September 28, 2021, is the 2572nd anniversary of the birth of Confucius.
Looking at the life of this sage more than 2500 years ago, you will find that in fact, Confucius did not have any earth-shattering great cause;
But he taught by example and speech, opening the most influential Confucian school in Chinese history and becoming the greatest "Most Holy Teacher" in Chinese history.
Therefore, we have reason to commemorate him well, and it is even more necessary to learn from him and see the wisdom of Confucius.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="10" >1 Less is also cheap, more despicable</h1>
Confucius, Mingqiu, Zi Zhongni, born in 551 BC, at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the decline of Zhou History, the collapse of Lile, and the imminent cessation of cultural traditions.
Confucius's ancestors were the Song dynasty (descendants of the Yin Dynasty) and later moved to the state of Lu to settle down.
He was born in the Lu state of Yiyi (鄹邑, in present-day Nishan, near present-day Qufu, Shandong), and died when he was three years old when his uncle Liang Qi died;
He was raised by his mother Yan Zhengzai, received the education of ordinary rural children, and ended at the age of fifteen, and then decided to study on his own, and finally became known for his erudition.
When Confucius was seventeen, his mother died.
At the age of twenty, he married the Qiguan clan (宋国人) and gave birth to a son, Kong Carp, the following year.
Confucius's occupations included commissioning (managing warehouses), chengtian (managing pastures), and assisting funerals (undertaking funerals).
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="158" >2 Know the Mandate of Heaven and travel around the world</h1>
Around the age of thirty, students sought advice and followed him, forming a unique group of teachers and students, with the goal of teaching morality and governing the country and the people.
Confucius is tireless and tireless, and learning and insight gradually become systematic;
At the age of forty, he can "not be confused", and at the age of fifty, he has reached "knowing the destiny of heaven" and understands that his natural mission is to inherit the cultural Taoism.
From the age of fifty-one to fifty-five, Confucius engaged in politics in the state of Lu, and successively served as Zhongdu Zai (county magistrate), Xiao Sikong (deputy chief of the engineering department), and Si Kou (chief of the judicial department), ranking as a doctor and achieving outstanding political achievements.
However, due to the political disagreement with those in power, and dissatisfaction with Lu Dinggong's indulgence in beauty and so on, he finally left his post and left his hometown and began to travel around the world.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="159" >3 knows it can't be done</h1>
This is fourteen years, traversing the countries of Wei, Cao, Song, Zheng, Chen, and Cai, and promoting indoctrination;
Knowing that it could not be done, it even faced the danger of life twice.
At the age of sixty-eight, the new ruler of the State of Lu officially summoned him to return to China.
At the age of seventy, his only son, Kong Carp, died.
At the age of seventy-one, his favorite disciple Yan Yuan died.
At the age of seventy-two, the faithful student Zilu died.
At the age of seventy-three, Confucius died.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="160" >4 What is the wisdom of Confucius? </h1>
Looking at Confucius's life, in fact, there is no earth-shattering great cause;
However, he opened the most influential Confucian school in Chinese history with example and speech, and became the greatest "Most Holy Ancestor" in two thousand years.
What is the wisdom of Confucius?
The first is "sincerity".
If one is sincere, one will be able to perceive that there is a self-demanding force in one's heart and expect oneself to do good.
The so-called "doing good" refers to the effort to achieve "proper relationships between people", that is, to include the five luns of ancient times and the complex and diverse interpersonal relationships of today.
The social care triggered by sincerity will change from near and far as the role of the individual changes, and its highest goal is the ambition narrated by Confucius himself: "The old man is safe, the friend believes, and the little one cherishes it." ”
This seemingly impossible task reflects the highest value of human life. As long as you are sure that you are moving towards this goal, you can naturally feel at ease.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="161" >5 Why did Confucius emphasize learning? </h1>
Second, Confucius attached great importance to knowledge and education, giving rational thinking a high evaluation.
He aspired to be very studious and persevered all his life.
He said, "In the ten chambers, there will be those who are as faithful as qiu, and they are not as good as qiu zhi to learn." "(Analects of Gongsun Chang) Where there are ten families, there must be people who are as faithful as I am, but they are not as studious as I am.
In fact, on what basis did he decide? It is because he reads and studies all the time.
He said, "If you are a threesome, you will have my teacher." ”
A person living in the world, as long as his ears are clear and his heart is open, then the whole universe and mankind can be his teacher.
In the end, such a person is often the most outstanding, because he has received the strength of all goodness, just like all rivers converge into the rivers and seas, which is what Confucius aspired to learn.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="162" >6 Eager to learn, think deeply and practice</h1>
Confucius's learning has three characteristics:
First, learn traditions.
Traditions include the Five Classics of Poetry, Book, Yi, Ritual, and Music.
Poetry refers to literature, books refer to history, easy refers to philosophy, etiquette is social norms, and music is artistic accomplishment;
In addition, there are six arts, namely "ritual, music, shooting, imperial court, book, and number".
Etiquette is etiquette, music is music, archery is archery, royalty is driving, and books and numbers are skills such as writing and calculation.
At that time, as long as people met these six conditions, they could gain a foothold in society.
Confucius not only learned the crystallization of traditional wisdom, but also acquired traditional skills, and by the time he was thirty years old, he had already shown himself as a model of talent.
Second, pay equal attention to learning and thinking.
Confucius knew that it was not enough to rely on study alone, but also to think, otherwise blindly accepting foreign materials and information, without a central idea to unify, it would inevitably lead to chaos.
He said: "To learn without thinking is to be reckless, and to think without learning is to perish." (Analects for Government)
Just learn without thinking, and in the end there is no experience, and learn in vain;
Conversely, if you only think about your own life experience and do not study, you will be confused.
If nothing else, you will not be able to figure it out just because of the retribution of good and evil.
Third, pay equal attention to learning and practice.
Confucius's learning is not just a theory, but also a moral practice.
Confucius said: "A gentleman who eats without food and does not seek security, who is sensitive to things and cautious in his words, has the way and is righteous, and can be said to be eager to learn." (Analects of Learning)
That is to say, "eager to learn" must first reduce the desire for material enjoyment, and secondly, we must hone ourselves in words and deeds, and then humbly ask for benefits from good teachers to make ourselves on the right path.
In addition, Confucius also said: "A disciple is filial when he enters, a disciple is a disciple when he goes out, he is sincere and faithful, he loves the people, and he is kind." If there is room for action, then learn the literature. (Analects of Learning)
Do what you should do carefully, have more than enough to do, and then try to learn the knowledge in books.
Once Lu Aigong asked him, among your so many students, who is the most "studious"?
Confucius said that only one student, Yan Yuan, was studious, but unfortunately had passed away.
Why is only Yan Yuan eager to learn?
Because Yan Yuan "does not move his anger, does not pass the past." This is an expression of moral practice, and it also shows that studiousness is related to concrete action.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="163" >7 Heli liren, hedada people</h1>
Confucius aspired to learn, not to be alone, but to "establish oneself and attain one's own achievements."
Therefore, after he "does not get tired of learning", he must also "teach tirelessly";
Teaching from learning and being a role model for others has opened a precedent for civilian education.
He has no class, three thousand disciples, and seventy-two sages.
These people each achieved achievements in virtue, speech, political affairs, and literature, and became the backbone of the intellectual class at that time;
It converged into the Confucian school, influencing all aspects of Chinese life to this day.