The first section of this article says that Lu Aigong asked Confucius, so the title of the article is "Mourning Gong". The content records the dialogue between Confucius and Lu Aigong, and finally there is also a dialogue between Yan Yuan and Lu Dinggong.
Lu Aigong asked Confucius: "I want to talk about the people of my country and govern the country with them, and dare to ask how to take the evil?"
Confucius said: "In the present world, the way of the ancients: live in the customs of the present, serve the clothes of the ancients;
Mourning Gong said: "However, the husband Zhang Fu is a gentleman, and the gentleman takes the wat and pushes the wat, this is virtuous?"
Confucius said: "It is not necessary that those who wear clothes and clothes and ride the road do not aim to eat meat; those who cut off the decay and sip porridge with a rod do not aim to eat wine and meat."
The world of life, the way of the ancients, the customs of the present, the clothes of the ancients, and the people who do not do this, although there are, they are not rare!" Mourning said: "Good!"
Translations:
Lu Aigong asked Confucius: "I want to choose people from the mainland to govern the country with them, and I take the liberty of asking how to choose them?" Confucius replied: "Born in the present world, with the principles of ancient times in mind, in the customs of today, wearing ancient clothes, and doing evil in this way, are not there very few people who do evil?"
Wai Gong said: "In this case, then those who wear Shang Dynasty style top hats, shoes with laces, and wide belts with a court board on their belts, are they all virtuous?"
Confucius replied, "Not necessarily virtuous. Those who wore sacrificial robes, black robes, and top hats and rode on the sacrificial chariot were not concerned with eating meat, and those who wore linen and filial piety, wore shoes made of thatch, and ate thin porridge with filial piety sticks, their minds were not on drinking wine and eating meat.
Born in the world of today, with the principles of antiquity in mind, and in the customs of the present, wearing the garments of antiquity, are there not many, if any, who do this?"
Wai Gong said, "Okay!
Confucius said: "People have five instruments: there are mediocre people, there are scholars, there are gentlemen, there are sages, and there are great sages." ”
Mourning said: "Dare to ask how Rusi can be described as a mediocre person?"
Confucius said: "The so-called mediocre people do not speak well, and their hearts do not know the city; They do not know how to choose sages and good men to worry about their own lives; they do not know what to do when they move, and they do not know what to do; they do not know what to do; they do not know what is expensive; they do not know where to go; they are like flowing from things, and they do not know where to go; they are right, and their hearts are bad: in this way, they can be described as mediocre. ”
Mourning Gong said: "Good! Dare to ask how Rusi can be described as a scholar?"
Confucius said: "Although the so-called scholars cannot do their best to do the Tao, they must have a rate, and although they cannot be all good, they must have a place." Therefore, if you don't know much, you should examine what you know, if you don't say much, you should judge what you say, and if you don't do much, you should examine the reasons for it. Therefore, if you know what you know, what you say you have said, and what you do is what you do, then if your life is not easy. Therefore, wealth is not enough to benefit, and humility is not enough to damage: so it can be said to be a gentleman. ”
Wai Gong said: "Good! dare to ask how Rusi can be described as a gentleman?"
Confucius said: "The so-called gentleman is faithful in his words but not virtuous in his heart, benevolence and righteousness in his body without being corrupted, and his thoughts are clear and indisputable, so he is still like a gentleman who is within reach." ”
Confucius said: "The so-called sage man does not hurt his own people, speaks the law in the world without hurting his body, is rich in the world without resentment and wealth, and gives to the world without being sick or poor. Wai Gong said: "Good! dare to ask how Rusi can be described as a great sage?"
Confucius said: "The so-called great sage knows the great way, adapts to the situation without exhaustion, and discerns the emotional nature of all things." Those who are great ways change into all things, and those who are emotional, so they do not choose either. Therefore, it is the great discerning of heaven and earth, the sun and the moon, and all things must be in the wind and rain, and the things cannot be followed, and if the heirs of the heavens are not known, and the people do not know their neighbors: if this is the great sage. Mourning said: "Good!"
Translations:
Confucius said: "There are five types of people: there are mediocre people, there are scholars, there are gentlemen, there are sages, and there are great sages." ”
Wai Gong said, "May I ask how you can call a mediocre person?"
Confucius replied: "The so-called mediocre people cannot speak good words in their mouths, they do not know sorrow in their hearts, they do not know how to consider choosing and relying on virtuous men and good men, they do not know what to do when they go out, they do not know where they want to stand when they set up, they choose among various things every day, but they do not know what is valuable, they blindly obey the things of the outside world like flowing water, and they do not know where they want to be, and their thoughts become bad because they are dominated by the desires of their ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and heart."
Like this, you can call yourself a mediocre person. ”
Wai Gong said, "Okay! How can I call myself a scholar?"
Confucius replied: "Even if the so-called scholars cannot thoroughly grasp the principles and methods of governing the country, they must follow them, and even if they cannot be perfect, they must have some integrity." Therefore he understands that he does not seek more knowledge, but is prudent in his knowledge, not in his words, but in what he says, and in what he is doing, not in his work, but in what he is doing. The knowledge has been understood, the words have been spoken, and the deeds have been done, and it is impossible to change it like one's own life and skin. Therefore wealth does not increase him, and humility does not make him less.
In this way, you can call it a scholar. ”
Confucius replied, "A gentleman is one who speaks faithfully and faithfully without thinking that he is virtuous, who is full of benevolence and righteousness without showing off his face, who thinks clearly and understands things but speaks without arguing with others."
Therefore, if you are free and soothing as if you are about to be caught up, you are a gentleman. ”
Confucius replied: "The so-called virtuous man is one who behaves in accordance with the rules and regulations without harming himself, who can be taken by the people of the world without harming himself, who is so rich that he owns the world without having any private wealth, and who gives his wealth to the people of the world without worrying that he will be poor."
In this way, you can call yourself a sage. ”
Confucius replied, "A great sage is a person who is wise enough to understand the Great Way, who is not exhausted in dealing with all kinds of events, and who can discern the nature of all things." The avenue is the root of the formation of all things, and the nature of all things is the basis for dealing with right and wrong and making trade-offs. Therefore, the things of the saints are as vast and universal as the heavens and the earth, as clear as the sun and the moon, and like the wind and rain that govern all things, gentle and sincere.
What he does cannot be inherited, as if it were in charge of God, and what he does cannot be recognized, and the common people are shallow enough to even know things that are close to it. In this way, one can be called a great saint. ”
Wai Gong said, "Good!"
Lu Aigong asked Shun Guan Yu Confucius, Confucius was not right. Three questions are wrong.
Mourning Gong said: "The widow asked Shun Guan Yuzi, why didn't he say anything?"
Confucius said: "The kings of the ancients were those who had affairs and were detained, and their politics were good and they were born evil and killed." It is a phoenix in the trees, a lin in the suburbs, and the nest of the black magpie can be peeked down. Jun didn't ask, but asked Shunguan, so it's not right. ”
Translations:
Lu Aigong asked Confucius about the top hat Shun was wearing, but Confucius did not answer. Wai Gong asked three times, but Confucius still did not answer. Wai Gong said, "I asked you about the top hat that Shun was wearing, why didn't you speak?"
Confucius replied: "Some of the ancient emperors wore beanies and round-necked civilian clothes, but their politics was devoted to the survival of men and hated murder. Therefore, the phoenix perches on the rows of trees, the unicorn is active on the outskirts of the national capital, and the nests of crows and magpies can be observed with their heads down.
You don't ask about this, but you ask about the top hat that Shun wears, so I don't answer. ”
Lu Aigong asked Confucius: "The widow is born in the deep palace, long in the hands of a woman, the widow has not tasted mourning, has not tasted sorrow, has not tasted labor, has not tasted fear, has not tasted danger." ”
Confucius said: "What the king asks, the sage asks, and the Qiu and the villain, how can we know it?" ”
Confucius said: "The king enters the temple gate and the right, climbs the steps from the gauntlet, looks up at the building, looks down on a few feasts, its instruments exist, its people die, the king thinks about it, then the mourning will be in the end?
And Qiu Wenzhi, the monarch, the boat, the people, the water. The water will carry the boat, and the water will overturn the boat.
Translations:
Lu Aigong asked Confucius: "I was born in a deep harem and grew up under the nurture of a woman, I never knew what sorrow was, I never knew what sorrow was, I never knew what toil was, I never knew what fear was, I never knew what danger was. ”
Confucius said, "What you are asking is the question that the holy monarch is asking. I'm Kongqiu, I'm a villain, how can I know this?"
Wai Gong said, "I have no place to ask except you." ”
Confucius said: "You walk into the gate of the temple to the right, ascend the hall from the east steps, look up and see the rafters, look down and see the spiritual seat, those utensils are still there, but the ancestors are gone, you think about sorrow from these aspects, then how can the sorrow not come?"
If you get up at dawn and comb your hair and put on your hat, and at dawn you go up to the court to listen to the government, and if you don't handle a thing properly, it will become the beginning of trouble.
If you go up to the court at dawn to deal with political affairs, and when the sun is in the west, and the children and grandchildren of the princes who have fled from all countries must be waiting in the distance of your court to serve you.
You walked out of the square gate of the capital of Lu to look at the suburbs of Lu country, there must be a few thatched huts in the ruins of those dead countries, you think about fear from these aspects, so how can fear not come?
And I have heard the saying, 'The monarch is like a ship, and the people are like water.'" Water can carry a ship, and water can capsize. 'If you think about danger in this way, how can you not feel dangerous?'
Lu Aigong asked Confucius: "The gentleman and Zhang Fu are beneficial to benevolence?"
Confucius said: "The gentleman is also a gentleman, and those who are debilitated do not listen to music, and they cannot hear it unless they hear it, and they obey it." Those who are dressed in black clothes do not eat meat, and they can't taste it in their mouths, and they are also obedient. And Qiu Wenzhi, it is so unscrupulous, and the elderly are not in the market. Stealing its benefits and its insignificance, you know. ”
Translations:
Lu Aigong asked Confucius: "Is it beneficial to wear a wide belt and a black silk top hat in the style of the Zhou Dynasty and a coming-of-age hat in the style of the Shang Dynasty?"
Confucius was horrified and said, "Why do you ask this? People in mourning clothes and holding filial piety sticks do not listen to music, not because their ears cannot hear them, but because they wear mourning clothes that make them like this."
Those who wear sacrificial garments do not eat meat dishes, not because their mouths cannot taste them, but because they wear sacrificial garments that make them like this. And I have heard that those who are good at business do not let their assets be wasted, and those who are virtuous do not go to the market to do business for profit.
You probably know whether a belt or a top hat is good or not. ”
Lu Aigong asked Confucius: "Please ask for people." ”
Confucius said: "There is no health, no criticism, no mouth." Healthy, greedy, chaotic, mouthful, birthday. Therefore, the bow is tuned and then the strength is sought, the horse is dressed and then the goodness, and the scholar is confident and then the knowledge is able. Scholars don't believe in the knowledge of the wolf, but they can't be the body.
The saying goes: 'Huan Gong uses his thief, and Wen Gong uses his thief.'
Therefore, the director of the Ming Dynasty does not believe in anger, and the lord believes in anger and does not care. If you win, you will be strong, and if you are angry, you will die. ”
Translations:
Lu Aigong asked Confucius, "How do you choose talents?" Confucius replied: "Don't choose people who want to be strong and competitive, don't choose people who can restrain others, and don't choose people who can speak well."
Those who want to be strong and competitive are often insatiable, and those who are restrained by others are often guilty of disorder.
People who can speak well tend to deceive. Therefore the bow must first be adjusted before it is strong, and the horse must be tamed before it becomes a good horse;
Talents must first be loyal and honest, and then seek their intelligence and ability. If a person is not loyal and honest, but he is very intelligent and capable, for example, he is a wolf, and he cannot bring himself near him.
As the saying goes: 'Duke Qi Huan appoints traitors, and Duke Wen of Jin appoints robbers.' Therefore a wise monarch chooses people according to their interests and losses, and a mediocre monarch chooses people according to their feelings, not according to their interests.
If the calculation of the gains and losses exceeds the emotional affairs, it will be strong, and the emotional things will exceed the calculation of the gains and losses of the interests, and it will perish. ”
Dinggong asked Yu Yan Yuan and said, "Zi also heard that Dongye Bi is good at mastering?"
Yan Yuan said: "Good is good, although, his horse will be lost." ”
Dinggong was displeased, and said left and right: "The gentleman is stubborn and slanderous!." ”
Three days later, the school came to admonish, saying: "The horse of the East Field Bi is lost. Two rows, two suits into the stable. ”
Ding Gong crossed the table and said: "Tend to summon Yan Yuan!"
Yan Yuanzhi said: "The day before yesterday, the widow asked my son, and my son said: 'Dongye Bizhi is good at driving, although his horse will be lost. 'How can you know if you don't know my son?'
Yan Yuan said: "The minister knows it by politics." In the past, Shun was skillful at making the people, and the father was skillful at making horses; Shun did not poor his people, and his father did not lose his horses; it was Shun who did not lose the people, and the father did not lose the horse. Today, the east field Bi Zhizhi, get on the car to hold the title, the body is right, the steps gallop, the salute is completed, the adventure is far, the horsepower is exhausted, and the horse is still begging, is to know. Ding Gong said: "Good, can you get less?" Yan Yuan said: "When the minister hears it, the bird is poor and pecked, the beast is poor and grabbed, and the person is poor and deceitful." From ancient times to the present, there is no one who can be free from danger. ”
Translations:
Lu Dinggong asked Yan Yuan, "Is Mr. Dongye's car driving well?"
Yan Yuan replied, "It's good. Nevertheless, his horse was about to flee. Dinggong was very unhappy, and went in and said to his ministers, "Is the gentleman a slanderer?"
Three days later, the official who kept the horse came to see him and said, "Higashinobi's horse has escaped." The two horses next to them broke their reins and ran away, and the two horses in the middle returned to the stable. Ding Gong left the seat and stood up and said, "Hurry up and set up a car to summon Yan Yuan!"
Yan Yuan is here. Dinggong said: "I asked you the day before yesterday, and you said: 'It's good to drive Dongye. Nevertheless, his horse was about to flee. 'I wonder how you know this?'
Yan Yuan replied: "I learned about this based on political principles. In the past, Shun was good at servicing the people, and the father was good at driving horses. Shun does not make his people cornered, and the Father does not make his horses cornered, so Shun has no people who have fled, and the Father has no horses that have fled.
Now Higashino Bi is driving, boarding the car and holding the reins in his hand, the horse's chew and the horse's body are upright, walking slowly and running fast to drive the gallop, all the etiquette prescribed by the imperial court has been achieved, and the horse's strength has been exhausted after going through all kinds of dangers and obstacles to reach a distant place. However, he still asked the horse to stop, so I knew that his horse would run away. ”
Yan Yuan replied, "I have heard such sayings: 'When a bird is cornered, it will peck, when it is cornered, it will catch it, and when it is cornered, it will cheat.'" 'From ancient times to the present day, there has not been a monarch who has cornered his subjects without danger. ”