For the ancients, the concept of "gentleman" was very important. People pursued noble personality and worshiped saints and sages, but sages only existed in their imaginations. For ordinary people, "gentleman" ” is an achievable goal. If you want to be a gentleman, there are some things that are essential.
The word "junzi" first appeared in pre-Qin classics, and mostly refers to "the son of the king". The "junzi" in our impression comes from the definition of Confucius, who endowed it with morality. Meaning, from then on, the "gentleman" also had virtue. If you want to become a gentleman, you also need to go through a series of studies, among which the "six arts" are the most important.
The "Six Arts" originated from the aristocratic education system of the Zhou Dynasty. Zhou royal officials required students to master six basic talents. "Zhou Li·Bao Shi" records: "To raise a country's sons with Taoism is to teach six skills: the first is the Five Rites, the second is the Six Music, the third is the Five Shooting, the fourth is the Five Controls, the fifth is the Six Books, and the sixth is the Nine Numbers. ." Therefore, etiquette, music, archery, chastity, calligraphy, and numeracy are called the "six arts."
"Li": Etiquette. There are mainly five etiquettes. "Auspicious rituals" are related to the most important national events of the ancients, and refer to the sacrificial ceremonies for gods, earth, humans and ghosts. "Etiquette" refers to a series of etiquette related to mourning. "Military salute" is used for conquests and is an etiquette related to military activities. "Bin Li" is used for court invitations and gatherings. It is an etiquette ceremony for the emperor to entertain the princes from all directions who come to the court and for the princes to send envoys to greet the king of Zhou. "Jiali" refers to the etiquette and ceremonies related to banquets, weddings, and festivals.
"Music": It is six music and dances, including "Yunmen Dajuan", "Xianchi", "Dashao", "Daxia", "Dayi" and "Dawu" . These six sets of music and dance were what a gentleman at that time had to learn.
"Shooting": related to force, it means that a gentleman needs to master five archery techniques, including "white arrow, Shenlian, Yanzhu, Xiangchi, and Jingyi". White arrow, the arrow pierces the target and the arrowhead turns white, indicating that the arrow is accurate and powerful; Shenlian, one arrow is fired in front, and the three arrows in the back are sent out continuously, the arrows belong to each other, like a chain of beads; Yanzhu, refers to the speed of arrow movement ; Xiangchi, the minister and the king shoot, the minister and the king stand side by side, allowing the king to retreat by one foot; Jingyi, the four arrows are coherent and all hit the target.
"Yu": refers to the technique of driving a carriage, and there are five types. Ming and luan, chasing water music, crossing the king's table, dancing across the road, chasing birds to the left. Specifically, "When driving, it corresponds to the sound of the Luan; when the car follows the curved bank, it does not fall into the water; when passing the emperor's position, it is polite; when passing through the passage, it drives freely; when hunting, it chases animals and shoots them from the left."
"Book": refers to calligraphy. Since he is a gentleman, his literary quality must be good. The "six books" refer to the methods of learning, including: pictograms, referring to things, understanding, pictographs, notes, and borrowings.
"Number": It is the ability of calculation and mathematics. Learn Chinese, and you can’t be bad at math either.
For the judgment of a gentleman, moral standards are more important, but the basic "Six Arts" are also indispensable.
Chinese culture has a long history, is extensive and profound. Chinese culture has a profound impact on today's Chinese people's values, lifestyles, and China's development path, and it also powerfully promotes the development of world culture. In ancient China, there was a tradition of "six arts", which were the six basic talents that ancient gentlemen needed to learn in order to cultivate noble conduct. They were the six arts of the gentleman, namely etiquette, music, archery, imperialism, calligraphy, and numeracy. In ancient Chinese history, the Six Arts of the Gentleman were promoted. What are the functions and significance of each of them? Let’s discuss this issue together.
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The Six Arts are the collective name for the six skills of etiquette, music, archery, imperial control, calligraphy, and mathematics. They originated in the Zhou Dynasty and gradually disappeared with the emergence of the imperial examination system in the Tang Dynasty. The six arts refer to the six basic talents that Zhou Wang's official school requires students to master. It comes from "Zhou Li·Bao Shi": "To raise a country's sons with Taoism is to teach the six arts: the first is the Five Rites, the second is the Six Music, the third is the Five Shooting, The fourth is called Five Yus, the fifth is called Six Books, and the sixth is called Nine Numbers." Let's take a look at the specific content of the "Six Arts".
One rite: Etiquette refers to the five rites, with sacrificial matters as auspicious rites, funeral matters as unfavorable rites, military matters as military rites, guests as guest rites, and wedding matters as honorable etiquette. Together they are called the Five Rites.
2. Music: There are six types of music, namely: Yunmen, Daxian, Dashao, Daxia, Dayi and Dawu ancient music.
Three Archery: refers to the memory of five types of archery.
Siyu: Refers to the skill of driving. Chariot battles were popular during the Zhou Dynasty, and the skill of driving was in the war.
Five books: refers to calligraphy.
Six numbers: refers to rational numbers, that is, the laws of movement of Yin, Yang and Five Elements. "Guang Ya": "Shu means technique." It is just technology, method, and skill. Also refers to mathematics.
All in all, he is a humble gentleman with both ability and political integrity. The "six arts": etiquette, music, calligraphy, mathematics, imperialism, and archery, have an important impact on regulating society and educating the people. The "Six Arts" are the basic content of Chinese culture. As students, we should learn more about traditional Chinese culture.