"It's hard to raise a woman but a thief", from Yang Huo in Chapter 17 of The Analects of Confucius. Literally, it is understandable that it is difficult for a villain to raise, so why is it difficult for a woman to raise? It is precisely because this sentence covers all women that it has caused great controversy. But if Confucius wants to have a correct understanding of this sentence, he still has to go back to the environment at that time and make a judgment by combining the object of Confucius' speech with the context at that time. The "woman" here does not refer to all women, but refers to male and female servants, or people who are favored by their owners. Knowing this, many misunderstandings can be eliminated.

"Only female thieves are hard to raise. If they are close, they will feel inferior. If they are far away, they will complain. "

This sentence was said by Confucius in The Analects of Confucius Yang Huo.

Why did Confucius, admired by the world, say such a thing? Does this sentence mean contempt for women?

In today's words, Confucius is really male chauvinism, making women so miserable. Is he really different from the so-called warm man in the eyes of women?

Some people think that in this sentence, "only women are difficult to raise, and they are inferior near, and they complain far away." No one can deny that Confucius equated "women" with villains and wantonly belittled women.

Around the above problems, future generations can be said to have tried their best. Did Confucius discriminate against women? Why discriminate against women? There are roughly the following views:

(1) Confucius was ugly and frustrated in love.

So, how shabby is Confucius?

It is said that Confucius' face is like an inverted spittoon, with more white eyes and less black eyes, upturned nostrils, round head, high sides and low middle.

Confucius is not tall, and in the current words, he is a real third-class disability.

It is unfortunate to have such a Wu Dalang-like appearance, but Confucius' family is poor.

When in love, it is not impossible to be laughed at and rejected by many women, thus creating psychological shadows and prejudice against women.

(2) After Confucius got married, his family life was not happy.

It is said that Confucius' married family life is not very happy. He has divorced his wife, that is, Confucius has "divorced".

According to the Book of Rites, the master asked the philosophers, "Is it true that our ancestors lost their mothers?" ? Zisi is the grandson of Confucius. A master here asked Zisi: Did your father used to dress his divorced mother in mourning?

Zhu, a great scholar in the Song Dynasty, commented that the mother of Spanish mackerel died when she became a monk.

Apollo is the son of Confucius, and this historical data proves that Confucius was indeed divorced.

Confucianism pays attention to self-cultivation, governing the country and leveling the world, and establishing a harmonious and happy family is an important content of the family.

Confucius' political achievements during his lifetime were bleak. I don't know if it's because the family order is not good, "all the bad things are in the hands of women."

It is precisely because Confucius was repeatedly hurt by women in the process of marriage and love that he sincerely lamented that "only women are difficult to raise"?

(3) Confucius just stated a fact.

Of course, there are still some people who hold different views. In their view, it is too hasty and arbitrary to assume that Confucius is biased against women just because "only women are difficult to raise, those who are near are inferior, and those who are far away complain".

As for "only women are difficult to raise", Shuowen explains the word "raise" in this way: the voice itches, the teacher is also long, and the surname is also taken. It can be seen from the sound of eating sheep that "it is difficult to raise" can be extended to mean "it is difficult to * * *".

Because you are too close to them, it will be rude; Too far away, there will be resentment.

At best, Confucius only explained a fact.

Confucius does not necessarily discriminate against women. For example, Confucius' Confucianism advocates "love all the people and love benevolence" and "the benevolent loves others".

People here naturally include men and women. It can be seen that women are also one of the loved ones!

For another example, Confucius resolutely opposed the use of women as sacrifices and cursed those who made such bad behaviors, indicating that Confucius attached importance to women's rights as human beings.

In a word, it doesn't matter whether Confucius is biased against women or why.

The feudal thought that men are superior to women has been precipitated in the long river of history ... In modern society, both male-dominated thought and feminist thought will not work. Gender equality is the correct mainstream value and the inevitable trend of social development. ...

Author: Jun Zhiyi