The so-called wandering in the Six Classics refers to the fact that Confucianism relies on the Six Classics and does not do anything beyond the Six Classics. The Six Classics refers to the six ancient Chinese classics: "Poetry", "Book", "Li", "Yi", "Yue", and "Spring and Autumn", which are the fundamental classics of Confucianism. In the pre-Qin period, people still paid very limited attention to them, let alone calling them "jing". This is probably related to the low political status of Confucianism in the pre-Qin period. Calling them "Classics" and highly valuing them probably only started in the Han Dynasty. At that time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty deposed hundreds of schools of thought, raised Confucianism to the supreme status, and designated the six as legal textbooks, which made Confucianism flourish in the Han Dynasty. Although it is customarily called the "Six Classics", there are actually only the Five Classics, because "Yue" has only sounds but no words, so it can only be understood but cannot be expressed in words.
The Confucian "Yue" refers to the noble music recognized by Confucianism, such as "Ya", "Song", etc. in "Poetry", rather than musical instruments. "The Analects of Confucius Yang Huo No. 17" said: "Leyun, Leyun, bells and drums are all clouds?" It also said: "The evil purple is to seize the vermilion, the evil Zheng Sheng is to disturb the elegant music, and the evil tongue is to overthrow the country. "[24] Confucius opposed Zheng Sheng but advocated elegant music. Why? Because "Zheng's voice is obscene, and sycophants are in danger"[25], and because elegant music is "happy but not obscene, sad but not sad"[26]. Confucius believed that elegant music can truly cultivate people. He said: "It is inspired by "Poetry", established by etiquette, and achieved by music."[27]
Confucianism attaches great importance to "Poetry" and believes that it is irreplaceable for the cultivation of talents. effect. Confucius said: "Why should I, young man, imitate my husband's "Poetry"? "Poetry" can be used to inspire, to observe, to gather in groups, to complain, to serve my father when I am close by, and to my king when I am far away. I know most of the names of birds, beasts, and trees." [ 28] He also said: "There are three hundred poems, which can be summed up in one sentence: 'Thinking is innocent.'" [29] This fully shows that Confucius attaches great importance to "Poems": it can not only cultivate noble sentiments, but also cultivate noble sentiments. It can help people learn how to serve their father and king, and it can also help people increase their knowledge. Therefore, Confucius not only taught students to learn "Poems", but also required his descendants to learn "Poems". Confucius once said to Kong Boyu: "If you don't learn "Poetry", you won't be able to speak."[30] This means that if you learn "Poetry", even if you gain the least, you can be good at speaking. Because the "Poetry" has such a function, Confucians often quote the words of the "Poetry" to prove themselves. For example, "The Great Learning" quoted "Although Zhou was an old gang, his life was restored", and "The Doctrine of the Mean" quoted "The wives are harmonious, like the drum and the harp. The brothers are in peace, and they are happy and happy. It is good for the family and the wife to be happy." "The Analects of Confucius: The First in Learning" quotes "It's like discussing, it's like polishing", "Mencius: King Hui of Liang is the First" quotes "Others have intentions, let me think about them", "Fear the power of heaven" , protect it in time", "Mencius Gongsun Chou II" quoted "from the west to the east, from the south to the north, without thinking and disobeying", and so on, too numerous to mention.
Concerning "Book", Confucianism refers to "Shang Shu". Starting from Confucius and Mencius, Confucianism has attached great importance to "Shang Shu" and often quoted its words to discuss knowledge. For example, "The Analects of Confucius: Weizheng No. 2" quotes "Filial piety! Only filial piety is to be friends with brothers and to support government." "The Analects of Confucius: Xianwen No. 14" quotes "Gaozong forgives Yin and does not say anything for three years." "Mencius: The First King of Liang Hui" quoted "Heaven sent down the people to be kings and teachers, but he said: 'He helps God, favors all directions, guilty and innocent, but I am', the world dares to have the ambition to surpass ", "Mencius Teng Wengong Third" quoted "If the medicine does not cure the dizziness, the disease will not be cured", etc. The reason why Confucians attach great importance to "Shang Shu" is because Confucius believes that it is an elegant language like "Poetry". "The Analects of Confucius·Shu Er Seventh" says: "The elegant words of Zi, such as "Poems", "Books", and "Zhao Li", are all elegant words." Mencius believed that as long as we can correctly understand and use "Shang Shu", we can be invincible. The world. He said: "It is better to have no "Book" than to have no "Book". I only took two or three strategies from "Wucheng"." [31]
Concerning "Li", Confucianism refers to The most important thing is Shili, which records relevant etiquette. In Confucianism, beginning with Confucius, they respected Zhou Li, the etiquette system of the Zhou Dynasty. Confucius said: "Zhou was in charge of the second generation, and he was so rich in literature! I followed Zhou." [32] Confucius's admiration for Zhou's rituals can be reflected from two aspects: first, life; second, education. In life, Confucius often dreamed of Duke Zhou. He said: "It's so bad that I am declining! It has been a long time since I dreamed of Duke Zhou anymore." [33] Because he had not dreamed of Duke Zhou recently, Confucius lamented that he was getting old. In terms of education, when his favorite disciple Yan Yuan asked about the way to build a state, Confucius said: "When traveling in the Xia Dynasty, ride on the chariot of the Yin Dynasty, wear the crown of the Zhou Dynasty, dance with the "Shao" music, play the Zheng sound, and be far away from the sycophants." [ 34] It can be seen that Confucius never forgets to teach with propriety. Of course, Confucius did not only understand Zhou rites, he was also very proficient in Xia rites and Yin rites. He said: "The gains and losses of the Yin Dynasty due to the Xia Li can be known; the gains and losses of the Zhou Dynasty due to the Yin Li can be known; and those who may succeed the Zhou can be known for hundreds of generations." [35] He also said: "Xia Li, I If I can speak about it, I can't conquer it; if I can speak about Yin ritual, I can't conquer it in Song Dynasty. If the literature is insufficient, I can conquer it." [36] Confucius was not only able to deal with Xia ritual and Yin ritual. People declare it, and they also understand the profits and losses very well, which is by no means something ordinary people can do. The reason why Confucius valued etiquette so much is because etiquette is the foundation for people to gain a foothold in society and is the embodiment of the institutionalization and systematization of social order. "The Analects of Confucius·Ji's Sixteenth" says: "If you don't learn etiquette, you can't stand up.
"The Analects of Confucius·Yao Yue No. 20" said: "If you don't know destiny, you can't be a gentleman; if you don't know etiquette, you can't stand up; if you don't know words, you can't understand people." "This fully shows that in Confucius's mind, people who do not act according to etiquette cannot be respected by society. "The Analects of Confucius·Wei Zheng No. 2" says: "When you are born, do things with etiquette; when you die, be buried with etiquette. , sacrifice it with ceremony. "This shows that propriety must prevail in life, health, death and burial, and must not be rude. Confucius said: "Being respectful without etiquette will lead to fatigue, being cautious without etiquette will lead to strangulation, being brave but without etiquette will lead to chaos, and being straight and rude will lead to strangulation. If a gentleman is devoted to his relatives, the people will thrive on benevolence; if he does not leave the old behind, the people will not steal. "[37] It is worth noting that the so-called etiquette in Confucianism is completely different from the etiquette of treating guests and giving gifts that is popular in today's etiquette exchanges. Confucius said: "Li Yun, Li Yun, jade and silk clouds? "[38] He also said: "If a person is not kind, how can he be polite! "[39] In Confucius' view, etiquette is not something like gold and silver, but the embodiment of a social order based on benevolence. If benevolence is left, etiquette will go to the opposite direction. For a country, "Nothing above" If there is no learning about etiquette, thieves will prosper and the people will be in mourning." [40]. Therefore, Confucius advocated that we should "treat the people with virtue and harmonize them with etiquette" to make them "shameful and dignified." [41 ]
Concerning the "Book of Changes", Confucianism refers to the "Book of Changes". According to Sima Qian, King Wen "acted in the Book of Changes"[42], and the sixty-four hexagrams of the "Book of Changes" were written by King Wen of Zhou himself. Regarding the basic principles of the "Book of Changes", "Yi Zhuan·Shuo Gua" said:
In the past, the "Yi" written by the sages established the heaven based on the principle of conforming to nature and fate. The way of establishing the earth is called "yin" and "yang", the way of establishing the earth is called "softness" and "hardness", and the way of establishing the people is called "benevolence" and "righteousness", so the "Yi" is composed of six paintings. Hexagram; divide Yin and Yang, use soft and hard, so "Yi" is composed of six parts.
The reason why Confucianism attaches great importance to "Yi" is because "Yi" can meet all the needs of Confucianism. "The Book of Changes" says: "In the Book of Changes, there are four principles of the sage: those who use words should value their words, those who use movement should value their transformations, those who use utensils should value their images, and those who use divination should value their divination. Therefore, when a gentleman is about to do something, he is about to do something, and when he asks what he will do, he speaks. "In ancient China, there were no more than these four aspects of how to behave in the world. According to Confucius, the above four aspects can make a saint. Therefore, "Yi Zhuan·Xici" goes on to say:
Fu "Yi" The reason why a sage is very profound is that he can understand the aspirations of the world; because he is very profound, he can accomplish the tasks of the world; because he is spiritual, he can achieve things quickly and without difficulty. "There are four ways of the sage", this is what we call it.
Although Confucius attached great importance to "The Book of Changes", because "The Book of Changes" is really vast and comprehensive, even Confucius felt that he did not understand it enough. He said: "It would not be a big mistake to give me a few more years and fifty to study the Book of Changes. "[43]
As for "Spring and Autumn", according to Sima Qian, it was written by Confucius. [44] Mencius believed that "Spring and Autumn" is a historical reflection of the struggle for hegemony among princes. He said:
The traces of the king were extinguished and the "Poetry" died, and the "Poetry" died, and then the "Chun Qiu" was written. Wen, the article is the history. Confucius said: "The meaning is stolen by Qiu."
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