Chapter 9 Part VIII Return to Lu

Not long after Confucius and his disciples returned to Wei from Chu, Ji Kangzi (that is, Ji Sunfei, the son of Ji Sunsi, who was dead at this time) sent someone to invite Ran You to serve as a housekeeper at Ji Sun's house.Firstly, it was the result of Ran's family's activities, and secondly, it was Ji Kangzi's understanding of Ran's talents.So Ran You returned to China, and before leaving, Zi Gong told him to try to help the teacher return to China.After returning to the state of Lu, Ran You served as the steward of Jisun's family and was highly appreciated.Later, Qi invaded, and Ran You led the Lu army to meet the enemy, and finally repelled the Qi army.Ji Kangzi was curious, and asked Ran You where he learned the art of war. Ran You took the opportunity to say that he learned it from his teacher, and said a lot of good things about the teacher. In addition, Zi Gong had helped Lu Guo to go to Wu Guo before, and it was very successful. , Zigong also said a lot of good things about the teacher in front of Ji Kangzi.Therefore, Ji Kangzi decided to send someone to welcome Confucius back home.

Ji Kangzi personally sent someone to invite him, and Confucius could now return home with peace of mind.In this way, with the help of Ran You and Zi Gong, Confucius returned to the State of Lu.This year, Confucius was 68 years old. After returning to the state of Lu, Confucius' desire to be a politician was mobilized again. For a while, he had a close relationship with Duke Lu Ai, the king of the state of Lu, and had a good relationship with Ji Kangzi.But later, because Confucius was dissatisfied with some of Ji Kangzi's actions, the relationship between the two parties became colder, and Confucius finally completely despaired of his political future.After despair, Confucius began to revise "Spring and Autumn" and write "Book of Changes", and his thinking tended to Taoism.At this time, the relationship with Ji Kangzi was eased instead.

Duke Ai asked, "What is it that makes the people obey?" Confucius replied, "If the right is wrong and the people are wrong, the people will obey; if the wrong is wrong and the straight is wrong, the people will not obey." Duke Ai of Lu asked: "How can the people obey?" Confucius replied: "Promote the upright and selfless people and put the wicked and crooked aside, and the people will obey; If the righteous and selfless are set aside, the common people will not obey the rule." Mistakes, meaning placed on top of it. What Confucius said to someone, every word has a deep meaning.The subtext of this sentence is: Promote me and my disciples, we are all upright people.

Confucius came back from Wei to Lu and was sought after by everyone.At this time, the ruler of the state of Lu was Duke Ai of Lu. Duke Ai of Lu respected Confucius very much, so he often invited him to chat.Confucius thought this was an opportunity, so he tried his best to instill his ideas in Duke Ai of Lu, hoping to be reused. It is a pity that even if Duke Ai of Lu was willing to promote Confucius as a mentor, he was already unable to do what he wanted.At this time, the monarch of Lu State was even more ineffective than before, except for the few pieces of private land left by Sanhuan, there was nothing left.The reason Duke Ai of Lu came to chat with Confucius was purely to pass the time.

If you say you can do it, you can do it, and if you can’t, you can do it; if you say you can’t, you can’t do it, and you can’t do it either.If you are told to obey, you will obey, and if you are not, you must obey.All in all, in a word: not convinced.If you hold it straight, you must submit; if you hold it wrong, you must submit; if you do not lift it, you must submit. Uncle Meng Wu asked Zilu if he was benevolent?Confucius said: "I don't know." He asked again.The Master said: "Yuye, a country with a thousand chariots can be made to govern its gifts, but I don't know its benevolence." The ruler does not know his benevolence." "What about red?" The Master said, "Red is standing in the court with a belt, so that he can talk to guests. I don't know his benevolence."

Meng Wubo asked Confucius, "How is Zilu?" Confucius said, "I don't know." Meng Wubo asked again.Confucius said: "Zhong You, in a country with a thousand soldiers and chariots, you can let him manage the military, but I don't know what kind of man he is." Meng Wubo asked again: "How about Ran Qiu?" Confucius said : "Ran Qiu, you can let him be the general manager in a town with a thousand families or a fief with a hundred military vehicles, but I don't know what kind of man he is." Meng Wubo asked again: "Grandpa What about Xichi?" Confucius said, "Mr. Xichi, you can let him wear a uniform, stand in the court, and receive distinguished guests. I don't know what he is like."

"Zilu is benevolent" means that Meng Wuzi asked Zilu how he was?Can it be handed over means that it mainly asks about character.The old translation is translated as "Zilu has achieved benevolence".But Confucius first said he didn’t know, and when he was asked again, although he reluctantly answered, what he was talking about was not character, but ability. At first glance, Confucius is selling three students.But Gongxihua was asked here, so it should be after Confucius returned to the state of Lu. At this time, Zilu was an official in Weiguo, and Ran You and Gongxihua were retainers in Jisun's family, so there was no need to sell at all.Furthermore, if you want to sell, the attitude cannot be like this.

What does Confucius mean by answering irrelevant questions with such a blunt attitude? It can only be said that Confucius was angry and expressed his dissatisfaction with Meng Wuzi.At first I said I didn’t know, and then I said that the three of them are all talents who govern the country. Are you benevolent or not?I don't know anyway.Why was Confucius dissatisfied with Meng Wuzi?Generally speaking, Meng Wuzi did not both respect Confucius and use Confucius' students like Ji Kangzi did.Confucius was dissatisfied with Meng Wuzi, which was equivalent to saying: Why do you ask these questions?Anyway, you don't have to.

There are various indications that after returning to the state of Lu, Confucius had a very bad temper, poor patience, and liked to fight against others. Don't take the land master as a god, no one knows which cloud in the sky will rain.Therefore, even if you are dissatisfied, don't offend others easily. Ji Kangzi asked: "Can Zhong You make you engage in politics?" The master said: "You have fruit, so what is there to be in politics?" He said: "Giving can also make you engage in politics?" He said: "Giving also achieves, in politics. What is there?" Said: "If you ask for it, you can also get into politics?" He said: "If you ask for art, what is the use of politics?"

Ji Kangzi asked Confucius: "This man Zhong You, can he be allowed to manage state affairs?" Confucius said: "Zhong You is decisive, what is the difficulty in managing state affairs?" Ji Kangzi asked again: "Duanmu bestowed this man, Can he be allowed to manage state affairs?" Confucius said: "Duanmu bestowed understanding affairs, what is the difficulty in managing government affairs?" He asked: "Ran Qiu, can he be allowed to manage state affairs?" Confucius said: "Ran Qiu Seeking talent, what is the difficulty in managing state affairs?"

This paragraph is completely different from the previous paragraph. Confucius no longer said he didn’t know, and he stopped asking questions and answers. Why?Firstly, Ji Kangzi was in charge of the country, and he had the final say on who to use and who not to use.Secondly, what Ji Kangzi asked was exactly what Confucius wanted to say. When Confucius returned to Lu, Ji Kangzi was very respectful to him and often asked him for advice.The dialogue here is that Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about the abilities of several main disciples. In fact, Ji Kangzi was very familiar with these people, so it is impossible to talk about who Confucius would recommend.At this time, Zilu was an official in the state of Wei, and Ran You himself was the steward of Jisun's family, but Zigong had always refused to be an official, and Ji Kangzi refused to go, so naturally he didn't need Confucius' recommendation.Even so, Confucius praised them to secure their position. A teacher who knows how to sell students is a good teacher. If you sell them today, they will sell you tomorrow.At this point, Confucius set a very good example. Ji Kangzi asked: "What is it like to persuade the people to be respectful and loyal?" The master said: "When approaching them, treat them with dignity, respect them; with filial piety and kindness, they will be loyal and do good; if they cannot teach, then persuade them." Ji Kangzi asked: "What should be done to make the people respect and be loyal to those in power and work hard?" Confucius said: "If you treat the people with a solemn attitude, they will respect you; if you are filial to your parents , If you are kind to your children, the people will be loyal to you; if you choose kind people and educate those with poor ability, the people will encourage each other and work harder." To put it bluntly, there are two sentences: how you treat the common people, the common people will treat you; if you do well, the common people will follow you to do well. Confucius had always had a bad impression of Jisun's family. Even though the Jisun's family invited him back this time, Confucius was still dissatisfied with Jisun's family.Confucius always believed that it was precisely because Jisun's family took the lead in destroying Zhou rituals that led to the collapse of rituals and music in this country.It is precisely because Jisun's family squeezed the people that the domestic people's resentment boiled.Therefore, Confucius always had only one meaning to Ji Kangzi's question: to reflect on oneself and lead by example.Otherwise, no matter how much you say, it's just Ye Gong's love for dragons. Teacher Kong is right. When every ruler or person in power questions whether the people do not respect him, he should first ask himself whether he has respected the people; when he wants to make demands on the people, he should first ask himself whether he has done so Arrived.Just like Sanhuan, who keeps squeezing the people, how can they ask the people to love them? There is a saying in ancient times: The king treats his ministers like grass, and the ministers regard him as a bandit.That's what I mean. If a policy is criticized and resisted by the common people, the government should be the first to reflect. Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about politics.Confucius said to him: "Politicians are upright, and Zishuai uses uprightness. Who dares to be unrighteous?" Ji Kangzi asked Confucius how to govern the country.Confucius replied: "Zheng means righteousness. You yourself take the lead in walking the right path, so who else would dare to not follow the right path?" After all, it is still the same two sentences: how you treat the people, the people will treat you; if you do well yourself, the people will follow you to do well. Teacher Kong is right, every ruler or person in power wants to let his subjects do something, first of all he must do it well.If you are not upright yourself, how can you ask the common people to be upright?Just like Sanhuan, how can he ask the people to obey the rules when he is doing something wrong? A corrupt official asked Confucius what a government is. Confucius said: "The government is upright, and the commander-in-chief is upright. Who dares to be unrighteous." The corrupt official sighed: "The government is corrupt. I take the lead in corruption, so everyone is corrupt." Ji Kangzi was troubled by robbers and asked Confucius.Confucius said to him: "If a dog does not desire, even if it is rewarded, it will not steal." Ji Kangzi worried about theft and asked Confucius what to do.Confucius replied: "If you are not greedy for profit, even if you reward stealing, no one will steal." There are many thieves and robbers, what does that mean?The meaning of Confucius: You are too greedy, you pay too much miscellaneous taxes, you have too much money, and you have to spend it suddenly at the end of the year, but the common people have nothing to eat and drink, so they can only become thieves and robbers.If you don’t want to be so greedy and leave wealth to the common people, and everyone has food and drink, who would want to be a thief and a robber? To put it bluntly, if the country is rich and the people are poor, and officials are rich and the people are poor, bandits and robbers are bound to run rampant. Mr. Kong is right, common people commit crimes, nine times out of ten they are coerced.Officials force the people to rebel, force people to go to Liangshan and so on, as long as the common people have a way to survive, who doesn't want to live a decent life? "Shuo Yuan" records: King Wen asked Lu Wang: "What about the world?" He replied: "The kingdom enriches the people and dominates the country Fuji; It overflows and it leaks.” Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about politics, saying: "If you kill without the right way, how can you gain the right way?" Confucius said to him, "If you are in charge of government, how can you use killing? If you want to be good, the people are good. The virtue of a gentleman is like that of a villain." Grass of virtue. The wind on the grass will die." Ji Kangzi asked Confucius how to manage political affairs, and said: "What if you kill the unrighteous people to make the righteous people?" Confucius said: "When you govern political affairs, how can you use killing? You just want to do good. , the common people will do good deeds accordingly. The character of the ruler is like the wind, and the character of the people is like the grass, when the wind blows on the grass, the grass will surely fall.” There was a problem with Sanhuan's own governance, which created unstable factors.At this time, Ji Kangzi wanted to use repression to solve the problem, so Confucius told him: If you treat the people well, how can the people be dissatisfied?So what's the use of killing people if the society is stable?After all, the two sentences are actually the same: how you treat the common people, the common people will treat you; if you do well yourself, the common people will follow you to do well. Teacher Kong is right, every bad ruler or person in power only sees the violence of rebellion by the common people, but cannot see the violence of oppressing the common people by himself.They will only suppress the resistance after it arises, but they don't know how to prevent it from happening. When the government wanted to control drunk driving, it managed it successfully, which shows that the government really wants to control it. The Master said: "If your body is upright, you will follow orders; if your body is not upright, you will not follow orders." Confucius said: "If you are upright, even if you don't issue orders, the people will do it. If you are not upright, even if you issue orders, the people will not obey." After all, the two sentences are actually the same: how you treat the common people, the common people will treat you; if you do well yourself, the common people will follow you to do well. Teacher Kong is right, the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked. Whatever you want everyone to do, do it yourself first.If you don't do it yourself, it's useless to say anything, orders are useless, and calls are useless. The Master said: "If you have rectified your body, how can you be in politics? If you can't rectify your body, how can you be a righteous person?" Confucius said: "If you correct your own behavior, how difficult is it to manage government affairs? If you can't correct your own behavior, how can you make others correct?" Confucius could say that he repeatedly persuaded Ji Kangzi to govern the country with virtue and treat the people kindly, but Ji Kangzi couldn't do it.After talking too much, Ji Kangzi got a little annoyed with Confucius. Teacher Kong is right, the body is not afraid of slanting shadows, and the wind is not afraid of grass crooked. When a good man is in power, nothing is worse than bad; when a bad man is in power, nothing is better. The Master said: "If you don't teach the people to fight, that means abandoning them." Confucius said: "Letting untrained people fight is tantamount to letting them die." Sanhuan usually couldn't bear to spend money to conduct military training for the people, so naturally he often died in wars. The combat effectiveness of the Lu army was very poor. When Confucius was alive, the Lu army fought with the Wu army and the Qi army, and the results were disastrous.In fact, Sanhuan himself has no military training, and Sanhuan is often the first to escape when fighting. It is not acceptable to want the horse to run and at the same time not to eat grass.Therefore, education is very important, and investment cannot be small. The Master said: "A good man has taught the people for seven years, and he can become a soldier." Confucius said: "Be kind to the people and educate the people. After seven years, the people can also be used for war." What is a good person?Some are interpreted as people who are kind, and some are interpreted as rulers. Here, kindness is interpreted as a verb, meaning to treat kindly.Seven years, there have been many explanations throughout the history. The "Sixteen Classics" unearthed at Mawangdui says: "One year follows its customs, two years it uses its virtues, three years it brings people something, four years it issues orders, and five years it With punishment, the people will be in awe for six years, and it can be punished for six years." In fact, this sentence should refer to what Hu Yan said to Duke Wen of Jin back then. To make the people fight for the country willingly, we must first treat them kindly and educate them, and let them trust the country.As for seven years, it is not an exact number. Treat the people well, and the people will be willing to contribute to the country.Educate the people, and the people will know how to contribute to the country. Confucius said that Wei Linggong had no way. Kangzi said: "If the husband is like this, how can he not be mourned?" Confucius said: "Uncle Zhong governs the guests, Zhu governs the ancestral temple, and the king and grandson Jia governs the army. If the husband is like this, should he be mourned?" Confucius talked about Wei Linggong's innocence, Ji Kangzi said: "If that is the case, why did he not fall?" Confucius said: "Because he has Zhong Shuyu to receive guests, Zhu to manage the ancestral temple sacrifices, and Wang Sunjia to lead the army, like this , how could it be defeated?" Confucius always spoke thorns to Ji Kangzi, and Ji Kangzi's attitude towards Confucius gradually changed.This time, when Confucius talked about Wei Linggong's licentiousness and immorality, Ji Kangzi asked tricky questions very bluntly, which Confucius did not expect.Confucius said that it is better to use people in Weiling, and the right people are used in several key positions.Although the reason why Confucius said that Duke Ling of Wei did not perish is a bit far-fetched, it still makes sense. The reason why Ji Kangzi asked this question is also related to a conversation between Confucius and Duke Ai of Lu not long ago. At that time, Duke Ai of Lu asked Confucius who is the most capable monarch in the world today, and Confucius said that it was Duke Ling of Wei.Duke Ai of Lu disagreed with this statement. He said that Duke Ling of Wei couldn't manage his own family affairs well, and his son had fled abroad. How could he be called a virtuous person?Confucius then explained that Wei Linggong was not good at managing the family, but he managed the court first-rate. Confucius said: "Wei Linggong has a younger brother named Qu Mou, who is loyal and capable. Wei Linggong entrusts him with important tasks. Scholars, if they find talented people, they must recommend him to be an official. Therefore, the state of Wei did not indulge the wandering scholars. Duke Ling of Wei respected Lin Guo very much and appointed him; , he would definitely be recommended to deal with state affairs, and after the matter passed, he would go back home and live in seclusion. Wei Linggong also respected him; there was also a doctor named Shi Yu who left in anger because his ideas were not adopted, Wei Ling The Duke lived in the countryside for three days, and there was no singing, dancing and entertainment for three days. He did not return to the palace until Shi Yu was invited back. Duke Ling of Wei respects virtuous scholars so much, so I say he is a virtuous monarch.” Confucius said The implication: If you want to be a virtuous monarch, reuse me. When Confucius said to Ji Kangzi that Wei Linggong had no way, Ji Kangzi must have thought: "Didn't you still say that he is a virtuous man a few days ago?" This conversation made Confucius very embarrassed, and it also reflected that Ji Kangzi no longer respected Confucius so much. Being innocent does not mean that you will perish immediately. If you employ the right people in key positions, you can also deal with it.But if the accumulation of innocence reaches a certain level, it will surely perish. For a football team, the head coach is terrible, but the goalkeeper is good and the striker is good, so it is still possible not to be relegated. Or it is said that Confucius said: "Zixi is not in politics?" Confucius said: "The book says: 'Filial piety is only filial piety, friendship with brothers, and giving in to government.' It is also politics. Xi Qi is politics?" Someone asked Confucius why he didn’t take part in governing the country. Confucius said: “It is written in the Book of History: Filial piety, filial piety, filial piety, filial piety, and friendship with brothers. , You don’t have to be an official.” I don't know who asked this question. Either this person was short-hearted, or he deliberately humiliated Confucius, because it was not that Confucius didn't want to be an official, but that he didn't give him a chance.But Confucius is very face-saving, he would not say that Ji Kangzi did not give him a chance. In the state of Lu, Duke Ai of Lu admired Confucius, but Duke Ai of Lu was dismissed and dared not appoint Confucius.Even if Duke Ai of Lu appointed Confucius, it would actually mean nothing.Ji Kangzi did not agree with Confucius' political views, and his relationship with Confucius was relatively bad, and it was even more impossible to appoint Confucius.Therefore, Confucius understood that he could only be a grassroots man discussing state affairs. In fact, why do you have to be an official?Isn't it good to be a teacher? Weisheng's mother said to Confucius: "Why is Qiu the one who lives and lives? Is there no one who is a flatterer?" Confucius said: "I don't dare to be a flatterer, and the disease is solid." Wei Shengmu said to Confucius: "Confucius, why are you running around lobbying like this? Don't you just want to use rhetoric to gain official positions?" Confucius said: "I am not rhetoric, I just want to change those stubborn people." Qiqi means wandering around.This is another person who came to criticize. It can be seen that there were many people who looked down upon Confucius at that time, and it can also be seen that Confucius' status was not high at that time.This is obviously after Confucius traveled around the world and returned to the State of Lu. Some people thought that Confucius went around just because he wanted to be an official, so they satirized him.Confucius seemed a little speechless, and answered rather reluctantly. The so-called not getting up early without profit, running around, of course, is for the future.As for those who are displaced for the sake of great ideals, it is true that there are too few. The Yifeng people came to see him and said: "A gentleman is here, I can't help but see it." Followers see it.He came out and said, "Why are the second and third sons suffering from mourning? The world has been without Tao for a long time, and the heaven will regard the master as a muduo." The chief of Yi asked to see Confucius, and he said: "I have never failed to see any gentleman who comes here." Confucius' entourage and students led him to see Confucius.After he came out, he said (to Confucius' students): "Why do you guys worry about not having an official position? The world has been corrupt for a long time, and God will order the world with Confucius as a sage." Yi is in the territory of Lankao, Henan today, and the Feng Ren is the local management official, and Yi belongs to the State of Lu.Muduo is a brass bell with a wooden tongue, which was shaken by the emperor in ancient times to gather the audience when issuing government orders. People in Yifeng are really far-sighted. They foresee things that will happen hundreds of years later. Unfortunately, the students will not live until then. Anyway, this proves that besides Kong Hei, there is also Kong Mi. The longer it is buried, the more it will shine in the future.Therefore, don't be discouraged by the difficulties in front of you. The Master said: "I will defend myself against Lu, and then I will enjoy the righteousness, and the elegance and praise will be in their place." Confucius said: "After I returned from the state of Wei to the state of Lu, I sorted out the music, and put the elegant music and the ode music in their proper places." When Confucius was in Weiguo, he sorted out the poems, so it came out.After returning to the state of Lu, he began to organize music.Why not sort it out in Weiguo?Because the music of Lu State is the most comprehensive and authoritative. In fact, not being an official has the advantages of not being an official, at least you have time to organize the things you like.If Confucius was really proud of his politics, where would he have time to revise "Spring and Autumn"?The problem today is that everyone is working hard in the officialdom, and academics are barren. Taishizhi is suitable for Qi, Asian rice is suitable for Chu, three rice is suitable for Cai, four rice is short for Qin, Gu Fangshu enters the river, broadcasts the martial arts to Han, Shaoshi Yang, and knocking the chime to the sea. Tai Shizhi went to Qi State, Ya Fan went to Chu State, San Fan Liao went to Cai State, Si Fan Que went to Qin State, Uncle Fang, who played the drum, went to the Yellow River, and Wu, who played the small drum, went to Han. By the water's edge, Shao Shiyang and Xiang, who beat the chime, came to the seashore. These people are the musicians of the state of Lu. According to the weekly system, the monarch has four meals a day, and each meal has a musician's music, so the musicians are named after the rice.In fact, think about it, being a monarch is quite boring, and you can't live in peace even if you eat a meal. Tai Shizhi is the chief musician of the State of Lu, a master-level figure, why did he go to the State of Chu?It turned out that after the Sanhuan divided up the state of Lu, the land of the Lu State became very small and was constantly being embezzled by the Sanhuan, but there were more and more sons and grandsons, the land was seriously insufficient, and more and more people were eating public food. Too much, and the financial expenditure is beyond our means.As a result, various civil service teams were disbanded one after another, and the National Song and Dance Troupe had already been disbanded, so there were not enough people to dance when worshiping ancestors.In the end, the palace band was also difficult to maintain, and finally let everyone find their own way out.Therefore, the musicians above had to go abroad to earn a living. When the economy is in a downturn, artistic talents cannot be retained.Guan Zhong said it well: Canglin knows etiquette when it is real.If you can't even eat enough, you can only find another life. Chen Chengzi murdered Jian Gong.Confucius bathed and went to the court, and told Duke Ai, "Chen Heng killed his king, please punish him." The Duke said, "Sue the husband and three sons!" Confucius said: "After I have been a doctor, I dare not not sue. The king said 'Speak to your husband and three sons'." The third son said, no.Confucius said: "Since I have been a doctor, I dare not refuse to tell." Qi Guoquan Tian Chang (Chen Chengzi) killed Qi Jiangong.After Confucius fasted and bathed, he went to the court to see Duke Ai of Lu, and reported: "Tian Chang (Chen Heng) killed his ruler, please send troops to attack him." Duke Ai said, "Go and tell Sanhuan." After retreating from the court, Confucius said: "Because I used to be a doctor, I dare not refuse to report, but the monarch said, 'Go and talk to Sanhuan'!" Confucius went to tell Sanhuan, but Sanhuan refused to send troops to attack. He also said: "Because I used to be a doctor, I dare not not come to report!" This year, Confucius was seventy-two years old. After completing the "Book of Changes", he already had some symptoms of intermittent senile dementia.The State of Qi is much stronger than the State of Lu, and the State of Lu usually avoids it in fear, so how could it be possible to find such a thing by itself?With Lu's military strength, Tian Chang is no match for him at all, so how could he attack him?What's more, it was the Qi State's business, how could the Lu State interfere violently?If you use your brain a little, you will know that this is impossible.At that time, Duke Ai of Lu also asked this question, saying that it is too late for us to hide in Qi State. Doesn't it mean that we are sent to our door by ourselves?Confucius replied at that time: "What are you afraid of? Tian Chang killed the king, and less than half of the people in Qi State obeyed him. With the strength of Lu State and half of the people in Qi State, can we not defeat him?" Therefore, when Confucius did such a thing, it was purely a dog and a mouse, and it was boring. It can only be said to be the consequence of dementia. The laws of nature are irresistible, and people are prone to dementia, stubbornness and narrow-mindedness when they are old.Everyone has dementia, to varying degrees. Do unto others, do not impose on others.Do what you want, sometimes don't do it to others. The Master said: "If the phoenix and the bird don't come, and the river doesn't show the map, I'm dead!" Confucius said: "The phoenix bird will not come, and the Eight Diagrams will not appear in the Yellow River. I will accomplish nothing in my life!" Legend has it that the phoenix bird appeared in the era of King Shun and King Wen of Zhou. Fengming Qishan is talking about this event. Its appearance symbolizes that the "sage king" will be born.Legend has it that in the era of the Fuxi clan in ancient times, a dragon and horse came out of the Yellow River carrying a diagram of the Eight Diagrams on its back, and its appearance also symbolized the coming of the "Holy King".At the time of Yao, a tortoise appeared in Luoshui with a map of the nine palaces on its back. Its appearance also symbolized the birth of the "sage king". Hetu Luoshu is the source of Jiugong Bagua, and it can also be said to be the origin of Chinese civilization.Some people say that this is a legend or superstition, but I am afraid it is not necessarily so.The seemingly simple graphics contain countless truths. Confucius worked hard all his life to restore the ritual system.In his later years, he saw that the recovery of Zhou Li seemed to be in vain, so he lamented the above.Confucius didn't think he was a sage, but he thought he couldn't wait for a sage to be born. Qishan is already bald, the Yellow River is already dark, and Luoshui is already yellow, and it still keeps flowing.Therefore, there must be no phoenix bird, no dragon horse, and no turtle.There are only gods, but gods are all clouds.