Hello everyone, here is a small broadcast reading, today we continue to share Zhang Hongjie's "Brief Reading of Chinese History".
Speaking of "nobility", you may think of Europe for the first time, think of small bungalows, small villas, think of red wine or golf, no matter how you think, you may not be able to think of ancient China. But in fact, the "nobility" or "aristocratic spirit" already existed as early as the ancient Zhou Dynasty in China. Then you may ask, what is nobility? Is the luxury of foreign cars, bungalows, foreign wine, and luxury a sign of nobility? Of course not, that's the standard for a burst of wealth. Just kidding, though, what is nobility? Of course, the nobility is a social class, and the "aristocratic spirit" is actually more important to emphasize a kind of cultivation or upbringing. As for cultivation, in Chinese culture, there is undoubtedly one word that best interprets it, that is: "etiquette".
The word "ritual" is too important, because Confucianism developed from "ritual". When we talk about the "Spring and Autumn Warring States" period, we often say that the social turmoil at that time, we say: "The ceremony collapsed and the music was bad"; When we talk about a person's cultivation, we often say "courtesy, righteousness, and shame", and in addition, we often call our country a "country of etiquette". It can be seen that the word "li" has influenced our Chinese culture.
Why is etiquette so important?
Because in ancient times, social norms and laws and regulations were not perfect, and "etiquette" was a norm that maintained the stability of ancient countries and society and ensured that people lived in harmony, and its role was even comparable to our morality and law today. In the previous article, we said that shortly after the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, the principal officials headed by the Zhou Gong, while analyzing the lessons learned from the rise and fall of the previous generations, systematically summarized and summarized the rules and regulations of the previous generations, and produced two ceremonial laws, "Zhou Guan" and "Ritual Rites", forming a complete set of political systems and etiquette guidelines, which were praised by later generations as the classics of ruling the world and the great law of a hundred years.
The "Zhou Guan" details a series of political systems such as how to establish the country and the capital, the relationship between the royal family and the feudal state, and the setting and responsibilities of various official positions, which can be said to be an ideal outline for governing the country. The "Rites" make detailed and specific provisions on many people's life activities such as sacrifice, funeral, marriage, and remuneration. For example, the marriage needs to go through six links: Na Cai, Ask the Name, Na Ji, Na Zheng, Please Period, and Kiss. There are specific rules on how to do each link. Another example is the "Crown Ceremony" stipulates that men have eighteen adult crowning ceremonies, indicating that they have become adults and can fulfill their social responsibilities, and the "Ceremony of Seeing People" stipulates the etiquette for people to invite each other to visit each other.
When it comes to "etiquette", we have to say Confucianism and Confucius, so do you know why Confucius's thought is called "Confucian" thought? In fact, it was because the Confucius family had lost its aristocratic status at that time, and he lived in exile by teaching classics, and also lived by "paying tribute" in wedding and funeral sacrifices and other ceremonies. Such people were called "Confucians" at that time, so Confucius's thought was called "Confucianism".
After the advent of the Zhou Guan and the Rites, they became guides to people's political life and daily behavior. It is passed down from generation to generation. Confucius once taught students these two classics. Confucius's students made many records when they studied these two classics. These records contain lessons learned from the study, explanations of the two classics, and some liturgical additions. All of this adds up to form the Book of Rites. Later generations then renamed the "Zhou Guan" to "Zhou Li" and "Ritual Rites", and the "Book of Rites" was collectively called "Three Rites". At the same time, Confucius also integrated the idea of "ritual" into Confucianism. In the Confucian classic Analects, there are also a large number of descriptions of "rituals", such as:
Self-denial and retribution for benevolence;
The use of courtesy, and the precious;
I don't know my fate, I can't think of a gentleman. I don't know how to behave, and I can't stand up. Ignorant of words, unknowable of people;
Don't look at incivility, don't listen to incivility, don't talk about incivility, don't move
"Etiquette" is not only a kind of cultivation of social behavior, but more importantly, it is also a kind of spirit. There is such a story recorded in "Han Feizi", which many people should know, that is, the "Battle of Hongshui". The story goes something like this, when Song Xianggong of the Song Kingdom was fighting with the State of Chu, and the Song army was lined up, waiting for the Army of the State of Chu to cross the Hongshui River to engage.
The officers of the Song State said to Song Xianggong: "The Chu army is larger than our army, and we should take advantage of the fact that they are crossing the river and immediately launch an attack, so that the Chu army will be defeated." Song Xianggong replied, "No, that doesn't conform to the rules of war." The gentleman said: 'You cannot attack an enemy who has already been wounded, you cannot capture an enemy whose hair is already white; the enemy is in danger and cannot take advantage of the danger of others; the enemy is in a predicament and cannot fall into a well; the enemy is not prepared and cannot make a sneak attack.' Now that the Chu army is crossing the river, our army has launched an attack, which is not in line with benevolence and righteousness. When the Chu army has all crossed the river and lined up, we will attack again. ”
As a result, the two sides did not go to war until all the Chu troops had crossed the river. The Song army was eventually defeated because it was outnumbered, and Song Xianggong was also wounded and died tragically the following year. If you look at it from the perspective of today's people, this Song Xianggong is really stupid and dull. But if we know something about Song Xianggong's time, we will know that his choice is precisely the interpretation of the "aristocratic spirit".
In the wars of the Spring and Autumn Period, there were also many interesting episodes. For example, a scene in the "Battle of Qiu" that took place between the Chu and Jin states. In that war, the Jin state was defeated, and when it fled, many of the Jin state's chariots fell into the mud pit and were in a terrible state. Instead of taking the opportunity to pursue and kill, the Chu soldiers ran forward to teach Jinche how to draw the horizontal wood in front of the car in order to rush out of the trap. After the Jin army got out of the predicament, he also turned back to the Chu army and joked: "I am not as good as the number of big countries." "Or do you have experience in escaping?"
In fact, whether in the West or the East, people's pursuit of "etiquette" is consistent, and the so-called "aristocratic spirit" is to maintain dignity and demeanor at all times. Song Xianggong did not take advantage of the situation when he was not ready for the enemy; After the defeat of the Jin army, Chu Junzi did not fall into the well. In fact, it reflects the aristocratic calmness in the face of death. In fact, similar examples can be found in western aristocratic societies. At the height of the French Revolution, both Louis XVI and the Empress were sent to the guillotine, and the moment the Queen ascended the guillotine, she accidentally stepped on the executioner's foot, and the last words she left behind were an elegant apology: "I'm sorry, sir." ”
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