Chapter 11 The tenth part has participated in

Zeng Shen Ziyu, the son of Zeng Xi, Confucius was forty-seven years old, and he was the third batch of students of Confucius. Zeng Shen's moral character is very noble, and he stands aloof from the world.In character, Zeng Shen is very similar to Yan Hui, but not as good as Yan Hui.Zeng Shen is famous for his filial piety, and the "Book of Filial Piety" is his work. It should come out of the disciples who have participated in it, so that it can remain just and true.Zeng Shen is also the ancestor of the public recommendation of the Zeng surname. The Master said: "Shenhu! My Dao is consistent." Zeng Zi said: "Only." When Zi went out, the disciples asked, "What do you mean?" Zeng Zi said: "The Master's way is nothing more than loyalty and forgiveness."

Confucius said: "Shen, my thinking is consistent with one basic thought." Zeng Zi said: "Yes." After Confucius left, the students asked Zeng Zi: "What does this mean?" Zeng Zi said: "Teacher The Tao is nothing more than loyalty and forgiveness.” In his later years, Confucius liked to talk about "Tao", just like he liked to talk about benevolence before.The Tao here actually means thought. Note that "Zi Chu" in this passage means that Confucius went to Zeng Shen, and Zeng Shen might be giving lectures to his disciples.Zeng Shen only answered the word "Wei" to Confucius' words, instead of taking the opportunity to ask questions, what does it mean?It showed that Zeng Shen didn't want to ask at all.And the last sentence used "only", which means "nothing more than that".Therefore, hidden in this passage is Zeng Shen's disrespect to Confucius.The question is, Zeng Shen has always been a person who respects Confucius very much, why did he behave like this this time?In his later years, Confucius was a little demented, and he liked to babble, repeating a sentence over and over again, so his disciples were a little annoyed by him.The situation this time must have been that Zeng Shen was in class, and Confucius came in and interjected. Zeng Shen knew what the teacher wanted to say, and was afraid that he would talk endlessly, so he simply answered yes, and Confucius went out wisely.

This "consistency" was mentioned by Confucius to Zigong before, and it is estimated that Confucius said it to everyone he met. When people are old, it is inevitable that they love to chatter.Although people are embarrassed to call you long-winded, I must be impatient in my heart. Zeng Zi said: "I reflect on myself three times a day—do I not be loyal when I seek advice from others? Do I not trust my friends? Do I not get used to passing it on?" Zeng Zi said: "I reflect on myself many times a day. Have I done my best in doing things for others? Have I been honest and trustworthy with my friends? Have I reviewed what my teacher taught me?"

Zeng Zi explained to the students the principles of his life. After the death of Confucius, basically, Zeng Zi regarded or regarded himself as the orthodoxy of Confucianism.However, judging from the order of Zeng Shen's three sentences, the key to being a human being is first of all to handle interpersonal relationships well, and to establish good relationships with the surrounding people and the monarch.Second, we must have friends and trust and depend on each other.If you have done both of these things, then go to delve into the studies taught by the teacher. This order is exactly the opposite of Yan Hui's.Therefore, even though the two seem to have similar personalities, Zeng Chan is much more realistic than Yan Hui, and the final result is much better.

First, don't offend others, and second, make friends widely so that you can gain a foothold in society.If you want to mix better, you need to study hard.Needless to say, Zeng Shen's principle is very practical. Zeng Zi said: "Careful to the end, chasing after the distance, the people's morality will be strong." Zeng Zi said: "Treating the death of parents cautiously and remembering the long-awaited ancestors will naturally lead the people to become more loyal and honest." In short, it is to learn from the ancients, which is the early thought of Confucius.The ancients revere ancestors and ghosts and gods, so that people have awe in their hearts, and their behavior will have a bottom line.

Without belief, there is no awe in the heart, so morality has no bottom line, and everything can be done. Zengzi was ill, and the disciples of the summoning school said: "Show your feet! Show your hands! The poem says: 'Trembling with trembling, as if facing an abyss, as if walking on thin ice.' From now on, I know how to avoid my husband, boy!" Zeng Zi was sick, so he called his students to him and said, "Look at my feet! Look at my hands (to see if there is any damage)!" He said, "Be careful, as if standing by the edge of an abyss, as if Step on the thin ice. 'From now on, I know that my body will never be hurt again, disciples!"

Zeng Zi borrowed three sentences from the poem to explain that he was careful all his life, to avoid harming his body, and to be filial to his parents.According to the "Book of Filial Piety", Confucius once said to Zeng Shen: "The body is hair and skin, and the parents dare not damage it. This is the beginning of filial piety." That is to say, a filial son should take great care of the body given to him by his parents, including hair and The skin must not be damaged, this is the beginning of filial piety.Zeng Zi asked his students to look at their own hands and feet to show that their bodies were intact and that they had observed filial piety all their lives.

For this record, it seems that we should deduce the background.Confucius' filial piety should not have reached this point, why did he say this to Zeng Shen?According to Confucius' method, this should be aimed at Zeng Shen's weakness of character.Therefore, Zeng Shen's character probably doesn't cherish his body very much, and always keeps his body in a state of injury.In order to let him get rid of this, Confucius talked about him with filial piety. In fact, Confucius did not approve of Zeng Shen's filial piety.Once, when Zeng Shen was hoeing the ground, he broke the root of a melon. His father, Zeng Xi, was so angry that he hit Zeng Shen on the head with a cane, knocking Zeng Shen unconscious on the spot.After a while, Zeng Shen woke up, struggled to stand up, and said to his father: "Dear father, just now my son did something wrong. Your old man taught me hard, didn't you wear yourself out?" After that, Zeng Shen played the piano and sang again, To show that he was fine.

This incident was reported to Confucius. Confucius was very angry and ordered the security guard at the gate: "Don't let Zeng Shen come in. I don't have such a student." Zeng Shen was very puzzled when he heard about it. The teacher taught us to honor our parents. Am I not Is it exemplary?So, Zeng Shen invited a fellow apprentice to help him find out what was going on. "This bastard who doesn't understand the truth actually doesn't know what filial piety is." Confucius' anger has not subsided, so he cursed a few words first, and then explained. "Shun was a dutiful son back then, and his father, Gusou, was a fool. He was always there when his father needed his help; but when his father and stepmother wanted to harm him, he ran faster than a rabbit. Therefore, He endured light beatings, and ran away from severe beatings. Zeng Shen was still waiting to be beaten when his father was furious. If he was beaten to death, wouldn’t he be making his father unrighteous? Is he called filial piety? By the way, Zeng Shen is a citizen, his father killed him and it was a crime, harming himself and his father, isn’t that a bastard, what is it?”

This matter can be seen in "Shuo Yuan". To love oneself is to love one's parents, which is the greatest form of filial piety. Zeng Zi said: "Ask about what you can't do, and ask more about what you don't have; if there's nothing, if it's true, if it's false, if you make a mistake, you can't correct it-my friend in the past, I tried to do this." Zeng Zi said: "I have talents but ask for advice from those without talent; I have a lot of knowledge but ask for advice from people with little knowledge; I have knowledge but seem to have no knowledge; my knowledge is full but seems empty; I am violated but I don't care about it. —my friends have done that before.”

The meaning of not being ashamed to ask is still to repeat what Confucius said.Zeng Shen taught his students that there are not many things he innovates.The so-called my friend, Ma Rong thinks it refers to Yan Hui. Knowing that others don't understand, you still have to ask.Knowing that others have no money, you still have to borrow it.In terms of feeling, this seems not to be ashamed to ask, but to show off. Zeng Zi said: "You can entrust a six-foot orphan, you can send a hundred miles of life, and you can't take it away when it comes to the big festival. A gentleman and a man? A gentleman and a man." Zeng Zi said: "You can entrust a young monarch to him, you can entrust the government of the country to him, and you will not waver in the face of life and death. Is such a person a gentleman? He is a gentleman!" Zeng Zi talked about state affairs, as if he was talking about history.Judging from the history of Lu State, the gentleman mentioned by Zeng Zi should be Ji You, the ancestor of Ji Sun's family. However, even a gentleman like Ji You has turned Lu into a country of Sanhuan? In the past it was to support orphans, but now it is to support widows.In general, there are too few gentlemen. Zeng Zi said: "Scholars can't be resolute. The responsibilities are heavy and the road is long. Ren takes it as his own responsibility, isn't it too heavy? Isn't it too far away after death?" Zeng Zi said: "A scholar must be strong and persevering, because his responsibility is heavy and the road is long. Isn't it important to take the realization of benevolence as one's own responsibility? Is it not a long journey to fight for life and die? ?” There is a long way to go, and only after death, Zeng Zi contributed two idioms.This is Zeng Zi teaching the students, asking them to set up lofty ideals. If the ideal is too lofty, it will often fail.Although tomorrow's sunrise is beautiful, today's dinner is more important. Zeng Zi said: "A gentleman makes friends with literature, and helps benevolent people with friends." Zeng Zi said: "A gentleman makes friends with his writing and knowledge, and relies on his friends to improve his emotional intelligence." It is still the thought of Confucius, and it is still giving lectures to the students. A gentleman makes friends with literature, while a villain buys an official with money. Zeng Zi said: "A gentleman cannot think of his position." Zeng Zi said: "A gentleman does not think beyond the scope of his position." It is still the thought of Confucius, and it is still giving lectures to the students.In many versions of this sentence, it is put together with "not in the position, not seeking the government", and the meaning is exactly the same. Teacher Zeng's class is very boring. Zeng Zi said: "I've heard from all the masters: people who are not self-satisfied must also be mourned!" Zeng Zi said: "I heard the teacher say that people cannot give full play to their emotions automatically. (If there is one), it must be when their parents die." It is also a paraphrase of what Confucius said, emphasizing that only when one's parents die can one's true nature be revealed.Zeng Zi emphasized filial piety, so he will talk about this. Some people cried very sadly when their dog died. Zeng Zi said: "I have heard from all the masters that Meng Zhuangzi's filial piety is possible in other ways; it is impossible for him not to change his father's ministers and his father's government." Zeng Zi said: "I heard from the teacher that Meng Zhuangzi's filial piety can be achieved by others, but it is difficult for others to do it if he does not change his father's old ministers and his political measures." It is also a paraphrase of the teacher's words, and there is such a sentence in it: "The son said: If you haven't changed your father's way for three years, you can be called filial piety." It is talking about Meng Zhuangzi.The question is, is it unfilial to change it?Not necessarily. According to Zhou etiquette, when a father dies, a son must observe filial piety for three years. During these three years, whether it is state affairs or family affairs, they are all handed over to the steward.This tomb minister is not in charge of the cemetery. In the early Zhou Dynasty, the tomb minister was the prime minister.In the early Zhou Dynasty, "three years without changing the way of the father" was a common phenomenon.Later, the rituals collapsed and the music broke down, and the status of the tomb slaughter became lower and lower, and the three-year filial piety became a nameless existence, so "three years without changing the way of the father" became nonsense.Therefore, Meng Zhuangzi "it is impossible for him not to change his father's ministers and govern with his father." After the Spring and Autumn Period, "it is impossible for him not to change his father's ministers, and to govern with his father" has completely become a floating cloud.The more popular one is the emperor and the courtiers, and everyone is busy standing in line.Now there is no hereditary inheritance, let alone "the minister who does not change the father, and the government with the father".When a new official takes office, he must replace his own people and run his own affairs, wishing to wipe away the original traces.Therefore, this passage of Zeng Zi can only be a legend. The Mencius made Yang Fu a scholar and asked Zeng Zi about it.Zeng Zi said: "If you lose your way, the people will be separated for a long time. If you get your love, you should mourn and not be happy!" The Meng family appointed Yang Fu as a judge, and Yang Fu asked Zeng Zi for advice.Zeng Zi said: "The people in positions of power have departed from the righteous way, and the people have long since lost their morality. If you get the truth from interrogating criminals, you should pity them instead of being complacent." Si Kou is a high judge, responsible for legal affairs above the doctor level; a judge is a junior judge, responsible for litigation at the scholar level.So "Qiqing" refers to the truth behind the crime, rather than "situation" or something like that.Zeng Zi meant that common people commit crimes mostly because of compulsion, so we should have compassion for them. Obviously, Zeng Zi is different from Confucius. Zeng Zi is more pure than Confucius, and not as smooth as his teacher, who is much more sophisticated.The disciples who were also officials came to ask for advice. Confucius' answers were all aimed at the shortcomings of the disciples, while Zeng Zi's answers were aimed at the characteristics of the position.The purpose of Confucius is to teach his disciples how to protect themselves and improve themselves, while Zengzi teaches his disciples how to serve the people. There are natural villains, but not many.Most people commit crimes because they are tempted or forced by the environment. In an environment where there is only temptation but no supervision, it is really difficult for people not to commit crimes. Zeng Zi was ill. Mencius Jingzi asked him about it. Zeng Zi said: "When a bird is about to die, its cry is mournful; when a man is about to die, his words are also good. The three things that are most important to a gentleman are those who move his appearance, which is far from violent and conceited." If you have a positive color, you will be more trustworthy; if you express your resignation, you will be more contemptuous. There will be a place for you to deal with beans." Zengzi was sick, and Meng Jingzi went to visit him.Zeng Zi said to him: "A bird is dying, and its cry is sad; a man is dying, and his words are kind. There are three aspects that a gentleman should pay attention to: make his appearance dignified, so that he can Avoid rudeness and presumptuousness; keep your face serious, so that you are close to honesty; keep your words and tone cautious, so that you can avoid roughness and unreasonableness. As for sacrifices and ceremonies, there are officials in charge of these matters. .” Zeng Zi and Meng Jingzi are opposite in political stance.Before Zeng Zi died, he was still trying to change Meng Jingzi's attitude, so he said: "When a person is about to die, his words are kind." There are three aspects that a gentleman should pay attention to. There is indeed a big gap between the realm of Zeng Zi and his teacher Confucius, and such end-of-life advice is also a matter of face. What I have to admit is that the dignitaries of Lu State respected intellectuals very much. When a person is about to die, his words are also kind.Many people do not tell the truth until they are about to die. Who did it?The basic public opinion was compiled by Zeng Shen's students for two reasons. First, Zeng Shen is called "Zi" everywhere, and his words and deeds are recorded the most compared with other disciples of Confucius.In addition to the words and answers to Confucius, there are a total of thirteen chapters that separately record Zeng Shen's words and deeds. Second, Zeng Shen is not only the youngest among the disciples of Confucius, but there is also a chapter that records what Zeng Shen said to Meng Jingzi before his death.There is no doubt that this passage was recorded by Zeng Zi's disciples.Among the students of Zeng Shen's generation, only Zeng Shen's later years had introductions, and no one else had, which proves that the editors were people close to Zeng Shen. In addition to these two, there are actually more interesting evidences. The whole record seems disorganized, but there are still quite learned in some chapters.Among them, the first one is a hidden mystery. We might as well study the order of appearance of the characters in the first chapter, and see some mysteries from it. The first person to appear on the stage is naturally Confucius, which is reasonable; the second person to appear on the stage is a bit off-putting. Yu Confucius is even higher than the third Zeng Shen, isn't it strange?The fourth one is Zixia, and the fifth one is Zigong.What does the order of appearance indicate? What's more, apart from Confucius, there are only these four characters in the first chapter, and there are no veteran students, and there is no Zilu, Confucius' most trusted and favorite Yan Hui.This shows that in the editor's eyes, the status of these four people is very special. what happened?This requires a reasonable explanation. After the death of Confucius, after a period of operation, the Confucius private school finally formed such a structure: the principal You Ruo, and the dean Zeng Shen.As the principal, You Ruo has a high social status, so Duke Ai of Lu asked him for advice.Zeng Shen is mainly responsible for teaching, and the students listen to him.The main sponsor of the school is Zigong. Zigong has enough money to provide sponsorship, bursaries and scholarships to the school, and at the same time solve the employment problem of some students.So, what is the relationship between Zixia and the Confucius School? Zixia went to Xihe in Wei State to run a school and became the teacher of Wei Wenhou.At that time, Wei State was the most powerful country in the world, and Zixia's international status can be imagined.At this time, Zixia needs to show his Confucian orthodoxy, and Zeng Shen also needs a powerful force to act as a tiger's skin. Therefore, the brothers and sisters easily formed the two schools into a brother school, with frequent contacts and mutual support. .And Zeng Shen's disciples are also very proud of having such a master, and they must speak of Master Zixia. I don’t know who suggested the revision, so the writing team was established, with the team leader You Ruo, editor-in-chief Zeng Shen, general counsel Zixia, and chief sponsor Zigong. This is the organizational structure.The work of data collection is also mainly done by them, and of course the living teachers and brothers will also be asked to provide. After Zeng Shen's death, the revision was finally completed.Naturally, the order of appearance must be particular. Teacher Ruo is the former principal and team leader, and he is at the front; Mr. Zeng Shen is the editor-in-chief, and he is second; Master Zi Xia is the general consultant, and he is third; Master Gong is the general sponsor, ranking fourth. Of course, as a student of Zeng Shen, in addition to putting the teacher in second place, the first chapter also talked about filial piety. It can be said that it was led by Zeng Shen, and it has made great contributions to this work.Some people may say that it may be completely written by Zeng Shen's disciples after Zeng Shen's death, and has nothing to do with Zeng Shen.If that is the case, then it is mainly talking about Zeng Shen rather than Confucius.Therefore, the deeds of Confucius and his students must have been sorted out when Zeng Shen was alive, and his disciples did not have such abilities and conditions.