2021.09.26 Sunday Sunny Day 269
"Zhidao Lexue·Chinese Classics" D412
"Mencius" Gaozi 1
1< /p>
Original text
Gaozi[1] said: "Nature is like turbulent water[2]. When it crosses the east, it flows eastward, and when it crosses the west, it flows west. Human nature has nothing to do with goodness. What is not good is that water is not divided into east and west. "
Mencius said: "Water is not divided into east and west, and is not divided into upper and lower parts. What is good about human nature is like water [4]. ] There is no bad thing in people, and there is no water that cannot flow down. Now, if you jump over the water, you can move it over the mountain. ? Its power is like this. People can do bad things, and their nature is also like this."
Notes
[1] Gaozi: The name is said to be from Mencius. student.
[2] Turbulent water: rapid flowing water.
[3] Letter: truth, sincerity.
[4] Just: tend to.
[5]颡(sǎnɡ): forehead.
[6] Act aggressively: block it and let it flow backwards.
Translation
Gaozi said: "Human nature is like the rapid flow of water. If there is a gap in the east, it will flow eastward; if there is a gap in the west, it will flow westward. Human nature There is no distinction between good and bad in nature, just as there is no distinction between east and west in the direction of water."
Mencius said: "It is true that water has no distinction between east and west, but it also does not flow up and down. ? Human nature is kind, just like water flowing downwards. Of course, if the water splashes due to being hit, it can be higher than the forehead; if you block it and let it flow back, you can let it flow in the opposite direction. Mountain stream. Is this also the nature of water? The reason why people can do bad things is that their nature is forced like this. ”
Analysis< /p>
In this article, Gaozi compares the rapids of the river to human nature and criticizes human nature for not knowing the direction and going wherever there is a gap, but he did not take into account the factors of the up and down flow of water. In Mencius' view, human nature is inherently good. The reason why a person does bad things is mainly because human nature is oppressed by the outside world, not because of human nature.
2
Original text
Gongduzi [1] said: "Gaozi said: 'There is neither good nor evil in nature.' Or it can be said: 'Nature is neither good nor bad.' It can be good, it can be bad. Therefore, if Wen and Wu are prosperous, the people will like good; if You and Li are prosperous, then people will like violence. 'It is said that 'there is good nature, and there is evil nature'. Xiang [2], with Gushen [3] as his father, there was Shun, with Zhou as his brother's son and as king, and there were Wei Zi Qi and Prince Bi Gan. 'Now we say 'good nature', but they are neither (and Qian). )? ”
Mencius said: “If you are sentimental [4], you can do good, which is what is called good. If you are not good, it is not a sin of compassion.” They all have it; the heart of shame and disgust, everyone has it; the heart of respect, everyone has it; the heart of right and wrong, everyone has it. The heart of compassion is benevolence; the heart of shame and disgust is righteousness; the heart of respect is etiquette. The heart of right and wrong is wisdom. Benevolence, justice, etiquette, and wisdom are not derived from the outside. [6] It is inherent in me. Therefore, it is said: "If you ask for it, you will get it. If you give it up, you will lose it." [7] Those who have no calculations cannot use their talents. "Poetry" says: "People are born with things and principles. If the people follow Yi, it is good to be virtuous." Confucius said: "For this reason." Poet, you know it! Therefore, there must be principles for everything, and the people are loyal to the Yi people, so this is the virtue. '"
Comments
[1] Gongduzi: Mencius's students.
[2] Xiang: Shun’s half-brother.
[3]罽(ɡǔ)瞍(sǒu): Shun’s father.
[4]Nairuo: turning conjunction, as for the meaning. Qing: Innate temperament.
[5] Talent: refers to innate qualifications.
[6]鄄(shuò): Grant.
[7]谰 (xǐ): five times.
[8] Yide: Beautiful moral character.
Translation
Gongduzi said: "Gaozi said: 'There is no such thing as good or bad in human nature.' Others said: 'Human nature can be made to be good or bad.' Good can also be made not good; this is why the people were very kind when King Wen and King Wu of Zhou were in power, but the people were violent when King You and King Li were in power. 'Some people say: 'Some people. Nature is kind, but some people are not kind by nature. This is why even though there was an emperor like Emperor Yao, there were still such unkind people; even though there was a bad father like Gushen, there was still a person like Shun. A kind son; although there are unkind kings like King Zhou of Yin, there are also kind subjects like his brother Wei Ziqi and his uncle Bigan.
’ Now that you say ‘human nature is good’, are these people wrong? "
Mencius said: "As for human nature, all people can be kind. This is what I call the principle that human nature is inherently good. As for those who are not good-natured, it cannot be said to be a matter of natural aptitude. Everyone has a sense of compassion; everyone has a sense of shame; everyone has a sense of respect; everyone has a sense of right and wrong. The heart of compassion is benevolence; the heart of shame is righteousness; the heart of respect is courtesy; the heart of right and wrong is wisdom. These benevolence, justice, etiquette and wisdom are not imposed on me by external factors, but are inherent in me. I just don’t feel it if I don’t think about it. So it is said: ‘If you seek, you will gain; if you give up, you will lose. ’ The difference between people may be one, five or even countless times. This is all because their talents have not been fully utilized. "The Book of Songs" says: "Heaven breeds all peoples, and there are laws for all things." When people understand these laws, they can aspire to good moral character. ’ Confucius said: ‘The person who wrote this poem knows the Tao very well! Therefore, if everything exists, there must be laws. When people understand the laws, they will like beautiful virtues. '"
Analysis
This article plays an important role in the book "Mencius". It is a comprehensive explanation of the "theory of good nature" advocated by Mencius. From this theory Generally speaking, the theory of human nature is not complicated. It just states the most basic point of view: the concepts of benevolence, justice, propriety, and wisdom are innate to people and are not imposed on people by the outside world. Therefore, Mencius believed that benevolence, justice, etiquette, and wisdom all belong to human beings. category of human nature.