Confucianism in China Traditional Culture

Confucianism, also known as Confucianism, originated in the Spring and Autumn Period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and is one of the hundred schools of thought such as Taoism, Mohism, Legalism and Yin and Yang. Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, it has become the orthodox thought of China society. If you count from Confucius, it has a history of more than 2500 years. With the change and development of society, Confucianism is constantly changing and developing from content, form to social function. If we make a comprehensive survey of the content, form and social function of Confucianism, some people think that Confucianism has four distinct historical development stages in China.

2. The general characteristics of Confucian school. It is a theory that attaches importance to this life and cares about society. Confucius devoted himself to the pursuit of social justice and accommodation under the feudal system, or under the feudal system and the official medical system. He probably didn't think that contemporary ills could be corrected outside the feudal system. But advocated returning to the purest ancient saint Wang Zhidao. In his time, it was natural to support ethics with ideal history. Confucius said that he "does not keep his word, and his deeds will bear fruit." To understand Confucius, we must first understand his times. Confucius' interest in managing ordinary things seems to be boring and mediocre. But we must understand that he lives in a turbulent era, where wars break out between countries, the weak become the battlefields of big countries, and law and order are maintained only by personal force and intrigue. The hunting, war and extravagant life of the nobles made the people miserable and their lives were like dirt. For such an era, Confucius' thought is revolutionary. Although there are many words about monarch and minister in The Analects, it seems to be "pedantic training" today. As long as we understand the background of this era, we can understand that these words are a sincere condemnation of the weaknesses and sins at that time. The condemned people are powerful and can easily kill them. Confucius is undoubtedly the greatest educator. Before him, we only knew that there was a school that taught shooting. He was the first person who explicitly said "education is classless". Those who are taught by him and are ready to engage in politics and diplomacy need not worry about their family background. From this, we can see the origin of the official system in the future. People who are interested in learning can serve the monarch as scholars or officials without asking about their life experience. Confucius often said that it was a great honor to be in politics. As for how Confucius taught his disciples, we can know the general outline from what disciple Zeng Shen said. Zeng Zi said, "A gentleman is more valuable than Tao. Third, moving by appearance is far from being violent. " Positive color, close to letters; It would be much more embarrassing to say it. In another place, Confucius replied, "When you go out, you will see a distinguished guest and make the people like a big sacrifice. Do as you would be done by. You have no complaints at home, and you have no complaints at home. "Confucius's early disciples were mostly ministers of other countries, and his later disciples were mostly engaged in education and social philosophy. There are many people whose names and occupations can be tested. Education is not restricted by class privilege, which is a revolutionary proposition. Although this proposition has led to the bureaucracy of learning to be an official, it also contains elements of modern democracy. There are different opinions on the truth of Confucius' democratic thought, but we should be clear about this issue, because from the sociological point of view, democratic thought has an important relationship with natural science. Gu Jiegang 7 believed that Confucius supported feudal society at all; Mei Siping 1 considers himself a great counter-revolutionary. In China, this issue is naturally closely related to current political issues and the respect of conservatives. Other scholars, such as Guo Xx, focus on the revolutionary thoughts in Confucius' life and theory, taking Confucius' sympathy for the traitor Lu in the Three Kingdoms as an example. Some disciples of Confucius were accused of encouraging the rebels to meet Mozi and Zhuangzi. Both Mohist and Zhuang's disciples know that rebellion begins with the poor. Chen Sheng, the first to rise up against Qin, called himself "King Zhang Chu". He took Confucius, the eighth grandson of Confucius, as his counselor. This scholar died in the autumn of Chen Shengzhi in 208 BC, and many Confucius and Mohist disciples were attached to his banner. Confucius seems to advocate that governing the country should be based on the welfare and happiness of the whole people. The way to achieve this goal is not to strictly enforce man-made laws, but to make good use of good customs and habits that are regarded as the natural laws of heaven. People who can use them properly need real wisdom, knowledge and compassion. Such people will seek everything. A talented person who manages the world does not need family background and wealth. He only needs proper personality and knowledge, which can be cultivated through good education, so education should be popularized. From what has been said above, we can draw a conclusion of great significance to science. If everyone can receive education, then everyone can know the truth. Only through education, experience and talent can he increase his discriminating ability and become a member of the "observation group". Confucian scholars understand this kind of ideological democracy, and Confucius often admonishes his disciples to be "suspicious" and praises the "lack of history" for leaving a blank instead of reluctantly writing suspicious words. And once said; "By teaching you what you know, what you know is what you know, and what you don't know is what you know." This is a good motto for modern scholars engaged in science. But the early Confucianists were far less interested in natural science than in personnel. Confucius once encouraged his disciples to learn poetry, and cited other reasons, saying that they could "know more about the names of birds, animals and plants". He also said that he agreed with the southern proverb that "a man without perseverance cannot be a witch doctor". There are signs that one of Confucius' great disciples, Zeng Shen, was interested in science, which can be compared with the later natural yin and yang scholars. But that's all. Confucianism believes that the universe is the sky and morality is the longitude and latitude. Their so-called "Tao" mainly refers to the ideal realm in the world society. This significance is obvious in their attitude towards the spiritual world and knowledge. Although they didn't separate the individual from the people in the society, nor did they separate the people in the society from the whole nature, they always advocated that the only legitimate object of studying human beings was the people themselves. Therefore, in the whole history of China, Confucianism is opposed to using science to understand nature, and seeks the scientific basis of technology and technology to carry forward technology. Fan Chi invited him to learn about crops, and Confucius said, "I am not as good as an old farmer." Please learn to be a nursery and say, "I am not as good as the old nursery." This is also a humble word for traditional technicians, but it's a pity that the following sentence: Fan Chi said, Confucius said, "I am a villain in Xu Fan ... if I have good gifts, good justice and integrity ... then people from all directions have to bear their sons, so how can I use crops?" . However, the history of two thousand years shows that courtesy, righteousness and faith are not enough to solve all human problems. Nevertheless, Confucius' proposition still has its greatness. I want to quote a few more words to illustrate Confucius' concern for society. When Lord Ye asked about politics, Confucius said, "Those who are near are happy, and those who are far away come." The son, however, has a servant, and the son said, "Its element." . You Ran said, "What's the point?" Say: "rich". He said, "If you have money, why bother?" Say, "teach it." Fan Chi asked Ren, and Confucius said "love". When asked about knowledge, Confucius said, "Know people." Early Confucianism regarded morality and politics as a whole, regarded those in power as parents, and both the monarch and the people were upright. As for what is morality, peace and justice, the meaning is clear and there is no model. According to a chapter in the Analects of Confucius, Confucianism, but still before the Han Dynasty, started the theory of "correcting names". This theory was the most famous in Xunzi Xun Qing School in the 3rd century BC. The meticulous use of nouns and profound meanings can be seen in the ancient history "The History of Killing Thirty-six Kings in the Spring and Autumn Period". Either "killed" means that the murderer is guilty, or "killed" means that the murderer is legal. The murderer is considered legal because the murdered person has lost his way as a monarch. There is democratic thought in Confucius' knowledge. He thinks that the name of a country's monarch is ordered by heaven, but it is actually taken from the people, that is, the destiny is for the people. One hundred years after Confucius, this theory was specially developed by Mencius, the successor of Confucianism. In the sixty-seventh century, the question of whether people have the right to resist disobedient monarchs was debated by religious scholars in Europe and concluded by Confucianism two thousand years ago. The revolutionary tendency of Confucianism on this issue, while advocating orthodoxy, is probably one of the factors, which makes later scholars more easily troubled by the dynasty. The following paragraphs can confirm the above remarks: Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about politics, and Confucius said, "Politicians are right, handsome boys are right. Who dares to be wrong? " Ji Kangzi was stolen and asked Confucius. Confucius said to him, "If you don't want it, don't steal it." Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about politics: "There is no way to kill, but there is a way. What? Confucius said to him, "if you are a politician, how can you kill him?" Children want to be good, while the people are good, gentlemen are virtuous, villains are virtuous, and the wind on the grass will be suppressed. "Zi You said:" The ancients suppressed it, and the master said:' A gentleman learns Tao and loves others, but a villain learns Tao.' Ding Gong asked, "A word can prosper the country. What's the matter?" Confucius said to him, "Don't do what you say. People say it is difficult to be a monarch, but it is not easy to be a minister. Knowing that it is difficult to be a monarch, isn't it just a word to prosper the country? " He said, "In a word, what is the reason for losing your country? Confucius said to him, "Don't do what you say. Everyone says that no happiness is king, but it's good to do what they say, isn't it? If you don't do well, you won't violate it. Didn't you almost lose your country in one sentence? "As for how Confucius trained his disciples to be officials, we can look at it from the following two paragraphs: Ask a gentleman, Confucius said," Don't bully him, but commit him. Confucius said: "A benevolent man does not live, but dies. The "Tao" mentioned by Confucius is a way for people to get along normally in society. It is based on what Confucius said: "Participation, my Tao is the same". Ceng Zi said, "Wei. When the child came out, the master asked, "What is it?" Ceng Zi said: "The master's way is loyalty and forgiveness. "This is the truth of a cooperative society. The relationship between people is complementary and not conflicting. But this is considered to be contained in all the truths of nature, so human kindness and altruism are in harmony with the supreme authority in the universe. This supreme authority is not a person or thing imagined in ancient times, but an awesome "heaven" abstracted. Confucius himself thought that Heaven "knew" and "praised" his career. In the book The Doctrine of the Mean, the consistent truth of the universe is clearly put forward: "The way of heaven and earth can be achieved in one word. If it is not the same thing, it is a biological accident. The way of heaven and earth is rich, noble and leisurely. There are so many things in the sky today, and they are endless. The sun, the moon and the stars are related, and everything is there. Today, the husband's land, a pinch of soil, is wide and thick, carrying Hua Yue but not heavy, vibrating the rivers and seas but not letting go, and everything is carrying nothing. Today, there are as many stones as there are, and they are vast, where there are plants and animals, and where there are treasures. There is as much water as a spoonful today, which is unexpected. Giant salamanders, mosquitoes, arowana and turtles are born, and wealth is cultivated. With this natural model, we will continue to look at what Confucius said: "People's life is straight, and those who fail are lucky enough to be spared." This is the starting point of the debate on good and evil of human nature. Philosophers in China have spent a lot of time on this issue, and we will return to this issue soon, because he has a lot to do with scientific thought.