(xia)為(wei)(wei)“有用(yong)之(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)”,與(yu)極力(li)維護理學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)正宗(zong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)林(lin)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派十分接近。東(dong)(dong)林(lin)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派傳人無錫高(gao)(gao)世泰(tai)(tai)稱贊吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)“道(dao)(dao)(dao)以(yi)朱(zhu)張為(wei)(wei)宗(zong),與(yu)文(wen)端(顧(gu)憲成(cheng)(cheng))、忠寬揆(高(gao)(gao)攀龍(long)(long))固(gu)一(yi)(yi)也,可(ke)不謂衡湘之(zhi)(zhi)賢哲(zhe)哉”,肯定他(ta)與(yu)顧(gu)憲成(cheng)(cheng)、高(gao)(gao)攀龍(long)(long)思(si)想的(de)(de)(de)(de)共同(tong)(tong)之(zhi)(zhi)處,以(yi)及他(ta)們(men)(men)對延傳“道(dao)(dao)(dao)南正脈”的(de)(de)(de)(de)貢獻。1641年(nian)(nian)(nian)(崇禎十四年(nian)(nian)(nian))高(gao)(gao)世泰(tai)(tai)任(ren)湖廣(guang)按察使僉事(shi)提督學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)政,次年(nian)(nian)(nian)來(lai)岳(yue)麓(lu)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),并協助(zhu)修葺書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)與(yu)高(gao)(gao)世泰(tai)(tai)成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)至交(jiao)好友,二人共同(tong)(tong)為(wei)(wei)恢復理學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)正宗(zong),培養湖湘弟子(zi)而竭心(xin)盡力(li)。他(ta)們(men)(men)的(de)(de)(de)(de)最大(da)(da)(da)功績是培養出了像王夫之(zhi)(zhi)這樣的(de)(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)代(dai)賢才。王夫之(zhi)(zhi)在吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)任(ren)山長(chang)(chang)、高(gao)(gao)世泰(tai)(tai)來(lai)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)期間開入(ru)岳(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)肄業,成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)明代(dai)岳(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)最杰出的(de)(de)(de)(de)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng)(sheng),后(hou)來(lai)成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)與(yu)顧(gu)炎武、黃宗(zong)羲齊名的(de)(de)(de)(de)大(da)(da)(da)思(si)想家(jia)(jia)。