1644年(nian)4月(yue)(崇禎十七年(nian)三月(yue)),明王朝(chao)(chao)覆亡(wang)。吳道(dao)行“郁(yu)郁(yu)不自得,一(yi)(yi)日趨吉(ji)藩故邸(di),望(wang)闕(que)痛哭展拜,輿(yu)歸(gui)(gui)(岳麓)山中(zhong),不食而(er)(er)卒”,以(yi)身殉國(guo)殉君,表現(xian)了“衡湘賢哲(zhe)”的(de)清白與高潔。死前他(ta)留(liu)下遺言:“驚聞北(bei)事(shi)(shi),主亡(wang)臣辱,痛之(zhi)如何!予以(yi)諸生,食恩累代,獨非(fei)草莽之(zhi)臣哉!……筆擱而(er)(er)輿(yu)至,將以(yi)吉(ji)日成遄歸(gui)(gui),集兒女羅拜,從此(ci)從先帝(di)于(yu)地(di)下矣(yi)!”他(ta)面對李自成攻占北(bei)京、崇禎皇帝(di)自縊煤山和清兵入關(guan)、長(chang)驅中(zhong)原的(de)“北(bei)事(shi)(shi)”,作為受明朝(chao)(chao)之(zhi)皇恩的(de)諸生,既痛恨傾覆明王朝(chao)(chao)的(de)農民軍,又不堪忍受滿族入侵的(de)殘(can)酷現(xian)實,只得以(yi)死明志,最終實現(xian)了他(ta)的(de)老師張元(yuan)忭所教誨的(de)“愛國(guo)忠君仗到(dao)誠,休將一(yi)(yi)念壞平生,勿(wu)欺請(qing)繹宣(xuan)尼訓,留(liu)取丹心答(da)圣(sheng)明”的(de)人生理(li)想。
吳(wu)道(dao)行死(si)后,就(jiu)葬于(yu)岳麓(lu)山(shan)(shan)云麓(lu)宮絕食地,長沙(sha)知府堵允錫特(te)撰(zhuan)《吳(wu)嶁(lou)山(shan)(shan)墓碑(bei)》。根(gen)據史載,吳(wu)道(dao)行之墓位于(yu)飛(fei)來(lai)石右側山(shan)(shan)墈上,其原配夫人石氏與其同穴而葬,墓區(qu)簡約。2012年3月在(zai)云麓(lu)宮下發現了吳(wu)道(dao)行墓,在(zai)云麓(lu)宮飛(fei)來(lai)石南(nan)側約100米(mi)的茂密樹叢中(zhong),一塊飽經風雨侵蝕的簡約石墓碑(bei)立(li)在(zai)其中(zhong),“明(ming)崇禎(zhen)”、“吳(wu)嶁(lou)山(shan)(shan)墓”、“石氏”等石刻字樣(yang)仍隱約可見。
吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing),字(zi)見可,號嶁(lou)山(shan)(shan),善(shan)化人(ren)(ren),是張(zhang)栻高(gao)(gao)(gao)足、南宋學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)者吳(wu)獵之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)。吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)因(yin)歷(li)鄉試不果(guo),終(zhong)未走上(shang)仕途,一(yi)生以(yi)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)授徒為(wei)(wei)業。他(ta)從(cong)小就(jiu)對(dui)岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)有傾慕之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)情,“方七歲,聞長(chang)老談岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)先(xian)賢(xian)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),便(bian)肅然傾聽,指示古來忠(zhong)義大節(jie),輒色喜(xi)”,為(wei)(wei)先(xian)賢(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)忠(zhong)義大節(jie)所感動(dong)。1582年(nian)(nian)(nian)(萬歷(li)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)),張(zhang)元忭(bian)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan),已(yi)逾“而(er)立”之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)的吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing),從(cong)游就(jiu)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)其門下,與(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)“大暢良知孝弟之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)旨,一(yi)時遂相引重”,深得(de)張(zhang)元忭(bian)的贊賞(shang)。其時,被(bei)張(zhang)居正禁廢的長(chang)沙惜陰書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)恢復,吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)被(bei)聘(pin)為(wei)(wei)山(shan)(shan)長(chang),人(ren)(ren)稱“嶁(lou)山(shan)(shan)先(xian)生”。1633年(nian)(nian)(nian)(崇禎六年(nian)(nian)(nian)),他(ta)任岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)山(shan)(shan)長(chang),長(chang)達10年(nian)(nian)(nian),臨終(zhong)前(qian)(qian)2年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1642年(nian)(nian)(nian),明(ming)朝覆(fu)亡前(qian)(qian)2年(nian)(nian)(nian))仍講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)其間。吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)作為(wei)(wei)明(ming)代岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)最后(hou)一(yi)任山(shan)(shan)長(chang),致力于殷勤講(jiang)貫朱張(zhang)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),力糾王學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)空(kong)疏流弊(bi),使(shi)明(ming)末長(chang)沙岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)與(yu)無錫東林(lin)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)成(cheng)(cheng)遙相呼(hu)應(ying)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。《善(shan)化縣志》稱他(ta)“留心(xin)經史,百(bai)家諸子,兵餉軍政(zheng)(zheng)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)屬,部決利弊(bi),悉(xi)見施(shi)行(xing)(xing)”,可見其學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)注(zhu)重務實。在學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)術(shu)上(shang),他(ta)反(fan)對(dui)王學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)末流的荒誕,“篤(du)倫(lun)敦義,講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)窮理(li)”,“自余著述(shu),藏之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)家乘,揚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)國(guo)(guo)華”。吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)的思(si)想與(yu)提倡治國(guo)(guo)平天下為(wei)(wei)“有用之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)”,與(yu)極力維護理(li)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)正宗的東林(lin)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派(pai)十分(fen)接近(jin)。東林(lin)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派(pai)傳人(ren)(ren)無錫高(gao)(gao)(gao)世泰稱贊吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)“道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)以(yi)朱張(zhang)為(wei)(wei)宗,與(yu)文端(顧(gu)(gu)憲成(cheng)(cheng))、忠(zhong)寬揆(高(gao)(gao)(gao)攀龍)固一(yi)也,可不謂衡湘之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)賢(xian)哲(zhe)哉”,肯定他(ta)與(yu)顧(gu)(gu)憲成(cheng)(cheng)、高(gao)(gao)(gao)攀龍思(si)想的共同之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)處(chu),以(yi)及他(ta)們對(dui)延傳“道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)南正脈”的貢獻。1641年(nian)(nian)(nian)(崇禎十四年(nian)(nian)(nian))高(gao)(gao)(gao)世泰任湖(hu)廣按(an)察使(shi)僉事提督學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)政(zheng)(zheng),次年(nian)(nian)(nian)來岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),并協助修葺書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)。吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)與(yu)高(gao)(gao)(gao)世泰成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)至(zhi)交好友(you),二(er)人(ren)(ren)共同為(wei)(wei)恢復理(li)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)正宗,培養湖(hu)湘弟子而(er)竭心(xin)盡力。他(ta)們的最大功績是培養出(chu)了像王夫之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)這(zhe)樣的一(yi)代賢(xian)才。王夫之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)在吳(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)任山(shan)(shan)長(chang)、高(gao)(gao)(gao)世泰來院(yuan)講(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)期(qi)間開入岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)肄業,成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)明(ming)代岳(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)最杰出(chu)的學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)生,后(hou)來成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)與(yu)顧(gu)(gu)炎武(wu)、黃宗羲齊名的大思(si)想家。