at the age of fourteen, he worshipped Confucius as a teacher and spent his whole life as a teacher. He was Confucius' most proud pupil. Confucius praised Yan Hui the most, praising him for his studiousness and kindness. Scholars in all previous dynasties praised Yan Hui, and Yan Hui deserved Confucius and worshipped him too firmly, while emperors in all previous dynasties bestowed gifts on him.
real name: Yan Hui
alias: Yanzi, Yan Yuan, Ziyuan
font size: Yuan
Time: Spring and Autumn Period
Ethnic group: Huaxia nationality
Life: Yan Hui is the most proud disciple of Confucius, and he is very knowledgeable. "The Analects of Confucius Yong Ye" says that he "... eats only once, drinks only once, and when he is in a mean lane, he can't bear his worries, but he won't change his pleasure when he returns ...". Humble and eager to learn, "don't be angry, don't be jealous." Confucius praised him for being "virtuous and returning" and "returning, his heart will not violate benevolence in March" ("Yong Ye"). Unfortunately, he died young.
Yan Hui is like
Yan Hui is known for his virtue. In strict accordance with Confucius' requirements on "benevolence" and "courtesy", "be sensitive to things and be cautious about words". Therefore, Confucius often praised Yan Hui's four virtues as a gentleman, that is, he was stronger than acting in righteousness, weaker than being remonstrated, anxious about being generous and cautious about governing himself. What he yearned for all his life was the emergence of an ideal society without war and hunger, in which "the monarch and the minister are United, harmonious from top to bottom, well-fed and well-fed, healthy for all ages, well-dressed everywhere, and peaceful in the world".
in 481 BC, Yan Hui died before Confucius, and was buried in front of the mountain in the east of Lucheng. Confucius was deeply saddened by his early death and could not help lamenting that; "alas! The day is lost! The sky is lost! "
Yan Hui has never been an official in his life, nor has he left any works handed down from generation to generation. His words and phrases are collected in the Analects of Confucius and other books, and his thoughts are basically consistent with those of Confucius. Later generations revered it as "restoration of holiness".
Yuan Wenzong made Yan Hui the duke of restoring the sage of Yan State, and stopped making him a knight when Jiajing was in the Ming Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, Chen Gao compiled and edited Kong Yinzhi's "Quelizhi Disciple": "In the first year from Yuan Wenzong to Shun, a gift was given to restore the sage of Yan State". Rites of the Ming Dynasty IV: "Its four equivalents are: restoring the saint-Yanzi, worshiping the saint-Ceng Zi, describing the saint-Zisizi, and sub-saint-Mencius."
the origin of the name
Yan Hui, the name of Hui, the word Ziyuan. Shuowen: "Deep, backwater also." "Pipe" said: Water comes from the ground and does not flow, so life is profound.
the trial of Mianhuan is deep, the trial of stopping water is deep, and the trial of running water is deep. -"Zhuangzi Ying Emperor"
or jump in the deep. -yi gan
"hui" and "yuan" are mutually trained, which means "backwater", that is, water in a whirlpool torrent. Oracle Bone Inscriptions is like a deep water whirling. Original meaning: gyration, rotation.
back, turn also. -"Shuo Wen"
Zhao returned to the sky. -"Poetry, Elegance and Yunhan"
The picture returns to the world in the palm of your hand and distinguishes white from black. -"Xunzi Confucianism"
Some people say that Yan Hui's name embodies the attitude of "rushing forward"; Others said that it reflected the "turbulent" social reality at that time.
political ambition
Yan Hui takes Shun as his ambition. "Mencius Teng Wengong" (I) recorded its language, saying: "Whoever is shun, Anato is also; If there is a promising person! " Obviously, Mencius regarded Yan Hui as a "fellow" with Shun and Ji. Yan Hui appreciated Shun's "governing by doing nothing", that is, the "people-oriented" kingly way "political thought advocated by Confucianism later. He said, "Shun used to be good at making people, but Zao Fu was good at making horses. Shun is not poor in its people, and Zao Fu is not poor in its horses; There is no loss of people, and Zao Fu has no loss of horses. " (Xun Zi Ai Gong Pian) Yan Hui and Shun are "in the same direction" and "pursuing the same thing", so when Confucius asked him and Zi Lu to "express their opinions", Zi Lu replied: "I wish to be a horse and a horse, to be light in clothes and to be friends, and not to be shaken." Yan Hui, on the other hand, replied that "I would rather not cut down the good and do nothing" (The Analects of Confucius and Gongye). Zhu Xi explained that "there is no cutting of goodness and no exertion": "Cutting, boasting, and being good means being able. Shi also has a big meaning, and labor is called meritorious. " (Notes on the Analects of Confucius) means not boasting about one's own abilities or promoting one's own merits. But this is not true. The Yuan Dynasty's Four Books on Doubts refutes Zhu's saying: "The goodness of cutting good is the general name of its own strengths, and cutting loyalty, straightness, strength, merit, talent and art is generally called cutting good. It is also said that cutting is not coincidental, and it is one of the things that do not cut. Divided into two, Yan Zi's ambition, why don't you be unreasonable? ..... The "no labor", not to work hard on the people. It is a common problem in ancient and modern times that a husband works hard and does not care. ..... Yan Zi' s words are thick in the world. " This is absolutely true. Therefore, what Yan Hui said here is his ambition, but he wants to cultivate his morality internally and love the people externally. This is exactly like Shun's "governing by doing nothing". In Yan Hui's view, only by carrying out this ambition in the world can we realize Confucius' social ideal of "the elderly are safe, the young are pregnant, and the friends believe in it" (The Analects of Confucius). It can be seen that Yan Hui's political ambition not only has the feeling of saving the world and helping others, but also has the people-oriented spirit of early Confucianism.
Yan Hui studied hard
Most of his life, he went to six countries to follow Confucius. After returning to Lu, he did not become an official, but lived in a poor alley. He lived in a society in which the world was in chaos and the ceremony collapsed, and the Confucian ambition of benevolence and righteousness and the rule of kings were often denounced as foolish Confucianism, scorned as pretentious, and "the world can't be used because of turbidity" (Biography of the Scholars in Historical Records). He was unwilling to change his ambition at all, and he still "respected the three religions (namely Xia Jiaozhong, Yin Jiaojing and Zhou Jiaowen)" and expected to "learn from them". Wang Fu praised him: "I am stuck in the countryside, and I am steadfast in my ambition. Spoil Lu can't be solid, and power can't be bent. Although there is a respect in the south and a position of a duke, there is a danger of virtue and righteousness, and the courtesy is not working. If you scratch your ambition, you will be ungrateful and solid. " ("On the Latent Husband") If the Yan Hui language recorded in Historical Records Confucius Family: "It is my ugliness not to cultivate the husband's way; Tao has been overhauled and not used, which is the ugliness of those who have a country. "It can be seen that what Wang said is true. In this way, Yan Hui can only refuse to be an official all his life, but he can only console himself with "wishing to be poor as rich and cheap as expensive, without courage and prestige, and communicating with scholars without trouble all his life" (The Biography of Korean Poetry, Volume X). Confucius praised it: "if you use it, you will do it, and if you give it up, you will hide it;" Only I have a husband with you! " ("The Analects of Confucius") "A mouthful of food, a ladle of drink, in the mean lane. People can't bear their worries, and they don't change their fun when they return! " (ditto "Yong Ye"). Yan Hui's spirit of paying attention to ambition, pursuing truth and taking pleasure in it is the same as Confucius's own "eating and drinking water, bending his arms and resting on it, and enjoying it" (ibid.).
living in a humble alley
Yan Hui lived in the late Spring and Autumn Period in China. Not only did the kingship of the Zhou Dynasty continue to decline, but also the offices of various vassal States declined, from the early Spring and Autumn Period when "rites and music were conquered by princes" to "rites and music were conquered by doctors" and "accompanying ministers to carry out national life".
Yan Hui is like
a "courtier", that is, a courtier. For example, Qing Dafu of the vassal state claimed to be a vassal, while he claimed to be a "courtier" to the son of heaven; The courtiers of Doctor Qing are also called "courtiers" for princes. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Lu was in power as a "Three Huan" (that is, Lu Huangong's descendants Meng Sun Shi, Uncle Sun Shi, and Ji Sun held the state affairs). By the time Lu Zhaogong, Dinggong, and Mourning Gong, retainer forces rose and retainer rebellions occurred frequently. In the fourth year of Lu Zhaogong (538 BC), Shu Sun Shi's retainer Shu Niu was under house arrest and starved to death. He designed and killed two of Shu Sunbao's sons and set up Shu Sunnuo, an illegitimate son. In the twelfth year of Lu Zhaogong (53 BC), Ji Pingzi was established. Without courtesy to Nankuai, a courtier, Nankuai plotted to replace Ji Pingzi with Gongzi's anger: "I left Ji's family, and my son is in a more important position. I take the fee as my courtier." ("Twelve Years of Zuo Zhuan and Zhao Gong") The matter was leaked, and Nan Kuai returned to Qi at the expense of rebellion. From five to nine years of Lu Dinggong (55 BC to 51 BC), Yang Hu, the minister of the Ji family, was in dictatorship and took control of the state affairs of Lu. Yanghu Rebellion is the longest and most influential rebellion among the ministers of Lu. Yanghu's power was above "Sanhuan" for three or four years. Yanghu was originally an ordinary branch of Meng Sun Shi, and later a retainer of Ji Sun's family. Ji Pingzi was very important. Ji Pingzi died, Ji Sunsi (Huanzi) was established, and Yang Hu was already the "elder" of Ji III. In handling Ji Pingzi's funeral, Yang Hu had an argument with Zhong Lianghuai, another minister of Ji Sun's family. Yang Hu demanded that Ji Pingzi's body be collected with the treasure jade of Lu, but Zhong Lianghuai thought that it was given by Ji Pingzi when he was in Zhao Gongxun's country, and it was made for the monarch's sacrifice. Now, it can't be used any more. Yang Hu colluded with Fei Zaigong Mountain and wanted to jointly expel Zhong Lianghuai. Gong Shan didn't care at first, but later, because Zhong Lianghuai didn't respect him, he said to Yang Hu, "It's ok!" Yanghu revolted, imprisoned Ji Huanzi and his father Wen Bo (Ji Huanzi was from his father Kun Di), and expelled Zhong Lianghuai. In October of winter, Yang Hu killed Gong He Wei (a Ji Sun clan member), set up an oath with Ji Huanzi in Ji Gate, held a large-scale curse, expelled Gong Bo and Qin Zhou (Ji Pingzi's husband-in-law), completely eliminated the alien forces, and completely controlled the Ji family. In the eighth year of Lu Dinggong (52 BC), Yanghu wanted to destroy the "Three Huan", let Ji Ju take the place of Ji's, let his uncle and grandson take the place of uncle Sun Shi, and replace Meng Sun Shi himself. Yanghu took advantage of the opportunity of the winter festival to start an uprising, but failed, and fled irrigation (now a little west of Ningyang County, Shandong Province) and Yangguan, according to the rebellion of the two places.
after the two periods of "three Huan's exclusive power" and "accompanying ministers to carry out state affairs", not only did the palace decline, but also most of the aristocratic families in the old days of Lu declined. When the Yanshi family of the State of Lu went to Yan Lu and Yan Hui, apart from maintaining their ancestral aristocratic status and the title of Dr. Lu Qing of Yan Lu, they only had a simple house in a mean alley and a field outside the country of 5 mu and a garden inside the country of 1 mu. In the Spring and Autumn Period, when the productivity was extremely low, it was difficult to maintain the livelihood of an aristocratic family with a little land. Yan Hui and his son had to save the general expenses of being an aristocratic family and live in a humble alley.
When I studied under Confucius
Yan Hui, I entered the gate of Confucius at the age of thirteen, and Confucius had been gathering disciples to give lectures for thirteen years. Its popularity spread far and wide in various vassal States, and its disciples Zilu, Meng Yizi, Nangong Jingshu, etc. have become famous in Lu. When Yan Hui first entered Confucius, he was the youngest among his disciples, introverted, taciturn and less intelligent, and some people thought he was a little stupid. Ma Gou quoted the biography of Chong Bo in Yi Shi, saying, "Zilu and Yan Hui bathed in our water and saw five-colored birds. Yan Hui asked, Zilu said," The birds are shining. " The next day, Yan Hui and Zilu bathed in Surabaya again, and even saw the former bird. They asked again, "Do you know this bird?" Zi Lu said,' Birds of the same family.' Yan Hui said, "Why kill two birds?" Zilu said, "Silk gauze, for example, is boiled as silk and dyed as soap. Isn't it appropriate to kill two birds? " Yan Hui once went to our water to take a bath with Zilu, and when he saw five-colored birds swimming in the river, he asked Zilu what kind of bird it was. Zilu replied: This is called the Yingying bird. A few days later, Yan Hui and Zilu went to Surabaya to take a bath again, and they met a colorful bird in the river. Yan Hui asked Zilu again, Do you know this bird? Zilu replied: This is the same bird. Yan Hui asked: Why does a bird have two names? Zilu said: Just like the silk we produce here, washing it with clear water is silk, and dyeing it with color is soap. Isn't it natural to have two names: a bird?
Yan Temple in Qufu
Yan Hui's faithfulness and introversion masked his intelligence and thoughtfulness, and even Confucius could hardly determine what level Yan Hui's talent belonged to. After a period of in-depth observation and understanding, Confucius pointed out that Yan Hui was not stupid. "The Analects of Confucius is a government" records: "Confucius said:' I talk back all day long, and I don't violate it, like a fool. Retreat and save their privacy, but also enough to send, back is not stupid. "Yan Hui is so talented that even the articulate Zi Gong can't compare with Yan Hui frankly. "The Analects of Confucius Gongye Chang" records: "Zi said Zi Gong said:' Which is better, a woman or a woman? Yes:' How dare you look back if you give it? I can also smell one to know ten, and I can smell one to know two. Confucius said:' Buddha is as good as it is; My daughter and I are like each other.
Yan Hui was intelligent and eager to learn, which made him realize the profoundness of Confucius' theory earlier, and his respect for Confucius exceeded that of ordinary disciples. He respects Confucius with respect for the sages of the ages, and his relatives are like father and son. "The Analects of Confucius Zi Han" said: "Yan Yuan sighed with a sigh:' The higher you raise, the stronger you drill. Looking ahead, suddenly how to come back. The master followed the good and tempting, wrote me articles, asked me to be polite, and couldn't stop. I have exhausted my talents, if I have made a difference. Although I want to follow it, I have no reason at the end. " The general idea is: Yan Hui once sighed: The more you look up, the more brilliant you think it is, and the more you study hard, the more profound you think it is. Looking at it seems to be in front, when we look for it in front, it suddenly appears in the back. Although the teacher's Tao is so profound and elusive, the teacher is good at inducing us step by step, enriching and improving us with all kinds of literature knowledge, and restraining us with certain courtesy, which makes it impossible for us to stop learning. I have exhausted my talents and seem to be able to work independently. If you want to take another step forward, you don't know how to start. Therefore, when Shao Zhengmao competed with Confucius for disciples, only Yan Hui did not leave Confucius' door, so later generations commented: "Yan Yuan only knows Confucius' sage." (
When Yan Hui was studying, he married Dai, a woman from the Song Dynasty, in the eighth year of Lu Dinggong (52 BC). The following year, Yan Xin was born.
Statue of Yan Hui
In the seventh year of Lu Dinggong (53 BC), Yan Hui traveled westward to Wei, from Wei to Song. "Shuo Yuan Jing Shen" contains: "Yan Hui will travel to the west and ask Confucius,' Why are you a body? Confucius said,' Respect and faithfulness can serve you. Courtesy is free from the public, respect is loved by others, loyalty is shared by others, and trust is trusted by others. What people love, what people have and what people rely on will be free from suffering. You can be near the country, not to mention the body? Therefore, it is not far from counting and remonstrating. Isn't it bad to repair outside without repairing in the middle? If you don't think about things first, it's not too late to be in trouble. ","Confucius Family Language "and" Zhuangzi "also recorded Yan Hui's westward journey, but the words were slightly different.
The purpose of Yan Hui's westward journey is mainly to propose to Dai in Song Dynasty. According to Yan Jingqin's A Review of Yanzi, Yan Hui passed through Weiguo because his family was in Weiguo. Yan Zhuo Zou, the same ancestor of Yanzi, had a certain social status and influence in Weiguo. He was a virtuous doctor of Weiguo and had rich family wealth. Later, Confucius traveled around the world and lived in his home when he first arrived in Weiguo. Yanzi's visit to Weiguo is not his final destination. According to "Family Language", you should go to the State of Song by Wei. If Yanzi goes directly from Lu to Song, it can't be said that Yanzi will travel westward, because Song is in the southwest of Lu, not in the west. The purpose of Yanzi's going to Song State is probably related to his marriage. The reason why Yan Zi went to Wei Guo first and then to Song State seems that Yan Zhuo Zou played the role of Yue Lao in the meantime. Therefore, Yan Zi asked Yan Zhuo Zou to go to Song State together on the grounds of studying in Wei Guo.
Yan Hui entered Confucius at the age of thirteen in the first stage of his life. It took him about six years, and his studies were basically completed. Lang Kai of the Eastern Han Dynasty said: In the past, Yan Zi was "eighteen years old, and the world returned to benevolence". At the age of 19, he proposed to Dai Song, married Dai at the age of 2 and gave birth to Yan Xin at the age of 21.
There are still different opinions about the age of marriage in Yan Hui. When it comes to marrying Dai at the age of 3. However, according to "Zhou Li Di Guan", "The media is in charge of the judgment of all peoples. All men and women are famous for their years, months and days, making men marry at the age of thirty and women marry at the age of twenty. " This means that the matchmaker is in charge of the marriage of men and women of all peoples in the world, and it is usually registered after the boy or girl has reached three months. If a man is over 3 years old and a woman is not married when she is over 2 years old, the official media will make him marry and marry someone, and individuals and parents will lose their freedom of choice. In the Spring and Autumn Period, there were frequent wars. In order to compete for hegemony in the world, most vassal States took the maximum age limit for marriage stipulated in Zhou Li as the premise, so as to rapidly multiply their population. By the end of the Spring and Autumn Period when Yan Hui was located, Yue had ordered: "