The order of this article is not random. China ancient scholar-officials were deeply influenced by Confucian culture. Confucianism has "four virtues of Confucianism", namely, morality, speech, politics and literature. This is how the articles in Shi Shuo Xin Yu are arranged. It can be seen that in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, people's pursuit of celebrity manners was not limited to external speech and drinking, but paid more attention to internal cultivation and moral cultivation.
So, what influence did the four disciplines of Confucianism have on the demeanor of celebrities in Wei and Jin Dynasties? Today we are looking for the answer to Shi Shuo Xin Yu.
What are the four themes of Confucianism? Why is virtue supreme in Shi Shuo Xin Yu? You must know this knowledge.
The Four Branches of Confucius
In the history of China, literati have long been classified as "six arts": ceremony, music, shooting, empire, calligraphy and number. It was born in the Zhou Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago, when the government required students to master these six basic skills.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, a hundred schools of thought contended, which made academic thoughts enter an unprecedented stage of prosperity. Confucius initiated Confucianism which influenced China for thousands of years. Until today, it is still respected by people and regarded as a "teacher handed down from generation to generation".
Compared with the Six Arts, the teaching content of Confucius has been improved. The Analects of Confucius Advanced records:
"Germany: Yan Yuan, Min Zikai, Ran Boniu, Zhong Gong; Say: in me, Zigong; Political affairs: Lu Ji You Ran; Literature: own, bottom-up. "
Confucius has thousands of students, and excellent students are divided into morality, language, politics and literature. It can be seen that Confucius pays attention to teaching students of different majors. Later, Confucius' students divided their studies into several categories according to these majors. Four themes: morality, speech, politics and literature. Therefore, in addition to the six arts, the four major disciplines of Confucianism are also important academic disciplines in the pre-Qin period.
The four disciplines of Confucianism have a great influence on later generations. At least since the Han Dynasty, these four subjects have become important standards for researchers. There is a saying in "The Book of the Later Han Dynasty": "When you enter Ni Men, you will get four grades".
virtue
Virtue is a kind of moral behavior, and a kind person is just a person who conforms to the ethics advocated by Confucianism, such as loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, courtesy and wisdom. The first chapter of Shi Shuo Xin Yu is entitled "Virtue", and * * * tells 47 stories, all of which are stories of noble morality, honesty and self-discipline.
Fans of the Three Kingdoms are familiar with Huayin and Wang Lang, and they have always topped the list of ghosts and animals. Their virtues are recorded in the same story in Shi Shuo Xin Yu:
Wang Lang always uses his knowledge to promote Huaxin. On New Wax Day, I tasted ji zi's nephew's "Swallow Drink" and Mr. Wang learned it. Someone told Zhang Hua. Zhang said: "Culture is not in form, but in the cause of further development." Hua Xin was a famous person and an important task in Wei and Jin Dynasties. He was rated as the third official. He not only pays great attention to his self-cultivation, but also does not slack off on the education of the younger generation. He always maintains a serious and respectful attitude. At the end of the year, Hua Xin called his nephew and nephew to a banquet. People who sing poems at banquets, make a scene and comment for a while. This is very elegant and interesting.
Wang Lang admired Hua Xin very much, so he also invited his nephew to party with him. After all, people are motivated. Wang Lang must hope to get closer to her idol Hua Hin in this way.
Who knows that Zhang Hua commented on Wang Lang: "Wang Lang only learns fur, but it is farther from Huayin."
This story is very vivid. Although the Wei and Jin Dynasties were in troubled times, scholars did not lower their demands because of the current chaotic situation. Moreover, in the pursuit of moral cultivation, they did not pay more attention to the inside on the surface, just as Wang Lang's imitation of this form can only leave a laughing stock.
give a lecture
Speech is human eloquence.
How to call eloquence is a difficult degree to master. If it passes, it will inevitably be regarded as a tongue. The Analects of Confucius Yang Huo said: "Spoken language is eloquent, fresh and cordial", which shows that they have not mastered the level of spoken language. They become grandiloquent and lose the heart of love. Confucius opposed rhetoric, but attached great importance to eloquence.
"Recite three hundred poems and teach them to be cured. You can't be specific if you can't go anywhere. Even if there are many poems, will you still think? "
No matter how much you learn, you can participate in politics and diplomacy, but you can't negotiate effectively.
Therefore, speech is also one of the four major disciplines of Confucianism.
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, because speech was an important criterion affecting the behavior of celebrities, scholars paid more attention to the cultivation of words. Through excellent chat, they can even become famous in one fell swoop. But the conversation is by no means a bunch of flowery remarks. On the contrary, they need simple and clear language, quick response and profound meaning between the lines.
Kong Rong is famous for his world-famous pears. He has two lovely sons. The oldest is 6 years old and the youngest is only 5 years old. The youngest son's speech is very interesting.
One day, while Kong Rong was taking a nap, the younger son went to steal wine and was found by the older son. He asked, "Why don't you salute before drinking?" The younger son replied, "I stole, so I can be polite."
Wine was a very important sacrifice in ancient times, and its status was sacred. Ordinary people usually show respect for God before drinking. In the process of drinking, they are also elegant and will not go crazy like modern people.
The story of Kong Rong's youngest son stealing wine and drinking reflects people's quick oral reaction in Wei and Jin Dynasties, which is very pure. Some hooligans were arrested. They are petite and lovely and forced to make sophistry. People can't help laughing.
Political affairs
Politics refers to government affairs. It is the pursuit of Confucius students to "learn well and be an official". Only by being an official can he realize his ideal and ambition to help his inner world. Therefore, how to do a good job in government affairs is one of the compulsory courses for ancient literati.
The way to be in power, the diligent people, the way to know people, the way to be responsible, and the way to be based on morality. This is an eternal truth, but the rules of governance are sometimes different. It can't be based on this book. In the turbulent Wei and Jin Dynasties, this was the key point. Seems particularly important.
How to follow the governance rules in a difficult situation? The first chapter of Shi Shuo Shi shows us the elegant demeanour of political figures in that era:
When the mountain arrived in Dongyang, Wang Changshi simply wrote an article about Dongyang, saying, "If there is fierce politics, peace can rule."
Shanya is the grandson of Dan Tao, and Dan Tao is one of the seven sages of bamboo forest. When I was a magistrate in Dongyang, because the local laws were not strict, I changed to strict laws. At that time, the whole Yang Shan became orderly. Later, after the cliff stepped down, Wang Meng asked Wen Jian to inherit the throne. His political measures are "peace and governance", that is, using moderate methods to achieve stability and clear goals, because Shanya used harsh policies before. Up.
The rule of a big country is like cooking small fresh food. In its spare time, it will adopt strict laws and regulations. After achieving its goal, it took a gentle approach. This is the great wisdom of politicians in Wei and Jin Dynasties.
literature
China literature focuses on ceremonies and music. Literature is presented orally first, and then sung with music. This is called oral literature. Later, Confucius compiled The Book of Songs, which became the earliest written document in China. All works recorded in writing in the pre-Qin period are called literature.
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, scholars took discretion as the goal, abandoned the rigid Confucian classics and turned to the way of Laozi and Zhuangzi, mainly talking about the so-called "voice of justice". At this time, academic thoughts were also very active, and the literary world presented a very free scene. Many writers such as San Cao and Xie Lingyun were born in this era.
The most surprising thing is that during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, even the ladies-in-waiting needed to be familiar with this book. Zheng Xuan, a world-famous Confucian scholar, is the "master of the world". He inherited the talents of many families and founded Zheng Xue. He loved freedom all his life, was unrestrained and didn't pay attention to Confucian morality. Under his influence, the dialogue between Wei and Jin dynasties began to break the shackles of ethics and religion.
Zheng Xuanjia's maid needs to study, or she will be beaten. On one occasion, Zheng Xuan threw a maid into the mire. He didn't do well. At this moment, another maid came up and asked, "Why do you care about the mud?" She replied, "Those words frightened me and made me angry with him."
Don't underestimate the conversation between two maids. The questioner's words began with The Book of Songs, a great style and decline;
"Come down, come down, hu don't come back? Under the gentleman's bow, Hu is in the mud? "
It was dark. Why don't you go home? If you are not the king, why are you stuck in the mire? This is the song of the king who lives outside, and his entourage advised him to return to China. The waitress casually quoted the Book of Songs to ask. The answer comes from The Book of Songs, White Boat:
"I have a lesson in my heart, don't make rumors. There are brothers, but don't build on them. If you complain modestly, you will be angry with him. "
This poem was originally written about a wife who didn't like her husband's distress. Zheng Xuan's maid used it to express her dissatisfaction with Master. She is at hand.
Even two ordinary maids can have such profound literary accomplishment. It can be seen that the literary atmosphere at that time was very strong. It is not surprising that the Wei and Jin Dynasties were able to cultivate talented women like Cai Wenji and Xie Daowen.
summary
The pre-Qin period was an era of academic prosperity. Wei and Jin dynasties inherited the style of a hundred schools of thought contending, and created an unprecedented era of prosperity. Under the collision of the two eras, the sparks produced reached the Wei and Jin demeanor that future generations yearned for.