Confucius (551- 479 BC) was a great thinker and educator in China in the late Spring and Autumn Period and the founder of Confucianism. Mingqiu, whose name is Zhong Ni, is from Lu. The year of Confucius' birth is generally recorded as the 22nd year of Duke Xiang of Lu according to Historical Records of Confucius' Family, but the birth date and birthday is not recorded in Historical Records, and it is recorded as "Confucius was born in October" according to Gu Liang Biography. Converted to the current Gregorian calendar, it should be born on September 8, 551 BC.

Confucius was born in Lu. Lu, the son of Zhou Gongdan, was a fief of Boqin, which preserved the cultural relics and ancient books of the Zhou Dynasty well and was known as the "land of rites and music". In the twenty-ninth year of Duke Xiang of Lu (544 BC), Ji Zha, the son of Wu, was amazed at Lu. In the second year of Lu Zhaogong (the first 54 years), Han Xuanzi, a doctor of Jin Dynasty, visited Lu, and after reading the book, he praised "Zhou Li is all in Lu!" The cultural tradition of Lu and the downward trend of learning at that time had a great influence on the formation of Confucius' thought.

Confucius lost his father in his early years and his family declined. He once said, "I'm cheap because I'm few, so I can be contemptuous." When I was young, I used to be a "Commissioner" (managing granaries) and a "farmer" (managing cattle and sheep). Although living in poverty, Confucius was "determined to learn" at the age of fifteen. He is good at learning from others. He once said, "When we are in a threesome, we must learn from each other. Choose the good and follow it, and change it if it is not good. " ("The Analects of Confucius") He learned from an ordinary teacher and never tires of learning. The villagers also praised him as "knowledgeable".

Confucius "stood at the age of thirty" and began to give lectures. Anyone who brings a little "beam repair" will be accepted as a student. Such as Yan Lu, Ceng Dian, Zilu, Bo Niu, Ran You, Zi Gong, Yan Yuan, etc., were among the earlier disciples. Lian Lu's son Meng Yizi and Nangong Jingshu came to learn the ceremony, which shows that Confucius has become famous for running a school. The establishment of private schools broke the tradition of "learning in the government" and further promoted the downward movement of academic culture.

since the declaration of the state of Lu, the regime has been in the hands of Sanhuan headed by Ji. In the early years of Zhao Gong, the three families divided up Lu Jun's military power. Kong Liao once expressed indignation at Ji's trespassing behavior of "dancing in court with eight strokes". In the twenty-fifth year of Zhao Gong (517 BC), there was civil strife in Lu, and Confucius left Lu to Qi. Qi Jinggong asked Confucius about politics, and Confucius said, "Jun Jun, minister, father, son." He added: "Politics is about saving money." The Qi regime was run by the doctor Chen, and although Jing Gong liked Confucius' words, he could not use them.

Confucius was frustrated in Qi, so he returned to Lu. "He retired to study poetry, books, rituals and music, and his disciples attracted many people." People came from far away to study in almost every waiting country. At that time, the Lu regime was under the control of Ji's family, and Ji's family was subject to its retainer Yang Huo. Confucius was dissatisfied with the fact that the government was not in the hands of the monarch, but in the hands of doctors, and he was unwilling to be an official. He said, "Being unjust and rich and expensive is like a cloud to me."

In the ninth year of Lu Dinggong (51 BC), Yang Huo was expelled, and Confucius was appointed as the commander in the capital of Lu, at the age of 51. "After a year's work, the four sides will do it." Therefore, it was moved from Zhongdu to Sikong, and then it was promoted to a big sheep herder. In the tenth year of Lu Dinggong (the first 5 years), the meeting of Qilu Jiagu was attended by Confucius. Confucius believed that "those who have military affairs must be equipped with weapons, and those who have military affairs must be equipped with weapons". Early precautions made Qi Jun's premeditated attempt to hijack Lu Jun by force fail, and he used diplomatic means to recover the land occupied by Qi. In the 12th year of the reign of Emperor Ding (the first 498 years), in order to strengthen the public office and restrain the Three Huan, Confucius put forward the plan of "falling into the Three Capitals" by citing the ancient system that "the family does not hide armour, and the city has no hundred pheasants", and implemented it through Ren Jishi's sub-road. Because Confucius took advantage of the contradiction between Sanhuan and his courtiers, Ji Sun and Uncle Sun Shi agreed to destroy Feiyi and Houyi respectively. However, Meng Sun Shi was incited by the retainer, the public, and his father, and opposed falling into a city. It is impossible to set a public encirclement. Confucius' plan was frustrated.

Confucius was an official of Lu, and the Qi people were afraid of Lu's strength and merging with themselves, so he gave his daughter pleasure in Lu Dinggong and Ji Huanzi. Ji Huanzi was entertained by Qi Nv and refused to listen to politics for three days. Confucius' political restraint was difficult to exert, so he led more than ten disciples, including Yan Hui, Zilu, Zigong and Ran Qiu, to leave the "land of parents" and began a 14-year-long wandering career. Confucius was 55 years old that year. It will be suitable for Chen to go to Weiguo first, receive courtesy from Wei Linggong first, and then be monitored for fear of being convicted. After crossing the quarry, he was besieged for five days. After the clearance, I wanted to cross Puzhi to Jin, but I didn't go because of the civil strife in Jin, so I had to return to Wei. I met Nanzi, which caused suspicion in many ways. Wei Linggong was lazy in politics and didn't need Confucius. Confucius said: "If you use me, it will only take a month, and it will be successful in three years." The guards were in chaos at home, and Confucius left Wei Jing Cao Zhi Song. Sima Huankui of the Song Dynasty tried to kill Confucius, who was sixty years old when he was disguised as Zheng Zhichen of the Song Dynasty. Later, Confucius went back and forth to Chen Cai many times and was "between Chen Cai and Chen Cai". According to Records of the Historian, King Zhao of Chu came to hire Confucius, and Dr. Chen and Dr. Cai surrounded Confucius, which led to a seven-day famine. After the clearance, Confucius went to Chu, and soon King Zhao of Chu died. Wei Chugong wants to use Confucius. Confucius answered Zilu's question, saying that "correcting the name" must be the first thing in politics. After returning to Wei, Confucius was treated as a "virtuous man", but he was still useless. In the 11th year of Lu Aigong (484 BC), Ran returned to Lu and led the army to defeat the Qi army in Lang. Ji Kangzi sent people to greet Confucius with coins. Confucius returned to Lu at the age of sixty-eight.

After Confucius returned to Lu, the Lu people respected "the country is old". At the beginning, Lu Aigong and Ji Kangzi often consulted each other on political affairs, but they were never taken seriously. Confucius devoted himself to sorting out documents and continuing to engage in education in his later years. In the 16th year of Lu Aigong (479 BC), Confucius died and was buried in Surabaya, north of Lucheng.

the life of Mencius

Mencius was born in Zou (now Zouxian County, Shandong Province) and lived from about 372 BC to 289 BC. He is a descendant of Meng Sun Shi, a noble of Lu. After the decline of Meng Sun Shi, one family moved from Lu to Zou, which is the ancestor of Mencius. "Historical Records, Biography of Mencius and Xun Qing" said that Mencius was "a disciple of the industry" (1); Perhaps his teacher is not a prestigious person, so Mencius did not say his name, but said, "I have not been a Confucius disciple, and I am a private scholar." (2) Mencius has great respect for Confucius. He said in "On the Ugly Sun": "Since the birth of the people, it has not flourished in Confucius". If you wish, you will learn from Confucius.

Mencius once traveled to Qi, Song, Teng, Wei, Lu and other countries for more than twenty years. The specific time when he traveled to other countries is not very accurate, and he can only explain the general time and situation according to the records in Mencius.

Mencius first visited the state of Qi in Qi Weiwang (356 BC-32 BC). At that time, Kuang Zhang was carrying a bad reputation of "unfilial", but Mencius "swam with it and was polite". He was so frustrated in Qi State that he left Qi State without accepting the gift of "one hundred gold" from King Wei. Around 329 BC, when Song Gongzi established himself as a monarch, Mencius arrived in the State of Song. During his stay in the Song Dynasty, Teng Wengong was still a prince, and he met Mencius when he went to Chu and passed through the Song Dynasty. "Mencius' Tao is good, and his words must be called Yao and Shun." He came back from Chu State and met Mencius in Song State. Mencius said: "Do you doubt my words? It' s just a husband' s way. " ⑥ It means that as long as we study the "first king" well, we can manage Tengguo well. Soon, Mencius accepted a gift of seventy dollars from Song Jun, left Song State and returned to Zou State. Liang Hui Wang Xia recorded that Zou had a conflict with Lu. Zou Mugong asked Mencius: "I have 33 dead people, but the death of the people is also." If you punish it, you can't win it; If you don't punish him, you will see his long-term death and not save him. If so, what can I do? " Mencius replied: "In the fierce year, the people of Jun are old and weak, and the strong are scattered in all directions, and thousands of people are gone;" And your warehouse is solid, the treasury is full, and there is no way to tell you. It is slow and disabled. " He said, it's just like Ceng Zi said: As you treat others, they will repay you. Now, your people have a chance to get revenge. Don't blame them! "If you are benevolent, Simin will kiss you and die for a long time." Teng Dinggong died, and Teng Wengong sent his friends to Zou Guolai twice to ask Mencius how to handle the funeral. When Teng Wengong succeeded to the throne, Mencius came to Tengguo. Teng Wengong personally asked Mencius about governing the country. Mencius said: "Civil affairs cannot be delayed." He believes that only when people have fixed industrial income can they have stable ideological and moral and social order. After the people's life is guaranteed, they must also be educated in "human relations". "People are above, and Wang is below". Teng Wengong sent his courtiers to ask about the Jingtian system. Mencius said: "A benevolent government must begin with the classics". Then I talked about the well field system again. Finally, I'm talking about the general situation. You and your monarch should follow it.

Xu Xing, a farmer who speaks for Shennong, came to Tengguo from Chu. Xu Xing advocated that both the monarch and the people should cultivate and eat, and opposed the exploitation and oppression for nothing. Advocate physical transaction, where the goods are equal in quantity and weight, the price is the same. Chen Xiang's brothers are very much in favor of Xu Xing's idea of "abandoning his studies and learning". Xu Xing's thought is progressive in opposing exploitation. However, he denied the social division of labor with the egalitarianism of small farmers, which violated the law of social and historical development. Mencius seized this weakness of Xu Xing, talked about the truth of "uneven things", and demonstrated the "rationality" of the exploitation system and class oppression by dividing "labor" and "labor".

Mencius saw clearly that Teng Guo's own life was in jeopardy, and it was impossible to carry out his political ideas. He left Tengguo for Wei in the fifteenth year after the reign of King Hui of Liang (32 BC). At this time, Mencius was 53 years old. When King Hui met Mencius, he asked, "Hey, coming a long way, will it benefit our country?" Mencius was most opposed to the monarch's statement of profit, so he replied, "Wang, why bother to talk about profit? There is only benevolence and righteousness." In 353 BC, Wei was defeated by Qi in the battle of Guiling. In 341 BC, during the Battle of Maling, Prince Shen of Wei was captured by the Qi army and died. In 34 BC, Shang Yang of Qin led the troops to attack Wei and captured the general son Mao of Wei. In 33 BC, Wei cut the land on the west side of the river to Qin, and in 328 BC, he cut the fifteen counties of Shangjun to Qin. In 323 BC, Chu made Zhaoyang, the pillar country, lead the troops to break Wei Jun in Xiangling and gain the land of eight cities of Wei. Therefore, King Hui of Liang said to Mencius, "The State of Jin, Mo Qiang in the world, knows nothing. And my body, the east was defeated by Qi, and the eldest son died; In the west, the land of mourning is seven hundred Li in Qin; South is a disgrace to Chu. I am ashamed of it, and I am willing to spill it than the dead. If so, what can I do? " Mencius told Liang Huiwang a set of methods of benevolent governance for the people. In this way, he said, even with sticks, Qin Chu's army with strong soldiers could be fought. Liang Huiwang asked how to retaliate against Qi, Qin and Chu, but Mencius answered the vague truth, which was of course ignored by Liang Huiwang. In the second year of Mencius' arrival in Wei, Liang Huiwang died, and his son Liang Xiang succeeded him. When Mencius met King Liang Xiang, he had a bad impression on him, saying that he didn't look like a monarch. At this time, Qi Weiwang was dead, Xuan Wang succeeded to the throne, and Mencius left Wei and went to Qi.

Mencius visited Qi again in about the second year of Qi Xuanwang (318 BC) and was treated with courtesy.

When Qi Xuanwang met Mencius, he asked, "Have you heard about Qi Huan and Jin Wen?" Mencius replied, "The followers of Zhong Ni who have no knowledge of what to say and write are those who have no knowledge of it in the future. If there is nothing, then it is king! " (1) Qi Xuanwang wants to follow the example of Qi Huangong and Jin Wengong; Mencius' political proposition, however, is to follow the example of the "former king" and implement "benevolent government". His principles of "protecting the people and being king" and "controlling the people's property", although noting the long-term interests of the feudal landlord class, are not the top priority of "enriching Qiang Bing", thus being regarded as "conservative and ignorant of the world".

the prince of Yan gave the country to Yan Xiangzi, which caused civil strife in the state of Yan. In 314 BC, Qi Xuanwang took the opportunity to send troops to attack Yan, and it took only 5 days to win. Qi Xuanwang said to Mencius, "Why should governors treat those who seek to attack me more?" Mencius said: "If the king gives an order quickly, he will oppose it, stop its heavy weapon, seek for the public, set the monarch and then go, and it will be enough." 2 Xuan Wang did not listen, "Yan Ren Pan". The king said, "I am very devoted to Mencius." (3) Mencius made a lot of suggestions to Qi Xuanwang, but it didn't work. He had intended to rely on Qi Xuanwang to carry out his political ideas, but Qi Xuanwang only respected him as a respected scholar, rather than trying to realize his political ideals. Mencius also saw this clearly and was ready to return home. Qi Xuanwang sent someone to tell Mencius: "I want China (the capital of China) to give Mencius a room and raise ten thousand disciples, so that all doctors and Chinese people will be ashamed." This is actually taking Mencius as a signboard and winning the reputation of respecting the virtuous and valuing the people.

In "Under the Ugly Sun", Mencius left the State of Qi and stayed at the border of Qi for three nights. Someone asked him why he was so slow. He said, "It's still too soon to stay out of the day for three nights. How can you change it?"! If the king changes, he will give back. " "If the king uses it, he will be a disciple of Qi Min 'an and the people of the world will be safe." Someone else said, "I think you look unhappy in Old Master Q." Mencius said: "In 5 years, there will be kings, and there will be famous people in the meantime. From Zhou, he is over 7 years old. With its number, it is too much; If you test it at the right time, you can do it. The husband did not want to rule the world; If you want to rule the world, who else can you give me? Why am I not prepared? " From the viewpoint of historical cycle theory, he thinks that there will be a "king" to unify the world. He pinned his hopes on Qi Xuanwang, hoping to make a difference in Qi, but his hopes failed and he had to leave Qi.

Qi and Chu once had an agreement of union. Qin made Zhang Yi trick Chu Huaiwang into breaking up with Qi with the benefit of land. Chuji has broken off diplomatic relations, and Chu also found that he was bullied. In 312 BC, Chu sent troops to fight against Qin, and was defeated by Qin twice. When Qin Chu was about to go to war, Mencius went from Qi to Song and met Song Zhang in Shiqiu. In "Gao Zi Xia", Song Ying heard that Qin Chu was going to fight, and he was going to say that Qin and Chu had stopped fighting. Mencius asked Song Zhang what purpose he used to talk about Qin and Chu. Song Zhang said, "I will say that it is unfavorable." Mencius opposed "profit" and advocated "benevolence and righteousness". He said: "Mr. Eli said that the king of Qin Chu and the Wang Yue of Qin and Chu were beneficial to him, so as to stop the division of the three armed forces. It is the people of the three armed forces who are happy to stop and are happy to benefit." "The monarch, the father and son, and the brothers will eventually (completely) go to benevolence and righteousness, and they will be connected with each other. However, those who do not die will not have anything." "This, father and son, brothers to benefit, also with kindness, but not the king, not have also. Why bother to profit? " He said: "The ambition of the former king is great, but the title of Mr. is not."

When Mencius visited Song again, Song Junyan had already established himself as king. In Teng Wengong Xia, Zhang Wan, a disciple of Mencius, asked, "Song, a small country. Today, I will be a king, and I will cut it. What about it? " Mencius said that Tang and Wu Xing Wang Zheng, their conquest, was to save the people from fire and water and kill the cruel monarch, which won the support of the whole world and was "invincible in the world." "If you are a king, you will look forward to it within the four seas and want to be a king. Although Qi and Chu are big, what about He Wei? "

Mencius soon left Song State for Lu State. At this time, it was Lu Pinggong (reigned from about 322 BC to 32 BC) who was going to put Mencius' disciple Le Zhengzi in power. Lu Pinggong is going to visit Mencius because his favorite junior minister Zangcang spoke ill of Mencius and changed his mind. Le Zhengzi told Mencius the story. Mencius said with great emotion: "It's a pity that I didn't meet Lu Hou. How can the son of Zang's family make it difficult for him? " Mencius was already in his sixties, so he returned to his hometown, Zou Guo, and stopped traveling.

Mohism and Yang Zhu School are the most influential schools in arguing with Confucianism. Mencius said: "The words of Yang Zhu and Mo Zhai are all over the world, and the words of the world are not returned to Yang, but to Mo." (1) He also said, "Those who escape from ink will belong to Yang, and those who escape from Yang will belong to Confucianism." (2) Mencius denounced Yang and Mohism, saying, "The Tao of Yang and Mohism is endless, but the Tao of Confucius is out of reach. It's heresy that falsely accuses the people, and it's filled with benevolence and righteousness. If benevolence and righteousness are filled, animals will eat people, and people will eat. I am afraid of this, and I am idle (defending) the way of being a sage, away from Yang and Mo, and let loose obscene words.