During the Spring and Autumn Period, the gentry class rose and actively participated in social reality. The duty of the gentry is to play a moral role, uphold justice, assist the wise monarch, bring peace and stability to the country, and restrict the excessive debauchery and cruelty of the ruling class at that time. It was the most active class in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The educational goal of Confucius' training disciples is scholars, not specific production technicians. Therefore, Fan Chi must learn the techniques of farming and growing vegetables and fruits, and Confucius will certainly answer this question.
Moreover, what Confucius said may be true. Of course, Confucius is not as good as the old farmer and the old nursery in agriculture and forestry technology. As for the discussion behind Confucius, it is also based on his training goal and should not be criticized.
Moreover, in the Analects of Confucius, the "villain" in some places refers to moral criticism, and in some places refers to ordinary people. There is a slight derogatory meaning here, which means hating iron and not turning into steel. China has always been a natural economy and has a self-sufficient view. From Mencius' criticism of peasant families, we can see that Mohism basically holds this view. But from the perspective of social division of labor, Confucius' remarks obviously advocated social division of labor.
Extended source text
Fan Chi invited me to study crops. Confucius said, "I am not as good as an old farmer." Please learn to be a nursery. He said, "I am not as good as an old nursery."
Fan Chi is out. Confucius said, "Little man, Xu Fan! If you give a good gift, the people will not dare to be disrespectful; If you are just, then the people dare not refuse; If you keep your word, the people will not dare to be ungrateful. If your husband is like this, people from all directions will not bring their children. How can you use crops? "
translate
Fan Chi asked his teacher about farming techniques, and Confucius said, "I am not as good as an old farmer." He also asked about planting vegetables and flowers, and Confucius said, "Then I am not as good as an old fruit farmer and an old vegetable farmer."
Fan Chi is out. Confucius said, "Xu Fan is really a hopeless man. If you love etiquette, no one among the people dares to disrespect. " If the ruler loves justice, then no one dares to defy spirit; If the ruler loves credit, then no one among the people dares to tell the truth and the truth. If so, people all over the world will come to you with their children on their backs. Where do you need to farm? "
To annotate ...
Learn farming techniques. Farming, farming and harvesting. Generally refers to agricultural labor. [Embrace the child] Embrace the child in its infancy.
References:
Baidu Encyclopedia-Fan Chi's Problem