Keywords: benevolence; Humanism; Me; other
Confucius' benevolence is an ethics based on self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country and leveling the world. "Book of Rites, University and Classics" says: "Those who want to be superior to the world in ancient times should rule their country first; If you want to govern your country, you should first get your family together; If you want to reunite with your family, you should first cultivate your body, cultivate your body, and correct your heart first ... "Self-cultivation is the core of Confucius' theory of benevolence.
Confucius' theory of benevolence came into being in the Spring and Autumn Period. From Zhou to the Spring and Autumn Period, Qing and the doctor had a "home", the princes had a "country" and Zhou had a "world"; He who owns the "world" is the supreme ruler of slave society; Those who have "country" and "home" are slave owners and nobles in slave society; People who own "the world", "the country" and "the home" are the ruling class of slave society. They built their homes, built the country and owned the world in layers, and established a "social family" ruled by slave owners. How to maintain the stability of the "big social family" ruled by slave owners? On the basis of Xia-Shang system, the rulers of Zhou Dynasty further formulated the system of Zhou Dynasty. Confucius said: "Zhou Jian is the second generation, he is depressed!" I am from Zhou. " [1] The institutional basis of the Zhou Dynasty was "ceremony", which was both the starting point and the destination of Confucius' benevolence.
The supreme sovereignty of Zhou Tianzi was seized from the rulers of Shang Dynasty. The rulers of the Zhou Dynasty thought that the "destiny" was impermanent, and those who were virtuous got the "destiny", while Shang Zhouwang was "immoral" and lost the "destiny" because he was immoral and heartless. The key to self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country and leveling the world lies in "virtue". The so-called "virtue" is to maintain people's trust in themselves. And this kind of "virtue" must be obtained through "self-cultivation". Therefore, Confucius' theory of benevolence, which originated from Zhou society, believes that "virtue" is an inseparable dimension of political leadership.
The Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period is a period of great transformation. China's social structure and social culture have undergone earth-shaking changes, and there has been a cultural anomie situation of "ritual collapse and bad music". Since the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the gradually formed patriarchal hierarchy has fallen into a serious crisis, with the decline of Heaven, the loosening of social structure, "impermanence of the country, impermanence of the monarch and ministers" and drastic changes in personal social status. In the face of the social reality of "ritual collapse and bad music", the loss of traditional heaven has changed people's thinking perspective. Under the background of the problem of heaven and man, Confucius paid special attention to man and respected life, thought about the value and significance of culture and man from the perspective of man, and reconsidered the ultimate and sacredness of culture, the divinity and humanity of culture.
1, what is Confucius' "benevolence"
Confucius' theory of benevolence can be found in The Analects of Confucius, The Book of Rites, The Analects of Confucius, Family Instructions of Confucius, etc.
Confucius said that "benevolence" was expressed from different angles.
"Benevolence" is one of the three great virtues. Confucius said, "Benevolent people are also human beings, and relatives are the greatest. ..... Well, father and son, husband and wife, brother Kun, friends, five, worldly wisdom; Wisdom, benevolence and courage, these three are major events in the world. " [3] "The wise are not confused, the benevolent are not worried, and the brave are not afraid." [4] The virtue of "benevolence" is manifested in all aspects of human behavior. "A gentle husband is the foundation of benevolence; Shenjing, the land of the benevolent; Well-off people are also benevolent; If you are a loser, you can be kind; Etiquette, the appearance of benevolence; The speaker is the text of benevolence; The singer is also the sum of benevolence; Decentralization, benevolent; ..... "[5]" Zhang Ziwen's benevolence is in Confucius. Confucius said,' Being able to do five things for the world is called benevolence.' Please ask questions. Say:' public, tolerant, trustworthy, people, and benefit. Courtesy is not humiliating, forgiveness is popular, trust is considerate, sensitivity is active, and benefit is enough to make people. ""[6], people with kindness are called "benevolent people". Confucius advocated "love all people, but love kindness." [7] STD book: "A benevolent person is a bosom friend." Confucius thought: "There are three kinds of benevolence, which work together with benevolence, but have different feelings;" Doing things with benevolence, its benevolence is unknown; Born with benevolence, and then its benevolence can be known. The benevolent is benevolent, the wise is benevolent, and the sinner Qiang Ren. The benevolent is right, and the Taoist is left. Benevolence is also righteous. Thicker than benevolence, thinner than righteousness, disrespectful; Those who are thicker than righteousness are thinner than benevolence, and they respect and do not kiss. " [8] "Wisdom, benevolence and courage", "benevolence must be brave" [9], "wisdom" and "benevolence" are opposites. Confucius said, "Wise people enjoy water, while benevolent people enjoy Leshan; Wise people move, benevolent people are quiet; Wise people enjoy water, and benevolent people live. " [10] Zhu's note: "A wise man is like water without stagnation, so he enjoys water; Benevolent people are content with righteousness and reason, but heavy and motionless, like a mountain, so Leshan. Actions are expressed in words, and happiness is expressed in words. Move without happiness, live quietly and live long. "
Benevolence is the virtue of the heart. Confucius said, "Go back, March is not inhuman, and the rest are just the sun and the moon." [10] Zhu said: "Benevolence is the virtue of the heart. Those who are not far from benevolence have selfless desires and virtues. " Confucius attached great importance to "the virtue of the heart". Confucius said, "Only the benevolent can be good and evil." [1 1] Zhu quoted You Shi as saying: "Only the benevolent is selfless, so you can like it or hate it." The so-called gentleman is because there is "benevolence" in his heart. "A gentleman never goes against his will, and mistakes are inevitable." [1 1] Confucius said, "If you are willing to do good, there is no evil." [1 1] Zhu Yue said, "If you are sincere, you will do all kinds of evil." Confucius said: "Everyone's fault lies in his party. After reading it, Si Zhiren. " Zhu quoted: "Everyone will make mistakes in his own way. Gentlemen often lose their thickness, while villains often lose their thinness. " Zhu quoted: "From this point, we can know that people are ruthless." Confucius said: "Take Tao as the aim, virtue as the basis, and benevolence as the basis, and swim in the art" [12] Zhu's note: "Benevolence is the end of selfish desires and the unity of heart and virtue."
"Benevolence" is the way to goodness. Confucius said, "Because of the meaning of the suburbs, people who are also kind to ghosts and gods; Taste the ceremony, so Ren Zhaomu also; The gift of eating and drinking, so benevolence dies and loses; Shoot the gift of hometown, so Ren Xiangfang also; The gift of food, so the guest is also kind. " [13] Chen Kun's note: "These five gifts are all from the heart." Quote Ying's words: "If likes and dislikes are opposed, they will be born and disappear, evil will converge and be more than enough, and good will be turbid and have nothing to lose." ..... to improve their conscience, and the good side, and the bad side of self-elimination. The benevolent is also good. " People's good deeds are based on "benevolence". Confucius said, "Is it unkind to be polite? People are heartless, so what are you happy about? " [1] Zhu quoted: "Benevolence is paramount. Unreasonable, it will be disorderly and disharmonious. " If people are heartless, no one will do good.
"Benevolence" is a journey of self-denial. Confucius said, "Self-denial and courtesy are benevolence. ..... for benevolence by yourself, and people? " [14] "Fan Chi asked Ren. Confucius said,' Love.' [14]' Twenty Years of Zuo Zhao':' When a child was born and died, Zhong Ni heard about it and cried,' The legacy of the past is also love.' "Jade Piece": "If you are yourself, your body is also." Zhu Yin said, "For your own private interests, you must make the best use of it, all because of courtesy, which is the beginning of benevolence." Zhu said: "Benevolence can be predicted by yourself rather than others." "Self-denial" means "self-denial"; "Do your best for yourself" means not being greedy. Confucius said, "Everyone loves his death, but suffers from his life. Therefore, we should use wisdom to get rid of his bullying, courage to get rid of his anger, and benevolence to get rid of his greed." [15] "Self" is opposite to "others", and "self-denial" is integrated with "love others". Book Big Mo Yu: "Learn from others, give up yourself and follow others." Yang Bojun quoted Wang Niansun as saying: "Love is benevolence." Love and interest. "Love" is good for people. Zhu pointed out, "Love is kindness." "Self-denial" and "love" are important practices of gentleman's "self-cultivation" and the core content of Confucius' theory of benevolence. The Analects of Confucius: "Confucius said:' Take part! My way is consistent. Zeng Zi said, "Wei." Master Zi Chu asked, "What is it?" Ceng Zi said: "The master's way is also the way of loyalty and forgiveness." Zhu said, "Be loyal to yourself and forgive yourself." Zhu Yin said, "Be kind to yourself and things; Forgiveness is not far from transgression. Loyalty and forgiveness are consistent, loyalty and forgiveness are heaven, and forgiveness is humanity; Those who are loyal are not guilty, and those who forgive are loyal. "
To sum up, the so-called "benevolence" is either "great virtue", "heart virtue", "kindness", "self-denial" or "love". Generally called "great virtue", it is the highest moral standard for Confucius to observe life; The "virtue of heart" shown from the inside out is the driving force of "goodness", or the "way of goodness"; "Self-denial" and "love" are the ways of loyalty and forgiveness, or "try your best to push yourself and others".
2. Confucius' presupposition of benevolence
Confucius' benevolence is a reflection of social life. In Confucius' theory of benevolence, "man" is a social person, and everyone has a certain position. "People" are either parents or children in society; Whether you are a monarch, a minister or a China native, you have your own place. "A gentleman stops at benevolence; Being a minister ends with respect; Being a son stops at filial piety; Being a father stops at kindness; Make friends with China people and end with a letter. " [16] People are better than birds if they don't stop.
People in society are members of social groups, belonging to a family, a family, a country and the world. Therefore, as a member of social groups, people should first consider whether their behavior in social groups is correct, whether their relationship with others (relatives, friends, friends) is normal, and whether social groups evaluate themselves well or badly.
Social "people" also have "self", also called "self". Ego (me) is opposite to man, and man is the other. Between a family (including a family) and a country (a country), parents, brothers and sisters and other people who are related by blood and marriage are called relatives, while others are called people. Confucius believes that in social groups, the interests of the group are above everything else, and everyone should care about, cherish and respect the interests of others. "Don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you. There is no complaint in the state and no complaint in the family. " [14] "A gentleman is virtuous and a villain is happy." [16] Every "person" in a social group should participate in the society and care about the world, which is the basic feature of "person" as a member of a social group. The learning of the ancients, "in Mingde, in the people, in the best." [16] The so-called "mingde" means that people have to deal with everything that comes from heaven. Why can people be smart? It is because we have mastered many truths and used them to deal with everything (Ming Ming De). The so-called "people-friendly", Zhu Note: "It speaks for itself, and it should be pushed to people." "Man" needs not only those reasons that come from heaven (nature) and should do everything, but also others, participate in society, care about the world, and do justice without any selfish desires.
Every "person" in society is only a member of "social group" and a capital "person" who can be integrated with heaven and earth, rather than an individual who is separated from "social group". If "people" want to survive and do something, they must not be divorced from "social groups". Only by participating in society and caring about the world can he become a real "person". Confucius believed that a real "man" should know his fate, Ming Dow, and show it in the street. Only in this way can he "keep the family in order", "govern the country" and "level the world" and be a great man.
What is "fate"? The Doctrine of the Mean says: "The nature of destiny." Zhu pointed out: "Sex is reason. Heaven incarnates everything with yin and yang and five elements. Qi is shaped and reason is endowed with meaning, which is still a command. Therefore, the lives of characters have their own reasons, thinking that the virtues of the five permanent members are healthy and harmonious, and the so-called sex is also. " What is Tao? The Book of Rites, The Doctrine of the Mean, says, "Let nature be the Tao." Zhu pointed out: "Tao is still Tao." People follow their own nature, so they have different ways of doing things in daily life, so they are called Tao. "'Destiny' and' Tao' are not sacred to Confucius and Zhu Ziru, but real and identifiable." "Destiny" is actually the reason why everything between heaven and earth was born and produced. "Tao" is actually the nature of all things in the world.
To participate in society and care about the world, people must know their own destiny, Ming Dow and do the right thing. "Knowing destiny" is Confucius' understanding of how people should base themselves on society and the life value of "people". "Ming Dow" is the mental preparation for "doing the right thing", and "doing the right thing" is the practice of "Ming Dow". "Street" cannot be "crossing" or "harmony". "Ming Dow" cannot "cross" or "harmony". Confucius said, "I know I can't do it. Wise men can pass, fools can't. " : I know that the Tao is unknown, the sages have passed, and the unscrupulous are worse than it. [17] Zhu pointed out: "The Tao is naturally in the middle. Wisdom, ignorance and exquisiteness are not enough, but they are born with wings and lost. Wise men know their mistakes, but they don't do enough for Tao; Fools don't know and don't know what to do, which is why this method often fails. Sages are wrong and don't know; Unscrupulous people can't do it and don't ask for knowledge. The reason for this way is often unknown. "
Confucius talked about sex and heaven, but he didn't think that life, death, existence, death, misfortune and happiness were related to "fate". He believes that people's life, death, existence, death, misfortune and happiness are all determined by their own virtue and taken by their own actions, "all for themselves" [18].
Confucius replied, "Wise people live long, benevolent people live long", saying: "People have three deaths, and they must take their own lives unless they have their own lives. From time to time, the husband sleeps, the diet is not good, and the overworked person dies; Those who don't do their best as others, who are insatiable and want more people, will be punished by * * * *; Offend the public with a few, bully the strong with the weak, repay kindness with evil, and kill those who bite off more than one can chew. These three are not dead, and they deserve it. If the husband is wise and kind, he will behave well and behave righteously, and sometimes he will be angry and harmless. Although he lives a long life, can't he? " [ 18]
Confucius replied to Ai Gong that "the fate of a country depends on fate, not on people". He said, "The fate of the country depends on itself, and natural and man-made disasters cannot be added." "Once upon a time, when it was the Yin Dixin Dynasty, there was a bird in the Xin Dynasty (Emperor) who gave birth to a big bird in the corner of the city, saying,' In Kotoo, the country will be king and its name will be prosperous'." So Di Xin attracted the virtue of birds, didn't fix the state affairs, and broke his word. The courtiers failed to save it, and even foreign enemies invaded, and even Yin State died. In other words, when it confronts its own destiny, deception becomes a curse. Moreover, Yin's predecessor was too martial and lacked the law, so that the cultivator Sanggu was in the dynasty, and on the seventh day of the arch, he said,' Sanggu is wild and not suitable for the dynasty, which means the country will perish!' Too afraid of terror, horizontal practice, thinking about the politics of the first king, knowing how to be close to the people. Three years later, Mu Yi was translated from far away, and there were sixteen countries. In other words, when he goes against his fate, he is lucky in misfortune. "[ 18]
Confucius believed that "man" should participate in society and care about the world; We should "know destiny", "Ming Dow" and "take the right path". "I" and "the other" should be harmonious. Everything about "people" must be won by ourselves; Whether "people" can stand on the society depends on themselves; People's life, death, existence, death, disaster and happiness are all about themselves [18]. This is the presupposition of Confucius' theory of benevolence about "human".
3. Confucius' practice of benevolence
Confucius' benevolence is based on oriental humanism, which is different from western secularized humanism. It requires "people" to participate in society, care about the world, consciously "know destiny", "Ming Dow" and "follow the right path", and seek the harmony between "me" and "the other" (both spiritual and objective).
The "benevolence" of Confucius' theory of benevolence belongs to the category of "virtue", which Confucius listed as one of the "three virtues". Confucius said: "Wisdom, benevolence and courage are the virtues of the world, so those who do it are also good." [17] "Virtue" means "Daoism". Zhu said, "Those who have attained the Tao will have attained the Tao in the world." "A wise man, so know this also; Benevolence, so the body also; Brave, so strong. People in the world who call it Dade have the same reason. Just being honest. Although Tao has been * * *, there is no way to do it without three virtues; Although virtue is shared by all, when there is dishonesty, people want it, and virtue is not their virtue. " Therefore, Confucius particularly emphasized that "benevolence" should be shaped not only from the inside, but also from the outside, that is, from the inside, "the virtue of the heart" and from the outside, "self-denial" and "love". Self-denial and love is the practice of benevolence, and it is the practical activity of harmony between me and others.
Although the "benevolence" of Confucius' benevolence is a category of "morality", on the whole, Confucius' benevolence is not simply about "morality", but about "ethical philosophy" of "kissing" and "respecting the virtuous". Confucius answered the question of mourning for the public and asked about politics: "The politics of civil and military affairs are planned. If people exist, it will be a political move; If he dies, he will lose his political interest. " "For politicians, follow the example of others, cultivate self-cultivation and cultivate benevolence." [17] Zhu's note: "If you have it, you will have politics." Ruling depends on people, and whether people can be won depends on the monarch himself; How to become a monarch depends on whether the monarch can cultivate self-cultivation; How the monarch cultivates himself lies in self-cultivation; How to cultivate one's morality lies in benevolence. "Xiu" means "knowing the destiny" and "Ming Dow". "Benevolence" means "pro" and "respecting the virtuous". Confucius warned politicians: "A gentleman should not cultivate himself; Thinking about cultivation can not be ignored; Thinking about things can't be ignorant of people; People who think good don't know heaven. " [17] That is to say, "knowing heaven", "knowing people" and "loving others" are the prerequisites of self-cultivation and "governing the country", and "governing the country" is an active action to participate in society and care about the world. "Self-cultivation" is "knowledge" and "being a politician" is "doing". How to "know" and "do" Confucius said, "You know it when you are born, you know it when you learn, and you know it when you are sleepy." Do it safely, profitably or reluctantly, and you will succeed. Learning is close to knowledge, doing is close to benevolence, and knowing shame is close to courage. Knowing these three things, you will know how to cultivate yourself; If you know how to cultivate yourself, you will know how to treat people; If you know how to govern the people, you will know how to govern the country. [17] "Practicing benevolence" is an important guarantee for Confucius to practice benevolence.
"Self-cultivation" is a spiritual training to participate in society and care about the world as a social "person" and an important way to cultivate the personality of saints. Confucius said, "Five out of ten, I am determined to learn; I am thirty years old; Forty without confusion; At the age of fifty, I knew my destiny; I am obedient at the age of sixty; I am still obedient at the age of seventy; I didn't cross the line. " [19] This is Confucius' expression of his own life course and an example and instruction for future generations. The course of Confucius' self-cultivation shows that facing the society and becoming an adult through self-efforts is a meaningful beginning of the spiritual journey of "man". Only by participating in society and self-cultivation can we stand on our own feet. Only by caring about the world and gaining a deep sense of self can we have a clear direction. Only by transcending oneself and pursuing harmony with others (including spirit and nature) can we make a difference to society.
"Benevolence" is both internal and external. The unity of inner shape and outer shape is the practice of benevolence, and the practice of benevolence is self-cultivation. Confucius said, "Self-denial and courtesy are benevolence. A day of self-denial and self-denial, the world will return to benevolence. For benevolence, for yourself, for people? " [14] "ego" (I) is relative to "other". "Self-denial", overcoming self, overcoming self-alienation, participating in society and caring for the world. "Rites", social order and code of conduct. "Heavy ceremony" can restore social order and establish a new code of conduct. "Self-denial and courtesy" is a group of conjunctions expressing conditional relations, which means that only by overcoming the alienation of one's own body can social order be restored and new norms of behavior be established. Since the Spring and Autumn Period, social chaos and bad behavior have made it urgent to establish a new order and new norms. "Self-denial is benevolence" means overcoming the alienation of one's body, participating in society and caring for the world, thus restoring social order and establishing a new code of conduct is benevolence. "Self-denial" is an act of practicing "benevolence", internalizing "the virtue of one heart", making people kind, loving and treating others. The internalization of "self-denial" is "self-cultivation" "Self-denial and self-cultivation, the world belongs to benevolence", it is said that the effect of "self-denial and self-cultivation" is very fast and has a great effect. "Benevolence lies in oneself, but in people", emphasizing that the key to "self-denial" and "self-cultivation" lies in oneself, and others can neither replace nor interfere.
The form of "benevolence" is external, provided that there is "benevolence" in the heart. Confucius said, "A gentleman who is not kind has a husband, and a benevolent person has no villain." [9] Zhu quoted Xie as saying: "A gentleman is benevolent, and if he is absent-minded, he is heartless." A gentleman has "benevolence" in his heart, but "he is absent-minded for a moment", so there are "heartless people"; Villains are mercenary and heartless, so "there are no villains, only benevolent people." How to keep "benevolence" in your heart? To hide "benevolence" in your heart, you must be selfish, kind, love others, and push yourself and others. "Don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you." [ 14]
How to evaluate whether a person is "benevolent"? Yuan Zhen, a disciple of Confucius, said, "Can you be kind if you can resist, criticize, complain and desire?" Confucius said, "I can be embarrassed, but I don't know if I am kind." [9] Lutz, a disciple of Confucius, thought that "Huan Gong killed Gong Zijiu and told him to die suddenly, but Guan Zhong would not die", and forgetting your affairs was harmful to the heart of courtesy, so he could not be kind. Confucius said, "The Duke of Huan joined the nine princes without chariots, but with the help of a clock. That's it! That's it! " [9] Zi Gong, a disciple of Confucius, thinks that "Huan Gong killed Gong Zijiu, but he can't die." Guan Zhong is ruthless. Confucius said, "Guan Zhong is a public servant, a tyrant and a conqueror of the world, and the people have been blessed so far. Wei Guanzhong, I was left behind. If a man and a woman forgive him, they will cross the ditch unconsciously. " [9] Yuan Zhen believes that "gram, cutting, resentment, desire can not be done" and "ability to be benevolent", while Confucius believes that the four can not be regarded as "benevolence"; Lutz and Zigong thought that Huan Gong killed Zi Jiu and told him to die suddenly. Guan Zhong lived forever and was cruel to Huan Gong, while Confucius thought that Guan Zhong was cruel to Huan Gong, dominating his ministers and conquering the world without chariots. The difference between Confucius and his disciples is that Confucius thinks that whether a person is benevolent depends not only on his words and deeds, but also on his heart. What do you mean by "cutting, complaining and wanting"? Zhu noticed, "ke, you are so strong. Cut and brag. Resentment, resentment, greed. " Confucius believes that it is really commendable to be invincible, complacent, resentful and greedy, but it is natural to fail in four aspects. If you just control and "fail" and have no intention of uprooting, it can't be regarded as "benevolence". Duke Huan invited Guan Zhong to kill Miyako for a long time, but Guan Zhong never died and fell in love with Duke Huan. On the surface, Guan Zhong is heartless, but Guan Zhong has the overall situation in mind. "Nine kings are United without chariots" and "the people were given to him today after he conquered the world". Guan Zhong is very kind to everyone in the world, so Confucius praised Guan Zhong for his "benevolence".
Confucius' theory of benevolence pays attention to practice, advocates "self-denial, self-cultivation and self-cultivation", participates in society, opposes selfish desires and self-restraint, and loves others; Care about the world, don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you.