China knows everything for 5000 years

Chapter 12

At that time, the six schools of Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, Fa, Ming, and Yin and Yang were relatively influential.The founder of Confucianism was Confucius in the late Spring and Autumn Period.He advocated the restoration of the laws and regulations and moral norms of the Western Zhou Dynasty.His political ideal is to require the rulers to implement "benevolent governance".During the Warring States Period, Meng Ke inherited and carried forward the teachings of Confucius.He especially emphasized "righteousness" and regarded it as the criterion for judging right from wrong.Mencius is honored as Mencius, and he is the main successor of Confucianism.Another great thinker of Confucianism is Xunzi of the Warring States Period, that is, Xun Kuang.Xunzi summed up the views of Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, and Legalism, absorbed the strengths of each school, formed his own unique insights, and became a master of pre-Qin thought.He advocated change, and proposed that people can master the laws of nature and use them. He also advocated the "evil nature theory", that people should achieve goodness through acquired moral training.Han Fei is a representative of the Legalists. He believes that social turmoil is caused by the relaxation of the legal system, so he advocates the "rule of law", that is, the government promulgates certain laws and systems. No matter how high or low, everyone must abide by it. Anyone who commits a crime must be punished; even if the princes and nobles break the law, they must be punished like ordinary people.In this way, people have something to fear and follow, and bad things can be reduced.The founder of Taoism was Lao Tzu in the late Spring and Autumn Period.He first put forward the concept of "Tao", and believed that Tao is the origin of the universe. He advocated that people should follow nature and do nothing.In the Warring States period, Zhuangzi (Zhuang Zhou) carried forward the theory of Laozi.The founder of Mohism is Mo Zi (Mo Di).He put forward the propositions of "universal love" and "non-aggression", and also asked the rulers to appoint sages, "so that the hungry can be fed, the cold can be clothed, and the tired can rest."

These schools have written books one after another. "Mencius", "Mozi", "Xunzi", "Zhuangzi" and "Hanfeizi" were the most famous works at that time.These works had a great influence on the time and future generations.

●The Book of Songs

"The Book of Songs", among the literary works recorded in history, is the earliest in its generation.

"The Book of Songs", also known as "Poetry", has a total of 160 poems and is the first collection of poems in my country.It consists of three parts: "wind", "elegance" and "song".The wind poems are mainly local folk songs, with a total of [-] pieces, which gather most of the excellent chapters in the "Book of Songs".The elegant poems are mainly court songs, which can be divided into big elegant and small elegant poems. There are a total of [-] pieces.The ode is a song for temple sacrifices, which consists of three parts: Shang Song, Lu Song and Zhou Song. They are mainly a kind of sacrificial song accompanied by dancers.

In ancient times, there was a kind of official who was responsible for collecting poetry. They were distributed all over the country, collecting folk poetry and music, sorting them out, and finally handing them over to the supreme ruler.

These poems were handed down to the Spring and Autumn Period, and they were compiled and compiled by Confucius himself. This is the "Book of Songs" that is circulated today.

In ancient times, there was no distinction between poetry, music, and dance, and poetry was generally the lyrics of Hele. "The Book of Songs" can be enjoyed together and can be sung by people.

There are a large number of poems in the "Book of Songs" that reflect the sufferings of the people, such as "Shuoshu", in which it is written: "Shuoshu, Shuoshu, I have no food for my millet! I am three years old, and I am willing to take care of you. I will go to you when I pass away." , suitable for the Paradise, Promised Land, Promised Land, I love what I want. Huge rats and rats, I can’t eat my wheat! Three years old, I can’t be willing to die. After passing away, I will go to you, suitable for the happy country. Happy country, happy country, love I am straight. Big rats, big rats, I have no food for my seedlings! I am three years old, and I am willing to work. After passing away, I will go to you, and I will be happy with you. Whose eternal name is Lejiao Lejiao?" There are many descriptions of war. Poetry, such as "Caiwei", in which it is written: "In the past, I went away, and the willows were Yiyi; now I come to think about it, and it is raining and snowing." It expresses the long war and the longing for leaving people.There are also many poems describing love, such as "Guan Ju": "Guan Jujiu, in the continent of the river, is a fair lady, and a gentleman is fond of her."

The emergence of "The Book of Songs" has promoted the development of Chinese literature.

●Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism
Lao Tzu, also known as Lao Dan, surnamed Li Ming Er, styled Dan.A native of Ku County (now Luyi, Henan) in the State of Chu in the Spring and Autumn Period.Born around 580 BC and died around 500 BC.Lao Tzu is an outstanding thinker in ancient my country and the founder of Taoism.

Laozi once served as the "History of the Shouzangshi" of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, that is, the historian in charge of the royal family's collection.Because of such conditions, he had the opportunity to read a large number of books and classics, not only familiar with the laws and regulations, but also heard a lot about the rise and fall of politics.In that era, he can be called a learned man.According to legend, Confucius once asked him about Zhou Rites and other aspects when he was young.Lao Tzu said to Confucius, what you are talking about, their bones are gone, and what remains is only their old empty words; as a gentleman, he will use the world when he gets the time, and bow down to the world when he loses the time, hiding his secrets. It's no good being arrogant and self-righteous like you are.Later, Confucius praised Lao Tzu to his disciples, comparing him to a dragon swimming in the clouds and mist, looming and unfathomable.

In his later years, Lao Tzu saw the decline of the Zhou royal family, so he abandoned his official position and went to live in seclusion.When passing through Hangu Pass, Yin Xi, the general who guards the pass, forced Lao Tzu to stay, and Lao Tzu readily agreed.

Lao Tzu swiped his brush and wrote quickly, and wrote two works with a total of more than 5000 characters-"Tao Te Ching", also known as "Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching" or "Lao Tzu".The book is concise in text and rich in content, covering the understanding of the universe, society, human affairs and many other aspects.

Lao Tzu believes that "Tao", the highest philosophical concept, is the source of everything in the world.At that time, people could not explain many natural phenomena, so they mistakenly believed that heaven had a will, that various phenomena in nature and life were manifested by gods, that everything in the human world was determined by heaven, and that heaven was the ruler of all things.Through careful observation of the nature of the universe, Lao Tzu believes that the sky operates according to its own laws and cannot affect the good and bad fortune, life, old age, sickness and death in the world.So, what is "Tao"?In order to highlight the special status and function of "Tao", he tried his best to describe it as mysterious and unfathomable. "You can't see it", "you can't hear it", "you can't fight it", "it has no form and image, it is difficult to understand", "you can't see the head when you meet it, and you can't see the back after it", but it is born in the world and unifies the world. To control all things, from ancient times to everlasting.Laozi also said, "Man follows the earth, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature."It means that man is based on the earth, the earth is based on the sky, the sky is based on the Tao, and the Tao is based on nature.The book further emphasizes that the growth, development and changes of all things in the world are governed by the laws of nature.

Laozi put forward the concept of "Tao", which shows that the thinking level of ancient people has been greatly improved.People have begun to get rid of the limitation of understanding only individual partial things, and then rise to a comprehensive understanding of the general, universal and holistic nature of the world.The description of "Tao" in the book is not only mystical, but also obviously idealistic.

Laozi's "Tao Te Ching" is full of dialectical viewpoints, expounding that the existence of things is not isolated from each other, but interrelated and interdependent. "Existence and non-existence are interdependent, difficult and easy are interdependent, long and short are interdependent, high and low are incline to each other, sound and sound are in harmony, and front and rear follow each other."All things in the world are born of mutual opposition, and they are leaning against each other, resulting in harmony and order.If one party does not exist, then the other party also loses the conditions for existence. "When misfortune comes, blessings depend on it, and when blessings come, misfortune rests on it."Misfortune is the premise of blessing, and blessing contains elements of misfortune, and the two can be transformed, that is, misfortune can become blessing, and blessing can also become misfortune.He discovered the contradictory nature of things, and also realized the mutual transformation relationship between the two contradictory sides.

In the view of social history, he opposed social progress.He saw the evil results of the ruling class using the progress of material culture to satisfy its own luxurious desires.He not only hated the extravagant life of the aristocrats, but also sympathized with the hardships and hardships of the working people. He believed that the ideal social realm was quiet and inaction, returning to nature, and advocated returning to the primitive and simple society.In his eyes, all cultural progress did not bring benefits to the society, but caused the country to be full of disasters and people's hearts were not old.

In any case, Lao Tzu’s thought is the earliest philosophy with a relatively complete system born in ancient my country, and its speculative depth and breadth are rare, so its influence on the history of ancient Chinese academic thought is profound and multifaceted. The book "Tao Te Ching" was later used as an important ideological material by Taoist philosophy and Wei Jin metaphysics, which had a great influence on the spread and development of Buddhism in China.Laozi himself has been revered throughout history as an ancient wise man and philosopher.

●Zhuangzi Daydreams Turning into Butterflies
Zhuangzi, named Zhou, was born in Mengdi, Song State (in present-day Henan) in 369 BC. He was a master of Taoism in the middle period of the Warring States Period.

One day, Zhuangzi had a dream in the daytime, dreaming that he turned into a big butterfly and fluttered on the grass, completely immersed in joy.Suddenly, when Zhuangzi woke up, he couldn't help being surprised: Hey, why am I Zhuangzi?It was just a butterfly!He shook his head, thinking seriously about this question: As far as I am concerned, I don't know whether Zhuangzi turned into a butterfly in his dream, or the butterfly turned into Zhuangzi in his dream?No matter how it changes, everything is spent in a dream.

●Founder of Confucianism——Confucius

Summarized the etiquette system of the three dynasties, sorted out the "Shu Zhuan", starting from Tang Yao, Yu and Shun, down to Qin Mugong, and compiled their deeds. It is said that these were all written by Confucius.

In ancient times, there were three thousand poems in the "Poetry".After Confucius removed some of the chapters according to his own theory, he selected [-] chapters that were helpful to promote propriety and righteousness as a book. The tyranny of the king.Confucius also played and sang repeatedly, adding music to these [-] poems, in order to match them with music such as "Shao", "Wu", "Ya" and "Song".From then on, the rites and music, which were almost abandoned and lost, were passed on to the world again.Confucius in his later years liked to read "Yi".It is said that the five chapters of "Yi Zhuan" (namely "Zu", "Xi", "Xiang", "Shuo Gua" and "Classical Chinese") were written by Confucius.

Confucius wrote the book "Spring and Autumn" based on some historical records. The history recorded in "Spring and Autumn" starts from Duke Yin of Lu and goes down to the 14th year of Duke Ai of Lu.When Confucius handled cases as Si Kou, he was able to be consistent with others in writing, and he never innovated.When he wrote "Spring and Autumn", his approach was completely different.What he thinks should be recorded, he will record it truthfully; what he thinks should be deleted, he will cut it out.Even Zixia and other disciples who are good at writing can't help write a single word.When teaching "Spring and Autumn" to his disciples, Confucius said: "Those who will understand me in future generations will rely on this "Spring and Autumn"; those who blame me will also rely on this "Spring and Autumn".

Confucius used "Poetry", "Book", "Ritual" and "Music" to teach his students.There are as many as 3000 of his students, 72 of whom are proficient in the six arts.

Confucius died on April 16th in the 479th year of Duke Ai of Lu ([-] BC).

Tai Shigong said: "There is such a saying in "Poetry": 'The high mountains are admirable, and the broad road guides people to follow.' Although I have not caught up with the time of Confucius, I yearn for him in my heart. I read the works of Confucius, You can imagine his character. When I went to Ludi, I visited Zhongni’s temple, vehicles, clothes, and ritual vessels. Confucian scholars went to the former residence of Confucius to practice etiquette on time. I lingered in admiration and did not want to leave. And there are many sages, who were very honorable when they were alive, but they have nothing after death. Confucius was just a commoner, but his theory has been passed down for more than ten generations, and has been admired by scholars. From the emperor to the princes, people in China who talk about the six arts all use The teachings of Confucius are the standard of right and wrong."

●Yasheng Mencius

In 390 BC, Mencius, a Confucian sub-sage, was born in Zoudi, Lu State.He lost his father when he was young and was raised by his mother alone.Mencius was playful when he was young, and he learned what he saw.In order to let Mencius be good, Meng's mother moved home three times. At first, her neighbor was a butcher, and Mencius learned how to kill pigs every day.After Meng's mother moved, she met a neighbor who was a blacksmith, and Mencius learned from the blacksmith again, knocking on everything.Mother Meng moved again, and finally moved next to a school palace.Mencius saw the elegant words and deeds of scholars, so he learned poetry, books and etiquette from scholars.Mother Meng was relieved and settled down in this place.

Mencius was very diligent in studying when he was a teenager. He learned from Confucius' grandson Zisi and fully inherited Confucius' theories.He admired Confucius' knowledge and conduct, and yearned for him to travel around the world.

After Mencius completed his studies, he began to travel around the world and lobby the princes.He traveled around Qi, Wei, Song, and Teng countries for 35 years, but his idea of ​​"benevolent government" has never been implemented.At that time, it was the Warring States Period, and the vassal states continued to conquer and fight frequently.Mencius witnessed the suffering brought by the war to the people, and he sympathized with the tragic fate of the people very much.He put forward a set of "kingly way" theory, admonishing the rulers to implement "benevolent government" to the common people.Mencius first came to Qi State and talked about his "benevolent government" thought to King Qi Wei.King Qi Wei believed that Mencius' theory was impractical and did not apply it to himself.After leaving Qi State, Mencius came to Song State again, but the result was the same as when he was in Qi State, so he had to return to his hometown Zou State temporarily.

In 322 BC, Duke Ping of Lu came to the throne, and Mencius' disciples were reused.When Mencius heard about it, he came to the state of Lu, eager to realize his ideals in the state of Lu.However, because some people spoke ill of Mencius to Lu Pinggong, Mencius could not even meet Lu Pinggong, and he could not display his political ambitions.Mencius had no choice but to return to Zou.

Around 320 BC, Liang Guogang was attacked by the three kingdoms of Qi, Qin, and Chu.King Hui of Liang "recruited talents with humble courtesy and rich money", and wanted to find talents to help him manage the country.When Mencius heard about it, he took hundreds of followers and dozens of chariots to Liang Guo.As soon as King Hui of Liang saw Mencius, he couldn't wait to say: "The old man came from a thousand miles away, will he benefit our country?" Mencius replied: "Why do you say benefit? There is also benevolence and righteousness." He repeatedly asked King Hui of Liang clarified the principles of "benefit first, benefit later", "joy with the people", "don't seize the agricultural season", "teach the precepts", "be the parents of the people", "govern with benevolence, save penalties, reduce taxes, deepen cultivation and make beds easy" and so on. Series truth.King Liang Hui was very convinced and prepared to adopt Mencius' strategy. Unfortunately, King Liang Hui died not long after.King Hui's son, King Xiang, ascended the throne.King Xiang didn't pay much attention to Mencius' theory, let alone Mencius as a man.Mencius thought that King Xiang was a mediocre monarch, so he left Liang Guo disappointed.

After King Xuan of Qi ascended the throne, he set up the Jixia Academy in Linzi, the capital of the country, and invited scholars from all over the world to give lectures. After Mencius heard the news, he led a group of disciples to Linzi.Mencius received a grand reception and was awarded the position of "Qing". However, during the question and answer session, he criticized King Qiyi's ambition to seek hegemony. Criticize the unjust king.King Xuan of Qi looked embarrassed and was speechless, so he had to talk about him from left to right.

In 312 BC, civil strife broke out in the State of Yan, and the State of Qi wanted to send troops to attack Yan. Mencius firmly opposed it. He had a conflict with King Yi of Qi, and the conflict was completely superficial.Finally, seeing that King Xuan of Qi was not interested in his theory, Mencius had no choice but to leave Qi.

In his later years, Mencius returned to his hometown. While teaching, he wrote the book "Mencius" with his disciples Wan Zhang, Gongsun Chou and others, describing his career and thoughts throughout his life.In 305 BC, Mencius died.

●Xunzi's theory of writing books and establishing new ideas
Xunzi was another Confucian master after Mencius during the Warring States period. He was good at absorbing Taoism, Mohism, name, and law, especially the directors of Taoism and Legalism, and developed and improved Confucianism.It not only gathers the great achievements of Confucianism, but also gathers the great achievements of the pre-Qin philosophers.The development of Confucianism in the Han Dynasty is closely related to Xunzi's attainments in Confucian classics.

Xunzi, named Kuang, styled Qing, also known as Xunqing and Sun Qing.Zhao Guoren, the year of his birth and death is unknown.When Qin Zhaowang was in power, Xunzi went to Qin to communicate with Qin Zhaowang and Fan Sui.In 255 BC, Xunzi was appointed as the magistrate of Lanling (now Junan, Shandong) by Chunshen Jun, Xiangguo of Chu State.Xunzi is diligent in government and loves the people, and is deeply loved by the people.In 247 BC, Xunzi was forced to leave the state of Chu because of being slandered by villains.Gou Zi returned to Zhao State and was appointed Shangqing.During his tenure in Zhao State, Xunzi wrote a letter to Chunshen Jun, expressing ridicule on the politics of Chu State.In 238 BC, Lord Chunshen was killed, and Xunzi returned to live in Lanling, where he wrote books until he died of old age.Xunzi wrote 32 books.

In terms of the view of nature, Xunzi absorbed the Taoist concept of "natural way of heaven" and opposed the superstition of the destiny and ghosts and gods. The materialism proposition of "Man will conquer nature".

Xunzi’s theoretical contribution to Confucianism is no less than that of Mencius, but he denies destiny, disrespects heaven, earth, ghosts and gods, violates the laws of the ancestors, does not respect benevolence and justice, and human nature is inherently evil. It is difficult to see in later generations of Confucianism, so there is no Xunzi’s status in Confucian temples. Xunzi’s works After the Han Dynasty, it has been ignored.

●Love and mutual benefit
"Love each other" and "benefit to each other" are the strategies for governing the country proposed by Mo Zhai, the founder of the Mohist school, and the basic program of Mozi's theory.

Mozi's so-called "universal love" means to love others as oneself, and wants all people in the world to love each other.In Mozi's view, the causes of all disasters in the world, plunder, lamentation, hatred, etc., are all caused by not loving each other.If princes do not love each other, they will inevitably go to war; if officials do not love each other, they will inevitably rob each other; Not harmonious.This kind of situation should be solved by the method of mutual love and mutual benefit.Treat other countries as your own country, treat other people's homes as your own, and treat other people's bodies as your own.If all people in the world love each other, there will be no bullying of the weak and no bullying between the rich and the poor.

The purpose and performance of Jianai is to make profits.Mozi believes that if you love others, others will love you; if you benefit others, others will definitely benefit you.If a monk hates others, others must hate him; if he harms others, others must also hate him.Therefore, people in the world love each other, and if they can "pay benefits" to each other, their respective interests can be satisfied.

(End of this chapter)