1644年(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(崇(chong)禎十七年(nian)(nian)三月(yue)),明(ming)(ming)王朝覆(fu)亡(wang)。吳道行“郁郁不(bu)自(zi)得,一日(ri)趨吉藩故邸,望闕痛(tong)哭展拜(bai),輿(yu)歸(gui)(岳麓)山中,不(bu)食而(er)卒(zu)”,以(yi)(yi)身殉國殉君,表現了(le)“衡湘賢哲”的(de)(de)清白與高潔。死前他留(liu)下遺言:“驚聞北(bei)事(shi),主亡(wang)臣辱,痛(tong)之如(ru)何!予以(yi)(yi)諸(zhu)生(sheng)(sheng),食恩(en)累(lei)代(dai),獨非草莽之臣哉!……筆擱而(er)輿(yu)至,將以(yi)(yi)吉日(ri)成遄(chuan)歸(gui),集兒女羅拜(bai),從(cong)此從(cong)先帝于地下矣!”他面(mian)對李自(zi)成攻占北(bei)京、崇(chong)禎皇帝自(zi)縊煤山和清兵入關、長驅(qu)中原的(de)(de)“北(bei)事(shi)”,作為受(shou)明(ming)(ming)朝之皇恩(en)的(de)(de)諸(zhu)生(sheng)(sheng),既痛(tong)恨(hen)傾覆(fu)明(ming)(ming)王朝的(de)(de)農民軍,又不(bu)堪忍受(shou)滿族入侵的(de)(de)殘酷(ku)現實(shi),只得以(yi)(yi)死明(ming)(ming)志,最終實(shi)現了(le)他的(de)(de)老師張元忭(bian)所教(jiao)誨的(de)(de)“愛國忠君仗到(dao)誠,休將一念壞平生(sheng)(sheng),勿欺請繹宣尼訓,留(liu)取(qu)丹(dan)心答圣明(ming)(ming)”的(de)(de)人(ren)生(sheng)(sheng)理(li)想。
吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)行(xing)死后,就葬于岳麓山(shan)云(yun)麓宮絕食(shi)地,長沙(sha)知府(fu)堵允錫(xi)特撰《吳(wu)(wu)(wu)嶁(lou)山(shan)墓碑(bei)》。根據史(shi)載,吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)行(xing)之(zhi)墓位于飛來石右側山(shan)墈上,其(qi)原配(pei)夫人石氏與其(qi)同穴而葬,墓區(qu)簡約。2012年(nian)3月在云(yun)麓宮下發(fa)現了(le)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)行(xing)墓,在云(yun)麓宮飛來石南側約100米(mi)的(de)茂密樹叢中(zhong)(zhong),一塊飽經(jing)風雨侵蝕的(de)簡約石墓碑(bei)立在其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong),“明崇禎”、“吳(wu)(wu)(wu)嶁(lou)山(shan)墓”、“石氏”等石刻(ke)字樣仍(reng)隱(yin)約可(ke)見。
吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing),字見可,號嶁山(shan),善(shan)化人(ren),是張(zhang)栻高(gao)(gao)(gao)足、南宋學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)者吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)獵之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)因(yin)歷鄉試不(bu)果,終未走上仕途(tu),一生(sheng)以講(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)授徒為(wei)(wei)(wei)業(ye)。他(ta)從小就(jiu)對(dui)岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)院(yuan)有傾慕之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)情(qing),“方(fang)七歲(sui),聞長(chang)(chang)(chang)老(lao)談岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)先(xian)賢(xian)講(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),便(bian)肅然傾聽,指示古來(lai)忠義大(da)節(jie),輒(zhe)色(se)喜”,為(wei)(wei)(wei)先(xian)賢(xian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)忠義大(da)節(jie)所感動。1582年(nian)(nian)(萬歷十年(nian)(nian)),張(zhang)元(yuan)忭講(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)院(yuan),已(yi)逾“而立”之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing),從游(you)就(jiu)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)其(qi)(qi)門下(xia),與(yu)(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)“大(da)暢良知孝弟之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)旨,一時遂相(xiang)(xiang)引重”,深得張(zhang)元(yuan)忭的(de)(de)(de)(de)贊(zan)賞(shang)。其(qi)(qi)時,被張(zhang)居正(zheng)禁廢的(de)(de)(de)(de)長(chang)(chang)(chang)沙惜陰書(shu)院(yuan)恢(hui)復,吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)被聘為(wei)(wei)(wei)山(shan)長(chang)(chang)(chang),人(ren)稱“嶁山(shan)先(xian)生(sheng)”。1633年(nian)(nian)(崇(chong)禎六年(nian)(nian)),他(ta)任(ren)岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)院(yuan)山(shan)長(chang)(chang)(chang),長(chang)(chang)(chang)達(da)10年(nian)(nian),臨終前2年(nian)(nian)(1642年(nian)(nian),明(ming)朝覆亡前2年(nian)(nian))仍講(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)其(qi)(qi)間。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)(wei)明(ming)代岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)院(yuan)最(zui)后一任(ren)山(shan)長(chang)(chang)(chang),致力于殷(yin)勤講(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)貫朱張(zhang)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),力糾王(wang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)空疏流弊(bi),使(shi)明(ming)末(mo)長(chang)(chang)(chang)沙岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)院(yuan)與(yu)(yu)無(wu)錫東(dong)林(lin)書(shu)院(yuan)成遙相(xiang)(xiang)呼(hu)應之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢。《善(shan)化縣志》稱他(ta)“留心經(jing)史,百家(jia)諸(zhu)子,兵餉(xiang)軍政之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)屬,部決(jue)利弊(bi),悉見施行(xing)(xing)”,可見其(qi)(qi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)注重務實。在(zai)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)術上,他(ta)反對(dui)王(wang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)末(mo)流的(de)(de)(de)(de)荒誕,“篤倫敦義,講(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)窮(qiong)理”,“自余(yu)著述,藏(zang)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)家(jia)乘,揚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)國華”。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)思想與(yu)(yu)提倡治(zhi)國平天下(xia)為(wei)(wei)(wei)“有用(yong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)”,與(yu)(yu)極力維護理學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)正(zheng)宗(zong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)東(dong)林(lin)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派(pai)(pai)十分接(jie)近。東(dong)林(lin)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)派(pai)(pai)傳(chuan)人(ren)無(wu)錫高(gao)(gao)(gao)世(shi)泰(tai)稱贊(zan)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)“道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)以朱張(zhang)為(wei)(wei)(wei)宗(zong),與(yu)(yu)文(wen)端(顧(gu)憲(xian)(xian)成)、忠寬揆(高(gao)(gao)(gao)攀(pan)龍)固一也(ye),可不(bu)謂(wei)衡(heng)湘(xiang)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)賢(xian)哲哉”,肯(ken)定他(ta)與(yu)(yu)顧(gu)憲(xian)(xian)成、高(gao)(gao)(gao)攀(pan)龍思想的(de)(de)(de)(de)共同之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)處(chu),以及(ji)他(ta)們對(dui)延傳(chuan)“道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)南正(zheng)脈”的(de)(de)(de)(de)貢獻。1641年(nian)(nian)(崇(chong)禎十四年(nian)(nian))高(gao)(gao)(gao)世(shi)泰(tai)任(ren)湖(hu)廣按(an)察使(shi)僉事提督學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)政,次年(nian)(nian)來(lai)岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)講(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue),并協(xie)助修葺書(shu)院(yuan)。吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)與(yu)(yu)高(gao)(gao)(gao)世(shi)泰(tai)成為(wei)(wei)(wei)至交好友,二(er)人(ren)共同為(wei)(wei)(wei)恢(hui)復理學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)正(zheng)宗(zong),培養湖(hu)湘(xiang)弟子而竭(jie)心盡力。他(ta)們的(de)(de)(de)(de)最(zui)大(da)功績是培養出了像(xiang)王(wang)夫之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)這樣的(de)(de)(de)(de)一代賢(xian)才。王(wang)夫之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)在(zai)吳(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)行(xing)(xing)任(ren)山(shan)長(chang)(chang)(chang)、高(gao)(gao)(gao)世(shi)泰(tai)來(lai)院(yuan)講(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)期間開入(ru)岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)院(yuan)肄(yi)業(ye),成為(wei)(wei)(wei)明(ming)代岳(yue)(yue)(yue)麓(lu)書(shu)院(yuan)最(zui)杰出的(de)(de)(de)(de)學(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng),后來(lai)成為(wei)(wei)(wei)與(yu)(yu)顧(gu)炎武、黃宗(zong)羲齊名的(de)(de)(de)(de)大(da)思想家(jia)。