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The Analects of Confucius and Yan Yuan's Detailed Explanation
original text

12 1 Yan Ren. Confucius said: "Self-denial and self-surrender (1) is benevolence. A day of self-denial and self-denial, the world returns to benevolence (2). For benevolence, for yourself, for people? " Yan Yuan said, "What is the purpose?" Confucius said, "see no evil, don't listen to evil, don't say evil, and don't move if you are evil." Yan Yuan said, "Although I am not sensitive, please speak English."

To annotate ...

(1) Self-denial: self-denial, self-restraint. Respond to courtesy and make your words and deeds conform to the requirements of courtesy.

(2) returning to benevolence: returning to the position and surrendering. Benevolence means benevolence.

(3) purpose: specific items. The purpose is contrary to the outline.

(4) Things: Just do it and follow it.

translate

Yan Yuan asked how to be kind. Confucius said, "Restrain yourself and do everything according to the requirements of etiquette. This is benevolence. Once this is done, everything in the world will be kind. The practice of benevolence is entirely in oneself, but is it still in others? " Yan Yuan said, "Excuse me, the entrance of benevolence." Confucius said, "Don't look at people who don't know manners, don't listen to people who don't know manners, don't say people who don't know manners, and don't be people who don't know manners." Yan Yuan said, "I am stupid, but I still do as you say."

Comment and analysis

"Self-denial is benevolence", which is the main explanation of Confucius about what benevolence is. Here, Confucius stipulated benevolence by courtesy, and it is the fundamental requirement of benevolence to act according to etiquette. Therefore, courtesy is based on benevolence and maintained by benevolence. Benevolence is inside, courtesy is outside, and the two are closely combined. There are actually two aspects here, one is self-denial and the other is reciprocity. Self-denial means consciously observing etiquette rules through people's moral cultivation. This is the core content of Confucius' thought, which runs through The Analects.

original text

12.2. Confucius said, "Going out to see distinguished guests makes people like big sacrifices (1); Do to others what you don't want them to do to you; The state has no complaints, and the family has no complaints (2). " Zhong Gong said, "Yong Min, please talk to me."

To annotate ...

(1) Go out as a distinguished guest and make the people like a big sacrifice: Go out to do business and serve the people, and be as respectful and serious as welcoming distinguished guests and holding a big sacrifice.

(2) The country has no complaints, and the family has no complaints: the country ruled by princes. Home, the fief ruled by doctor Qing.

translate

Zhong Gong asked how to be good. Confucius said, "Going out for business is like receiving a distinguished guest, and giving orders is like making a great sacrifice." . Don't impose what you don't want on others; No one resents (himself) in the court of the vassal; No one hates being in Dr. Qing's fief. "Zhong Gong said," Although I am stupid, I will do as you say. "

Comment and analysis

This is a passage about "benevolence" written by Confucius to his student Zhong Gong. He talked about two contents of "benevolence". One is to ask his students to do things seriously, and the other is to be lenient with others, "don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you." Only by doing these two things can we take a big step towards benevolence. "Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you" has become the creed followed by later generations.

original text

12.3 Sima Niu (1) asked Ren. Confucius said, "Benevolent words are also false (2)." Yue: "His words are also false. Think (3) that his benevolence is gone?" Confucius said, "Why is it so difficult?"

To annotate ...

(1) Sima Niu: surnamed Sima minggeng, a student of Confucius.

(2) Hey, it's hard to say. It means be careful what you say.

(3) study: just.

translate

Sima Niu asked how to be kind. Confucius said, "Benevolent people are cautious." Sima Niu said, "Be careful what you say. Is this called benevolence? " Confucius said, "It's very difficult. Can you say it casually? "

Comment and analysis

"What he said is also true" is one of Confucius' requirements for the benevolent. "Benevolent people" must be cautious in words and deeds, serious in actions, and in line with Zhou Zhili. Therefore, the "faith" here is for the "benevolence", and for the sake of "benevolence", it is necessary to "believe".

original text

12.4 Sima Niu asked the gentleman. Confucius said, "A gentleman is not worried or afraid." He said, "If you are not worried or afraid, are you a gentleman?" Confucius said, "If you don't feel guilty after introspection, why are you worried?"

translate

Sima Niu asked how to be a gentleman. Confucius said, "A gentleman is not worried or afraid." Sima Niu said, "Don't worry, don't be afraid, so you can be called a gentleman?" Confucius said, "If you have a clear conscience, what is there to worry about?" original text

12.5 Sima Niu said sadly, "Everyone has brothers, and I died alone." Xia Zi said: "Businessmen have all heard:' Life and death have a life, and wealth is in the sky.' A gentleman treats others with courtesy, and all men are brothers within the four seas. Why don't gentlemen have brothers? "

translate

Sima Niu said sadly, "Everyone else has brothers, but I don't." Xia Zi said: "I have heard:' Life and death have a life, and wealth is in the sky.' As long as a gentleman takes what he has done seriously, does not make mistakes, respects others and conforms to the rules of etiquette and righteousness, then everyone in the world is his brother. Why should a gentleman have no brothers? "

Comment and analysis

As mentioned in the previous chapter, Sima Niu Xuanbu did not recognize Huan Xuan as his younger brother, which was contrary to the concept of Xun advocated by Confucianism. But because his younger brother was guilty of insurrection, Confucius did not blame him, but advised him not to be sad or afraid. As long as he had a clear conscience, he was a "benevolent man". In this chapter, Xia Zi also encourages Sima Niu, saying that as long as his words and deeds are in line with the "ceremony", he will win the praise of everyone in the world, and don't worry that he has no brothers, "all brothers are also within the four seas."

original text

12.6 Zhang Zi Wenming. Confucius said, "It is clear enough that it can be soaked (1) and absorbed by the skin (2). Immersion, the skin is affected by it, is also not acceptable. It can be said that it is far 3. "

To annotate ...

(1) embellishment: the "zèn" sound that permeates like water bit by bit is not easy to detect.

(2) Suffering from skin pain: It sounds like a false accusation that the skin feels pain, that is, direct slander.

(3) farsightedness: the highest state of wisdom.

translate

Zhang Zi asked what is wise to do. Confucius said, "You can be wise to secretly provoke evil things like moist things and directly slander evil things like the pain of flesh and blood, which will not work for you." You can't provoke bad words and direct slander in the dark, so you can have a vision. "

original text

12.7 Zigong asked about politics. Confucius said, "Food and soldiers are sufficient, and the people believe in it." Zi Gong said, "I have to go, which comes first?" He said, "Go and be a soldier." Zi Gong said, "If you have to leave, which one will come first?" Say, "Go and eat. There has been death since ancient times, and the people have no faith. "

translate

Zi Gong asked how to govern the country. Confucius said, "The people believe in the rulers because there is enough grain." Zi Gong said, "If you have to remove one item, which of the three items should you remove first?" Confucius said, "Apart from armaments." Zi Gong said, "If one item must be removed, which of these two items should be removed?" Confucius said, "In addition to grain. Since ancient times, people have always died. If the people don't trust the rulers, then the country cannot exist. "

Comment and analysis

In this chapter, Confucius answered three questions raised by Zi Gong in his Political Inquiry. Confucius believes that to govern a country, at least three conditions must be met: food, soldiers and trust. But of the three, faith is the most important. This embodies the humanistic thought of Confucianism. Only soldiers and food, the people don't trust the rulers, then such a country can't exist.

original text

12.8 Ji Zicheng (1) said: "It's just the quality of a gentleman. Why write? " Zigong said, "Sorry, the master said gentleman! I can't reach my tongue. The quality of words is still good, and the quality is still good. It is the stirrup of tigers and leopards, and the stirrup of dogs and sheep. "

To annotate ...

(1) Ji Zicheng: Doctor Wei Guo. Ancient doctors can be called masters, so Zi Gong called him that.

(2) can't talk: once you say it, you can't take it back. Four horses are pulling a car.

(3) Rubidium: kuò, removing fur and skin, that is, leather.

translate

Ji Zicheng said: "A gentleman only needs good qualities. What do you want with those superficial rituals? " Zi Gong said, "Master, it's a pity that you talk about gentlemen like this. A word spoken is past recalling. Essence is like literary talent, and literary talent is like essence, both of which are equally important. A tiger and leopard with hair removed is just like a dog's sheepskin with hair removed. "

Comment and analysis

Here is the problem of appearance consistency. Ji Zicheng believes that as a gentleman, as long as his quality is good, he does not need external literary talent. But Zi Gong objected to this statement. What he means is that a good essence should be properly expressed, otherwise, no matter how good the essence is, it can't be displayed.

original text

12.9 Aigong asked Yu, "What if you are hungry this year?" If yes, yes: "Is it (1)?" Yue: "Two (two), I am not enough, so how thorough am I?" He said: "People's foot is a monarch, or is it insufficient?" If the people are insufficient, are you enough? "

To annotate ...

(1) Damn it: Damn it, why not. Che, a land tax system in the slave-owning countries of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The old note said, "How much is the tax?"

(2) Two: Withdraw two-tenths of the tax.

translate

Lu Aigong asked if you ever said, "What if there is a famine and the country has difficulty spending money?" If someone answers, "Why not implement a thorough law and only charge one-tenth of the land tax?" Ai justice: "I don't draw two tenths now." How can I implement a thorough law? " If someone says, "If people have enough money, how can you not have enough?" ? If people don't spend enough, how can you do it? "

Comment and analysis

This chapter reflects the Confucian economic thought, the core of which is the thought of "enriching the people". Land tax levied by the land, the tax rate is two ten thousandths. Even so, the national finance is still very tight. There are some views here that the land tax rate should be reduced and changed to "full tax", that is, the tithe tax rate, in order to reduce the economic burden of the people. As long as the people are rich, the country cannot be poor. On the other hand, if people are overcharged, this short-term behavior will surely make people miserable and the national economy will decline. This kind of economic thought with "enriching the people" as the core has its worth learning. original text

12 10 Zhang Wenzhong (1) Discrimination (2) Confucius said: "The main belief is verb meaning (3), and the morality is respected. Love wants to live, and evil wants to die. It's confusing to want to live and die. Sincerity is not rich, only different (4). "

To annotate ...

(1) Chongde: Improve the level of moral cultivation.

(2) Confusion: Confusion, regardless of right or wrong.

(3) meaning of migration: migration, migration. Move closer to righteousness.

(4) Honesty is not rich, only difference: only sound zh: These are the last two sentences of The Book of Songs, Xiaoya, going its own way. This poem shows an abandoned woman's anger at her husband who likes the new and hates the old. Confucius quoted this sentence here, which is puzzling.

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Zhang Zi asked how to improve the level of moral cultivation and the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Confucius said: "To keep faith and make one's thoughts conform to righteousness is to improve the level of moral cultivation. If you love someone, you want him to live; if you hate him, you want him to die at once. This is chaos. (As the poem says:)' Even if you don't love the poor and the rich, you love the new and hate the old.' "

Comment and analysis

In this chapter, Confucius mainly talks about personal moral cultivation. He hopes that people will act according to the principles of "thinking" and "benevolence", otherwise, they will be confused when they have emotions.

original text

Qi Jinggong asked Confucius about politics. Confucius said to him, "Jun Jun, minister, father and son." Gong said, "Good! I believe that there is no monarch, no minister, no father, no son. Although there is millet, I will eat it. "

translate

Qi Jinggong asked Confucius about politics. Confucius said, "A monarch should be like a monarch, a minister should be like a minister, a father should be like a father, and a son should be like a son." Qi Jinggong said, "Well said! A monarch is not like a monarch, a minister is not like a minister, a father is not like a father, and a son is not like a son. Can I eat more food? "

original text

12 12 Confucius said, "If Pianyan (1) can be commuted to prison (2), what is the reason?" Luz Usuno (4).

To annotate ...

(1) A single word: the words of one party to a lawsuit, that is, one-sided words, were also called "single words" in ancient times.

(2) Folding prisons: prisons, cases. That's what happens when you break a prison.

(3) Its etiology is also related to: probably only secondary etiology.

(4) Suno: Stay for a long time. A promise that has not been fulfilled for a long time.

translate

Confucius said, "You can judge a case only by listening to a unilateral confession, probably only by the cause." Lutz never breaks his word.

Comment and analysis

Zhong You can "escape from prison" by "talking". Why? There have always been several explanations. As soon as the road is clear, the statement of coupons can be judged; Second, Lutz is a honest man, and people are very convinced of him, so when there is a dispute, they will not tell lies in front of him, and they can distinguish right from wrong with one side of the story; Third, Lutz is loyal, and what he said is absolutely true, so you can just listen to one side of the story.

However, no matter which explanation, it can prove that Lutz is brilliant in prison.

original text

12. 13 Confucius said, "I'm still a human being when I hear the lawsuit (1). This will also make no litigation ②! "

To annotate ...

(1) hearing: hearing litigation cases.

(2) No litigation: there is no litigation between people.

translate

Confucius said: "I am the same as others in trying litigation cases." The important thing is that the situation of litigation must not happen! "the original

Zhang Zi asked about politics. Confucius said, "Live tirelessly and act faithfully."

translate

Zhang Zi asked how to manage political affairs. Confucius said, "You can't slack off in your official position. You keep your word."

Comment and analysis

The above two chapters are all about how to be an official in politics. By answering questions, Confucius pointed out that rulers at all levels should be diligent and love the people, demand themselves by the rules of benevolent government, govern the country and the people by the principle of courtesy and righteousness, eliminate civil litigation disputes through enlightenment, and strive to carry out the monarch's orders, so as to be a good official.

original text

12 15 Confucius said: "If you know something, you can make a gift or be a husband!"

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Confucius said, "If you study extensively and obey the law, you won't go astray!"

original text

12 16 Confucius said: "The beauty of a gentleman as an adult is not the evil of an adult. The villain is the opposite. "

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Confucius said, "A gentleman achieves the goodness of others, but does not encourage the evil of others. The villain is the opposite. "

Comment and analysis

The "beauty of adults is not evil of adults" mentioned in this chapter runs through the consistent thought of Confucianism, that is, the spirit of "if you want to establish yourself, you will become yourself" and "don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you".

original text

12 17 Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about politics. Confucius said to him, "Politicians are right. Zi Shuai is right, who dares to be wrong? "

translate

Ji Kangzi asked Confucius how to govern the country. Confucius said, "Politics is justice. You take the lead in taking the right path, who dares not to take the right path? "

Comment and analysis

Whether you are a man or an official, the first word is "positive". In Confucius' political thought, the requirements for officials are very strict, and the right person should correct himself first. As long as people in official positions can be upright, then ministers and ordinary people under their command will return to the right path.

original text

12 18 Ji Kangzi was robbed and asked Confucius. Confucius said to him, "If you don't want me, you won't steal."

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Ji Kangzi was worried about being stolen and asked Confucius what to do. Confucius said, "If you are not greedy for money, even if you reward thieves, no one will steal."

Comment and analysis

This chapter is also what Confucius said about being an official in politics. He still explained that politicians should correct others before correcting themselves. He hoped that politicians would infect the people with their own virtues, which showed his tendency to advocate political moralization. The same is true of managing social problems. He didn't ask Ji Kangzi to punish theft with heavy punishment, but advocated educating people with rule of virtue to avoid crime.

original text

12. 19 Ji Kangzi asked Confucius about politics: "If there is no way to kill (1), there must be a way (2). What? " Confucius said to him, "Why did an official kill his son? Children are better and people are better. The virtue of a gentleman, the virtue of a villain, and the wind on the grass will be suppressed. "

To annotate ...

(1) No way: refers to people who have no way.

(2) Youdao: refers to a person with Youdao.

(3) Wind on the grass: refers to the wind on the grass.

(4) hold back: servant, pour.

translate

Ji Kangzi asked Confucius how to govern the country, saying, "How about killing people who have no way and making people who have a way?" Confucius said, "Where do politicians need to kill people?" ? As long as you want to do good, people will follow suit. The incumbent is as virtuous as the wind, and the world is as virtuous as grass. When the wind blows on the grass, it will definitely fall off. "

Comment and analysis

Confucius opposed killing and advocated "moral politics". As long as people at the top are good at managing political affairs, the people will not make the mistake of uprising. The rule of man mentioned here is what people with benevolence do. Those tyrannical rulers are bound to arouse people's opposition.

original text

Zhang Zi of 12.20 asked, "How can a scholar be so good?" Confucius said, "Why are you an honorable person?" Zhang Zi said to him, "You must smell it in the country, but you must smell it at home." Confucius said, "It's smell, not faith. Generous people, straightforward and honest, sense words and sense emotions, consider the following people (3). In bombida, you must get home. When the husband hears about it, he takes benevolence as color and does the opposite, without doubt. You must smell it in the state and at home. "

To annotate ...

(1) reach: contact, insight.

(2) Smell: long-standing reputation.

(3) Subordinate: Subordinate, verb. Be polite to others.

translate

Zhang Zi asked, "How can a scholar be called savvy?" Confucius said, "What do you mean by knowing?" Zhang Zi replied: "The monarch's court and the doctor's fief should be prestigious." Confucius said: "This is just a hollow name, not understanding. The so-called expressiveness means being honest in quality, observing courtesy and righteousness, being good at reading others' words, observing others' faces, and always thinking about being humble to others. Such people can be contacted in the monarch's court and the doctor's fief. As for those who have a hollow reputation, they only pretend to be benevolent, those who act against benevolence, and those who pretend to be benevolent are not ashamed. But he will certainly have a reputation in the monarch's court and the doctor's fief. "

Comment and analysis

In this chapter, Confucius put forward a pair of opposing nouns, namely "smell" and "da". "Smell" is a hollow name, not a prominent one; On the other hand, "Da" demands from the deep heart that the scholar-officials must have the virtue of benevolence, righteousness, propriety and righteousness, and pay attention to their own moral cultivation, rather than just pursuing false reputation. Here, we are also talking about what it really looks like. original text

12.2 1 Fan Chiyou swam under the dancing drum, saying, "Dare to ask Zunde, Xiu De (1), and distinguish doubts." Confucius said, "Good question! After getting ②, don't advocate moral harmony? It is not compulsory to attack the evil, not to attack the person without evil. The wrath of the dynasty (3), forgetting your body and relatives, is it confused? "

To annotate ...

(1) Yixiu: Yin Te, correct evil thoughts.

(2) Get what you get first: work hard first and put Lilu behind.

(3) Anger: Anger, anger.

translate

Fan Chi accompanied Confucius for a walk under the platform and said, "How can I improve my moral cultivation? How to correct your evil thoughts? How to distinguish confusion? " Confucius said, "Good question! Work hard first, then you will get something. Isn't that to improve your moral character? Do more self-criticism and don't criticize others, isn't it just to review your own evil thoughts? Because of a moment of anger, I forgot my own safety and even implicated my loved ones. Isn't this confusing? "

Comment and analysis

In this chapter, Confucius still talks about personal cultivation. He believes that to improve the level of moral cultivation, first of all, we should do things in a down-to-earth manner, and don't think too much about material interests; Then be strict with yourself and don't blame others too much; We should also pay attention to overcoming emotional impulses, not at the expense of our own safety, so as to distinguish confusion. In this way, people can improve their moral level, correct evil thoughts and distinguish confusion.

original text

12.22 climb for mercy at night. Confucius said, "Love." Seek knowledge. Confucius said, "Know people." Fan Chi failed to arrive. Confucius said, "Set things right (1) can set things right." When Fan Chi retreated, he saw Xia Zi say, "The township (2) also knows the master. I asked him,' What is correcting mistakes and mistakes?' "Xia Zi said," how rich you are! Those who are obedient win the world, choose many, cite (3), and those who are unkind are far away (4). Tang (5) won the world, chose from the crowd, and gave Yi Yin (6). Keep away from unkind people. "

To annotate ...

(1) Hold errors and all errors straight: errors are the same as "measurement" and placement. This is the chorus of the word "Yu Yu". Waste, injustice and evil. It means selecting honest people and expelling unjust people.

(2) Township: same as "township", past.

(3): Yin Yao, a legendary minister who was proficient in criminal law in Shun era.

(4) Far: verb, far away, far away.

(5) Tang: The first monarch of Shang Dynasty, named Lu.

(6) Yi Yin: Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, who helped the Tang Dynasty destroy the business.

translate

Fan Chi asked what is benevolence. Confucius said, "Love." Fan Chi asked what wisdom was, and Confucius said, "Understand people." Fan Chi still doesn't understand. Confucius said, "Choose the right and expel the evil, so that the evil can be corrected." When Fan Chi quit, he met Xia Zi and said, "I just met my teacher and asked him what wisdom is. He said, "Choose the righteous and expel the evil, so that evil can be corrected." What does this mean? "Xia Zi said," this is how profound! If you are successful in the world, you will choose the talents from the herd and the talents. The heartless people will be alienated. Tang Dynasty won the world, followed the crowd to select talents and selected Yi Yin, and heartless people were alienated. "

Comment and analysis

This chapter discusses two issues, one is benevolence and the other is wisdom. Regarding benevolence, Confucius' explanation of Fan Chi seems to be different from other places, saying it is "love". In fact, Confucius' explanation of benevolence is internally related everywhere. What he said about love contains the ancient humanistic spirit, and regards benevolence as the object and center of all his theories. As the famous scholar Zhang Qizhi said, Confucianism is benevolence, and benevolence is the discovery of human beings. With regard to wisdom, Confucius believes that it is necessary to know people and be good at their duties, choose talents and be able to do everything except evil. However, many talented people in history were suppressed instead of being selected, while some adulterers rose to the top, which shows that it is not easy to be truly wise.

original text

12.23 Zigong asks for friends. Confucius said, "You are good at giving advice. If you can't stop, don't bring disgrace to oneself. "

translate

Zi Gong asked how to treat his friends. Confucius said, "Good advice guides you. If you don't listen, you will bring shame to yourself. "

Comment and analysis

In interpersonal relationships, "friend" is the most relaxed one. Friends stress the word "trust", which is the bond to maintain the relationship between the two sides. When dealing with a friend's mistakes, we should convince him frankly and honestly, and explain the benefits from heart to heart, but if he insists on not listening, he will give up. If others don't listen, you will never change bring disgrace to oneself. This is a basic principle of making friends. Therefore, Tan Sitong, a scholar in the late Qing Dynasty, thought that one friend was the most valuable, and he even advocated transforming the other four with one friend. In fact, what Confucius is talking about here is a kind of recognition and respect for others as the main body.

original text

12.24 Ceng Zi said: "A gentleman should take literature as his friend and be kind to others."

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Ceng Zi said: "A gentleman takes articles and knowledge as his friends and relies on his friends to help him cultivate benevolence."

Comment and analysis

Ceng Zi inherited Confucius' thought and advocated making friends by learning literature and helping each other to cultivate benevolence. This is what a gentleman should do. The above two chapters are all about making friends. In fact, among the five ethics, Confucianism still pays more attention to the ethics of friends.