Chapter 14 The Four Means

The religion or belief of ordinary sensibility, or the spirit of reason, is a part or subdivision of Confucian humanism.It is this spirit of reason and reason that produces the doctrine of the mean, which is the central idea of ​​Confucius' theory.As mentioned earlier, the spirit of reason and reason is opposed to logic or reasoning.Since most of the spirit of reason is intuitive, it is actually equal to "common sense" in English. From the manifestation of this spirit, it is not enough for any creed to be presented to the Chinese if it is only logically qualified. , it must "conform to human nature", which is an extremely important concept.

The purpose of the Chinese classic school is to cultivate reasonable people, which is the paradigm of education.A scholar, regardless of others, must first become a reasonable person. His characteristics are often his rich common sense, his love of humility and economy, and his aversion to abstract theory and extreme logical theories.Philosophers are in danger of losing common sense, which belongs to all the common people, and are therefore liable to indulge in excess.A reasonable person or a scholar should avoid all excessive academic theories and behaviors. To give an example: the historian Froude said: "Henry VIII divorced Catherine entirely for political reasons."From another point of view, Bishop Clayton declares: "The accident was purely animalistic."If you judge with a common sense attitude, you think that the two reasons are half and half. This kind of view is actually closer to the truth.In the West, one kind of scientist is often obsessed with the ideal of heredity, another with the consciousness of the environment, and each of them stubbornly tries to prove the truth of his theory with his profound knowledge and excited candor.Orientals can make an ambiguous judgment without much effort.Based on a Chinese-style judgment, a universal formula can be established: that is, "A is right, and B is not wrong."

Such a self-sufficient attitude can sometimes irritate a logical person, asking what is it? Reasonable people often maintain their balance, while logical people lose their balance.If someone says that Chinese painters can adopt completely logical observations like Picasso, simplify all painting objects to simple geometric shapes, use cones, planes, angles, and lines to compose pictures, and apply logical theories to painting, then Obviously, the ideal will not be realized in China.We have an innate disposition to disbelieve all arguments, if they are too complete; and distrust all theories, if they are too logical."Common sense" is the best and most effective disinfectant against such theoretical and logical whims.Russell once pointed out very correctly: "In art, the Chinese strive to be refined; in life, the Chinese strive to be reasonable."

The result of worshiping this common sense is an ideological abhorrence of all excessive theories and a moral abhorrence of all excessive behaviors.The natural tendency of this attitude is to produce "the golden mean".Its meaning is actually the same as the Greek idea of ​​"not wanting to be too much". The Chinese word that is similar to moderation is "neutralization", and its meaning is "not excessive but harmonious"; the word that is similar to restraint is "节". The word means "restraint to an appropriate degree". "Shangshu" is the earliest historical record in China to record political documents. It is recorded that when Yao took the throne of Zen, he advised his successor Shun to say: "Zhier Shun, the calendar of heaven is in your bow, and you are allowed to hold Juezhong. The salary will always end." Mencius praised Tang and said: "Tang is in the middle, and there is no way to establish a virtuous." "The Doctrine of the Mean" said: "Shun likes to ask questions, but likes to listen to others' words, hides evil and promotes good, holds both ends and uses them Among them, Yumin..." What he means is that he must listen to the arguments of the two opposite ends, and give both sides a 50% discount.The doctrine of the golden mean occupies a very important position in the hearts of the Chinese people, because they call their country "China", which can be seen.The meaning contained in the word "Chinese" is not limited to the geographical impression, but also shows a way of life.The Doctrine of the Mean is the "ordinary track" that is essentially in line with human feelings. Ancient scholars followed the Doctrine of the Doctrine and claimed to have discovered the most basic truth of all philosophies.

The doctrine of the golden mean covers everything and hides everything.It dilutes the concentration of all doctrines and destroys the consciousness of all religions.Suppose once an old scholar of Confucianism had a debate with a Buddhist master. The great master was probably very good at talking, and he was able to draw out many materials to prove the emptiness of material things in the world and the futility of life. At this time, the old scholar would probably simply say: He used his factual rather than logical attitude to say: "If people leave their families and go to Buddhism, what will happen to all the countries and peoples in the world?" This illogical and extremely humane attitude, It has a tense force in itself.This standard of life is not only against Buddhism, but also against all religions and all theories.We can no longer devote ourselves to logic.In fact, all theories can become theories because of a kind of thought, which develops from the psychological function of the founder.The content of Freud's neurology theory is actually the incarnation of Freud; and the content of Buddhist teachings is the incarnation of Buddha.All theories, whether Freud's or Buddha's, seem to be based on exaggerated illusions.The suffering of human beings, the troubles of life after marriage, the beggar covered in pain, the groaning of the sick, these sights and feelings can be said to be forgotten by us ordinary people; but for the Buddha, they give powerful stimulation to his sensitive nerves. , causing him to have the illusion of Nirvana.Contrary to this, Confucianism is the religion of ordinary people. Ordinary people are not universally sensitive, otherwise the whole world will collapse and fall apart.

The spirit of moderation is manifested everywhere in all aspects of life and knowledge.Logically, no one should get married. In fact, everyone wants to get married, so Confucianism persuades people to marry; logically, all people are equal, but in reality it is not, so Confucianism teaches people to respect their elders; logically There is no difference between men and women, but in fact they have different status, so Confucius taught people that men and women are different.Mozi taught people to "love together", Yang Zhu taught people to "be for oneself", Mencius rejected both, but he advocated being kind to the people, and benevolent people to love things.Mencius said: Boyi Pass, Liu Xiahui is disrespectful, and Zisi persuades people to take the way of neutrality.These three different ways are really a very moving comparison.

Let's talk about sexual desire.There are two opposite views on sexual morality: one extreme is represented by Buddhism and Calvinism, which believes that sex is the extreme of evil, so asceticism is its natural conclusion.The other extreme is naturalism, which advocates fecundity, and many modern men and women are secret believers in modern times.The conflict of opinion between these two factions has caused the so-called spiritual uneasiness of the modern modern youth.Like Havelock Eills, he tried hard to find pure and sound views on sexual issues to suit normal human passions, and his views obviously turned to the consciousness of the Greek nation, that is, the views of humanism.As for the status of "sex" given by Confucianism, he believes that this is a completely normal behavior, not only that, but also a major key to the continuity of race and family.In fact, the person who has the clearest view of "sex" is the one that the author has encountered in his life, like "Ye Sou Exposes Words".This is an absolutely Confucian novel.The content is particularly focused on exposing the monk's wandering life.The protagonist in the book is a Confucian superman. He goes around talking about marrying those bare bandits and bandit girls, and persuading them to continue the inheritance of their ancestors.This book is different from the book, which focuses on describing prodigal sons and prostitutes, while the men and women in "Ye Sou Exposure" are chaste and proper characters, and they form a model couple.The only reason why this novel is regarded as obscene is that the author puts men and women in the book in an embarrassing environment intentionally.But his greatest achievement is indeed a credible debate on marriage and family issues, and promotes the spirit of motherhood.This view of "sex" is the only commendation of Confucianism about lust. Zisi's views on the seven emotions of human beings in "The Doctrine of the Mean" repeatedly stated "neutralization" as a teaching.

Today, I find it embarrassing to adopt this attitude based on what Easterners call "excessive" Western theories. Westerners are too easily enslaved by various doctrines, such as nationalism, fascism, socialism or communism. It is the consequence of an overexpanded machine-industrial system.People forget that the country exists for the people, not the people for the country; like a communist country, people are regarded as members of a certain class or a member of the state organization. , Aren't you afraid that you won't immediately lose its charming magic? Against all systems like this, everyone can claim their right to life and seek happiness.The right of human beings to enjoy happiness is above all political rights.If China establishes a fascist regime, it will take a weary tongue to persuade ordinary benevolent gentlemen that the strength of the country is far more important than personal happiness.A close observer observed the communist government established in Jiangxi at that time, and contributed the biggest reason why the communist regime must fail in China, no matter how superior it was to other feudal warlord-ruled areas, the fact was that the people's life there was too mechanized, Too unkind, always inappropriate.

The Chinese people's spirit of reasoning and their traditional aversion to extreme logic have produced equally bad effects, that is, the Chinese nation as a whole does not believe in any legal discipline.Because legal discipline, that is, a kind of machinery, is always inhuman, and the Chinese nation hates all inhuman things.The Chinese loathe mechanical institutions so much that they loathe the mechanistic view of law and government, making constitutional government impossible.Severe legal rule, or impersonal political law, has failed repeatedly in our country, and its failure is due to the fact that it is not popular with the people.The concept of legal politics, in the third century, was suggested by a great thinker in our country and put into practice, and Shang Yang was one of the people who experimented with legal politics.He is an outstanding statesman, the minister of Qin Xiaogong, who shocked the princes, and laid the foundation of Qin's strength, but as a result, he paid the price of political effectiveness with his head.Qin was originally a second-class state in the remote Gansu border. Historically, it was suspected that there were barbaric tribes mixed in it. Thanks to Shang Yang's efforts to plan, he established a brave army and conquered the whole of China.However, its ruling power could not be maintained for forty years, and the rebels rose up, and Qin Sheji fell sadly.There is no other reason for this, because it applied to the entire Chinese people the same political method that Shang Yang applied to Qin.The construction of the Great Wall in the Qin Dynasty did have its immortal achievements, but it was also unforgivably "inhumane", which ruined Qin Shihuang's imperial lineage.

In addition, Chinese humanists continue to promote their teachings, and the Chinese people used to be ruled by individual regimes, so the "legal system and discipline" that the Chinese call "jing" is insufficient, and they can often rely on "doing things cheaply" The Chinese call "quan" to make up for.The so-called "power to economic poverty".Instead of being governed by the rule of law, China would rather favor a government of meritocracy, which is more humane and flexible.This is a bold idea - there are so many sages born to spread over the whole country to rule a country! It is equally bold to say that Democracy can get truth from counting the mixed votes of ordinary people .Both systems have inevitable shortcomings, but the system based on people is always more suitable for Chinese humanism, Chinese individualism and love of freedom.

This habit, this lack of discipline, is characteristic of all the social groups of our country, of all political institutions, of great schools, of clubs, of railways, of steamship lines--everything except the foreign-dominated post-office and customs-- .The result is citing private persons, pampering and controlling power, and doing the same thing anytime, anywhere, to those who are capable without learning.Only an unkind heart and an unselfish character can put aside personal feelings and maintain strict discipline. This kind of iron face is not popular in China, because the iron face is not pure Confucianism.In this way, the habit of lack of social discipline has been developed, which is the biggest fatal injury to the Chinese nation. It is China's mistake, rather, it is too humane.Because the meaning of talking about human feelings is the same as leaving room for human nature.Saying to people in the UK: "Do things with reason" is tantamount to teaching people to let nature go.Have you ever read The Flower Girl by George Bernard Shaw? When the father of the flower girl in that play, Dr. Druidel, wanted to rip off a five-pound note from Professor Hirchens, his reason was: " ...Is this reasonable? ...This daughter is mine. You want to go, what is my share?" Durudelle further characterized the spirit of humanism in China. He only asked for five pounds, but refused The ten pounds that Professor Hirchens wanted to pay.For too much money will make him unhappy, and the true humanist needs only enough money to be happy, just enough to drink a glass of wine.In other words, Durudel is a Confucian, he knows how to be happy, and only needs to be happy.Because of constant contact with reason and reason, a spirit of mutual accommodation has developed in the hearts of the Chinese people, which is the natural result of the golden mean.If an English father can't decide, should he send his son to Cambridge? Or to Oxford? He can finally decide to send him to Birmingham.Thus the son, starting from London and arriving at Bailey Chalet, turned neither eastward to Cambridge nor westward to Oxford, but pointed straight northward to Birmingham.He practiced exactly the middle way.This road to Birmingham is quite valuable, because going straight north will neither offend Cambridge in the east nor Oxford in the west.If you understand the use of this golden mean, you will be able to understand the overall Chinese politics in the past thirty years, and you will be able to guess the inside story of all Chinese political declarations without being threatened by the flames of words.