Confucius contemplated the water flowing east. Zigong asked Confucius, "What is the reason why a gentleman must look at the water when he sees it?" Confucius said: "The waters of the husband are all over the world and do nothing, like virtue; his flow is also under the water, and the restraints must follow its reasoning, like righteousness; its water is not exhausted, it is like the Tao; if there is a decision to do it, it should be as loud as the sound, and its going to the valley of the hundreds of servants is not afraid, like courage; the main quantity will be flat, like the law; the surplus will not seek generalization, like righteousness; the huan will be slight, like the inspection; the in and out will be fresh, like the good; its ten thousand folds will also be east, like the will." It is the reason why when you see the great water, you must look at it.
When it comes to water, we quote a quote from the Analects: "The Son is in Kawakami: The deceased is like a sifu!" Day and night. "In this way, I feel that time has passed, and I do not take the will of man as a transfer.
The so-called wise man Leshui, in fact, Confucius's feelings about water, its connotation is very rich, "Xunzi You" records a dialogue between Confucius and Zigong, fully demonstrating the profound connotation of Confucius water culture.
Confucius stood by the river, watching the mighty river rushing eastward. Zigong walked over to Confucius and asked, "Teacher, when a gentleman sees a great river, he will definitely stop and watch, why is this?" ”
Confucius said:
"Water does not act deliberately but can universally nourish all things, which is like benevolence;
The water flows all the way down, or goes forward, or stops bending, always following the natural changes of the terrain, which is like justice;
The water is mighty and inexhaustible, it is like a king's way;
When the river embankment breaks, the water will gush out, and it will respond without hesitation as if echoing to the sound, even if it runs to the abyss, it is not afraid, it is like bravery;
Inject water into the measuring instrument, no matter the depth, its surface is always flat, which is like the law;
Fill the water with a measuring instrument, which is flat without scraping, which is like justice;
The water is soft and gentle, no matter how small the place can be deep, this is like discernment;
After washing all kinds of things in the water, they will become clean and delicious, which is like being good at education;
The water will turn a thousand times and will inevitably turn to the east, which is like the will.
Therefore, when a gentleman sees the water, he must look at it. ”
Lao Tzu said, "Goodness is like water." Water is good for all things, and is evil to all. This is almost synonymous with Confucius's "Fu Shui is all over the world and all beings are inactive" and "To go in and out to make it fresh"; Lao Tzu said, "The world is not softer than water, and the strong who attack the strong can win, and it is not easy." It is similar to what Confucius said, "About a little bit."
After describing the characteristics of water, Confucius used "like the Tao" and so on, while Lao Tzu said "a few than the Tao". It can be seen that both Lao Tzu and Confucius almost symbolized their respective props into water, although Lao Tzu's Tao is the way of nature, and Confucius's Tao is the way of the first king, but they are the highest ideals they pursue.
It can also be said that Lao Tzu used water as a metaphor for the Tao of Heaven, while Confucius used water as an analogy for humanity.
In Confucius's view, water has the qualities of benevolence, justice, royalty, bravery, dharma, justice, discernment, good teaching, and will, and this is not the ideal saint? Therefore, when a gentleman sees water, he must be inspired by it, how to imitate the flowing water and strive to become a perfect person.
From this, we can also summarize the image of the saint and gentleman in Confucius's heart: advocating the way of the first king, abiding by morality, observing etiquette, benevolence, wisdom and courage, modest behavior and strong heart, good at educating the people.
The Five Elements Theory holds that the heavens are born of water, the earth is 60%, and water is the mother of life, creating all things.
In short, water occupies a very important position in the Chinese national culture, symbolizing the Chinese nation's spirit of conforming to nature, gentle and elegant and indomitable.