Confucius distinguished between "saints" and "gentlemen". In the conversation with Zi Gong, a Taizai called Confucius a "saint", but Confucius called himself a "gentleman". In Confucius' mind, only people like Yao Shun can be called "saints" and "must be saints"! [2] In real life, "saints" are rare, but "gentlemen" can be seen; In other words, "gentleman" exists in reality and "sage" exists in ideal. "Gentleman" is the name of Confucian personality, and "sage" is the ideal of Confucian personality.

Confucius is a realist. He didn't express much opinion on the ideal personality (sage), but he said a lot about the real personality (gentleman). The outline of Confucius' personality theory can be obtained if Confucius' exposition on "gentleman" in The Analects of Confucius is concentrated.

1. Personality image of a gentleman: gentleness.

There are differences between appearance and essence in the composition of individual personality. In the development history of western personality psychology, the earliest definition of "personality" is "mask theory" [iii], which means an individual's open self, or a person's image in the public and society. This "mask" (image) may or may not look good. In the words of the Analects of Confucius, it may be a "gentleman" or a "villain". Then, what should be the personality image of a "gentleman"? The Analects of Confucius Yong Ye:

Confucius said, "Quality is better than literature, and literature is better than quality. Gentleness is a gentleman. "

The personality image of a gentleman is simple but not vain, elegant but not rude, giving people the feeling of "gentleness" and the harmonious unity of simplicity and elegance. As far as the relationship between "quality" and "literature" is concerned, quality is the background color and the true color; Literature is processed, not artificial. Quality is an innate quality, and it is the innate affection of people; Literature is cultivated, and it is a personality characteristic with distinctive sociality and traces of human will.

The Analects of Confucius Bashu also talked about the relationship between "quality" and "literature":

Xia Zi asked, "What do you mean by smiling skillfully and looking forward to beautiful eyes?" Confucius said, "Painting is afterwards."

The beauty of painting is behind the good texture (elements), just like the charm of looking forward to beauty, it is inherent beauty (a good mouth is dimples and black and white eyes). Of course, what Xia Zi wants to discuss with his teacher here is not "knowing people" or "painting things", but the personality of a gentleman. Xia Zi immediately asked Confucius, "Is the ceremony over?" Confucius was very excited and sighed, "It is also a businessman who gives!" It can be said that "poetry" is gone. According to the Analects of Confucius by Yang Bojun, Xia Zi's "post-ceremony" should be "post-ceremony, post-righteousness" [iv]. Here, Xia Zi replaces the relationship between "literature" and "quality" with the relationship between "ceremony" and "benevolence", so that Xia Zi's "ceremony after ceremony" can be understood on two levels. As far as the personality image of a gentleman is concerned, "courtesy" is another way of saying "gentleness" (people often use "courtesy" to visualize the personality image) [v]; As far as the personality composition of a gentleman is concerned, the external courtesy is not as good as the internal benevolence (conversely, benevolence determines whether the personality image is elegant or gentle).

2. The essence of a gentleman's personality: benevolence and straightness

The word "benevolence" appears 109 times in The Analects of Confucius, which is not only the highest moral standard of Confucius, but also the essence of Confucian gentleman's personality. The original meaning of the word "benevolence" is actually not complicated. Refers to a blind date between a person and a lover. However, the word "benevolence" in the Analects of Confucius is used too frequently and has too wide a meaning. The personality norms and behaviors of all saints and gentlemen can be labeled as "benevolence". Once you leave "benevolence", a gentleman is not a gentleman. What is the so-called "gentleman's benevolence"? Is fame evil? If a gentleman has no final food, he will violate benevolence and will do it again. "[6] it can be seen that a gentleman can't violate benevolence for an instant, and it is unconditional for a gentleman not to violate benevolence. Therefore, Ceng Zi said, "A scholar can't help but strive for self-improvement, and he still has a long way to go. Isn't it important to think that benevolence is your responsibility? Isn't it far after death? " [vii] It can also be seen that benevolence is hard-won and important.

Confucius' theory of "benevolence" defines the essence of gentleman's personality from four aspects. The first thing is to be respectful and polite. "The Analects of Confucius Yan Yuan" said, "Self-denial is benevolence, self-denial is benevolence in one day, and benevolence in the world"; The second is loyalty to the monarch and filial piety. The Analects of Confucius said: "Those who are also filial are also benevolent"; Third, love, The Analects of Confucius Yan Yuan: "Fan Chi asks for benevolence, and Confucius says' love'"; The fourth is that "being rigid, rigid, wooden, lazy and close to benevolence" and "being able to do five things (namely, respect, tolerance, faithfulness, sensitivity and generosity) are human benevolence." [viii] The first two are the political ethics and moral norms of Confucian personality, while the latter two have distinct personality psychology colors and are closer to the original meaning of "benevolence". The definition and exposition of "benevolence" in The Analects of Confucius are mostly carried out at the latter two levels:

Benevolent people want to be a man, but they want to be a man. [9]

Benevolence can be good or evil.

Determined to be benevolent, do all kinds of evil. [x]

Don't do unto others what you don't want done unto you.

A virtuous person helps others to achieve their moral perfection, not their evil behavior.

A gentleman makes friends with words and helps others with kindness. [xi]

Judging from the glyph structure of the word "benevolence", "two people" means "benevolence", which stipulates from the etymological point of view that the validity of "benevolence" exists in interpersonal relationships, or that "benevolence", as the inherent quality of a gentleman's personality, is formed and manifested in the interaction between individuals and others. It is in this sense that the Analects interprets "benevolence" as love, friendliness, forgiveness, kindness, frankness and honesty.

Among the many meanings of "benevolence", what Confucius values most is "straightness" (the word "straightness" appears 22 times in The Analects of Confucius). According to the Analects of Confucius, Yan Yuan and Fan Chi could not fully understand "the benevolent loves others", so Confucius further explained that "pointing out the right and wrong can make the evildoer straight", which shows that the reuse of "straight" means "the benevolent loves others", and "straight" naturally becomes the personality spirit of the benevolent. Confucius even regarded "straightness" as a necessary condition for individual survival, and the survival of "straightness" (falsehood or falsehood) is a fluke even if it can avoid disasters (The Analects of Confucius has the saying that "life is straight, but an illusory life is also lucky to avoid it"). "straightness" and "ignorance" are opposites, so are "gentlemen" and "villains" In the comparison between "gentleman" and "villain", Confucius often highlights the honest and frank of the gentleman and the ignorance of the villain. For example, in establishing a person, a gentleman means justice and a villain means profit; Be frank in your sentence, a petty man is anxious and worried.. Shure; In Lutz, the gentleman is harmonious but different, and the villain is not harmonious; A gentleman is Thai but not arrogant, a villain is arrogant but not Thai, and so on. Confucius earnestly warned his students: "You are a gentleman and a Confucian! Doing nothing is a villain! " [12]

The philosophical form of Confucian personality can be divided into two levels: personality norm and personality shaping. The above personality ideal (sage), personality name (gentleman), personality image (gentleman) and personality essence (benevolence) can all be used as the standards or norms of Confucian personality; And how to achieve these standards, or by what means or ways to implement these guidelines, The Analects of Confucius also provides ideological materials for reference.

3. Internal cultivation and extrapolation of gentleman's personality

Since "benevolence" is the essence of Confucian personality and the core of a gentleman's personality, how can individuals be benevolent and how can they shape their own personality with benevolence as the criterion? The Analects of Confucius Yan Yuan: "Confucius said,' Be kind to yourself and others?' Starting from the basic premise of "benevolence and self-reliance", Confucius also put forward specific ways to shape personality: introspection, erudition and practice. Sima Niu asked how to be a gentleman, and Confucius said, "Don't worry or be afraid", and further explained, "If you don't feel guilty after introspection, why should your husband worry or be afraid?" (ditto) "The Analects of Confucius" also said: "See the sage Si Qi Yan, see the sage Si Qi Yan." Confucius also discussed the specific content of "introspection":

Confucius said: "A gentleman has Jiu Si: he thinks clearly, listens attentively, looks gently, looks respectfully, speaks loyally, respects things, asks doubtful questions, and thinks angrily, depending on his meaning." [13]

From perception to emotion, from speech to behavior, from thinking to will, they are all objects of individual introspection, and these aspects almost include all aspects of individuals from personality image to personality essence.

Confucius is a utilitarian, who advocates saving the world and being an official when the country has a way; However, this idea of achievement is based on national immunity and there is no way to do it. Confucius claimed to be responsible for himself, and Dont Ask For Help was famous for it. The Analects of Confucius said: "I don't know, I don't care, isn't it a gentleman?" The so-called "being responsible for yourself" includes internal introspection and external practice, so Confucius also said that "those who don't know what they don't know should not suffer from it" [xiv], "a gentleman is ill and incompetent, and he doesn't know what a patient is", "a gentleman is ill and nameless" [xv] and "inability" or "incompetence" lack the ability and "behavior". Confucius repeatedly stressed that introspection of the personality subject. Lutz asked how to be a gentleman, and Confucius said three things, namely, "cultivate one's morality for respect", "cultivate one's morality for security" and "cultivate one's morality for people's security" [xvi], all of which are external behaviors. Confucius said that the trip of "benevolent" not only includes daily life behaviors such as defense, shooting, being an official and being a parent, but also includes the tragic heroic behavior of those who know that it is impossible and even commit suicide to show benevolence.