1644年4月(崇禎十七年三月),明(ming)(ming)王朝覆亡。吳道行“郁(yu)郁(yu)不(bu)自(zi)得,一日趨(qu)吉藩故(gu)邸(di),望(wang)闕痛(tong)哭(ku)展拜(bai),輿歸(岳麓)山中,不(bu)食而卒”,以(yi)(yi)身(shen)殉國殉君(jun),表現了“衡湘賢(xian)哲”的(de)(de)清白與高潔。死前他(ta)留(liu)下(xia)遺言:“驚聞北(bei)事(shi),主亡臣(chen)辱,痛(tong)之如何!予以(yi)(yi)諸生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),食恩(en)累代,獨非草莽之臣(chen)哉!……筆(bi)擱而輿至,將(jiang)(jiang)以(yi)(yi)吉日成遄(chuan)歸,集兒(er)女羅拜(bai),從(cong)此(ci)從(cong)先帝于地(di)下(xia)矣!”他(ta)面對(dui)李自(zi)成攻占北(bei)京、崇禎皇帝自(zi)縊煤山和清兵入關、長驅中原的(de)(de)“北(bei)事(shi)”,作為受明(ming)(ming)朝之皇恩(en)的(de)(de)諸生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),既(ji)痛(tong)恨傾覆明(ming)(ming)王朝的(de)(de)農(nong)民(min)軍,又不(bu)堪忍受滿族入侵的(de)(de)殘酷現實,只得以(yi)(yi)死明(ming)(ming)志,最終實現了他(ta)的(de)(de)老(lao)師(shi)張(zhang)元忭(bian)所教誨(hui)的(de)(de)“愛(ai)國忠君(jun)仗到誠,休將(jiang)(jiang)一念壞平生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),勿欺請(qing)繹宣(xuan)尼訓,留(liu)取丹心答(da)圣明(ming)(ming)”的(de)(de)人生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)理想。
吳道(dao)行死后(hou),就葬(zang)于岳麓(lu)山(shan)云麓(lu)宮(gong)絕(jue)食地,長(chang)沙(sha)知府堵(du)允錫特(te)撰《吳嶁山(shan)墓(mu)碑》。根據史載,吳道(dao)行之墓(mu)位于飛來(lai)石右側(ce)山(shan)墈上(shang),其(qi)(qi)原配夫人石氏(shi)(shi)與其(qi)(qi)同穴而葬(zang),墓(mu)區簡(jian)(jian)約(yue)。2012年3月在云麓(lu)宮(gong)下發現了吳道(dao)行墓(mu),在云麓(lu)宮(gong)飛來(lai)石南側(ce)約(yue)100米(mi)的茂(mao)密樹叢中,一塊飽(bao)經風(feng)雨侵蝕的簡(jian)(jian)約(yue)石墓(mu)碑立(li)在其(qi)(qi)中,“明崇禎”、“吳嶁山(shan)墓(mu)”、“石氏(shi)(shi)”等石刻(ke)字樣仍隱約(yue)可見。
吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing),字見可,號嶁山,善(shan)化人(ren),是(shi)張(zhang)栻高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)足(zu)、南宋學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)者吳獵之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后。吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing)因歷鄉試不果,終未(wei)走上仕途,一(yi)生(sheng)以(yi)(yi)講學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)授徒為(wei)(wei)業。他(ta)(ta)從(cong)小就(jiu)(jiu)對岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)有(you)傾慕(mu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)情(qing),“方七歲(sui),聞長(chang)(chang)(chang)老(lao)談岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)先(xian)賢講學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),便肅然傾聽(ting),指示古來忠(zhong)義大(da)節,輒色(se)喜”,為(wei)(wei)先(xian)賢之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)忠(zhong)義大(da)節所(suo)感動(dong)。1582年(nian)(nian)(nian)(萬歷十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)),張(zhang)元忭講學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),已逾“而(er)立”之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing),從(cong)游(you)就(jiu)(jiu)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)其門下(xia),與(yu)(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)“大(da)暢(chang)良(liang)知孝弟之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)旨,一(yi)時遂相引(yin)重(zhong)”,深得張(zhang)元忭的(de)(de)(de)贊(zan)(zan)賞。其時,被張(zhang)居(ju)正(zheng)禁廢的(de)(de)(de)長(chang)(chang)(chang)沙惜陰(yin)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)恢(hui)復,吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing)被聘為(wei)(wei)山長(chang)(chang)(chang),人(ren)稱(cheng)“嶁山先(xian)生(sheng)”。1633年(nian)(nian)(nian)(崇禎六年(nian)(nian)(nian)),他(ta)(ta)任(ren)(ren)岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)山長(chang)(chang)(chang),長(chang)(chang)(chang)達10年(nian)(nian)(nian),臨終前2年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1642年(nian)(nian)(nian),明(ming)朝(chao)覆亡前2年(nian)(nian)(nian))仍講學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)其間。吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing)作為(wei)(wei)明(ming)代岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)最(zui)(zui)后一(yi)任(ren)(ren)山長(chang)(chang)(chang),致力(li)于殷勤講貫朱張(zhang)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),力(li)糾王(wang)(wang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)空疏流弊,使明(ming)末(mo)長(chang)(chang)(chang)沙岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)與(yu)(yu)無錫東林(lin)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)成(cheng)(cheng)遙(yao)相呼應之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢。《善(shan)化縣志(zhi)》稱(cheng)他(ta)(ta)“留心(xin)經史,百家(jia)(jia)諸子,兵餉軍政之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)屬,部決利弊,悉(xi)見施(shi)行(xing)(xing)”,可見其學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)注重(zhong)務實。在學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)術上,他(ta)(ta)反對王(wang)(wang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)末(mo)流的(de)(de)(de)荒(huang)誕,“篤(du)倫敦(dun)義,講學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)窮理”,“自余著述,藏(zang)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)家(jia)(jia)乘,揚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)國華”。吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing)的(de)(de)(de)思(si)想與(yu)(yu)提倡治(zhi)國平天下(xia)為(wei)(wei)“有(you)用之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)”,與(yu)(yu)極(ji)力(li)維(wei)護理學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)正(zheng)宗的(de)(de)(de)東林(lin)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派十(shi)(shi)分接(jie)近(jin)。東林(lin)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派傳人(ren)無錫高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)世(shi)泰稱(cheng)贊(zan)(zan)吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing)“道(dao)以(yi)(yi)朱張(zhang)為(wei)(wei)宗,與(yu)(yu)文端(duan)(顧(gu)憲成(cheng)(cheng))、忠(zhong)寬揆(kui)(高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)攀龍)固一(yi)也,可不謂衡湘之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)賢哲哉”,肯定(ding)他(ta)(ta)與(yu)(yu)顧(gu)憲成(cheng)(cheng)、高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)攀龍思(si)想的(de)(de)(de)共同(tong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)處,以(yi)(yi)及他(ta)(ta)們對延傳“道(dao)南正(zheng)脈”的(de)(de)(de)貢獻。1641年(nian)(nian)(nian)(崇禎十(shi)(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian))高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)世(shi)泰任(ren)(ren)湖廣按(an)察使僉事提督(du)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)政,次年(nian)(nian)(nian)來岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)講學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),并協(xie)助修葺書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing)與(yu)(yu)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)世(shi)泰成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)至交好友,二人(ren)共同(tong)為(wei)(wei)恢(hui)復理學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)正(zheng)宗,培(pei)養湖湘弟子而(er)竭心(xin)盡力(li)。他(ta)(ta)們的(de)(de)(de)最(zui)(zui)大(da)功績(ji)是(shi)培(pei)養出了(le)像王(wang)(wang)夫(fu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)這樣的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)代賢才。王(wang)(wang)夫(fu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)在吳道(dao)行(xing)(xing)任(ren)(ren)山長(chang)(chang)(chang)、高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)世(shi)泰來院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)講學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)期間開入岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)肄(yi)業,成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)明(ming)代岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)最(zui)(zui)杰出的(de)(de)(de)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng),后來成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)與(yu)(yu)顧(gu)炎武、黃宗羲齊名(ming)的(de)(de)(de)大(da)思(si)想家(jia)(jia)。