Preface
The story of Confucius begins with a loud cry.
He was born on September 28, 551 B.C., into a noble family in Qufu, Shandong. His father's uncle Liang Su is 67 years old, and his mother Yan Zheng is only 18 years old.
The age gap between father and son is huge, but this does not prevent Confucius from becoming a star of hope in the family.
Childhood dilemmas: the loss and gain of aristocracy
However, the sky is unpredictable. When Confucius was 3 years old, his father, Liang Su, died.
Mother Yan Zheng is just a concubine and has no status. She left Confucius's house with her and moved to a place called "Queli" in Qufu. Life here is hard, and mother and son depend on each other for their lives.
In order to make a living, Confucius learned all kinds of odd jobs from an early age, and his mother made a living by sewing and washing clothes.
Despite the hardships of life, Yan Zhengzai's expectations for Confucius never diminished. She is smart and strong, and she is not willing to let her son be subservient.
She asked Confucius to learn the "six arts" early, that is, etiquette, music, archery, royalty, calligraphy, and mathematics. These are all skills that the children of the nobility must learn. Confucius was gifted and learned quickly. What others learn in five days, he can master in two days.
When he was six years old, he begged his mother to teach him how to read and write, and he learned 600 Chinese characters in a month.
Confucius was not only a quick learner, but also liked to imitate the manners of adults. When he and his friends play games, they often fiddle with various ritual utensils and imitate the movements of sacrifices, and the process and details are very realistic.
This kind of imitation was rare at the time, and Confucius's ingenuity soon spread far and wide, and everyone regarded him as a prodigy.
But life is not all smooth sailing. Although Confucius showed amazing talent, his position in the clan was very awkward. Because his mother was a concubine, Confucius was not recognized in the family.
Having lost the protection of his aristocratic status, he can only rely on his own efforts and talents to gain recognition.
"Scholars must be Hongyi, and there is a long way to go." Confucius understood this truth from an early age. Instead of being knocked down by the adversity, he studied harder.
Not only did he learn the "Six Arts", but he also tried to maintain his aristocratic demeanor by imitating aristocratic etiquette. With his ingenuity and perseverance, he gradually won everyone's recognition.
Although Confucius's childhood was full of difficulties, it was these difficult experiences that shaped his strong character and outstanding talent.
As he himself said: "If you are a threesome, you must have my teacher." Confucius never gave up any opportunity to learn, and he could learn from everyone, which is an important reason why he later became the "Most Holy Teacher".
Learning and excellence: the ups and downs and persistence of the career
As a young man, Confucius was gifted and learned, and he was determined to use his knowledge and wisdom to change society. At the age of 17, Confucius's mother, Yan Zhengzai, died.
He kept filial piety at his mother's grave for three years, and his heart was full of nostalgia for his mother and longing for the future. At the age of 19, he followed the etiquette, married his wife, and began a family life. The young Confucius continued his education while taking care of his family.
Soon, Confucius was given the opportunity to serve in the state of Lu. As a fledgling, he was assigned to an obscure position, managing warehouses and livestock. Although these tasks were trivial, Confucius was meticulous and dedicated to his work.
Every day, he wakes up early to check the amount of grain in the warehouse to ensure the health of the livestock and the correct quantity. Even if he was meager, Confucius never complained. He believes that as long as you work hard, you will be reused one day.
Once, Lu Zhaogong rewarded Confucius with a large carp. This was a very high honor at the time, and Confucius's heart was full of hope. He thought that this was Lu Zhaogong's recognition of his work, and there would be greater development opportunities in the future.
However, this is not the case. Although Confucius managed the warehouses and livestock in an orderly manner, he was not reused further. Confucius realized that if he wanted to realize his ideals, he still needed more effort and accumulation.
Time flies, and Confucius is already 35 years old. In his career, he still hasn't made much progress. At this time, Lu Zhaogong was forced to go into exile because of the political turmoil.
The political environment in Lu was chaotic, and Confucius's career was even more difficult. Faced with such a situation, Confucius was not discouraged. He decided to switch to running a school and train more talents. Confucius's private education soon attracted a large number of students, and the economic problems were alleviated.
Confucius's private education flourished, and his students spread all over the country, and his influence gradually expanded. However, family life did not go well. Due to the long rush and busy teaching, Confucius's relationship with his wife became strained.
His wife was disappointed that he had not been able to achieve anything in his career and eventually chose to separate from him. Middle-aged divorce was a major blow to Confucius. In the midst of suffering, Confucius reflected on his own life and pursuits, and strengthened his belief that he could change society through education and learning.
At the age of 50, Confucius returned to his official career and assumed the position of Zhongdu Zai. This appointment gave him the opportunity to carry out his political ambitions. He governed the locality, promoted etiquette and moral government, and achieved certain results.
However, the improvement in career did not last long. The political turmoil and power struggle frustrated Confucius's ideals again.
Despite the ups and downs in his career, Confucius never gave up on his beliefs. He has always insisted on educating and disseminating his ideas, hoping to change society through indoctrination and influence.
The story of Confucius tells us that no matter how many setbacks we encounter, as long as we have faith in our hearts and do it in a down-to-earth manner, we can always leave our mark in the long river of history.
Traveling around the world: the collision of ideal and reality
When Confucius was 55 years old, he decided to leave Lu with his disciples and began to travel around the world. His ideal was to find a monarch who was willing to accept and implement his political ideas and moral ideals.
Confucius's heart was full of hope and faith, believing that his knowledge and wisdom would definitely change this era of decay.
Confucius's first stop was to defend the country. He led his disciples on the dusty road, his heart full of anticipation. When he arrived in Weiguo, he met Wei Linggong.
The two had a pleasant conversation, and Confucius elaborated on his political ideas and moral ideas. Wei Linggong was very appreciative of Confucius's learning, but did not reuse him. Confucius and his disciples lived in Weiguo for a time and continued to spread his ideas.
Then, Confucius came to the Song Kingdom. The political environment of the Song Kingdom at that time was complicated, and Confucius hoped to find an opportunity to develop his ambitions here.
The rulers of the Song state were not interested in Confucius's ideas. Confucius's life in the Song Kingdom was not smooth, and he and his disciples lectured in a pine forest, and their life was very difficult.
Once, Sima Niu, a doctor in the Song Kingdom, heard that Confucius was there and came to visit. The two had a long talk, and Sima Niu sighed: "The way of the master is unrivaled in the world!" ”
Confucius also went to the state of Qi. The state of Qi was a powerful country at that time, and Confucius had high hopes for it. He had many talks with Qi Jinggong, who also expressed his willingness to adopt Confucius's advice.
Qi Jinggong
Confucius lived in the state of Qi for a while, and there were even rumors that the Duke of Qi Jinggong was going to appoint Confucius as an official. However, the powerful ministers of Qi felt threatened by Confucius's influence, and eventually Qi Jinggong abandoned his plan to appoint Confucius. Confucius and his disciples had to embark on the journey again.
During his fourteen years of roaming, Confucius's footprints were all over Puyang, Shangqiu, Xiayi and other places. Everywhere he went, he was full of hope, only to be disappointed. With the hegemony of various countries and the turbulent political environment, Confucius's ideals seem so small in the face of reality. In the dead of night, he often wondered, "Why is no one willing to hear my teachings?" Why can't my dreams come true? ”
Once, Confucius and his disciples traveled to the Yellow River. Looking at the surging Yellow River, Confucius felt a lot of emotion in his heart. He said to his disciples, "Wonderful! The water is oceanic, the hill is not good, and the life is also a husband! When the disciples heard this, they all felt sad.
Although Confucius was full of ambitions, he could not be used in reality. The Yellow River is endless, just like Confucius's ideals, which are lofty but difficult to realize.
The experience of traveling around the world was not only a turning point in Confucius's political career, but also an important stage in the in-depth development of his thought.
During his long journey, Confucius constantly reflected and summarized, and gradually formed his own philosophical system. His scholarship is no longer limited to political ideas, but extends to all aspects of society, ethics, and education.
Although Confucius failed to realize his political ambitions during his travels around the world, this experience provided him with a wealth of experience and insight. His disciples were also trained during this period and gradually grew into pillars of their respective fields.
Although Confucius's ideas were not widely recognized at the time, they gradually became an important part of Chinese culture in later history.
The tragedy of later life: the pain of losing a child and the inheritance of ideas
When Confucius was 68 years old, he returned to Lu after 14 years of traveling around the world. At this moment, he wanted to enjoy his old age in his hometown, but fate played a big joke on him.
As soon as he returned to the state of Lu, Confucius learned that his only son, Kong Li, was seriously ill. Confucius was so anxious that he immediately rushed home.
Kong Li's condition was so serious that the doctors were helpless. Confucius stood by his son's bedside day and night, and the pain in his heart was indescribable.
His disciple Zilu persuaded him, "Master, take care of your health. Confucius shook his head, his eyes full of tears: "Zilu, I have educated everyone in my life, but I can't even save my own son." ”
Soon after, Kong Li died. Confucius hugged his son's body, tears in his eyes. The white-haired person sends the black-haired person, this heart-wrenching feeling can only be understood by those who have experienced it.
Confucius seemed to age ten years overnight, and the grief in his heart was indescribable. The disciples were silently crying beside them, not knowing how to comfort the teacher.
In the midst of this great grief, the only thing that gave Confucius some comfort was the two children left behind by Kong Li. Confucius's grandson, Kong Ling (Zi Si), was smart and studious, and was deeply loved by Confucius.
Confucius often taught his grandchildren knowledge and teachings, hoping that they would inherit the bloodline and ideas of the Confucian family.
In the last years of his life, Confucius devoted more attention to organizing cultural texts and educating students.
He compiled classics such as "Poems", "Books", "Rites", "Yi", and "Spring and Autumn", which laid the foundation of Chinese culture in later generations. Confucius also served as a state adviser and contributed his last wisdom to the politics of the state of Lu.
In his later years, Confucius left behind many words of wisdom that condensed his life's experiences and insights. Once, his disciples asked him, "Master, what is your greatest insight into life?" Confucius pondered for a moment and said, "Those who know are happy with water, and those who are benevolent are happy with mountains." Those who know move, and those who are benevolent are quiet. Those who know are happy, and those who are benevolent are long. ”
This sentence has become a classic praised by later generations, and Confucius expressed his deep understanding of life, ideals, and reality through this sentence.
Although Confucius's later years were full of tragedy and suffering, he never gave up his dedication to education and cultural inheritance. This spirit deeply influenced his disciples and left a valuable legacy for future generations.
The story of Confucius teaches us to persevere in our beliefs and to constantly pursue truth and wisdom even in the most difficult moments.
Everyone is welcome to share their views and insights in the comment area, like and forward this article, so that more people can understand the story and wisdom of Confucius.
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