A Brief Analysis of the Analects (26) Qi Yichang, Lu Yichang Analects Analysis of the Analects (26)

<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="1" > Analects (26).</h1>

Zi Yue: "Qi Yi changed, as for Lu; Lu Yi changed, as for the Tao." ”

This sentence is generally translated as:

Confucius said: "When the State of Qi changes, it will reach the level of the State of Lu; and if the State of Lu and its party change, it will reach the level of conformity with the Tao." ”

Whether this translation can stand up, let's briefly analyze it:

First of all, the State of Qi is a big country and a rich country, and the State of Lu is a small country and a weak country, if the State of Qi becomes the State of Lu, will it not be a step backwards?

Secondly, many people say that Confucius is talking about the etiquette system, and in terms of etiquette, the State of Lu is better than the State of Qi.

Nor does this claim hold.

The State of Qi "Honored the King of Yi", honored the Zhou Tianzi, and united the princes to resist Di Yi. In Confucius's view, this is not only in line with the etiquette system, but also has great merit in the world. Therefore, although Confucius believed that Guan Zhong had a loss in the subsection, he also fully affirmed Guan Zhong's merits.

In the Analects of the Constitution, it is said: "Guan Zhongxiang Huan Gong, the overlord of the princes, a kuang of the world, the people have been blessed by him to this day." Microtubule Zhong, I was sent to the left. ”

This means that Guan Zhong assisted Duke Huan of Qi, dominated the princes, and rectified the world, and the people are still favored by him to this day. Without Guan Zhong, we would probably have been wiped out by Di Yi and reduced to slaves, wearing hair and dressed in Di Yi's attire.

It can be seen from this that Confucius has a very clear distinction between what is great righteousness, what is small righteousness, what is great gift, and what is small gift.

Let's look at what the situation is in Luguo. The power of the State of Lu fell by the wayside, and the government was in the hands of the Ji clan. The famous passage of the Analects, "Ji Shi Will Cut down the Qi", is about the chaos of the Lu kingdom, and the term "woe to the Xiao Wall" comes from this.

The "History of Confucius's Family" also says: The Ji clan also used the government office and accompanied the courtiers to govern the country, and it was Lu Zi who was below the emperor who was arrogant and deviated from the right path. Therefore, Confucius did not shi, but retreated to practice poetry and books, and his disciples were crowded, and they were far away from home, and they were not subject to karma.

This means that the officials of the State of Lu had a heart of trespassing from top to bottom, deviating from the right path, so Confucius did not come out and retired to sort out the poetry and books.

Therefore, the so-called etiquette system of the State of Lu is better than that of the State of Qi.

So, how should this sentence be understood?

As for Lu, Lu yi changed, as for Lu Yi changed, as for the Tao.

Here Qi represents a large country, Lu represents a small country, and does not stick to a fixed name. (According to records, during the Spring and Autumn Period, there were more than a hundred princely states with names and surnames, most of which were small countries, and the big countries were no more than Jin, Chu, Qi, Qin, Yue, and Wu.) ）

The meaning of this sentence is that as soon as a big country makes a change, [the wind of benevolence] will spread to a small country, and the small country will change with it, and the wind of benevolence will spread throughout the world.

"As for the Tao", it can be understood that the wind of benevolence pervades every road (streets, alleys, streets and alleys). It can also be understood that the wind of benevolence spreads throughout the world and is in harmony with the Tao.

(If you feel that the wind of benevolence is a bit vain, you can also replace it with the "wind of innovation", although the zhou is an old state, its life is renewed.) ）

"As for Lu, Lu yi changed, as for Lu Yi changed, as for the Tao." It reflects Confucius's "top-down" idea of change, driving small countries with big countries, and ultimately realizing the unity of the world.

(Confucius's idea of change is two-line and parallel, in addition to "top-down", there is also "bottom-up", that is, through indoctrination to open up the people's wisdom, from the bottom up to improve the overall quality.) ）