Classic quotations and deeds of benevolence

benevolence, righteousness, manners, wisdom and credit

Not humble

A. China's theory of ancient social development

There are theories of social development in different cultures. For example, Hinduism has put forward four stages of social development for more than 3,000 years, namely, the golden age, the silver age, the red copper age and the black iron age. In the ancient culture of China, Confucius talked about two kinds of society: in Liu Yun, he said that the world is public, the Tao is home, and the society is public and private. In the Song Dynasty, Shao Yong's thought of "Huang Ji Jing Shi" became clearer, and he clearly pointed out that the society was divided into several stages: benevolence, courtesy, righteousness, wisdom and faith. It is put forward that "a gentleman takes the foundation of heaven, not the foundation of man."

Its original text is as follows:

Yuan, Chun and Ren. Spring is the beginning of time, and virtue is long-lasting. Time is not full, and virtue is enough to make people grow. Therefore, the words of virtue are not timely. Heng Zhe, Summer Night, Ye Li. Summer is the best time. Politeness is the text of virtue. Prosperity will decline, and literature is not enough to save it. Therefore, when you speak, don't say virtue. So it's a great pity to get to the ninth place. Those who benefit, the meaning of autumn is also. Autumn is a success. Righteousness is virtue. Everything is profitable. Righteousness is not good for profit. So, sometimes you don't say virtue. Righteousness, winter and wisdom. Winter, not yet. Wise men, the decline of virtue. Regular luck and irregular ferocity. Therefore, it is timely to say that virtue is not said. Therefore, people with virtue also have temperament.

It can be seen that the social development proposed by Shao Zi has a fixed number: benevolence _ courtesy _ righteousness _ wisdom, benevolence is one, and when it is not full of respect, it is two. At this time, the height has been presented, and the Tao has been hidden. Therefore, it is necessary to be sincere to the monarch and the minister, loyal to the father and son, and treat each other with courtesy. Etiquette is the text of virtue, and the text is sometimes inappropriate. Improper words often make mistakes. Therefore, words are not heard, words are sometimes immoral, and those who get them are advanced. Therefore, the text is extremely prosperous, and if it is too prosperous, it will decline. Words are not enough to save it. Righteousness three, for profit, for autumn, when reaching, for righteousness, is the side of virtue, and things are ultimately profitable and righteous, but righteousness does not take profit as work. At this time, there are wars everywhere, World War I and World War II, and sometimes promises are broken. Wisdom is four, representing chastity and justice. For winter, winter is not enough. For the decline of wisdom and morality. At this time, people who are close to "benevolence" in society are all equal, and the height is unknown. They all want to return to "benevolence". This time is a regular auspicious, but irregular fierce.

It can be seen that the theory of social development is not the original creation of Marx alone. China and India both predated Marx. According to China's social development theory, Marx lived in a society in late autumn and early winter. Social contradictions are very acute, and wars continue. Although Marx wanted to restore the benevolence of spring, he could not avoid murderous look. In fact, it was in the cold winter. This kind of thought is also historic, because the "benevolence" in spring is reduced to the "righteousness" in autumn, and the cold in winter is a society that worships wisdom.

Some people think that "righteousness" is similar to "benevolence" in the order of "benevolence, propriety, wisdom and faithfulness": Lao Tzu has a saying: virtue comes first, virtue comes first, benevolence comes first, righteousness comes first, and propriety comes first. Finally, if you don't respond to the gift, you will throw it away. It is also often said that "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faithfulness", but "righteousness" takes "righteousness" as the third and "benefit" as the interpretation. What's the order? Zhu believes that there are two kinds of "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith", one is the concept of time, and the other is the concept of emptiness. Born in order, we should say "benevolence, courtesy, righteousness, wisdom and faith". Righteousness is the gas of Congo, but things in righteousness are divided into two. Righteousness comes from courtesy. If from time to time, "benevolence, courtesy, righteousness, wisdom and faith" are in no particular order. But people usually say "benevolence" instead of "benevolence" because "benevolence" and "righteousness" are opposites, and "benevolence" belongs to yang and righteousness belongs to yin. Living at both ends, if people prefer "Spring and Autumn" to "Spring and Summer", the time sequence should be based on Yi He Shao Zi's theory, not Lao Zi's theory.

Second, talk about "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith"

When it comes to "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith", people first think of "feudal" things. Actually, this is not feudalism, but the essence of Chinese civilization. Marx didn't understand "Oriental Civilization", nor did he make a summary of China civilization. Defining it as "feudalism" was decided by China people themselves. If China's Confucius is defined as feudalism, then Marx should define Socrates and Aristotle as slaves. Don't they live in a slave society? In the real society, people hate to mention Confucius and are ashamed to read his books. But as the saying goes, Confucius' voice is often heard, "If you want to do something well, you must sharpen your tools first" and "If you have a threesome, you must learn from me first" ... When you enter the modern society, should you leave all this behind? Can the moral standards he put forward at that time become the moral standards of modern society?

(A), to clear the names of Confucianism and Taoism.

Confucius' social ideal can be said to be consistent with Marx's. "On the road, the world is public, meritocracy, faith practice and harmony ..." We are talking about the Great Harmony, isn't it Marx's capitalism? But his ideal was not accepted by the society at that time. The Five Overlords in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Seven Heroes in the Warring States Period all talked about Wang Ba's art, and tried to strengthen this rich country. They didn't have time to listen to what he called "courtesy" and "benevolence"! Such a frustrated person, his ideal was not realized by his disciples after his death. He won the king of the world with Wang Ba's skill and didn't take him seriously. Qin Shiwang "burned books to bury Confucianism", and Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang could "pee and drown Confucianism"; Later, emperors of all dynasties attached importance to Confucius and regarded him as a saint, but only mentioned "foolish loyalty" and "foolish filial piety" again, but it was not mentioned in The Analects. On the other hand, we can also see that "a gentleman cares about the sky but not people" and "a good bird chooses a wood to live in, and a good minister chooses a master to walk." If Confucius is "foolish loyalty" or "foolish filial piety", he should not leave Shandong and travel around the world. I shouldn't ask, "If I use it, it only takes one month and three years to succeed." Emperors of past dynasties didn't want to realize his "trip to the Avenue, the world is public, talents are appointed, letters are exchanged, and peace is different ...", just wanted to keep the kingship unchanged. Because the "master" theory does not advocate rebellion. It advocates "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith".

(2) If Marx knew Confucius' Confucianism, he should also be called "Comrade".

"Comrades" are like-minded people; Because Confucius' social ideal "A trip to the main road, the world serving the public, appointing talents, practicing faith and stressing harmony …" is consistent with Marx's ideal society. In the next paragraph of the master's "Li Yun", there is an understanding of private ownership: "The road is hidden, the world is home ..." In addition, the ancient philosophy of China he inherited is also consistent with Marx's dialectical materialism.

Let's compare the differences between the two.

The similarity between the two theories lies in that they both hold that the world is made up of contradictions, but China's ancient philosophy has a more detailed concept of contradictions, while Marx's concept of contradictions is very simple, so we know that it is the unity of opposites, and contradictions are no longer divided into abstract relationships. We only know that they are fighting with each other, but we don't know how to fight.

Difference:

(1) The two sides of the contradiction are different. Marx's views on the two sides of contradiction are equal and opposite. Just like a fight between two countries, it is a win-win relationship. The contradictory assumptions of China's ancient philosophy are: 1 rigidity, 1 softness; 1 Jian, 1 Shun; 1 give, 1 accept; 1 singer,1sum; 1 dynamic, 1 static. Like heaven and earth. The rhythm of the four seasons and climatic conditions are immutable. Only when heaven and earth are in harmony can everything grow and develop. There is no reason why nothing should be done by heaven. These are all natural.

(2) The contradiction between Yin and Yang in China's philosophy is not a win-win, but a mutual root. After the contradiction is divided, the Tao is hidden, and Yin and Yang are still there, but it has become the most subtle thing in concrete things.

(3) The contradiction between Yin and Yang in China's philosophy is not a struggle, but a struggle after differentiation. Tao gives birth to one, two, three and all things three. A: Two yang are strong, which is a struggle. B: The two vulvas are isolated and can't pass. As Lao Tzu said: the voices of chickens and dogs hear each other, and the old and the dead don't interact. C: The saying "one yin and one yang" is a harmonious relationship in the development of things. Take lovers for example, "the husband sings with the woman", if both of them sing, they will quarrel; If two people stop singing, it's time to split up; Singing and following are the ways of harmony.

(4) China's philosophy put forward the development theory of "contradiction": Tao gives birth to one, two, three and all things. After the contradiction between yin and yang, the five elements, eight diagrams and sixty-four hexagrams were introduced ... except for their relationship, according to their relationship, everything in the world belongs to their own class. If the weather is divided into spring, summer, autumn and winter; Colors are cyan, red, orange and purple; Emotions are divided into joy, anger, sadness and joy; There are five flavors and five tones, all corresponding to gold, wood, water, fire and earth. The relationship between them is also mutual and mutual. Whether we can infer the development and changes of things depends on whether the abstract classification of things is correct. Chinese medicine is based on this. Confucius' personality points are also based on this and are interrelated. Benevolence (wood)-life-ceremony (fire)-life-faith (earth)-life-righteousness (gold)-life-wisdom (water). Faith-gram-wisdom-gram-courtesy-gram-righteousness-gram-benevolence. In this way, the context of ancient ethics is clear. Why did Master emphasize returning to benevolence? Because benevolence is the heart of compassion and the beginning of qi. Benevolence is the beginning of goodness, and then the natural development.

(5) The temperament in the following Book of Rites is different: when you enter other countries, you can know that you are gentle and honest. The teaching of this book has also been neglected; Extensive and easy to teach; Clean and subtle < easy > teaching also; Zhuang Jing Li also teaches; It belongs to the religion in the Spring and Autumn Period. Therefore, the loss of poetry is stupid; Lost, false; The loss is extravagant; It is a thief's mistake; The loss of is annoying; Loss and chaos in the Spring and Autumn Period. Therefore, the ancients always looked at problems dialectically; Everything has shortcomings.

(3) "Benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith" is a harmonious body of personnel, knowing the destiny, as far as possible.

Confucian understanding of things is based on personnel. He put forward a series of social ethics, among which "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith" are the most basic. Its analogy is still the simulation of establishing the relationship between heaven and earth. The geographical environment of the earth and the laws of the four seasons are unchanged. Everything grows and develops according to the "heaven" environment, which makes this happen. Therefore, people should learn from "heaven and earth" and know that heaven conforms to the laws of nature in order to succeed. What kind of person do you want to be, not by subjective will. Secondly, Shuntian is called "Yuan Henry Zhen" and Shuntian is called "I will be strong". This fully illustrates Marx's dialectical relationship between subjectivity and objectivity. Intention first, then it will be achieved, and then handling things will naturally persist, and a kind of self-awareness will be achieved (for example, my anger and my anger are all my own intentions). Then I was dragged by material desires in my career, and I went back and forth, and I couldn't do things more and more. In the Analects of Confucius, there are four things: unintentional, unnecessary, unreal and egoless. And the beginning of things, with the heart of no self, everything conforms to the law of nature, which is called the beginning of goodness, which is "yuan"; After that, everything went smoothly, which is called "home benefit" and "constancy": in this way, you will naturally get the result you want, which is called the sum of interests and "profit"; Finally, it is called "chastity" to take righteousness as a solid foundation, not to let one's spirit flood, to get carried away, and to maintain "no self"

It can be seen that the essence of Confucianism is not to create moral shackles for people. But through the cultivation of mind, people will be in a harmonious state of mind, which is the so-called "golden mean." In this way, things will not be "subjective" and "paranoid", so as to correctly understand the world and make people get "good" results.

(D) the significance of "benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith" to modern society:

Modern society should be a society that worships "wisdom", just like the past society; During the reign of Qi Shun, people worshipped "benevolence". At that time, it was possible to "push its position and make way for the country", but it was not allowed to do so. Afraid of getting their ears dirty, they ran to the river to wash their ears. Xia, Shang and Zhou worshiped "courtesy" and paid attention to propriety. At this time, some people advised the emperors to make way for the country, but no one could accept it. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the ceremony collapsed and the music broke down. Later, Confucius advocated "righteousness" and wanted to restore "Zhou Li", which no one could accept. In this way, in modern society, whoever is "smart" will have greater rights to survival and development. Therefore, with the development of science and technology, previously unimaginable things have become a reality. But also because of the rapid development of "intelligence", human feelings have become selfish and indifferent, and people have become distrustful. After that, the worship of "trust" should become the mainstream, and people are eager to establish a credit relationship and credit system. Will society still worship "benevolence" in the future? It should be like this.

(E) "Intelligence" and "Emotion" in modern society

More than 600 years ago, Zhu, a Neo-Confucianism scholar in Song and Ming Dynasties, put forward the idea of "preserving righteousness and destroying human desires", which was regarded as the representative of feudalism and was constantly criticized. But always can't go to longitudinal people's desire! During the capitalist enlightenment, various ideological trends also attacked the church's abstinence thought, such as the famous "Bee Manifesto", which declared that people are selfish and only by pursuing the maximization of personal interests can social development be promoted. Commodity economy is socialized mass production. Without strong demand, it is impossible to ensure the maintenance of socialized mass production. Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize everyone's positive factors and inner desires. The greater the desire, the stronger the demand. So it is not surprising to advocate indulgence. In this case, everyone's emotions and feelings may become a factor in making money. For example, in order to satisfy people's reputation, they can name stars after customers. On a whim, some people know that everyone has anger to vent, so they build an venting chair, and people must smash it first when sitting on it. In a society that advocates "wisdom", there is no reason why you can't make money as long as you use your head. Naturally, such a society must first break all moral norms, Kuang Kuang. The so-called "wisdom" is "ceremony". However, after such a period of development, intelligence leads to "moral" corruption and environmental pollution. Atomic bombs can destroy several earths, and "cloned" people become new slaves. They have no parents or relatives and can only be used as parts by others. Obviously, it is necessary for the future world to worship "faith". The so-called "faith" is "wisdom"

To sum up, China's Confucianism is profound, especially the moral standards put forward by modern people are worth learning.