Source "Book of Rites·Liyun":

Once, Confucius attended a local sacrificial ceremony. After the ceremony, he strolled to a high platform and looked up. See a vast fog in the distance. In this way, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh when he thought that the princes and countries were constantly fighting and the Zhou royal family was weakening day by day.

His student Yan Yan asked at the side: "Why are you sighing so much, sir? Are you worried about the future of Lu?"

Confucius said sincerely: "I didn't catch up. In the era of Yao, Shun, and Yu, everyone owned all the goods in the world, and the officials selected were wise and moral people. People lived in harmony and valued trust and friendship. People were not like today. It only cares about the people in one's own family, but also cares about the elderly, orphans and widows in other people's families. How wonderful that kind of society is!"

Yan Yan said: "Mr. No one wants it even if it is thrown on the road. People are afraid that they will not be able to contribute their own strength. All wealth belongs to the public. When needed, people can just go and get it."

Confucius went on to say. : "Yes, this is the so-called 'Great Harmony Society' (meaning 'Great Harmony')."

Yan Yan asked again: "Mr. once said 'well-off society', what does that mean? "What?"

Confucius replied: "Yu, Tang, King Wen, King Wu, King Cheng, and Duke Zhou all governed the world with etiquette and righteousness. They used it to distinguish right from wrong, to judge people's honesty and dishonesty, and to establish the rule of law. The example of benevolence reveals the principles of life to the people. If someone openly violates etiquette and justice, the masses will regard him as a disaster and isolate him. Such a society is called "xiaokang" (meaning "well-off"). "

Yan Yan said: "It seems that etiquette and justice are the most important. But will a well-off society still exist?" Confucius said: "I'm afraid it will not be easy."

"A well-off society. "" and "Great Harmony" are the two ideal societies pursued by Confucianism. "Well-off" refers to the unification of the world, using feudal morality to consolidate the feudal order of monarchs and ministers, fathers and sons, and couples; now it refers to a society with sufficient food and clothing and a relatively strong country. "Datong" is an unrealizable society that Confucians idealize the primitive communist society.