Chapter 10 4. Govern the country by virtue
Is the king of Zhou virtuous?It is said that there is.
In the writings of two weeks' cultural people, their ancestors and kings are all moral models, generous and kind, diligent in government and loving the people, and courteous and corporal.For example, every spring plowing, Zhou Jun would hold a "馌礼" (馌 read like a leaf) in the field, expressing that he personally delivered food to the farmers.There are too many such claims, and I am afraid there are some evidences. Zhou's historian and poet were not Goebbels, the propaganda minister of Nazi Germany after all.What's more, even if it's a show, it's better than King Shang's whip.
As a result, the world returned to its heart, "a big country fears its strength, and a small country cherishes its virtue."This is actually very true.If there is no "strength" and only "virtue", you will not be able to gain the world.The cleverness of Zhou people lies in the fact that they use both hands, and use them wisely.When they demonstrate against a big country, the big country dare not oppose it; when they show softness to a small country, the small country is willing to be a vassal.In this way, wouldn't it be "two-thirds of the world"?
Obviously, Zhou people not only had "strength", but also "wisdom".It's just that after the conclusion, only "virtue" is left.
Virtue becomes the standard authorized by heaven.
The following conclusions are also logical.Since Zhou people "gained the world with virtue", they must "govern the world with virtue".Otherwise, like the Shang Dynasty, they would perish themselves.
This is the truth that the people of Zhou have to talk about almost every day, every month, and every year.Duke Zhou repeatedly said to his disciples and colleagues: We are a "small country", and we have no right to "live in China" at all, and we dare not "remove Yin's fate".Now the world is turned upside down, it is entirely because the God of Heaven "reforms Jue Yuanzi" and does not recognize the king of Shang and the king of Zhou.why?Just because King Zhou lost his virtue, but King Wen and King Wu were virtuous!This is the same as when Xia Jie lost his morals and Shangtang revolution!
This principle was still taught until the late Western Zhou Dynasty.The inscription on the bronze "Maogong Ding" unearthed in Qishan, Shaanxi, said that Huangtian was very satisfied with the virtues of King Wen and King Wu, which made me "have Zhou" to match heaven.No wonder Duke Zhou said that we have only one choice, and that is to continue the virtues of King Wen, so as to preserve the destiny.
◎Rubbing inscriptions on the Maogong tripod inscribed by Zhang Shuping.
Such words, Zhou Gong said to Zhao Gongshi, also said to Kang Shufeng.Kang Shufeng is Ji Feng, the younger brother of King Wu and Duke Zhou, and is the ninth eldest.After the Guan Cai Rebellion, Duke Zhou divided the people of Wu Geng into two and formed two new countries.One of them was given to Wei Ziqi, the concubine brother of King Zhou, whose country name was Song, Principality; the other was given to Kang Shufeng, whose country name was Wei, Hou.Wei and Song are actually Yin and Shang, which are phonetic changes of the two characters Yin and Shang in ancient times.It can be seen that Kang Shufeng's mission is to transform Yin people into Zhou people.
Kang Shufeng has a long way to go.
So Zhou Gong published "Kang Yu", and said to Kang Shufeng earnestly: "Oh, my dear brother, young Feng!"You have to be careful, you have to be modest and prudent, you have to guard against arrogance and impetuosity!Mandate of Heaven is impermanent, God's power is terrifying, and the eyes of the people are discerning.They are watching you every day to see if you can follow the tradition of the father, carry forward the reputation of the father, and inherit the will of the father.Those little people are hard to deal with.You have to treat other people's illnesses as your own illnesses!
Obviously, Duke Zhou, Duke Zhao, and Uncle Kang were not natural moral models.Their "virtue" is actually forced out.It's just that they were not "forced to the top of the mountain", but "forced to the altar".
Haha, that's right!
In fact, morality is not so much a quality as it is a kind of wisdom.To put it bluntly, it just made a wise choice between "benefiting itself by harming others" and "benefiting itself by benefiting others", which is "smart selfishness".But this kind of intelligence is beneficial to oneself, others, and society, and this has become the consensus of mankind.The uniqueness of the Zhou people is that they turned it into the concept of governing the country and the policy program when the new regime was born.
Another precocious new thought and concept sprouted.
This is "ruling the country by virtue".
Logically, this makes sense.Yes, since "the monarchy is granted by heaven", of course we must "equalize nature with virtue"; since "people-oriented", of course we must "respect heaven and protect the people".But this is unique and unheard of in the world.Among the ancient civilizations in the world, there are those who rule the country by religion, those who rule the country by law, those who use both religion and law, and those who rely only on personal charm.Rule the country by virtue?never heard of that.
Can Germany really rule the country?If so, how?
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