Bu (bǔ) Shang (507 BC -?): Zixia, honorific "Buzi" or "Buzixia". Han nationality, a native of Wendi (now Wen County, Henan Province) of Jin State in the late Spring and Autumn Period of China. It is said that he was a native of Wei State. He was one of the "Ten Philosophers of Confucius" and one of the seventy-two sages. He was worshiped by Confucianism. Now, there are direct descendants of him in Juye County, Shandong Province. People in the Song Dynasty suspected that books such as "Poetry" and "Spring and Autumn" were all taught by him. Among the disciples of Confucius, Zixia did not adhere to the teachings of Confucius as closely as Yan Hui and Zeng Shen. He was an original and therefore heretical thinker. The issue he is concerned about is no longer "restraining oneself and restoring rituals" (reviving Zhou rituals), but the current political affairs that keep pace with the times. Therefore, Zixia developed a political and historical theory that deviated from the orthodox Confucian political views. Bu Shang's contribution
Zixia Yi Biography
Historical records indicate that Confucius's disciple Bu Zixia biographed the "Yi" and also wrote the "Yi Biography of Zixia" handed down to the world.
Scholars have disputes about some issues in Zixia's Yixue. Is the author of "Yi Zhuan" Bu Zixia or Han Ying Han Ying? This article makes a preliminary investigation of the records in ancient books. "Zi Xia Yi Zhuan" does indeed have the appearance of the ancient "Yi" and is not Bu Zixia and Han Ying.
On the other hand, Zixia was familiar with Zhongni's ancient meanings such as "xiangshu" and "guaqi" in "Yi", and he could also uphold the "observation of virtue" created by Zhongni's ancient meanings. ", and the in-depth understanding of the "new meaning" of philosophy clearly reflects the ideological characteristics of Zixia's Yixue adhering to the "ancient meaning" and being compatible with the "new meaning". Zixia also studied various classics, each focusing on them.
He was especially good at "Poetry" and "Music" and once wrote the "Preface to the Poems"; he also studied "Shangshu" but not as good as other classics; he was good at "Yi" and the modern biography of Confucius' "Yi Zhuan" is very likely It comes from the biography of Zixia; he was good at studying rituals and mourning clothes and wrote the "Mourning Clothes Biography"; he studied the "Chun Qiu" and made full use of the subtle words and great ideas of the "Chun Qiu". The second biography of "Gong" and "Gu" are all from Zixia's teaching. Zixia studied Confucian classics and was good at discovering the subtle meanings of the scriptures. Confucius "narrated but did not write". He organized and compiled the Six Classics to express his own thoughts and ideas. The classics taught by Zixia played a key role in promoting Confucius' theory.
Comprehensive inheritance of the life of Confucius
Zixia (507 BC-?): surname Bu, name Shang, courtesy name Zixia, later also known as "Bu Zixia" , "Mr. Bu", a native of Wen in Jin State (now Wen County, Henan Province) at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (there are also two people from Wei and Wei). The recent scholar Qian Mu determined that Wen was destroyed by Wei and Wei was mistaken by Wei, so two people were born. Said), a famous disciple of Confucius and one of the "Ten Philosophers of Confucius". Zi Xia Shao Confucius was forty-four years old. He was an outstanding student among Confucius' later students. He was quick in thinking and famous for his literature. He was recognized by Confucius as a talented student in the "Literature" subject.
When Zixia was a student, he often received praise from Confucius for his unique insights. For example, when he asked about a sentence in the Book of Songs, "A clever smile is beautiful, and a beautiful eye is looking forward to it, I always think it is gorgeous." Confucius replied: "Painting things afterward", he immediately came to the conclusion that "rituals and music come after benevolence and righteousness". Confucius praised: "The one who started giving is Shang! Only then can we say that the "Poetry" is over." ( "The Analects of Confucius·Eight Yi")
However, Confucius believed that Zixia was "inadequate" in observing benevolence and etiquette. He once warned Zixia: "A woman is a gentleman and a Confucian, and nothing is a villain." ("The Analects of Confucius·Yongye")
Zixia was extremely talented, and many of his famous maxims have been retained in the "Analects of Confucius", such as:
"Erudition and sincerity, inquiry and inquiry Thinking about it recently, benevolence is in it";
"Hundreds of workers live in their workplaces to achieve what they say, and a gentleman learns to master his way"; "Every day he knows what he is doing, and every month he never forgets what he can do, he can be said to be eager to learn. It's over";
"Although it is a small path, there must be some worthy ones"; "If you are an official, you will learn if you are good at it, and if you are good at learning, you will be an official" and so on.
After the death of Confucius, Zixia went to Xihe (between Jishui and the Yellow River) in the state of Wei to give lectures, such as:
"Tian Zifang, Duan Qianmu, Wu Qi, Qin Huali, They all received their inheritance from Zixia's ethics" ("Historical Records: Biographies of Scholars").
He also served as the teacher of Wei Wenhou, who advocated Confucianism.
Some people in recent times think that Zixia’s thoughts have a “Legalist spirit”. Han Feizi said that “Confucianism is divided into eight” and is not as good as Zixia’s Confucianism, because he regarded it as a Legalist (see Guo Moruo’s "Ten Criticisms" "Book" Zixia portrait).
In his later years, Zixia went blind from crying because of the loss of his son, and lived in isolation. Evaluation by posterity
The prophet Shang who lived for more than a hundred years was a famous disciple of Confucius. In spreading Confucianism, he independently formed the Zixia sect and became an important figure with far-reaching influence among the disciples of Confucius. figure. He was erudite and dedicated throughout his life and taught the Five Classics. Most of the later scholars of the Five Classics believed that their theories were entrusted to the teachings of divination merchants. Not only was he knowledgeable and made outstanding contributions to organizing and disseminating ancient documents, he also paid more attention to practice and paid attention to Moral cultivation, being a role model for others, leading by example, leaving a good image for future generations; in his later years, he lectured in Xihe, lived in isolation, inherited Confucius' unfinished business, and lived and learned until he was old.
"Historical Records·Confucius' Family": "As for the Spring and Autumn Annals, the pen is written and the pruning is pruning. The disciples of Zixia cannot give a single word of praise." It affirms his literary ability.
Zixia’s life is relatively poor. "Shuo Yuan·Miscellaneous Comments" said that he was "very short of wealth"; "Xunzi·Dulue" said that "Zi Xia's family was poor, and his clothes were like hanging quails."
But this also created his loneliness, arrogance and strong and brave character. He said: "A gentleman gradually becomes hungry and cold, but his ambition is not deviated; he is brave to the five soldiers, but he does not hesitate to say goodbye; when facing important events, he never forgets the words he once said. "
Others advised him to become an official to change his situation, but he expressed his unwillingness to compete for petty profits, lest he "fight for profits like a flea and lose his hands." Zixia said: "Those who are proud of me, the princes, I will not be a minister; I will never see anyone who is proud of me."
Even Yan Ying of Qi State has heard about the different characteristics of Confucian disciples, as recorded in "Yan Zi Chun Qiu Neipian Wen Shang" Yan Ying said: "I heard that Zhongni lives in a tired place and his integrity is not upright. Then Ji Ji and Yuan Xian will serve. If Qi is depressed and sick, and his will is blocked, then Zhong You and Bu Shang will serve. If his virtue is not strong and his behavior is not generous, Then Yan Hui, Qian, and Yong Shi. "Being with Yan Hui and others can accumulate virtue and do good, and being with Zi Lu and Zi Xia can avoid "depressed Qi, illness, and blocked will." Here Zixia's straightforward and fearless characteristics are highlighted.
Another characteristic of Zixia is that he has certain choices when making friends, so Confucius predicted that Zixia would make more progress after his death. "Shuoyuan·Miscellaneous Statements" records Confucius saying: "After Qiu's death, Shang became more and more popular, and Gifts also declined. Shang also liked to deal with those who were virtuous, but Gifts also said that they were not as good as themselves." Zixia and Zixia Unlike Gong (Duanmu Ci), Zixia can learn more by interacting with people who are stronger than herself. This is the prerequisite for her continuous progress. The statement in "Shuo Yuan" should be credible, and a record in "The Analects" can be used as evidence.
"Zizhang" records:
When Zixia's disciples asked about it, they turned it over to Zizhang. Zi Zhang asked, "What did Zi Xia say?" He replied, "Zi Xia said, 'Give those who are acceptable, and reject those who are not.'" Zi Zhang said, "It is different from what I have heard: a gentleman respects the virtuous and tolerates others. I am a great virtuous person, but I cannot tolerate it. If I am not virtuous, others will reject me. How can I reject others?"
"Lunheng·Zhishi" Quoting "Mencius", he said: "Zixia, Ziyou, and Zizhang are all saints; Ran Niu, Min Ziqian, and Yan Yuan are specific and subtle." Then he commented: "The six sons all had the talents of saints in their lives, or they were quite talented. If you don't have it, or if you have it but don't know it, you can still call it a sage, and you can become a sage through hard work. "Zixia is a saint but does not have it, and there are some differences from Yan Yuan and others. "The Book of Rites of Dadai: Wenzi of General Wei" records Zigong's comment on Zixia: "Study deeply, be decisive, be respectful when greeting, be respectful when greeting, make friends with superiors, make silver hands as if they are broken, this is the practice of divination." This basically summarizes Zixia's character traits.
Zixia once accepted and taught students, and he may have had many disciples. "Book of the Later Han" Volume 44 "Biography of Xu Fang" annotated "Historical Records" saying: "After Confucius died, Zixia lived in Xihe, taught three hundred disciples, and became the master of Wei Wenhou." "The Analects of Confucius·Zizhang" records that " The dialogue between "Zixia's disciples" and Zizhang, "Mozi Gengzhu" also has records about "Zixia's disciples". Zixia may have had many disciples during his time in the Wei Dynasty. The "Qin Edition: Surname Chapter" of "Shiben" states that "Wei had Zi Boxian, a descendant of Zixia's clan, living in Xihe"; "Historical Records: Biographies of Scholars" records: "Since the death of Confucius... Zi Lu lived in Wei, Zi Zhang lived in Chen, Zi Yu lived in Tantai, Zi Yu lived in Chu, Zi Xia lived in Xihe, and Zigong finally came together. Such as Tian Zifang, Duan Qianmu, Wu Qi, Qin Huali, etc., all received the inheritance Yu Zixia was the teacher of the king. At that time, Wei Wenhou was the only one who was eager to learn." This means that Tian Zifang, Duan Qianmu, Wu Qi, Qin Huali and others all studied under Zixia. "Lu Shi Chun Qiu Respecting Masters" specifically pointed out that "Duan Qianmu learned from Zixia". Some scholars misunderstood the records in "Historical Records: Biographies of Scholars" and said that Tian Zifang, Wu Qi, and Qin Xuli were all disciples of Zixia, which is inappropriate.
Zixia was lonely in his later years. He became blind due to the loss of his son. "Book of Rites Tan Gong Shang" and other books said that he lived a life of "isolation and solitary living".
Tomb of Zixia