1? 12 There is a saying from Confucius: "The use of courtesy (1) is expensive. Before Wang Zhidao (3), Sri Lanka (4) was beautiful. Small and big, there are problems. It is not feasible to make peace without courtesy (5). "
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A Confucius said, "Harmony is the most important thing in the application of courtesy. The ancient monarch's method of governing the country is precious here. However, no matter how big or small things are, it is not feasible to do them in a harmonious way. (This is because) for the sake of harmony and harmony, it is not feasible to control harmony without courtesy. "
Comment and analysis
Harmony is an ethical, political and social principle advocated by Confucianism. Book of rites? "The Doctrine of the Mean" wrote: "Emotions are not expressed, and the middle festival is harmony." In the Analects of Confucius, Yang Yufu wrote: "The things in the festival are the sum, not only the joys and sorrows." Suitable for this speech, the speech is appropriate, and the speech is just right. "Confucius believes that the implementation and application of etiquette should be based on harmony. But it is not feasible to talk about harmony in everything, or to be harmonious for the sake of harmony and not be bound by etiquette. In other words, we must abide by the hierarchical differences stipulated by the ceremony, and there can be no discord between them. This view put forward by Confucius in this chapter is meaningful. In slave society, the division and opposition between different classes are very serious, and the boundaries cannot be confused at all. People at the next higher level show their prestige with their own etiquette; People at the next level are obedient with fear. However, in the Spring and Autumn Period, this social relationship began to disintegrate, and it was not uncommon for ministers to kill their husbands and children to kill their fathers. In this regard, Yu Zi put forward the theory of "harmony is the most important", the purpose of which is to ease the opposition between different classes, so that it will not collapse and stabilize the social order at that time.
Theoretically, however, we also think that Confucius not only emphasized the importance of harmony in the use of etiquette, but also pointed out that harmony should be based on courtesy instead of harmony. It can be seen that the harmony advocated by Confucius is not unprincipled, which makes sense.
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2? Confucius said: "Tao (1) is the government, qi (2) is the punishment, people are exempt from (3) shamelessness (4), Tao is the virtue, qi is the courtesy, and shame is qualified (5)."
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Confucius said: "People are guided by legal prohibitions and bound by criminal law. People just seek to avoid being punished for crimes, but they lose their sense of shame;" Guiding people with moral education and unifying people's words and deeds with etiquette will not only make people feel ashamed, but also abide by the rules. "
Comment and analysis
In this chapter, Confucius cited two completely different principles of governing the country. Confucius believes that punishment can only make people avoid committing crimes, but can't make people understand the shameful truth of committing crimes. Moral education is much better than punishment, which can not only make people obey the rules, but also make people feel ashamed. This reflects the difference between morality and legal system in governing the country. However, it should also be pointed out that Confucius' thought of "ruling by virtue" should attach importance to morality, but ignore the role of criminal politics and legal system in governing the country.
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2? 20 Ji Kangzi (1) asked: "What about keeping people at a respectful distance (2) and advising people (3)?" Confucius said: "Pro (4) regards Zhuang as the foundation, and respects it;" Filial piety (5) is loyalty; If you can't teach good deeds, persuade them. "
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Ji Kangzi asked, "What can be done to make people respect and work hard to serve those in power?" Confucius said: "If you treat people seriously, they will respect you;" If you are filial to your parents and kind to your children, the people will be loyal to you; If we choose people who are kind and have poor educational ability, the people will encourage each other and redouble their efforts. "
Comment and analysis
This chapter still talks about how to go into politics. Confucius advocated "rule by courtesy" and "rule by virtue", not only for ordinary people, but also for those in power. Those in power should be solemn, strict, filial and kind, and the people will respect, be loyal and work hard for those in power.
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Zhang Zi asked Confucius, "Can you know the etiquette system of the next ten generations in advance?" Confucius replied: "Shang dynasty inherited the etiquette system of Xia dynasty, and we can know what to add or subtract;" Zhou dynasty inherited the etiquette system of Shang dynasty, and the contents of abolition and addition can also be known. People who inherit the Zhou Dynasty in the future can know in advance, even after a hundred years. "
Comment and analysis
In this chapter, Confucius put forward an important concept: profit and loss. It means to increase or decrease and promote leather. In other words, there is inheritance, no attack, reform and flexibility to the laws and etiquette norms of the previous generation. This shows that Confucius himself is not a stubborn conservative. He doesn't have to go back to the Duke of Zhou, nor does he oppose all reforms. Of course, his degree of profit and loss is limited, provided that the basic nature of Zhou Li is not changed.
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3? 1 Confucius called her surname (1) "Bashu (2) court dance is acceptable (3), unbearable!
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Confucius said of Ji's family: "He used sixty-four people to play the piano and dance in his yard. He has the heart to do such a thing. What else can he not do? "
Comment and analysis
At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the slave society was in the process of disintegration, and things that broke the etiquette and made mistakes occurred constantly, which was an inevitable manifestation of the feudal system replacing slavery. Dancing in the courtyard with Bashu is a typical event that destroys the ritual system of Zhou. In this regard, Confucius showed great indignation, and the phrase "who can bear it" reflected Confucius' basic attitude towards this matter.
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3? Three schools (1) write "Yong" (2). Confucius said, "Respect each other as guests, and the son of heaven is speechless" (3). Take it from the hall of three schools (4)? "
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Uncle Shi, Uncle Shi, Uncle Shi and the musicians were ordered to sing "Yong" during ancestor worship. Confucius said: "(these two sentences in the poem)' It's the monarch who helps sacrifice, and the son of heaven is there, praying seriously and quietly.' How is this meaning used in the temples of your three families? "
Comment and analysis
This chapter and the previous chapter are all about the violation of "rites" by the rulers of Lu. Confucius expressed great indignation at these illegal acts. Only when the emperor has the gift of the emperor and the vassal has the gift of the vassal can the world be stable. Therefore, "ceremony" is an important category in Confucius' political thought system.
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3? Six-year-old brigade (1) is in Mount Tai, and the son said (2): "Female (3) can be saved (4)?" Yes: "No" Confucius said: "Alas! I once said that Taishan is not as good as Fang Lin? "
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Ji Sun's family went to worship Mount Tai. Confucius said to You Ran, "Can't you dissuade him?" You Ran said, "No." Confucius said, "Alas! Is Taishan God really less polite than Fang Lin? "
Comment and analysis
Sacrificing Mount Tai is the exclusive right of emperors and generals. There was only one doctor in the family, Lu, who went to worship Mount Tai. Confucius thought it was an act of "trespassing". This chapter is still a question about ceremony.
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3? Confucius said, "If a gentleman does not argue, he will shoot (1)!" (2) get up and drink, it is also a gentleman. "
Title.
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Confucius said, "A gentleman does not argue with others. If there is, it is an archery competition. During the game, we bow and scrape to each other first, and then go on stage. After the filming, they bowed to each other, then retired, and then went to the lobby to have a drink. This is a dispute between gentlemen. "
Comment and analysis
Confucius said here that "there is no dispute between gentlemen", even if there is a dispute, it is also a polite dispute, which embodies an important feature of Confucius and Confucianism, that is, it emphasizes humility and courtesy and despises rude and unfair competition, which is desirable. However, too much emphasis on humility and comity, so that it is opposed to legitimate competition, will inhibit people's positive and pioneering spirit and become a moral resistance to social development.
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3? 9 Confucius said: "I can talk about summer rituals, (1) is not enough (2); Yin can talk, but Song (3) is not smart enough. Literature (4) is insufficient. That's enough, then we can collect it. "
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Confucius said: "I can say that the ceremony of the Xia Dynasty is not enough to prove my words; I can speak of Yin Zhili, but Song Guo is not enough to prove my words. This is due to the lack of written materials and people familiar with Li Xia and Li Yin. If there is enough, I can find evidence. "
Comment and analysis
This passage illustrates two problems. Confucius was very familiar with the etiquette system in Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, and he hoped that people would abide by the etiquette norms. Unfortunately, there were too many people who violated etiquette at that time. Secondly, he thinks that the explanation of the rites of Xia, Shang and Zhou depends on enough historical classics and sages to prove it, which also reflects his realistic attitude towards knowledge.
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3? 1 1 or the theory of asking questions (1), Confucius said.
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Someone asked Confucius about the rules of holding sacrifices. Confucius said, "I don't know. People who know this law will be as easy as putting this thing here to govern the world! " Pointing at his palm.
Comment and analysis
Confucius believes that in the sacrificial ceremony of Lu, the birthright is reversed and it is not worth seeing. So someone asked him about the rules of sacrifice, and he deliberately said he didn't know. But then he said, who can understand the truth of sacrifice, it will be easy to rule the world, that is to say, who knows the rules of sacrifice, can return to the disorderly "ceremony".
"I don't know. He who knows words is alive, such as Shijusi! " At your fingertips.
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3? 14 Confucius said: (1) In the second generation (2), (3) was about literature, so I followed Zhou. "
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Confucius said: "The etiquette system of the Zhou Dynasty was borrowed from the Xia and Shang Dynasties, and it was so colorful. I follow the system of the Zhou Dynasty. "
Comment and analysis
Confucius had a deep study on the etiquette of Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties. He believes that history cannot be cut off, and the later dynasty must inherit the former dynasty. Respecting the rites of the week is the basic attitude of Confucius, but it is not absolute. In the previous chapter, Confucius put forward that the etiquette system of Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties had its advantages and disadvantages.
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3? 16 Confucius said, "You can't shoot the main skin (1) because the force (2) is different from the ancient road."
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Confucius said: "competition archery is not to penetrate the target, because everyone's strength is different." This has been the case since ancient times. "
Comment and analysis
"Shooting" is a ritual ceremony often held by nobles in Zhou Dynasty, which belongs to one of the contents of "Zhou Li". The archery mentioned by Confucius here is only a metaphor, which means that as long as you are willing to learn the rules of etiquette, no matter what degree you learn, it is worthy of recognition.
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3? 18 Confucius said, "People think politeness is flattery."
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Confucius said, "Ministers and princes all follow the etiquette of Zhou, while others think it is flattering."
Comment and analysis
Confucius asked himself to serve the monarch in strict accordance with Zhou Li's regulations all his life, which was his political and ethical belief. But being laughed at by others is flattering the monarch. This shows that the relationship between monarch and minister at that time has been destroyed, and not many people have paid attention to the ceremony of monarch and minister.
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3? 19 (1) Ding Gong asked: "How about you make an envoy and I am a monarch?" Confucius said, "The monarch makes the minister polite, and the minister is loyal to the monarch."
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Duke Ding of Lu asked Confucius, "How does a monarch command his servants and how does his servants serve the monarch?" Confucius replied: "The monarch mainly orders his officials according to the requirements of courtesy, and his officials should serve the monarch faithfully."
Comment and analysis
The main content of Confucius' ceremony is that "the monarch and ministers are polite and the ministers are loyal to the monarch". As long as this is done, the monarch and his subjects will live in harmony. Judging from the language environment of this chapter, Confucius still focused on the requirements of the monarch, emphasizing that the monarch mainly treated his ministers with courtesy, unlike later: even if the monarch was rude, his subordinates should be loyal, so that they developed into foolish loyalty without asking right and wrong.
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3? Confucius said, "It's disrespectful to live in a narrow place, and there's no mourning. What do I think? "
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Confucius said, "Those in power should not be lenient with others, salute is not proper, and funerals are not sad. How can I stand this situation? "
Comment and analysis
Confucius advocated "rule by virtue" and "rule by courtesy", and first put forward moral requirements for those in power. If the officials in power can't do what the "ceremony" requires and their moral cultivation is not enough, then the country can't be governed. At that time, the collapse of ceremonies in society made Confucius feel unbearable.