Confucius said: the people are governed by decrees and punished by punishment. The people are only temporarily free from sin, but they have no sense of shame; If we use morality to induce people and ethics to restrain them, people will not only feel ashamed, but also submit to their hearts.
During the Spring and Autumn Period when Confucius lived, the punishment was very cruel. The punishments in ancient books include death penalty, corporal punishment, property punishment, freedom punishment, exile punishment and so on. For example, the death penalty includes: giving death, killing, beheading, strangulation, slaughter, flogging, beheading, abandoning the market, laparotomy, thorn, chisel, rib pulling and splitting the car. Corporal punishment includes flogging, flogging, slapping, licking, squatting, cutting off left and right toes, gouging out eyes, cutting off ears, and castration. It can be said that it is inhuman and indiscriminate, so that the supply of prosthetic limbs in Qi is in short supply. The main reasons for all kinds of torture are the collapse of rites, social unrest and frequent regime changes during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Many people in power are in a bad position and unstable position, so severe punishment is needed to deter and suppress the people and ensure the continuation of their own political power.
So what? The riots and uprisings of slaves and the people of China are endless. Historical records show that the capital was conquered and even destroyed. The Lu people who were contemporary with Confucius had their feet cut off because they fled. Later, people gathered to rebel and moved to the Central Plains countries, and a large number of nobles died by his sword.
In the face of all this, Confucius, who advocated self-denial and reciprocity and took benevolence as his lifelong pursuit, was of course worried, and his disciples certainly hoped to change this situation.
At that time, a disciple asked the master, "Master, I saw a big man who had just been tortured in the market yesterday. He was very dissatisfied and people around him handed him over." I don't know the details, but I'm confused. Why don't they have the minimum concept of right and wrong? Moreover, this kind of situation seems to appear more and more. Why is this? "
After a while, the master mused, "well, I don't know the specific situation." However, as far as common sense is concerned, this is nothing more than these situations. The behavior he was punished was just, and the official punishment for him was wrong. He was open-minded and shameless, and everyone around him appreciated and supported him. Or he did break the law, but he had to have a clear conscience, and everyone sympathized with him and respected him; Or he did break the law and should be punished, but he felt that his behavior was punished. Even if it passed, his mind was balanced, and people around him just said hello politely. He should be punished, but he is not ashamed of his evil behavior, but proud of it. He regards this signboard as a bluff, and people around him dare not say hello. But in either case, it shows that this punishment is a failure. "
"But how can we solve it?" A large number of disciples study with the master in order to be able to enter politics in the future. They certainly don't want to be helpless in the face of this situation.
"First of all, politicians should be strict with themselves, set an example for their subordinates and people, and get everyone's recognition. After being recognized by everyone, we should devote ourselves to inducing people to do good by morality, unifying people's words and deeds by etiquette, and making people have a correct view of honor and disgrace, a sense of shame, and abiding by the right path. When the people are convinced, the natural problems will be solved. Just like riding a horse with a reins, the rider only needs to hold the reins and they will know how to run. Simply ruling the people with punishment is like driving them away with a whip. It is easy to get out of control and eventually hurt the rider. " The master answered almost without thinking.
"But, master, if you take driving as an example, only the reins and no whip, how can a horse be afraid of people? Inertia is natural. In the long run, what if the horse refuses to contribute and runs slower and slower? " Disciples questioned.
"You can't give up the whip when driving. After all, people are different and can't stick to the rules. To govern the world and educate the people, punishment and laws must be used in coordination with each other. The most ideal situation, of course, is to educate the people with morality, and then cooperate with etiquette norms; If only some people don't abide by the etiquette system, then they should be bound by laws and regulations, and in serious cases, they should be prohibited by penalties to punish those who don't abide by the etiquette system. In other words, those who are educated but don't know how to change, those who are guided but don't know how to follow, and those who corrupt morality and lead to changes in customs will be punished. Because conniving at evil is harmful to good, punishing evil is also promoting good. If we really want to get to this point, the punishment must be carried out openly and fairly, so that everyone will spit on the wicked and this kind of thing will not be accepted by society. However, since the criminal law cannot be changed once it is enacted and implemented, officials should be cautious and do their best when handling cases. " Confucius pondered for a while and replied.
"But, master, now many countries are in a situation of ritual collapse and bad music. Some governors or people in power are not in the right position and their seats are unstable. Apart from strict political management, they can't control the people at all. It is impossible to expect them to practice etiquette. There is no complete solution except overthrowing their rule. " Some disciples saw the problem deeply and even hit the nail on the head.
In the face of these, how can the master not see it? But what can be done? Don't lead disciples, rise up, smash these and start over? However, this does not conform to the benevolence, righteousness and propriety advocated by the master.
There was no solution to this situation at that time, and master naturally had no feasible solution. Finally, the master can only implement the ostrich policy, but he has no choice but to suggest to his disciples:
"Dangerous countries don't enter, chaotic countries don't live, different roads don't work together, and state-owned roads know when; The country is stupid if it has no way. "