Confucianism refers to self-restraint, so that everything belongs to "ceremony" ("ceremony" is the ceremony of the Western Zhou Dynasty). "Self-denial and courtesy" is a cultivation method to achieve the realm of benevolence. From The Analects of Confucius Yan Yuan: "Yan Yuan asked about benevolence. Confucius said:' Self-denial and courtesy are benevolence. A day of self-denial and self-denial, the world will return to benevolence! Benevolence depends on itself, but on others?' "
In his early political pursuit, Confucius always took the restoration of the rites of Zhou as his own responsibility and called it benevolence. Yan Yuan asked Confucius what benevolence was and how to realize it, and Confucius made such an explanation. So it can be regarded as Confucius' definition of benevolence in his early years.
2. Yan Shu
Yan Shu, a poet in the Northern Song Dynasty, is famous for his honesty. At the age of fourteen, he was recommended to the emperor and became a child prodigy. The emperor summoned him and asked him to take the exam at the same time with more than 1000 Jinshi. As a result, Yan Shu found that she had just practiced the exam ten days ago, so she truthfully reported to Zhenzong and asked to change other topics. Song Zhenzong appreciated Yan Shu's honesty very much and named him "fellow scholar".
When Yan Shu takes office, the world is at peace. Therefore, Beijing officials, large and small, often go to the suburbs or hold various banquets in restaurants and teahouses in the city.
Yan Shu was poor and had no money to go out to eat, drink and have fun, so she had to read and write articles with her brothers at home. One day, Zhenzong promoted Yan Shu as the official of the East Palace who assisted the prince in his studies. Ministers were surprised and didn't understand why Zhenzong made such a decision.
Zhenzong said, "Recently, the ministers often play and have banquets. Only Yan Shu studies behind closed doors, so she is cautious in self-esteem and is the best candidate for the East Palace official. " Yan Shu thanked him and said, "I am actually a person who likes to play and eat, but my family is poor." If I had money, I would have taken part in the banquet tour. " These two things made Yan Shu establish prestige in front of ministers, and Song Zhenzong trusted him more.
3. Bao Gong
Bao Gong's parents died when he was a child, and he was raised by his brother and sister-in-law, so that he could study. He won the first place in the imperial examination and entered the official career. Bao Mian, the only son of my brother and sister-in-law, as a local official, took advantage of his position to embezzle food money for disaster relief, and was later reported. As an inspector, Bao Zheng personally tried the case, and after finding out the truth, he ordered the execution of his nephew Bao Mian.
In the face of scolding from his sister-in-law, Bao Zheng showed that he was not an ungrateful villain, but because he had the obligation to strictly enforce the law. "The prince broke the law and was as guilty as Shu Ren.". In order to get rid of moral suffering, Bao Zheng knelt down and called her "sister-in-law", willing to replace her nephew as her "retirement".
4. Shi Yang
As far back as the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a scholar named Shi Yang in Jiangdong County, Fujian Province. He especially likes reading, looking for teachers and friends everywhere, and studied under the famous scholar Cheng Hao. After Cheng Hao's death, he recommended Shi Yang to his younger brother Cheng Yi to study in Yichuan Academy. Shi Yang was over forty years old at that time, and his knowledge level was quite high. However, he is still modest and prudent, and respects his teachers and friends. He was deeply loved by Cheng Yi and regarded as a proud pupil by Cheng Yi.
One day, you Zuo, who was studying with him, asked Cheng Yi for advice, just in time for the teacher to take a nap in the room. Shi Yang advised Youzuo not to wake up the teacher, so they stood quietly at the door, waiting for the teacher to wake up. After a while, it snowed heavily and became more and more urgent. But Shi Yang and Youzuo are still standing in the snow. Youzuo can't stand the cold. He tried to wake Cheng Yi several times, but Shi Yang stopped him. ?
It was not until Cheng woke up that he suddenly found two snowmen outside! From then on, Cheng Yi was deeply moved and tried his best to teach foreigners. Shi Yang didn't expect much, and finally learned all the knowledge of the teacher.
Later, he returned to the south to spread Cheng Zhu's Neo-Confucianism and formed a unique school, known as "Mr. Kameyama". Later generations used the allusion of "Chengmen Sydney" to praise those students who are good at learning, honest and dedicated, and respect teachers.
5. Jibu
At the end of the Qin Dynasty, there was a man named Ji Bu. He kept his word and had a very high reputation. Many people have established a strong friendship with him. At that time, there was even a proverb: "It is better to get a hundred pounds of gold than to keep a promise." Later, he offended Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang and was offered a reward for his capture. As a result, his old friends not only were not confused by the heavy money, but also risked the extinction of Jiuzu to protect him from disaster.
A person who is honest and trustworthy will naturally get a lot of help and gain everyone's respect and friendship. On the other hand, if you covet temporary comfort or petty advantages and lose trust in your friends, you will get "benefits" on the surface. But for this benefit, he ruined his reputation, which is much more important than material things. Therefore, breaking a promise to a friend is tantamount to losing a watermelon and picking up sesame seeds, which is not worth the loss.