Appreciation of the original text of "Pre-Qin Prose·Mencius·Chen Zhongzi and the Honest Scholar"
Kuang Zhang said ①: "Isn't Chen Zhongzi an honest and honest scholar? ② He lived in the mausoleum ③ and did not eat for three days, and his ears There is no hearing, and the eyes cannot see. There are plums in the well, and more than half of them have been eaten. : "Among the scholars of Qi, I will definitely consider Zhongzi to be a great leader. Although, Zhongzi is evil and can be honest? If Zhongzi's behavior is fulfilled, then the earthworm is the best. The earthworm eats the earth on the top and drinks the yellow spring on the bottom. Zhongzi The house he lived in was built by Boyi. Or was it built by Zhi Zhi? The millet he ate was planted by Boyi (11). Or was it planted by Zhi Zhi? This is unknown. "
Said: "What's wrong? His body is weaved, and his wife is wearing clothes (12), so he can change it."
Said: "Zhongzi is from a noble family in Qi. "Brother Dai, Gailu Wanzhong" (13). He regards his brother's salary as an unjust salary and refuses to eat it. He regards his brother's house as an unjust house and refuses to live in it. He leaves his mother and lives in the mausoleum. When he returned home one day, there was a man who gave his brother a goose. Ji Pinxuan said (14): "What's wrong with this goose?" (15)? The next day, his mother killed the goose and ate it. The elder brother came from outside and said, "This is the meat of the pig." When it comes out, it will not be eaten by the mother, but it will be eaten by the wife. Why can he be regarded as one of his kind? If he is Zhongzi, then he can be regarded as his master."
Notes ① Kuang Zhang: Personal name, a person from Qi during the Warring States Period. He was a general of King Wei of Qi and led troops to conquer Qin. During the reign of King Xuan of Qi, he led troops to attack Yan. His words and deeds are scattered in chapters such as "Warring States Policy: Qi Ce", "Yan Policy", and "Lu's Spring and Autumn Period: Unyielding". ②Chen Zhongzi: Name of person, Qi people. According to "Huainanzi·Fan Lun Xun": "Ji Xiang and Chen Zhongzi established a festival to resist. They did not enter the dynasty of Yinjun and did not eat the food of troubled times, so they died of hunger." Also known as "Tian Zhong" and "Yuling Zhongzi" ”, “Chen Zhong”. Gao Youzhu's claim that he is a disciple of Mencius cannot be trusted. ④ Grub (cao sound Cao): Grub, commonly known as "earth silkworm", is the larvae of scarab beetle and specializes in eating the roots of crops. ⑤Jiang: Hold, take. It means to eat. ⑥Shi: This refers to people with a certain social status. ⑦ Giant (ba sound), big finger. It means outstanding, first-class. ⑧Soil: Dry soil. ⑨ Boyi: Son of Lord Shang Guzhu. According to legend, after King Wu destroyed the Shang Dynasty, he and his younger brother Qi were ashamed to eat Zhou millet. They fled to Shouyang Mountain, picked weeds and ate them, and died of starvation in the mountain. ⑩ Robber Zhi: A big thief in the late Spring and Autumn Period. Named Liuxiazhi. It is said that his surname is Zhan and his given name is Zhi. For his records, see "Zhuangzi Piozhi Chapter". (11) Tree; species. (12) Pihu: refers to Ji Ma Lian Ma. Pi: To separate the hemp into strands and connect them. 纑: Boil the sesame seeds until they are soft and white. Zhao Qi's note: "It's called PI when you're done with it, and it's called 纑 when you practice it." (13) Gai (ge sound Ge): Place name, it is the fief of Chen Dai. Wan Zhong: refers to a rich salary. Zhong: The name of an ancient measuring instrument, six dendrobiums and four liters are equivalent to one bell. (14) Frequency (cu sound is pronounced): Zhu Xi's note: "frequency is the same as frown, and french is the same as frown." Frowning and frowning, looking angry and unhappy. (15)郃郃(yiyinyi): the cry of goose.
Today's translation of Kuang Zhang says: "Isn't Chen Zhongzi really an honest man? He lived in Yuling and didn't eat for three days. His ears couldn't hear and his eyes couldn't see. There was a plum on the well, the larvae of a scarab beetle. Having eaten most of it, he crawled over, fetched it and ate it. After three bites, his ears regained hearing and his eyes regained sight."
Mencius said: "Among the scholars of Qi State, I must regard Chen Zhongzi as an outstanding figure. However, how can Zhongzi be regarded as honest? To promote Zhongzi's actions, the only way It can only be done after turning people into earthworms. Earthworms eat the dry soil on the ground and suck the yellow spring from the ground. But the house that Zhongzi lives in is built by an honest man like Boyi. ? Or was it built by a lawless person like Robber Zhi? Was the grain that Zhongzi ate grown by an honest man like Boyi? Or was it planted by a lawless person like Robber Zhi? These are not clear. "
Kuang Zhang said: "What does it matter? He knitted straw sandals himself, and his wife practiced hemp, and used these to exchange for them. "
Mencius said: " Zhongzi was originally from a wealthy family in the state of Qi. His elder brother Chen Dai had a salary as high as ten thousand yuan in Gaiyi. He thought his brother's salary was unjust and refused to eat it; he thought his brother's house was unjust. He refused to live in the house. He avoided his brother and lived alone in Yuling. One day he came home and saw someone giving his brother a live goose. He frowned and said unhappily: "I want this." What's the use of the uh-huh thing?" A few days later, his mother killed the goose and gave it to him to eat. (By chance) his brother came back from outside and said, "(What you ate) is the uh-huh thing." It's meat!" He ran out and vomited it out. He wouldn't eat it because it belonged to his mother, but he could eat his wife's. He wouldn't live in his brother's house, but he could live in Yu Ling's house. That's okay. Can it be regarded as a model for promoting integrity? Behavior like Zhongzi’s can only be promoted by turning people into earthworms first!”
Collection Commentary Qing·Zhao Chengmo: If the promotion is high, so turn to It's tight, it's broken and it falls, and it's released alive, the literary context is exquisite.
("Mencius Literary Commentary")
Wang Jieshan of the Qing Dynasty: The sentence "Zhongzi is evil but capable of being honest" is broken. The following is to stab Zhongzi's shield with a spear to see Zhongzi's actions. Even Zhongzi was also poor, which made Zhongzi even more unable to dodge, and his intentions were very sharp. ("Notes on the Reading of Mencius")
Niu Yunzhen of the Qing Dynasty: The writing style seems to be mocking and playful, and the style is the most unique. It is wonderful to write down the thoughts of the spiritual policeman with the pen of Danyi. ("Essentials of Mencius")
Wu Minsheng of the Qing Dynasty: "The earthworm can then be eaten" has a sudden sudden connection, which makes people confused about what it means; it is explained in the second half. The method of writing is full of emptiness in the front and solid in the back, which is also the wonderful use of reverse strokes. ...The words are strict and righteous, making heretics ashamed. ("Mencius Grammar Reader")
General Case This article is selected from "Mencius Teng Wengong".
During the Warring States Period, due to social unrest, some schools or individuals advocated keeping oneself clean and self-reliant, and not having anything to do with the world. This is actually a passive escape attitude towards life. Mencius did not agree with this way of life. In his view, as a "scholar", one should bear one's own responsibilities and cannot passively avoid the world. Therefore, he refuted Chen Zhongzi's actions.
In the article, Mencius first pointed out that people cannot "eat on the soil and drink from the underworld" like earthworms, and have no need for society or others like earthworms. Therefore, as a human being, we cannot Without society, we have to have various connections with human society. Then, Mencius pointed out the contradiction in Chen Zhongzi's behavior, explaining that Chen Zhongzi could not completely implement his own ideas unless he turned into an earthworm.
This article has a clear discussion level and sharp and bright words. Just like when he asked Zhongzi whether the "house he lived in" was built by Boyi or Taizhi, and whether the "millet he ate" was planted by Boyi or Taizhi, he asked It is very sharp and effectively highlights the author's claim. As for the comparison of the "honesty" advocated by Chen Zhongzi with earthworms in the article, and the embarrassment of Chen Zhongzi eating goose, they all have a satirical power.