The Analects of Confucius is a prose with 2 articles in total. There are Xue Er, Wei Zheng, Ba Shu, Li Ren, Gongye Chang, Yong Ye, Shu Er, Tai Bo, Zi Han, Xiang Dang, Advanced, Yan Yuan, Zi Lu and Xian. There are also disciples' self-questioning, which is the classic on which Confucianism is based.
Confucius (551-479 BC) was named Zhong Ni. His father Kong Ge, also known as Shu Liangkong, was a butcher in the city of Qiaoyi (now southeast of Qufu, Shandong Province), and he was a "scholar" of the lower class of the aristocratic class. His mother's name was Yan. He used to be a petty official in charge of warehouses (commissioners) and cattle and sheep (farmers). Later, Confucius was proficient in the "six arts" (ceremony, music, shooting, imperial, calligraphy and counting).
Confucius' political proposition was the theory of "ceremony" and "benevolence". He lived in the era of great changes in the Spring and Autumn Period and opposed forcing people to obey by politics and punishment. He said This kind of benevolence and courtesy can be divided into upper and lower levels, lower and higher levels. In the turbulent Spring and Autumn Period, in order to compete for hegemony, the princes paid attention to strength and profit, so they failed to adopt Confucius' political proposition of "benevolence", and Confucius was not reused. Confucius and his disciples traveled around the country for 14 years and returned to Lu in 484 BC (the eleventh year of Lu Aigong). At this time, Confucius was 68 years old with white hair. Concentrate on the ancient books-"Six Classics".
In 479 BC, Confucius died at the age of 72. His disciples and re-disciples compiled his remarks and compiled a book, The Analects of Confucius, with 2 articles and 492 sections, totaling 12,7 words. The Analects recorded the life of Confucius until the death of Zeng Shen, a student in his later years. In particular, it is an important material for educational thoughts and teaching activities. It is a very important cultural heritage in China. It can also be said that it can be regarded as the earliest educational book in the history of China.
From his political, philosophical and psychological viewpoints, Confucius believes that the main content of moral education is benevolence and courtesy. Therefore, he advocates "ruling by virtue", which reflects the characteristics of the times when people's values were improved and slaves demanded liberation. Therefore, Confucius' moral outlook is adapted to the times. It is progressive. The core of Confucius' so-called "ceremony" is "correcting one's name". In Confucius' view, the most important principles of Zhou rites are respecting and kissing. In order to implement the principles of kissing and respecting, Confucius put forward the idea of "correcting one's name", saying: "If one's name is not correct, one's words will not go smoothly; If the words don't go well, things won't work; If things can't be done, the music will not be happy; If the rites and music are not prosperous, the punishment will be missed; If the penalty is not right, the people will be at a loss. "(The Analects of Confucius Zi Lu) Therefore, Confucius put forward" Jun Jun, minister, father, son "(The Analects of Confucius Yan Yuan) as the specific content of" correcting the name ".That is to say, the monarch should conform to the monarch's way, the minister should conform to the minister's way and the father should conform to the father's way. (The Analects of Confucius, Eight Essays) When worshipping his ancestors, Sanhuan of Lu sang the poem "Yong" in which the emperor offered sacrifices to the emperor, and the emperor was silent, which was also criticized by Confucius.
The category of Confucius' moral thought was mainly "benevolence". Confucius advocated "benevolence", which had multiple meanings in The Analects of Confucius. The second is "self-denial, courtesy and benevolence"; The third is "benevolent people also". Guo Moruo said in Ten Criticism Books: Confucius "this kind of so-called benevolence is obviously in line with the trend of slave liberation. This is also the discovery of human beings." Confucius advocated "benevolence" and Mencius attached importance to "righteousness". Therefore, Confucius's "killing himself to become a human being" (The Analects of Wei Linggong) and his successor Mencius. Confucius said, "With my father and brother around, how can I smell it and do it?" Ran You asked, "What about Wen Si?" Confucius said, "Wen Si will do it." Gong Xihua said, "I also asked Wen Si to do it. Confucius said, there are' fathers and brothers'; Ask Wen Si to do what he wants. Confucius said,' Wen Si does what he wants'. He was also confused and dared to ask. "Confucius said," If you want to retreat, you will advance; Zi Lu and Ran You asked Confucius the same question: When they heard a good idea, should they ask them first? How can they do it at once? On the other hand, I affirmed Ran You: You should do it at once. What about standing and doing it? Confucius gave different answers to different people. He said to Zilu: My father and brother are at home, so you should ask Confucius why he couldn't figure it out. Confucius enlightened and said: Ran is afraid of things, so we should encourage him; Zi Lu was imprudent, so he suppressed it.
Confucius' teaching thought of teaching students in accordance with their aptitude had a great influence in the history of education in China. He believed that a teacher must master four psychological manifestations that students often make in learning, namely, extensive but not refined, narrow knowledge, taking learning too easily and being afraid of difficulties. Only by understanding students' psychological characteristics can we help and remedy them. That is to say, students' psychological differences, It determines the inevitability of teaching students in accordance with their aptitude.
In teaching, Confucius also advocates that teachers and students learn from each other, * * * discuss with each other and inspire each other, so as to get good results from teaching and learning. An Analects of Confucius actually records the mutual questioning and discussion between their teachers and students. For example, Zi Lu, Yan Hui, Zi Gong and Zi Xia did this.
Zi Lu was straightforward and reckless. Confucius is also very concerned about and cherishes Zi Lu, and can accept his criticism. When some students don't respect Zi Lu very much, Confucius said to them: Zi Lu's knowledge is good, but it's not profound enough. Yan Hui is Confucius' most proud student, but since Yan Hui never questioned and criticized Confucius, Confucius once said with dissatisfaction: Yan Hui is not a helpful person, and he doesn't dislike my words. Zi Gong is a Confucius' language department. He often asked Confucius for advice about the Poems. Once, Zi Gong quoted the article "The Book of Songs Wei Feng Qi 'ao" as saying, "The Poems say,' If you are as incisive as a discussion, if you are as polished as a mill', what is the meaning of it?" (The Analects of Confucius Learn and Learn) It means that the Book of Songs says: We should learn from it, ponder it and strive for perfection like bones, horns, ivory and jade. Confucius said happily: Give it, now we can discuss the Book of Songs with you. Zixia is a junior of Confucius and is better than literature. Once, Zixia quoted 《 (The Analects of Confucius Ba Shu means that the Book of Songs says: The face with dimples smiles beautifully, the black and white eyes flow beautifully, and flowers are painted on a white background. What do these poems mean? Confucius replied: First, there is a white background, and then flowers are painted. Zixia went on to further clarify: So, did rites and music come into being after benevolence and righteousness? Confucius said happily, Bo Shang, you are really a person who can inspire me. Now I can discuss The Poetry with you further. Confucius dares to admit that Zixia, 44 years younger than him, has inspired himself in learning, which shows that Confucius has the courage to learn from the educated and his spirit is admirable!
Confucianism later became the orthodoxy of the feudal landlord class, and The Analects became the main classic of Confucianism. By the Southern Song Dynasty, the philosopher Zhu Xi combined The Analects, Mencius, Daxue and The Doctrine of the Mean and called them the Four Books. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was stipulated that the topic of eight-part essay should be selected from the four books.