Chapter 11 5. Visible power

Ruling the country by virtue may have come from the "inspiration" of Zhou people. That's right, the word "virtue" existed in the Yin and Shang Dynasties, and it is in oracle bone inscriptions, which can be found in inscriptions.Its glyph is an eye at an intersection or on the road.There are also two meanings.One is "the line of sight is very straight", so "de" is connected with "straight" and also pronounced "straight".The other is "what did you see", so "de" is the same as "de", and it is also read as "de".In inscriptions, it is also borrowed to mean "loss".Where there is gain, there is loss, and where there is governance, there is chaos.In ancient Chinese characters, gain and loss, governance and chaos can all be the same word.

◎The "virtue" of oracle bone inscriptions (864).Mr. Luo Zhenyu pointed out that the "virtue" in the inscriptions can be borrowed as "loss", which shows that its original meaning is "gain". very good!The cultural code lies here. Indeed, virtue, first of all, is "gain and loss".The Duke of Zhou and the others have to consider, first of all, "gains and losses", which is the gain and loss of destiny.And, because it is hard won, because it is fleeting, because destiny is impermanent, and because heaven is not trustworthy, they must be "virtuous."

This requires "consciousness" first. Therefore, the "virtue" on the bronze wares of the Western Zhou Dynasty added "xin" under the eyes, which means "what you see in your heart", which is the gain and loss of the inner world, that is, "experience".This is already very close to the so-called "morality" today, although in the Zhou people, Tao is Tao and virtue is virtue.However, if the character De is used for other purposes (such as a person's name), it is still in the shape of oracle bone script, with a way, a purpose, and no heart, such as De Ding and De Fang Ding.

◎The "virtue" (He Zun) of bronze inscriptions.This is the earliest word "德" that expresses moral virtue found so far. The earliest written record of the word "China" is also on this bronze vessel. ◎The "virtue" (De Ding) in bronze inscriptions.The "virtue" here, because it is a person's name, has the same shape as the oracle bone inscriptions, and has no "heart". Whether there is a "heart" is very important. The earliest "virtue with heart" discovered so far is in "He Zun", and the original text is "Gong De Yu Tian".This is a ritual vessel from the Chengwang period, which records the historical fact that Zhou Gongying built Zhou (Luoyang).Among them are the four characters "Zhaizi China", which is the earliest written record of the word "China".This unearthed cultural relic eloquently proves that the concept of "ruling the country by virtue" sprouted when the Zhou people quelled the rebellion of Wu Geng and the Sanjian and were qualified to "rule the world by living in China".

◎He Ding and rubbings of the inscription.The first four characters in the seventh column from the right of the rubbings are "Zhaizi China". Obviously, governing the country by virtue is the political thought of Zhou people.This concept that still affects our nation today is the core of Zhou culture and Zhou system, and it is also a great invention of theirs. But troubles ensued. That's right, "gain of gains and losses" or "straightness of straightness" plus "heart" becomes "virtue of morality".But since morality is in the "heart", how can one govern the country?

The only way is to turn the invisible virtue into something tangible, making it "visible" and "workable". Zhou people solved this problem. What can be seen is the "saint".There are holy, oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions, and the most striking symbol in the glyphs is the big ear.Therefore, sheng (sheng), sheng (sound), and listening (listening) are the same word in ancient times, and they all follow the ear.The original meaning of Sheng is also "keen of hearing", which later became "understanding at once", then "knowledgeable in everything", and finally "virtuous and respected".This is the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.Zigong said that God wanted Confucius to become a saint, while Mencius said that a saint is "the best of human relations."Since then, Tang Yao, Yu Shun, Xia Yu, Shang Tang, Zhou Wen, Zhou Wu, Zhou Gong, and Confucius were all revered as saints with "high moral standards".

◎The "Holy" in Oracle Bone Inscriptions (B6533). ◎The "Holy" (Yin Ji Ding) in bronze inscriptions. This is the unique "saint worship" in China. Worship of saints has become a fashion, although it is due to the advocacy of Confucianism in later generations, but that meaning has existed since the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty.Yes, there must be a basis for changing dynasties, and there must be role models for governing a country with virtue, and the power of role models is said to be infinite.How can King Wen and King Wu not "be saints and gods, and Wu and literature"?Even Shang Tang, who abolished Xia Ming, had to be.

A role model is "visible power". However, Yu, Tang, Wen and Wu were only role models for rulers; later Confucius was only a role model for scholars.The "popular sage" who educates the masses has not yet appeared, although sooner or later he will be created.Prior to this, the implementation of the rule of virtue mainly relied on "feasible means". So what is it? Rites and music.

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