Chapter 3 3. Confucian prescriptions

Confucius advocated "restraining oneself and returning to the rites". Self-restraint and restoration of rituals was proposed by Confucius to Yan Hui. The original text is "restraining oneself and returning to rituals is benevolence; one day of self-denial and restoration of rituals, the world will be benevolent."We know that benevolence is the core value of Confucius; propriety is the political proposition of Confucius; Yan Hui is the favorite student of Confucius.Therefore, this passage is the program of Confucianism. However, in the era of Confucius, "rituals were broken and music collapsed."What is even more ironic is that these four words were spoken by his students.

This student is called Zaiyu. Zaiyu is a student of the language department. He can speak eloquently and likes to be true, which often makes Confucius unable to step down.Once he actually said, why do you have to mourn for three years when your parents pass away?Is it too long?A gentleman, "if you don't practice propriety for three years, the ritual will be ruined; if you don't enjoy it for three years, the music will collapse"! Ritual is broken and joy is broken, the source is here. Zai Yu is probably sophistry.Because insisting on mourning for three years is itself respect and observance of etiquette, how could etiquette break down?However, it is a fact that no fun during the mourning period, including no drinking and sex.

This is somewhat troublesome. We know that in Confucianism, ritual and music are integrated, and there is no ritual without music.What's more, there are three kinds of unfilial piety, and the most important thing is to cut off the son. If you don't make love, how can you have a son?So Confucius had no choice but to ask Zaiyu patiently: "Did you eat fine grains and wear silk in less than three years after your parents died?" Zaiyu said, it's a good time! Confucius had nothing to say, so he could only say to Zaiyu angrily: "Ru An will do it!"When a gentleman is in mourning, he can't eat, sleep, or listen to music, so he has to wear sackcloth, eat coarse grains, and live in a thatched hut.Since you have peace of mind, then do whatever you want!

After hearing this, Zai Yu went out without saying a word. Confucius could not be calm. In his opinion, Jae Yu really has no love.Confucius said, why is the mourning period set at three years?Just because "three years is free from the arms of parents".Yes, the parents stopped holding the child when the child was three years old.Parents hugged you for three years, shouldn't you mourn for them for three years?Besides, it was only twenty-five months.How could Jae Yu not understand such a reasonable thing? However, this unresolved debate has opened the door of wisdom for us, and also found the basis of human nature for the ritual and music system.

What basis? Love must be returned. On this point, people have the same heart and the same reason.Therefore, love and the return of love must be set as morality, which is benevolence; it must be set up as a system, which is li.Li is the institutional guarantee of benevolence.Because love, or benevolence, or filial piety, are intangible and intrinsic.You cannot affirm without manifesting it; you cannot cultivate it without resorting to deeds.Ritual, how can it be dispensable? But more importantly, Jen. Benevolence is the foundation of ritual and music.Confucius once asked: Is rites sacrifices and treasures?Le, is it just bells, drums and dancers?of course not.what is that?Love.Therefore Confucius said that if a person does not have love, he will not take rituals and music seriously.He said this meaning in a rhetorical tone: "People are not benevolent, how can I be polite? People are not benevolent, how can I be happy?"

So where does love come from? nature. The love that comes from nature is called Tianliang.Without a conscience, one is not a human being, which is called "human beings without benevolence".Therefore, Confucius wondered why Zaiyu opposed the three-year mourning.He even reflected: Didn't Jai Yu get the love of three years?Should have gotten it too, right?Maybe, he really didn't get it? In short, the collapse of ritual and music is by no means a bad system of ritual and music, but a problem with people's hearts.But as long as humanity remains and conscience remains, the world can be saved.However, saving the world comes first.

Benevolence is the "quick-acting heart-saving pill" to save the world. The question is, can the pill be found? Confucius thought he could find it.Because its raw material is in everyone's heart, this is the love for parents, children, and relatives, which is called "kiss love".This kind of love is natural, inherent, and does not need to be discussed and proved.As long as it is incorporated into the ancient ritual and music system, there is nothing wrong with it. Is it logical? combine. Is there a problem? No. Do you all agree? No. Mohists, Taoists, and Legalists all oppose it.

The original text is: "Liyun Liyun, jade and silk cloud? Leyun Leyun, bell drum cloud?" The original text is: "Does Yu also have three years of love for his parents?" What is said here are three understandings of this sentence.

---

Notes: