This quotation
In chapter 2 1 of this article, the famous sentence is: "When a bird is dying, its song is also sad; People will die, and words are good "; After the death of "a long way to go", "people can create it, but they can't let it be known" not in place, not seeking their own government "and so on. The basic content of this paper involves the evaluation of ancient kings such as Yao Shunyu by Confucius and his students. The further development of Confucius' teaching methods and educational thoughts; The concrete content of Confucius' moral thought and Ceng Zi's views on some issues.
original text
8. 1 Confucius said: "Taibo (1) is the ultimate virtue. It is said that this world makes people gain nothing. "
To annotate ...
(1) Taibo: the eldest son of Gu, the ancestor of Zhou Dynasty.
(2) three: the meaning of many times.
(3) The people have nothing to say: the people can't find the right words to praise him.
translate
Confucius said: "Taibo can be said to be the noblest person." After giving the throne to Ji Li several times, the people couldn't find the right words to praise him. "
Comment and analysis
According to legend, Ji Chang, the son of the third son, who was known by the ancient father, had this virtue and wanted to pass it on. After Taibo knew about it, he and his second brother took refuge in Wu. When Gu's father died, Taber didn't come back for the funeral. Later, he lost his tattoo and said he would never come back. He ceded the throne to Ji Li, who passed it on to Ji Chang, namely Zhou Wenwang. King Wu destroyed the Shang Dynasty and unified the world. In Confucius' view, this historical event is worth mentioning. Third, Taber is the noblest person in the world. Only when the world gives way to sages and sages can we govern the world, let the giver show his noble character, and the people praise him immensely.
original text
8.2 Confucius said, "Being respectful and disrespectful is hard work (1), being cautious and disrespectful is clumsy (2), being brave and disrespectful is chaos, and being straight and disrespectful is distortion (3). The gentleman is close (4) and the people are benevolent, so the old (5) still exists, and the people do not steal (6). "
To annotate ...
(1) Labor: hard work, hard work.
(2) one: sound, stiff, afraid.
(3) wringing: sharp words and hurtful words.
(4) Benedict: Kindness and sincerity.
(5) Old friends: old friends, old friends.
(6) stealing: weak.
translate
Confucius said: "it is futile to be respectful and not polite;" Just being cautious and not guided by ceremony will make you cringe and stiff; If you are brave and not guided by politeness, you will be sharp-tongued. If people with higher status treat their loved ones well, then the atmosphere of kindness will rise among ordinary people; A gentleman does not abandon his old friend, and the people will not be indifferent to others. "
Comment and analysis
Virtues such as "fairness", "prudence", "courage" and "straightness" do not exist in isolation and must be guided by "courtesy". Only under the guidance of "courtesy" can the implementation of these virtues conform to the golden mean, otherwise "fatigue", "embarrassment" and "strangulation" will occur, which will never be realized.
original text
8.3 When I was sick, I called my younger brother and said, "Open (1) is enough! Yu Kaishou! As the poem says, "Being afraid is like walking on thin ice." Occasionally, I know to avoid (3) husbands and boys (4)! "
To annotate ...
(1) Kay: open. Ceng Zi asked the students to lift the quilt and look at their hands and feet.
(2) Shi Yun: The following three sentences are quoted from The Book of Songs Xiaoya Xiao Min.
(3) Exemption: refers to protecting the body from harm.
(4) Kid: the name of the disciple.
translate
Ceng Zi was ill, so he called his students to him and said, "Look at my feet! Look at my hand (see if there is any damage)! The Book of Songs says,' Be careful, like walking on thin ice'. From now on, I know my body will never be damaged again, disciples! "
Comment and analysis
Ceng Zi borrowed three sentences from The Book of Songs to illustrate that he was cautious all his life, avoided hurting his body and could be filial to his parents. According to the Book of Filial Piety, Confucius once said to Zeng Shen: "Parents dare not damage their bodies and skins, and filial piety begins." In other words, a dutiful son should take good care of his body, including his hair and skin, which is the beginning of filial piety. Before he died, Ceng Zi showed his students their hands and feet to prove that their bodies were intact, and that they had adhered to filial piety all their lives. This shows the importance of filial piety in Confucian moral norms.
original text
On August 4th, Ceng Zi fell ill. Meng (1) asked (2). Ceng Zi said: "The bird will die, and its song will also mourn;" The dying man speaks the truth. A gentleman is more valuable than Tao: touching the face (3) and staying away from violence (4); Positive color (5), close to letters; Speaking out (6) is far worse than (7). The incident of Shuidou (8) was saved by the company (9). "
To annotate ...
(1) Meng: That's Meng, doctor Lu.
(2) Q: Visiting, visiting.
(3) Move your face: show your inner feelings on your face.
(4) violent and slow: rude and presumptuous.
(5) Positive color: Make your face solemn and serious.
(6) Out of breath: talk, talk. Pay attention to your words and tone.
(7) mean age: mean and rude. Double same back, back theory.
(8) The story of water chestnut: Water chestnut (sound biān) and beans are utensils in ancient sacrifices and ceremonies.
(9) You Si: refers to the official in charge of a certain aspect of affairs, here refers to the official in charge of sacrifice and etiquette affairs.
translate
Sick, Meng went to see him. Ceng Zi said to him: "This bird is dying, and its cry is very sad;" People are dying, and he means well. A gentleman should pay attention to three aspects: make his appearance solemn to avoid rudeness; Make your face serious, so close to honesty; Pay attention to your words and tone, so as to avoid rudeness and irrationality. As for sacrifices and ceremonies, the officials in charge of these affairs are responsible. "
Comment and analysis
And Meng are antagonistic in political stance. Before he died, Ceng Zi was still trying to change Meng's attitude, so he said, "When people are dying, their words are very good." On the one hand, he admitted that he meant no harm to Meng, and at the same time, he told Meng three aspects that a gentleman should pay attention to. Now it seems that these reasons are still very meaningful. It has important reference value for personal moral cultivation and harmonious interpersonal relationship.
original text
8.5 Ceng Zi said: "If you can ask, you can't ask. If you ask more questions, you will be Xu Ruo." I made a mistake but didn't go to school (1)-My friend (2) tried to engage in Sri Lanka. "
To annotate ...
(1) School: sound jiào, compare, care.
(2) My friend: My friend. It is generally believed in the old notes that this refers to Yan Yuan.
translate
Ceng Zi said, "If you are talented, you can ask people who are not. People with more knowledge can ask people with less knowledge. Learn if you don't learn. " Knowledge is rich, but it seems empty; I don't care if I'm violated-my friend has done it before. "
Comment and analysis
What Ceng Zi said here completely inherited the thoughts and theories of Confucius. "Ask the impossible" and "ask the few" are both modest expressions in learning. People without knowledge and talent are not useless, there is always something worth learning. Therefore, in learning, we should learn from people with knowledge and talent, and also learn from people with little knowledge and talent. Secondly, Ceng Zi also put forward the viewpoints of "if there is nothing" and "if there is Xu Ruo", hoping that people will always remain modest and not be complacent. Thirdly, Ceng Zi said, "If you are guilty, don't go to school." His broad mind and tolerant spirit are also worth learning.
Ceng Zi said: "You can entrust a six-foot orphan (1), you can give a life of a hundred miles (2), and you can't take it away on a big festival. Gentlemen and men? A gentleman is also a human being. "
To annotate ...
(1) Six-legged orphan: Orphan: The son of a dead father is called an orphan. Six-legged refers to the age below 15, and the ancients referred to seven-legged adulthood. Entrust an orphan, entrusted by the monarch before his death, to assist Shaojun.
(2) Send a hundred miles: send, entrust, entrust. The life of a hundred miles refers to mastering the state power and destiny.
translate
Ceng Zi said: "You can entrust the young monarch to him, and you can entrust the state power to him, and never waver in the face of the critical moment of life and death. Is such a person a gentleman? Is a gentleman! "
Comment and analysis
Confucius cultivated people with morality, knowledge and talent. He can be ordered to assist the young king and take charge of the state power. Such people will never waver or give in in do or die. This is the character of a gentleman.
original text
8.7 Ceng Zi said: "Scholars have a long way to go to be loyal to Hony (1). Isn't it important to think that benevolence is your responsibility? Isn't it far after death? "
To annotate ...
(1): Hong, Boda. Easy, strong and easy.
translate
Ceng Zi said: "A scholar can't be strong and unyielding, because he has a heavy responsibility and a long way to go. Isn't it important to realize benevolence as your own responsibility? Isn't it far to fight for life and fight for death? "
original text
Confucius said, "Xing (1) is based on poetry, ceremony and music."
To annotate ...
(1) Xing: Let's go.
translate
Confucius said: "(Man's cultivation) begins with the study of poetry and ends with the study of etiquette and music."
Comment and analysis
In this chapter, Confucius put forward three aspects of his education: poetry, etiquette and music, and pointed out their different functions. It requires students not only to talk about personal accomplishment, but also to have comprehensive and extensive knowledge and skills.
original text
8.9 Confucius said, "People can let them go, but they can't know."
translate
Confucius said: "For ordinary people, we can only let them do what we want them to do, but we can't make them understand why they do it."
Comment and analysis
Confucius thought has the content of "loving the people", but there is a premise. He loves "obedient people", not "disobedient people". In this chapter, he put forward the view that "people can make it, but not know it", which shows his "ignorant" thought. Of course, ignorance and loving the people are not contradictory. Others believe that this sentence should be understood as follows: "The people can make it, that's all;" No, let me know. " That is, if the people agree, let them do it; If the people don't admit it, tell them the truth. People who hold this view think that this is an attempt by Confucius to advocate simple democratic politics. However, most scholars believe that such a sentence break does not conform to the grammar of ancient Chinese; This understanding improved the ideological level of Confucius and modernized the ancients, which is also inconsistent with Confucius' thought embodied in The Analects.
original text
8 10 Confucius said, "I am brave but ill (1) and poor and chaotic. People are ruthless, sick and chaotic. "
To annotate ...
(1) Disease: hate, hate.
(2) Unkindness: People or things that are not in line with benevolence.
(3) already very: already, also. Too much, just too much.
translate
Confucius said, "Those who love the brave and hate the poor will make trouble. If you push people or things too hard, things will go wrong. "
Comment and analysis
This chapter is related to the previous one. In Confucius' view, if ordinary people don't want to live in their own poverty, they will rise up and rebel, which is not conducive to social stability, and persecuting those who have no conscience too much will also lead to disaster. Therefore, the best way is to cultivate people's "benevolence".
original text
8. 1 1 Confucius said, "If the beauty of the Duke of Zhou makes him arrogant and stingy, the rest is not enough."
translate
Confucius said: "Even if there is such a beautiful talent as Duke Zhou, if he is arrogant and stingy, then other aspects are not worth seeing."
original text
8. 12 Confucius said: "Three years of study is not rare (1)."
To annotate ...
(1) Gu: Gu is the salary of an official, and the word "Gu" is used here to represent an official. You can't be an official unless you are in the valley.
translate
Confucius said, "After studying for three years, it's hard to find someone who can't be an official."
Comment and analysis
The main purpose of Confucius education is to cultivate talents who can run the country and secure the country. In ancient times, he usually had to study for three years before he could become an official. Another interpretation of this chapter is that "there are very few people who have not achieved goodness after studying for three years". Readers can read this chapter according to their own understanding.
original text
8. 13 Confucius said: "I believe in learning, and I am good at guarding my life. I don't want to enter a dangerous country, and I don't want to create a chaotic country. If there is a road in the world, you can see it (1), and if there is no road, you can hide it. The country has a good way, and it is extremely vicious and shameful; The country has no choice but to be rich and expensive, which is shameful. "
To annotate ...
(1) See: Yin 'an, co-occurrence.
translate
Confucius said: "strengthen your faith, study hard, and swear to improve the way of governing the country and being a man." Don't enter a country with unstable political situation, and don't live in a turbulent country. If there is a road in the world, you will come out to be an official; There is no way out of seclusion in the world. Poverty and humbleness are a disgrace to the country; It is also a shame that the country has no choice but to have money. "
Comment and analysis
This is how Confucius taught his disciples to be officials. "There is a way to see in the world, and there is no way to hide"; "Use it wisely, discard it implicitly" is an important principle of Confucius' official life. In addition, he also suggested that personal poverty should be linked with the rise and fall of the country, which is the basic point of being an official.
original text
8 14 Confucius said: "If you are not in your position, you will not seek political affairs.
translate
Confucius said: "If you are not in that position, you will not consider things in that position."
Comment and analysis
"Being out of position, not seeking politics" involves the so-called "birthright" problem of Confucianism. It is considered to be a "breach of etiquette" to seek politics without being in its place, and it is suspected of trespassing. "If you are not in your place, you will not seek your own government" means "obeying the rules". At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, it played an important role in maintaining social stability and suppressing people's "criminal insurrection", but it also had some adverse effects on later generations, especially in inducing people's indifferent and polite mentality. It should be said that this is negative.
original text
8 15 Confucius said: "The beginning of teacher loyalty (1) and the chaos of officials (2) echoed!"
To annotate ...
(1) At the beginning of Shi Zhi: Shi Zhi is Lu's great teacher. "Start" is the beginning of music, which is the overture. In ancient times, playing music was called "singing songs" at first, and it was usually played by a teacher, who was the teacher, so it was said here that it was "the beginning of teacher loyalty."
(2) Looking at the chaos of the age: "beginning" means the beginning of music, and "chaos" means the end of music. Chaos is ensemble music. At this time, the movement of Guansui was played, so it was called "the chaos of Guansui".
translate
Confucius said: "From the beginning of the overture played by Taishi Gui to the end of Guan Ju's performance, rich and beautiful music echoed in my ears."
original text
8. 16 Confucius said: "Crazy (1) is not straight, Dong (2) is unwilling (3), and hesitates (4) but does not believe, and I don't know."
To annotate ...
(1) Madness: impatience and haste.
(2) Dong: tóng, naive and ignorant.
(3) Wish: be cautious, careful and simple.
(4) hey: the sound is kūng, empty and sincere.
translate
Confucius said, "Arrogant people are dishonest, fools are careless, and honest people are not credible on the surface." I really don't know why some people do this. "
Comment and analysis
"Crazy but not straight, unwilling, wandering but not believing" is not a good moral quality, which Confucius is very disgusted with. This is because these qualities do not conform to the basic principle of the golden mean, nor do they conform to the requirements of "gentleness, kindness, courtesy, thrift, surrender" and "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith" advocated by Confucianism. So Confucius said: I really didn't know anyone would do this.
original text
8 17 Confucius said, "If you learn less, you are afraid of losing."
translate
Confucius said, "If you don't catch up with your knowledge, you will lose something."
Comment and analysis
This chapter is about learning attitude. Confucius himself had a strong demand for learning knowledge, and he also asked his students in the same way. This sentence "learning is not as good as learning, but afraid of losing" is actually the best footnote of this sentence "never tire of learning"
original text
8. 18 Confucius said: "Wei (1), Shun Yu (2) has the world but not (3)!"
To annotate ...
(1) Wei Wei: lofty and tall.
(2) Shun Yu: Shun is a legendary saint and the wise master. Yu was the first monarch in Xia Dynasty. According to legend, in ancient times, Yao Chan gave it to Shun, and then it was given to Yu.
(3) and: the significance and relevance of participation.
translate
Confucius said, "How noble! Shun and Yu won the world, not from it. "
Comment and analysis
What Confucius said here should mean something. At that time, the society was chaotic and the political situation was turbulent, and regicide usurped the throne was common. Confucius in the legendary era praised "Shun and Yu", which showed his recognition of the ancient abdication system. He praised Shun and Yu and attacked these problems in reality.
original text
8. 19 Confucius said, "Dayao (1) is the king! Awesome, only the sky is big, only Yao is (2). Wandering around, people can't be named. Even if it is successful, there is an article! "
To annotate ...
(1) Yao: a saint in ancient legends of China.
(2) Then: follow suit and prevail.
(3) Swing: broad appearance.
(4) Name: description, description and praise.
(5) Huan: brilliant.
Confucius said, "How great! A monarch like Yao. How noble! Only the sky is the highest, and only Yao can imitate the height of the sky. How vast (his kindness) is, the people really don't know what language to express their praise for him. How noble his achievements are and how glorious his etiquette system is! "
Comment and analysis
Yao was a saint in the legendary era of China. Confucius praised Yao in wonderful language here, especially his etiquette system, and expressed his reverence for the ancient kings.
original text
On August 20th, Shun had five ministers (1) who ruled the world. King Wu said, "Give it to ten rebellious ministers." Confucius said, "Is it difficult? At the time of Tang Yu (3), there were only nine women (5) in the heyday of Si (4). One third of the world has two (6) servants. Zhou Zhide can be described as the ultimate virtue. "
To annotate ...
(1) Shun has five ministers: according to legend, Yu, Ji, Qi, Bo Yi and others. Deed: sound xiè；; Tao: Yin Yao.
(2) Chaotic officials: According to Shuowen: "Chaos, governance." The "chaotic minister" mentioned here should be the "minister of governing the country."
(3) On the occasion of Tang Yu: According to legend, the era of Yaodi was called Tang and the era of Shun was called Yu.
④ Si: refers to the period of Zhou Wuwang.
(5) How can there be a woman? This means that among the ten mutinous ministers of King Wu, there is Jiang Yi, the wife of King Wu.
(6) There are two points in the world: "Yi Zhou Shu Cheng Dian pian" says: "King Wen ordered Hou Qinzheng of Kyushu." According to legend, it was divided into Kyushu at that time, and Wang Wen got six states, accounting for two-thirds.
translate
Shun has five wise ministers, so he can govern the world well. Zhou Wuwang also said, "I have ten courtiers to help me run the country." Confucius said, "Talent is rare, isn't it?" ? This period was between Tang Yao, Yu Shun and Zhou Wuwang, with the most abundant talents. But one out of ten ministers is a woman, while in fact there are only nine. Zhou Wenwang won two-thirds of the world, and still played for the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, which is the highest. "
Comment and analysis
During this period, Confucius raised an important question, that is, to govern the world, there must be talents, and talents are very rare. With talents, the country can govern and the world can be peaceful. Of course, this does not prove Confucius' "heroic historical view", because in the process of historical development, outstanding figures have indeed played a huge role that cannot be underestimated, and this and the role of the people can not be ignored.
original text
8.2 1 Confucius said: "Yu, I and (1). Philippines (2) diet (3) filial piety and poor clothes (4); Modesty (5) Palace, try your best (6). Hey, I'm fine. "
To annotate ...
(1): the meaning of the gap. Used here as a verb.
(2) Philippines: meager and not rich.
(3) Want: dedication and hard work.
(4) Nuo crown: the sound is f ǔ m ǔ n, and the costumes worn during the sacrifice are called Nuo; The hat worn during the sacrifice is called a crown.
(5) Humble: low.
(6) ditch: ditch.
translate
Confucius said: "I have nothing to be picky about;" His diet is simple, and he tries his best to respect ghosts and gods; The clothes he usually wears are simple, but he tries to wear colorful clothes when offering sacrifices. His own palace is very low and he is committed to repairing water conservancy affairs. I really have nothing to be picky about Yu. "
Comment and analysis
In the above chapters, Confucius spoke highly of Yao, Shun and Yu, thinking that everything in their time was perfect. People who live for the monarch are simple and respect ghosts and gods, which is an example for rulers. However, many people today desperately pursue power, status and wealth, putting people's lives and national prosperity in a secondary position. By comparing the past with the present, Confucius is warning the rulers.