Another good news comes from the archaeological excavation work in Mawangdui. A batch of bamboo slips from the Spring and Autumn Period were unearthed, totaling 168 pieces. They were wrapped in a well-crafted pigskin bag. The outside of the bag was coated with a protective layer about one inch thick (suspected to be a compound of lard and other substances) to isolate the bamboo slips from the air. . The bamboo slips in the pigskin bag were divided into 21 bundles (each bundle of 8) and placed in silk bags. The packaging style is very similar to the high-end mooncake boxes used today for the Mid-Autumn Festival. After careful cleaning and identification by archaeologists, these bamboo slips completely recorded the last words of Mr. Confucius, the greatest thinker, educator and philosopher in ancient my country. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest discoveries in the history of archeology and ancient thought in my country.
The following is the original text of ‘Confucius’ Last Words’ (attached) and the reference translation in vernacular (attached).
Confucius's last words (classical Chinese and translated version)
Record of the End of Zishou
"Record of the End of Zishou"
Death of Zishou When I was dying for a while, I called all my disciples to come close and kowtow at the side of the couch. The voice is soft and slow, but the sound is shining brightly. The admonishment said: I have been talking about the princes for several years, but in the end I have not seen the ceremony and returned to Yueqing. My body is made of plain food, my clothes are linen, and my carriage is poor. It would be unwise to give up on my desires when I reach the end of my road and understand the desires given by God.
Translation: When Confucius was dying, he asked his disciples to come close and kneel beside his bed. Although Confucius spoke softly and slowly, he was in good spirits. I told my disciples: I have lobbied the kings of various countries for many years, but in the end I have not seen a situation where order has been restored and public opinion has been unified. I haven't had anything good to eat or wear in my life, and the cars I've taken are very simple. It was only when I was about to die that I realized that it was unwise for me not to enjoy the things that God gave me to enjoy.
What you have learned is to secure the throne, bind the common people, or embroider the king's robe. The king's helpless ears are deaf, enjoying wonderful music is like hearing the chirping of miscellaneous birds. He throws the title of Sikou at Zhongni, thinking it is a great humiliation. It cannot be broken for long. Honghu's great ambition was actually ruined by being a slave to others and not knowing his own independence. If there is no position, there will be no action, which will only damage the wisdom. I will realize it too late. Alas, the country of Lu is the sad place for my official career. Don't follow the same path as your master. If the king fails, he will be the next prince. Once again, he will be a merchant. He will be a merchant and provide food for the rest of his life. He will not be as happy as a big thief.
Translation: The things you learned from me are all doctrines intended to consolidate the king's throne, control the people, or praise the king. But the king couldn't listen to the truth, and the beautiful music sounded like sparrows and magpies chirping. They randomly gave me a Sikong official to fool me, which was a great insult to me. Such a king will not last long. My great ideals were not realized because I only knew how to be a slave to others, but did not know how to be a master myself. Without power in your hands, you cannot realize your ideals, and your wisdom is wasted. I know this too late. Alas, Lu State, you are my sad place on the way to becoming an official. You must not follow my old path. If you can't be a king, you still have to be a prince. Even if you can't, you still have to become a big businessman. As a teacher, you can only make a living at most, and it is not as good as a gangster's life.
I will teach you what I have learned. Remember: those who practice it will prosper, and those who talk in vain will wither. Applying one law to the country is better than hundreds of thoughts on bamboo. I predict that if there is a great ruler in the future, he will definitely follow my laws to control the people, and I will mold my body into the temple to become the soul of the country. However, instead of respecting my body, what I say is that I am pretending to be a Zhongni in name and in reality of his position.
Translation: What I teach you is what I have realized, but you must remember: only action can make your career prosperous, and just talking will accomplish nothing. Putting one idea into practice is better than writing a hundred ideas on bamboo. I predict that in the future, those capable kings will definitely manage the people according to my method, and build statues in temples for me, treating me as a spiritual idol that the people can worship. However, they do not really respect me and my teachings, they just use my name to consolidate their throne.
Those who support soldiers are also the masters of people, and all living things are maggots under their feet; those who offer advice are also the slaves of the king, and they rely on others to rest in peace. How can a sharp tongue be compared with a sharp sword? What a fool! Scholars have rarely been seen as kings in ancient times. They all were wasted on articles because they did not know how to fight. Those who walk alone may live under the tent of a warrior, or lie in a side room of a traitor. In this way, how can we order the world? The throne stands on withered bones, and the king's cup overflows with purple liquid. Is the new king different from the old king? It is in vain for all kings to pray for eternal life for all generations! If things can be plundered, strong men must take advantage of them; if positions can be seized, heroes must plan for them.
Translation: Only those with an army can become kings. They regard the common people as insignificant as insects. Those who make suggestions can only serve as slaves to the king. If they want to be well fed and clothed, they have to look at their master's face. Can a eloquent tongue compete with a soldier's sword? So stupid. Since ancient times, it has been rare to see scholars as kings, because they do not know how to control the army. All the wisdom is spent on writing articles. Even if there are individual practitioners, they are just serving as assistants to those who hold military power, or as counselors to those who want to usurp the throne. How can you order the world like this? The king's throne is built on bones, and the king's cup is filled with blood. This is true in all dynasties and generations. A king always hopes that his empire can exist for generations to come, but this can only be wishful thinking. If property can be obtained through robbery, strong people will follow suit. If the throne can be snatched away, those heroes will find a way to seize it.
The cycle goes on and on, gaining something, losing it, regaining it, losing it again, like a rare item in a market changing hands. In a nutshell, if you are good in practice, you are a king, and you are a god; if you are good in learning, you are an official, and you are a slave; if you are good in calculation, you are a businessman, and you are a hero; if you are crazy about books and do not doubt them, you are a fool. A wise man always speaks for the sake of the people, so he is followed by many. If you are looking for a job, you can escape. Yi's clever tongue makes his followers support his master, and the people think so. Therefore, those who determine the world must be good at leveraging the power of the people. If the people are foolish, the country will be stable; if the people are wise, the world will be chaotic.
Translation: In this way, you will fight for it endlessly. What you gain will be lost, and others will take it again and lose it again. Just like in-demand goods in the free market, buyers often change. In a nutshell, those who practice the Dharma can become kings, that is, they are gods; those who study well can become officials, but in the end they are just slaves; those who plan and do business successfully, are rich; those who are superstitious about books but do not doubt them Just stupid people. When a wise man conquers the world, he will claim that he is doing it for the common people, so he will have many followers. When his career was successful, the original promises disappeared. But he would change his words so that the people would support him as king, and the people also felt that this should be the case. Therefore, those who want to win the world must be good at relying on the power of the people. If the people are stupid, the country will be stable; if the people are smart, the world will be chaotic.
King Wu was praised by everyone, and King Zhou was slandered by everyone. It’s no different! They all regard the soil and the public as private. Private people are only afraid of losing. Anyone who is a king has too much restraint, does whatever he wants, welcomes those who like him, and serves the king like a child. Understand this principle, if you spin a king like a palm on your butt, and hold your colleagues like a feather, your success will not last long. If you go against it, you will be like a tiger, and your colleagues will be like claws of a tiger. You will die suddenly without knowing the cause. If there is a faint person, there will be a gap and it can be replaced.
Translation: People praised King Wu of Zhou, but denounced King Zhou of Yin. Actually they are no different. They all regard the land and the people as their own private property. What property owners fear most is losing their property. Most kings tend to have no restraint in what they do and do whatever they want. As long as you do what they want, serving the king is actually as easy as coaxing a child. Understand these principles, you will be able to play with the king in the palm of your hand, deal with your colleagues as easily as picking up a feather, and you will soon become famous. If not, the king will be like a tiger, and his colleagues will be like the tiger's paws. If you die suddenly, you won't even know how you died. If the king you serve is a fool, then there is an opportunity, and you should seize his throne without hesitation.
Those who govern the world know that the people must be thin. Suppress the desires of the people, and the people will thank the king. If the people's desires are strong, the king's kindness will not bear fruit. If you feed a hungry man, you will be praised as a benevolent person; if you give light things to a noble family, his slaves will also sneer at him. Is Ren not a bait? It is up to the king to provide benefits to the people, and the people will always praise the king's benevolence.
Translation: Those who rule the country understand the principle of making the people poor. If the people have less desire, they will thank the king. The common people had many desires, and they did not appreciate the benefits the king gave them. If you give a hungry person a little food, he will praise you for your kindness. If you give a light gift to a wealthy family, even his servants will look down on you. Isn’t kindness a bait? Block all the ways for the people to make money, and they can only get what they want from the king, so the people will praise the king for his kindness.
To control the people, binding their souls is the highest priority, imprisoning their bodies is the last resort, and destroying their bodies is the lowest priority. Granting a man the power to control a woman is half the work for the king. Granting authority to the father to govern the son is half of the king's work. What I said about being loyal, righteous, and filial is actually not contrary to what is above.
Translation: The best way to control people is to control their thoughts, and to put them in prison as a last resort. To decapitate them is the worst way. Let the men control all the women, and the king will only have to control half of the people. If the father is allowed to control all his children, the king will only have to control a quarter of the people. The essence of loyalty, righteousness and filial piety that I talk about is not going against the wishes of superiors.
Ceremony is a yoke that clamps the soul and body of the people. It’s up to you to lock it, and it’s up to you to open it. From ancient times, we have never heard of a king restrained by rituals, but we have seen that those who make rituals are often shackled. How about the common people? Although ritual is intangible, it is a sharp weapon, capable of winning countless battles.
Translation: The so-called etiquette is the shackles that lock the souls and bodies of the people. It is up to the king to lock or open it. Since ancient times, etiquette has never been seen to restrain the king. But many of those who made the rituals were imprisoned, not to mention ordinary people. Although etiquette is invisible, it is a sharp weapon that is better than thousands of brave soldiers.
Happiness is the ode to the king. If the music is clear, the people will miss the king like nectar; if the music is turbid, the people will be tempted by those who confuse the people. The narrow people have different voices, and those who offend the superiors will do nothing. An unwise king only knows how to kill people with a halberd, but does not know how to break a dike, and his country will be destroyed. Therefore, anyone who sticks out his tongue must poke it.
Translation: The so-called music refers to articles praising the king. Public opinion is unified, and the people miss the king like longing for manna after a long drought. If the people are allowed to say whatever they want, those who incite the masses will benefit. Don't let the common people talk nonsense, and those who make trouble will have nothing to do. The unwise king only knew that swords and guns could control the people, but he did not know that words could also destroy the embankment. So, their country is doomed. Those who incite the people with their speeches must be killed without mercy.
I am going to Hades, and my words are not false. If you follow this commandment, you will have a smooth journey! Cut.
Translation: I am a person who is about to die, and I will never talk nonsense. If you do what I say, you will definitely walk on the Yangguan Avenue. Be sure to remember what I said.
After speaking, the son passed away.
Translation: After saying these words, Confucius died.