The five chapters from "Youzai Chapter" to "Yaowen Chapter" are data textbooks excerpted by Xunzi and his disciples, which were edited by later generations.
Although these contents were not compiled by Xunzi himself, they have certain value for the study of Xunzi's thoughts, and the content also retains a lot of texts of Confucianism in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, which is a very valuable historical document.
The instrument of sitting refers to the vessel of sitting in verse 1, which is a vessel of water placed on the right side of the seat.
This vessel will tilt without water at all, and it will be upright when it is half-filled and will tip over when it is filled with water.
It is placed on the right side of the seat to remind people not to go too far or too late.
This article mainly records the words and deeds of Confucius to show Xunzi's inheritance of Confucius.
Confucius looked at the temple of Lu Huan Gong, there is a vessel, Confucius asked the temple keeper: "What is this?"
The temple keeper said: "This cover is a vessel for sitting on,"
Confucius said: "I hear the instrument of sitting, the void is the truth, the middle is positive, and the full is over." ”
Confucius said to his disciples: "Inject water." The disciple poured into it. Confucius sighed and said: "Phew! There are those who are full of evil but do not overcome!" Zi Lu said: "Dare to ask if there is a way to hold full?"
Confucius said: "Wisdom and sage knowledge, keep it with foolishness, merit by the world, keep it with it, bravely care for the world, guard it with cowardice, be rich from all over the world, and keep it with humility: this so-called way of loss is also." ”
(Confucius visits the temple of Lu Huan Gong and sees a leaning vessel there.) Confucius asked the temple keeper, "What kind of vessel is this?" and the temple keeper said, "This is probably the vessel that the monarch placed on the right side of his seat to guard himself." ”
Confucius said, "I have heard that this kind of vessel tilts when it is not filled with water, straightens when it is halfway poured in water, and topples over when it is filled with water." Confucius turned back to his disciple and said, "Fill it with water!" and the disciple took water and poured it into it. When it is halfway injected, it is straight, when it is full, it tops over, and when it is empty, it reverts to tilting.
Confucius said with emotion: "Alas, how can there be anything that is full and does not fall over?"
Zilu said, "I want to ask if there is a way to keep it full?"
Confucius said: "To be wise and wise is to maintain it with clumsiness, to benefit the world with merit, and to maintain a humble attitude, to be brave and strong, to keep it with cowardice, and to be rich in the world, to maintain it with frugality." This is the so-called way to keep full. ）
Confucius took pictures for Lu, and punished Shaozheng for seven days. The doorman came in and asked: "The husband is young and the people are also heard, and the master is punished for the sake of politics, and there is nothing to lose."
Confucius said: "Dwelling, my language is the reason for it." There are five evil people, and theft is not the same: one is to reach the heart and be dangerous, the second is to be firm and strong, the third is to argue falsely, the fourth is to remember the ugly and broad, and the fifth is to obey the wrong and the other -- if one of these five is one of the people, it will not be exempt from the punishment of the gentleman, and the lack of righteousness and both the righteous and the bad. The former residence is enough to gather a group of disciples, and the words are enough to decorate the evil camp, and it is strong enough to be independent.
It is to Tang Zhu Yin Harmonic, Wen Wang Zhu Pan Zhi, Zhou Gong Zhu Guan Shu, Tai Gong Zhu Hua Shi, Guan Zhong Zhu Fu Liyi, Zi Zhu Deng Shi Fu, these seven sons, all of them are different worlds and one heart, and they must be punished.
The poem says: 'Worry quietly, be discouraged by the group. 'There are groups of villains, and they are worried. ”
(Confucius became the acting prime minister of the state of Lu, and killed Shao Zhengmao after only seven days in power.) The student came in and asked him, "Shao Zhengmao is a celebrity in Lu State." The teacher killed him first when he took power, isn't it a mistake!"
Confucius said, "Sit down, and I'll tell you why." There are five kinds of sins, but they do not include theft: one is introspective and sinister in nature, the second is evil but stubborn, the third is hypocritical but discerning, the fourth is bizarre and complicated, and the fifth is acknowledging and polishing mistakes. As long as a person has one of these five evils, he cannot escape the punishment of a gentleman, but Shao Zhengmao has these five evils at the same time.
Therefore, in the place where he lives, it is enough to gather a crowd, his words are enough to cover up evil, to confuse people, and he is stubborn enough to act against right and wrong, and to stand out from the crowd. This is the hero of the villain, and he must not be killed.
It was in this way that Shang Tang killed Yin Hui, King Wen killed Pan Zhi, Zhou Gongdan killed Uncle Guan, Jiang Taigong killed Hua Shi, Guan Zhong killed Fu Liyi, and Zichan killed Deng Xi and Shi Fu. These seven people, although the times are different, are equally evil in their hearts, and they cannot but be killed. The Book of Songs says, 'I am anxious and hated by a group of villains. 'If there are too many villains, it's worrying. ”）
Confucius is Lu Sikou, there are father and son lawsuits, Confucius detains him, and he does not say goodbye in March. His father asked him to stop, but Confucius gave it up. When Ji Sun heard it, he didn't say anything, and said: "It's old and bullying." Yu Yu said: For the country, filial piety must be used. Kill one person today to kill unfilial piety! ”
Ran Zi sued. Confucius sighed and said: "Woohoo! If you miss it, you will kill it, and you can kill it? If you don't teach the people, you listen to the prison and kill the innocent." If the three armies are defeated, they cannot be beheaded, and if they are not punished in prison, they cannot be punished, and the crime is not in the people's cause. The order is punished, and the thief is also. In this life, there are times, and there are no times, and there are times when there is violence, and there is no teaching and responsibility for success, and there is also abuse.
--If you have done all three, then you can be punished. The book says: 'Righteous punishment and righteous killing, don't be imminent, Yu Wei said that there is no good thing. 'Words are taught first. Therefore, the first king has shown it to the way, and the first to obey it; if not, the virtuous will take it; if not, it will not be abolished; and the people will follow the wind for three years. If the evil people do not comply, and then they are punished, the people will know that they are guilty.
The poem says: 'Master Yin, Wei Zhou, the capital of Bingguo, the Quartet is Wei, the Son of Heaven is the Son, and the people are not confused. It is said that it is to be powerful and not to try, and to punish mistakes without using it.
This is not the case in this world: if they are chaotic and their punishments are multiplied, and their people are confused and depraved, then they will be controlled, and the punishment will be complicated, and the evil will not prevail. The three-foot shore and the virtual car can not be boarded, and the mountain of a hundred feet is allowed to be climbed by the car. The wall of the number of people and the people do not step on it, the mountain of hundreds of people and the erection of Feng and the wandering, the tomb is late.
Today's tomb has been a long time, and can make the people not hesitate, the poem says: 'Zhou Tao is like a stone, and it is as straight as an arrow.' What the gentleman does, the villain sees. I took care of it and burst into tears. 'Isn't it a sorrow!'
(Confucius served as the Minister of Justice of the State of Lu.) There was a lawsuit between the father and son, and Confucius detained his son, and there has been no verdict for three months. His father asked for the lawsuit to be dropped, and Confucius released his son. When Ji Huanzi heard about this, he was very unhappy and said: "This old gentleman deceived me, he once said to me: 'To govern the country, we must use filial piety. Now, he should have killed a man to punish the unfilial son, but he let him go again. Ran Qiu told Confucius these words.
Confucius said with emotion: "Woohoo! If the monarch commits a mistake and his subordinates kill him, is it okay? If you don't educate your own people, but only judge their lawsuits, you are slaughtering the innocent." If the whole army has lost the battle, it is not permissible to kill them all, and if the prison is not properly managed, it is not permissible to inflict punishment, because the blame does not lie with the people. It is cruelty to have a lax and severe punishment of the law, it is cruelty to have a certain season when the crop grows for a certain season, and the levy of taxes is carried out from time to time, and it is tyrannical to demand success without education. These three acts are stopped, and then the punishment can be imposed.
The Book of Shang says: "Even if the punishment is used according to the principle of propriety, and the murder is carried out according to the principle of propriety, do not carry it out immediately, we are just saying that I have not done it properly." "This means that education should be carried out first.
Therefore, the ancient holy kings proclaimed the principles of governing the country to the people, and they practiced it. If it cannot be done, it is necessary to use wisdom to teach the people, and if it is not possible, it is necessary to deter the incapable to deter them.
In this way, for a maximum of three years, the people will be obedient and indoctrinated. But if the wicked do not obey, they are to be punished with punishment, so that they will know their sins.
Therefore, if the authority is serious, it can be dispensed without, and the punishment can not be implemented, and the "Book of Songs" says: "Taishi Yin, you are the cornerstone of the Zhou Dynasty." Hold the power of the country, and the whole world depends on you to maintain it. You must assist the Son of Heaven, and the people will not lose their way. That's what I'm talking about.
This is not the case in today's society. The indoctrination was chaotic, the punishments were many, and the people were confused and depraved, so they were followed by sanctions, and although the punishments were more many, they could not overcome evil. The steep slope of three feet high cannot be pulled up by an empty car, and the mountain of a hundred feet can be climbed by a large truck with a load, why? People can't climb over a wall a few feet high, but children can climb a hundred feet of high mountains to play, which is also because of the gentle slope.
Now, it has been tilted for quite a long time, can it keep people from going off the rails? The Book of Songs says: "The road is as flat as a whetstone, and straight as an arrow." It is the path of a gentleman, and the people can only look up. Looking back at the straight avenue, I couldn't help but shed tears. "Isn't that sad?)
The poem says: "Looking at the sun and the moon, I think about it." The clouds of the road are far away, and the clouds can come. ”
Zi said: "Why doesn't Yijishou come from?"
("Poem" cloud: "Looking at the sun and the moon, I miss you deeply.") The road is so far away, when will you be able to come back?" Confucius said: "If you are like-minded, even if the road is far away, can people not return to you?")
Confucius contemplated the water flowing eastward. Zigong asked Confucius: "What is the reason why a gentleman must observe the great water when he sees it?"
Confucius said: "The husband is all over all living beings and does nothing, which is like virtue." Its flow is also down, and the detention must follow its reason, which is like righteousness, and its ruins are almost inexhaustible, like the Tao. If there is a decision, it should be like a sound, and it is not afraid to go to the valley of a hundred people, and it seems to be brave. The main quantity must be flat, like the law. Profit does not seek generalization, it seems to be positive. Nao about a small reach, like a look. In order to get in and out, it is scarce, and it seems to be good. Its twists and turns will also be east, like ambition. Therefore, when you see the great water, you must observe it.
(Confucius looks at the river flowing east.) Zigong asked Confucius, "Why do you see the great water?"
Confucius said: " The flowing water, which generally nourishes all things without doing anything, is like virtue, it flows to the lower places, it twists and turns, and follows certain laws, as if it were justice, it is mighty, it flows endlessly, it is like a way, it digs a blockage, and it makes it pass, and it rushes forward, as if the echo should be the same as the original sound, even if it is not afraid of a hundred zhang deep valley, as if it is brave, it must be very flat when it is poured into the measuring device, it is like a law, it is filled with a measuring device, it does not need to be scraped with a scraper, it seems to be just, it is weak and small, it is as if it is discerning, and when all kinds of things are washed in the water, it becomes clean and delicious, as if it is good at edification, and it will inevitably go eastward a hundred times, as if the will. Therefore when a gentleman sees the great water, he must look at it. ”）
Confucius said: "I am ashamed, I am disdainful, I am ruined: the young cannot be forced to learn, the old cannot be taught, I am ashamed, go to his hometown, the king will reach, the deceased has no old words, I despise it; ”
(Confucius said, "I have things that I think are shameful, I have things that I think are despicable, and I have things that I think are dangerous.") When I was young, I couldn't study diligently, and when I was old, I thought it was a shame to have nothing to pass on. Leaving my hometown, serving the monarch, becoming an official and becoming a nobleman, and meeting a friend from the past by chance, I thought it was a despicable thing to say without nostalgia. Getting along with villains, I thought it was a dangerous thing. ”）
Confucius said: "If you go into a hill, I will go with it, and if you stop at a hill, I will be done." "If you have not learned as much as (Yueyou), you want to be a teacher.
(Confucius said, "Even if the achievement is as small as a small mound at the mouth of an ant's hole, as long as it keeps progressing, I will praise it, and even if the achievement is as big as a mountain, if the slightest progress stops, I will not approve it.") Nowadays, some people have learned very little and are complacent and want to be someone else's teacher. ”）
Confucius is suitable for Chu in the south, and he is between Chen and Cai, and he does not eat fire for seven days, and the quinoa soup does not have grits, and his disciples are all hungry.
Zilu then asked: "From the smell: for the good people to repay the blessings, for the bad people to repay the evil, now the master accumulates virtue and righteousness and beauty, the practice is long, and the hidden residence is also?"
Confucius said: "I don't know, I speak women." Women think that those who know must use evil?
The prince is more than dry, and the heart is broken! The woman thinks that the loyal person must use evil? Guan Longfeng does not see the punishment! The woman thinks that the admonisher must use evil?
Wu Zixu is not a man who does not meet the east gate of Su, and the husband is born in the deep forest, and the man is not fragrant.
The learning of a gentleman is not for the sake of understanding, for the poor but not poor, for the sake of worry and will not fade, and the heart will not be confused when he knows the blessings and misfortunes. Those who are virtuous and unscrupulous are also talented, those who do not do are people, those who do not meet are also timely, and those who are dead and alive are also killed. There are people today, but when they don't meet them, although they are virtuous, they can do what they can do? Therefore, when they meet their time, why is it difficult! Therefore, the gentleman is erudite and profound, self-cultivation and uprightness, so as to meet the time. ”
Confucius said: "I am a woman of my language." The son of the former Jin Dynasty was born in Cao, the king of Yue was born in Huiji, and the little white boss of Qi Huan was born in Ju. Those who are not hidden in their former homes do not think far, and those who do not have a wide range of ambitions;
(Confucius went south to the state of Chu, and was trapped between the states of Chen and Cai, and did not eat cooked food for seven days, did not mix a little rice in the wild vegetable soup, and the students all had hungry expressions.) Zilu asked Confucius, "I have heard that Heaven gives happiness to those who do good, and evil to those who do evil." Now that the teacher has been accumulating merits, practicing morality, and possessing all kinds of virtues, he has been doing this for a long time, so why is there such a dilemma?"
Confucius said, "If you don't know, I'll tell you." Do you think that talented people will be appointed?
Didn't Prince Bigan be disemboweled? Do you think that those who are loyal will be appointed?
Didn't Guan Longfeng be killed? Do you think that the person who admonishes will definitely be appointed?
Didn't Wu Zixu be crushed to pieces outside the city of Gusu? Whether or not he can be appreciated by the monarch depends on chance; whether or not he has virtue and ability, this is everyone's qualification; among the gentlemen, there are many people who are knowledgeable and can think deeply, but have not encountered the opportunity to be reused! From this point of view, there are many people who are not appreciated by society! Where is it just me, Kongqiu?
Moreover, the angelica grass grows in the deep mountains and old forests, not because no one appreciates it; a gentleman's study is not for the sake of nobility, but for the sake of not feeling difficult when he is embarrassed, and his will not decline when he suffers from adversity; and he understands the truth of fortune and misfortune and death and life and his mind does not waver. Whether there is virtue or talent depends on qualifications, whether to do or not to do, whether to make people's decisions, whether to get or not to be appreciated, whether to die or live, and to fate.
Nowadays, some people have not encountered opportunities, even if they are virtuous, can they make a difference? If the opportunity arises, then what difficulties are there? Therefore, a gentleman should study extensively, think far-reachingly, cultivate his mind and body, correct his conduct, and wait for the time to come. ”
Confucius said again, "Zhongyou, sit down! I'll tell you."
In the past, when the ambition of the Jin prince Chong'er to create a hegemony arose when he was trapped in the Cao State, the hegemonic heart of the Yue King Goujian was born when he was defeated by the King of Wu in Huiji Mountain, and the hegemonic heart of the Duke of Qi Huan was born when he fled to the Ju State.
Therefore, people who are not in an embarrassing situation do not think far, and those who have not escaped are not ambitious, how do you know that I can't be proud?")
Zigong view in the north hall of the Lu Temple, out of Confucius asked: "The villagers gave the view to the north hall of the Taimiao, I did not quit, but also looked back at the nine covers are all followed, was said to be evil? ”
(Zigong visited the north hall of the temple of Lu Guozong, and when he came out, he asked Confucius: "I visited the north hall of the Taimiao, and I did not stop, and when I went back to see the nine doors, they were all spliced together piece by piece of wood. Is it the carpenter's fault that broke the wood?")
Confucius said: "Of course, the north hall of the Taimiao Temple is exquisite, and the officials recruit skilled craftsmen to apply the style according to the wood, which is not because there is no good big wood, probably because of the importance of the style." ”）