Confucius and Mencius are the main figures of Confucianism. Confucius and Mencius were born in different times and had different views on "benevolence". Analyzing the differences between Confucius' benevolent policy and Mencius' benevolent policy is helpful to further understand Confucianism. The core of Confucius' thought is "benevolence", but it is difficult to define it concretely. In fact, Confucius has no specific explanation for benevolence, "fortitude and laziness are close to benevolence." "Being able to do five things in the world is a benevolent person." Different disciples asked Ren, Confucius taught students in accordance with their aptitude, and the answers were different. For example, Fan Chi asked about benevolence, and Confucius said, "Benevolence is difficult first." . Yan Yuan asked Ren, and Confucius said, "Self-denial is benevolence. A day of self-denial and self-denial, the world is benevolent. " See no evil, don't listen to evil, don't speak evil, don't move if you are evil. "Fan Chiwenren. Confucius said, "Love. "Sima Niu asked about benevolence, and Confucius said," A benevolent person is good at what he says. "Sima Niu was grumpy and talkative. Confucius suggested that he speak slowly and be cautious. The Analects of Confucius was compiled by Confucius disciples according to his usual words. So we can't know the context at that time, and we can't know exactly what Confucius meant. But in the book, Confucius mentioned benevolence in more than 100 sentences, which we can understand through them. According to the survey, the original meaning of "benevolence" is to offer sacrifices to the sacrificed people on behalf of the deceased, indicating that they will not forget their ancestors and love them by blood relationship. So the original meaning of benevolence is the love of relatives, and later it is extended to the love of lovers. Confucius said, "It is rare to be a filial brother and guilty; Those who are not good at making mistakes but are good at making trouble are not good at making mistakes. Gentleman's business is based on inheritance and Taoism. Filial piety is also the foundation of benevolence? "Filial piety is the foundation of life. First, we can serve our fathers and brothers, and then human beings can achieve great success. Benevolence unified the four virtues. Confucius believes that human nature is good and filial piety is the foundation of benevolence. Filial piety precedes others, precedes the country, and realizes universal love, so that society will develop harmoniously. People can have filial piety and naturally have benevolence. " Being unkind and talented will bring disaster to the country. "If you only have talent, but you don't have the kindness to benefit the people and do things that are not conducive to people's stable life, then it is useless to have talent again. Shuowen said, "Benevolence, affinity, obedience, two sounds. "That two people together, two people are willing to walk together, that both of them have close requirements, otherwise they won't walk together. Therefore, benevolence is a human study. Studying all Confucius' sentences that mention benevolence is aimed at people's character and cultivation. There are many words that embody "benevolence", such as filial piety, kindness, faithfulness, courage, love, courtesy, tolerance, sensitivity, wisdom, rigidity, tenacity, wood and laziness, all of which are concrete manifestations of benevolence. The Zhou Dynasty practiced the system of blood feud. In order to maintain the rule and make the clans separate and combine, the system of rites and music was formulated. The design of the ceremony is to distinguish the ranks, clarify the rank identity of all social members, and has the essence of "harmony", so that everyone can live in harmony. However, during the period of Confucius, rituals collapsed and music broke down, and deviance occurred from time to time. Some princes even have more property than kings, and there are also many people who abuse gifts and music, such as Ji Kangzi's Eight String Dance in the Palace. Confucius said, it is tolerable. Confucius lived in Lu, a country rich in ritual and music culture, and had a profound study of ritual and music. He put forward that self-denial is benevolence. Confucius believed that the system of rites and music in the Zhou Dynasty should be restored, and the benevolent should be "see no evil, don't listen to indecent assault, don't say indecent assault, and don't move until indecent assault". "self-denial in one day, the world will return to benevolence." It can be seen that the ceremony is benevolent. However, Confucius thought that it was not enough to be polite. "People heartless, such as propriety! People are heartless, you are happy! " It can be seen that benevolence must be from the heart. Through the dialogue between Zaizi and Confucius about funeral, we can see that ceremony is the embodiment of benevolence. Therefore, courtesy is the way to seek benevolence and the ultimate embodiment of benevolence. Benevolence can be done. Confucius said in the chapter "Shuer": "Is benevolence far away? I want benevolence, and I am benevolent. " "Day can with its strength to benevolence? I have never seen anyone who is weak. There is a cover, but I didn't see it. " He believes that benevolence can be achieved, as long as it is pursued hard. Therefore, the pursuit of benevolence lies in itself, that is, "benevolence depends on itself, but on others?" To seek benevolence, we should start from honoring our fathers and brothers. The art of seeking benevolence can be realized by "being knowledgeable and determined, asking questions and thinking deeply", that is, realizing independent personality through conscious moral cultivation. The word "benevolence" appears 150 times in Mencius, which shows that Mencius attached importance to "benevolence" and Mencius developed Confucius' "benevolence". Regarding the importance of "benevolence", Mencius said: "Benevolence is also a safe house for people; Righteousness, the right path of man is also. " In other words, benevolence is the place where people live, without which people will be at a loss. Giving ordinary people basic living security is the cornerstone of political stability. Rulers can win the heartfelt support of the people by implementing benevolent policies. "Benevolence is invincible." The basis of benevolent governance is "controlling people's wealth". "A family of five acres, trees are mulberry, and fifty people can wear clothes and silk." Chickens, dolphins and dogs are all domestic animals, so there is no time to waste. Seventy people can eat meat. A hundred acres of land, if you don't hurry, a family can be hungry. "Mencius saw that the people were exploited and oppressed by the feudal landlord class and tried to take these measures to ease class contradictions and consolidate the rule of the landlord class. In connection with the theory of "benevolent government", Mencius also put forward the view that "the people are more important than the monarch, and that" the people are more important than the monarch, followed by the country and the monarch ". He believes that only with the support of the people can the monarch gain and maintain his dominant position, so he advocates that the monarch should practice "benevolent government" and "enjoy with the people". China people can kill the king of the people. " I've heard of killing my husband, but I've never heard of killing my king. Mencius sympathized with the people and condemned the tyrant, but his political thought still maintained the feudal system, so he preached: "The industrious rule the people, and the industrious rule the people. "Treat people eat people, treat people eat people, and the meaning of the world is also." This view has long been the theoretical basis for defending the exploitation system. In that hegemonic era, Confucius' thought of benevolence was obviously difficult to realize. In troubled times, in order to preserve the country and unify the princes, we must adopt various strategies and means, which is obviously inconsistent with Confucius' thought. In troubled times, Confucian ideals are hard to realize. "Benevolence" is of great significance in peacetime. Nowadays, it is extremely important to apply the wisdom of the ancients to the present. Source: great eastern.