The teachings of Chinese filial piety and love – a speech at the “Cross-Strait Chinese Academy Night Lecture” at Xiamen Zhuzi Academy
Author: Liu Qiang
Source: The author authorized Confucianism.com to publish, original Published in “Into Confucius” Issue 5, 2022
Friends:
Hello, Master! I am very happy to have the opportunity to come to Xiamen Zhuzi Academy to share with you my friends’ teachings on Chinese filial piety and love. We will first give my friend the introduction part – the distinction between ancient and modern Chinese and Western civilizations.
In the past hundred years, there have been generally the following three perspectives and methods around the interpretation and research of Chinese traditional civilization:
The first perspective is called “the distinction between ancient and modern times”. The so-called distinction between ancient and modern times is obviously based on the dimension of time, which is a bit like the perspective of evolution. It is the belief that tomorrow we will definitely be better than the modern, and tomorrow will be more advanced than the modern. This seems to have become a view that is accepted by masters.
The second perspective is called “the distinction between China and the West.” Obviously, this is a space-based perspective. In other words, by comparing China with the East, we can draw the conclusion that China is inferior to the East, so we have always been at a disadvantage in the comparison between China and the West in modern times.
When looking at traditional Chinese culture from these two perspectives, many misunderstandings will inevitably arise (I will talk about this above). In this way, the third perspective becomes particularly important. This is the “Difference between Humans and Animals” that I will share with my friends tomorrow.
What is the difference between humans and animals? Simply put, it is the difference and distinction between humans and animals. Only by using such a perspective to treat the creation and development of traditional Chinese civilization, as well as Jamaicans Sugardaddy and existing dilemmas, will it be more It is the most basic and effective, and it is also better able to resolve some seemingly identical misjudgments and the most fundamental differences.
Let’s first take a look at what perspectives will emerge when looking at the problem from the latter two perspectives. For example, when Mr. Cai Yuanpei served as the Director-General of Education of the Nationalist Government (equivalent to the Minister of National Education) in 1912, he promulgated a regulation called the “Interim Regulations on Extensive Education”. There was a mandatory provision in it, which stipulated that “primary schools All Bible-reading subjects will be abolished.” In other words, from now on, going to elementary schoolJamaica Sugar Daddy‘s children no longer read the classics of their own national culture. In my opinion, this is a misunderstanding based on the “discrimination between ancient and modern times.” This is a difficult time for the entire country. A judgment made by a group of elite intellectuals, they They believed that modern classics were no longer suitable for the present and were no longer worth letting children learn. This judgment may not have been unreasonable at the time, but it seems obviously to be very biased today. A hundred years later, we are advocating reading classics from the beginning, and even “Traditional civilizations only want to be close to each other when they come to school. “Garden” is the best proof.
Coincidentally, Chen Duxiu once said this: “The inherent ethics, laws, academic etiquette and customs are all those of the feudal system. I would rather endure the destruction of the national quintessence of the past than the destruction of present and future nations that are not fit for the survival of the world. “(“Advice to the Youth”) The implication is that the cultural heritage constituted in our Chinese tradition are all feudal relics. These so-called national quintessences, Chen Duxiu would rather let them all perish, Jamaicans Sugardaddy also does not hope that our nation will not be able to stand Jamaicans in the end SugardaddyIt is certainly a concern for the country and its people, but if you think about it carefully, is our civilization so useless? “A conclusion drawn.
Look at Mr. Lu Xun, whom we are more familiar with. He said this: “Although Chinese books have words to persuade people to enter the world, they are also Mostly zombie optimism. Even if foreign books are decadent and world-weary, they are the decadence and world-weariness of living people. I thought I should read less, or perhaps not even, Chinese books, and read more foreign books. “(“Youth Must Read”) This view seems to us now to be overcorrected. This is a misunderstanding based on the “difference between China and the West”. It is the belief that we are not as good as the East now, and it is all the fault of our ancestors. Civilization from It is basically a backward civilization, so try not to read the books of our ancestors. In fact, this view is illogical and cannot withstand refutation: Did Mr. Lu Xun read less “Chinese books” back then? Read it in “Sanwei Bookstore” Aren’t they all “Confucius Said Shiyun” and “Four Books and Five Classics”? To say that Chinese books are “poisonous”, their “May 4th” generation should be the most “poisoned”, but they later became masters. Who can say that the reason why they become masters is not because of their worship of traditional culture? Is it because of his higher Ming culture and solid foundation in Chinese studies? So in my opinion, Lu Xun said something like “it doesn’t hurt to speak while standing” and it cannot stand up to scrutiny.
There is also Qian Xuantong, he was the vanguard of the “New Civilization Movement”. What he said was even more outrageous: “If you want to save China and make the Chinese nation a civilized nation in the twentieth century, you must abolish Confucianism and Taoism is regarded as the most basic solution, and Confucianism is abandoned. As well as Taoist evil words in Chinese, it is the most basic solution.” (“On China’s Future Writing Problems”) He also issued a proposal to “abolish Chinese writing” and to eliminate the writing of our Han nation. Our mother tongue is all defeated. Lu Xun also said that “if Chinese characters are not destroyed, China will perish”. But more than a hundred years have passed, and when we hear these words tomorrow, we will find them very unpleasant. At most, I think they are wrong. These are some conclusions drawn from the perspectives of ancient and modern, and the distinction between China and the West – they seem sharp and profound, but are actually very biased and perverse. Although they have a temporary propaganda and agitation effect, they are not rigorous and scientific judgments.
In fact, to be fair, every nation has its own culture, and in my opinion, the culture of our Chinese nation is especially one of self-sufficiency and self-sufficiency. , and self-consistent civilization. She is not necessarily perfect, but compared to many civilizations in the world, she is unique and profound enough, broad and long-lasting enough, and smart and great enough. The German philosopher Heidegger has a famous saying: “Language is the home of existence.” Just imagine, if all our Chinese characters are abolished, will our nation and civilization still “exist”? I want to make sure it no longer exists.
So, whether it is the “Eastern Middle Theory” based on the “difference between China and the West”, or the “social Darwinism” based on the “difference between ancient and modern times” or “vulgar evolution theory” , the interaction between these two ways of thinking finally led to the “Chinese civilization arrogance syndrome” that has existed for a century. At that time, a large number of people with lofty ideals encountered “changes unprecedented in three thousand years.” Facing the strong invasion of Eastern powers, the continuous penetration of Eastern learning into the East, and the so-called “spread of Western learning eastward”, they began to think about their own ideas. National civilization has produced a strong suspicion and doubt, and even complete denial-this is what I call “civilization arrogance”.
Arrogance brings anxiety. Under anxiety, some excessive and exaggerated “stress reactions” will inevitably occur. Today we are advocating “cultural self-confidence”. A big condition and background is that we have been seriously unconfident about our own culture for the past hundred years. I feel that “civilized self-confidence” should not be a flashy slogan, but should be implemented in practical actions. If you don’t have any understanding of your own culture, you don’t even have any emotions, and you don’t have the “clear sympathy” that Mr. Chen Yinke said and the “warmth and respect” that Mr. Qian Mu said, how can you have “confidence in culture”?
Having said that, I would like to share with you my own views on civilization in four sentences.
The first sentence, “The essence of civilization is humanization.” It is the continuous optimization, elegance, improvement and deepening of people——I call it man’s “four modernizations.” We generally think that civilization is a noun, but in the Chinese language system, civilization happens to be a verb. “Yi Ben Gua Tuan Zhuan” says: “The intersection of hardness and softness is the geography. The end of civilization is the humanities. Observe the geography to observe the changes of the times. Observe the humanities to transform the whole country.” This is the “civilization of human beings” “JM Escorts said that it is also the earliest origin of the word “civilization”. In other words, only those who are “cultured” and can “be civilized” can be called “civilized people”. There are probably more than a hundred or dozens of definitions of “civilization” around the world, but I think none of them are as clear-cut, enjoyable, and to the point as “civilization is humanization.” In other words, civilization is not something on paper, not something that can be reflected by your diploma and academic qualifications, but the sum of everything that is implemented in your body, mind, soul and behavior. For a long time, our educational theory of knowledge has been at the forefront and exam-oriented education has been paramount. As a result, we are very utilitarian in learning culture today. We have never thought that culture is related to our own body and mind. As a result, many people may not have real knowledge despite their high academic qualifications. civilization and education. This is a pity.
The second sentence, “The focus of Chinese studies is the study of human nature.” There are many conceptual definitions of Chinese studies. Some say that Chinese studies are the study of the three teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Or they say that Chinese studies are the study of the four schools of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Others say that Chinese studies are the study of the six schools of thought. Jamaicans EscortThe study of scriptures. Of course, these statements are all good, but I have a convenient saying – “Chinese studies are human studies.” You have to learn every day you are a person, and you can learn as you live until you are old. So someone asked me, teacher, if I study Chinese studies with you, how many years will it take for me to graduate? I said sorry, I haven’t graduated yet, I’m still learning! Because in my opinion, Chinese Studies is not a high-level lecture, it is a knowledge that is implemented in everyone, and there is no ambiguity at all.
The third sentence, “The effectiveness of teaching is to transform people.” Education is not just about cultivating how many students, nor is it about improving data for further education and employment. Education should be a silent educational process that moistens things like spring breeze and rain. What is your biggest dream in education? It’s about letting people become human beings! Let him understand that he is a capital “person” and understand the ways of becoming a person, establishing people, admiring people, and loving people. This is the important content of education.
The fourth sentence, “The key to transforming people is to transform the mind.” When the ancients studied, they had a very high pursuit, which was to “change their temperament.” Su Dongpo said it well: “The spirit of poetry and calligraphy comes from China.” Whether a person is knowledgeable or civilized is actually reflected in your overall temperament, and where does your temperament come from? From your heart, of course. We all have a face, this face is the screen of our soul, it is always changingchanges because our minds are constantly changing. Buddhism says: “Appearances arise from the heart, and the environment changes with the heart.” This is also the meaning.
It can be seen that traditional Chinese civilization is actually ultimately implemented in people, so it is inseparable from the word “people”. When we look at traditional civilization, if we only look at its Intrinsic things such as clothing and cultural relics may not be implemented in practice. This leads to the third angle from which to observe and study traditional Chinese civilization—the “differentiation between humans and animals.”
Next, let’s talk about the second topic – the distinction between humans and animals and traditional filial piety.
Fu Sinian once expressed a point of view. He said: “If you want to understand the situation of a Chinese family, just draw a pigsty.”Jamaicans Sugardaddy (“The Root of All Evil”) Lu Xun also said: “There is no kindness between father and son. The result of eating and drinking is to support oneself, and there is no kindness to oneself. The result of sexual intercourse is the birth of offspring. Of course, it is not a kindness to the offspring.” .” (“How should we be fathers now?”) These words sound profound, but they are actually very harmful. Because it is only a factual judgment based on the biological sense, not a value judgment in the cultural sense – it completely cuts off the family ties between father and son, mother and son.
So, what kind of relationship do we have with our parents? Woolen cloth? Where does our life come from? To answer these questions, it is probably not enough to rely solely on the knowledge of sociology and political science. We must also resort to anthropology and ethics. We all know that our lives come from our parents, but if we look at this problem from a larger perspective, I am afraid there should be more answers.
First of all, our life comes from Liuhe, yin and yang The interaction and combination of the Qi of the universe and the universe is the so-called interaction of yin and yang.
Secondly, our lives also come from our ancestors. Everyone is not “you from the stars” – we all have a place of origin and a destination.
The third is the gestation from the parents, the so-called “father’s sperm and mother’s blood”. Each of us is not an isolated atomic structure, but a link in the bloodline chain of our ancestors, and a flower in the long river of national civilization. We look even more beautiful than last night. Gorgeous wife. spray.
If you look at it from the perspective of “the unity of nature and man”, you will find that the entire universe is an infinite “life complex”, and everything in the world is with you. HaveGene’s Jamaica Sugar connection. Our lives are too precious and our existence is too occasional. To a certain extent, every life is a miracle! Buddhism believes that “there are six difficulties in the world that are worth encountering”: first, it is difficult to meet the Buddha, second, it is difficult to hear death, third, it is difficult to have a good heart, fourth, it is difficult to be born in China, fifth, it is difficult to have a human body, and sixth, it is difficult to gather all the roots. He also said: “It is difficult for a person to escape from the evil path.” It is really not difficult for us to obtain a human body and support the birth of a human being. Everyone’s life is not only a biological existence. In addition to physical and human nature, human beings also have spirituality and divinity.
That’s why it is said in the “Book of Filial Piety”: “The nature of Liuhe is noble.” Xunzi said: “Water and fire have energy but no life, and grass and trees have life. Ignorance, animals have knowledge but no meaning, while humans have energy, life, knowledge, and meaning, so they are the most noble in the world. This is actually what we call the “differentiation between humans and animals.”
Confucius said in “The Classic of Filial Piety”: “The hair and skin of the body are received by the parents and dare not be damaged.” The true meaning of this sentence is not centered on the parents. But with ourselves as the middle, let me Each of us cherishes his own life, which reminds and warns us: your life not only belongs to you, you are not only an individual existence, you were born in a community of life – you have the responsibility to care for your body and life. Once you understand this, you will feel very touched.
“Book of Rites·Jiyi” says: “The body is the remains of the parents.” Each of our bodies and lives are the storage and continuation of the genes of our parents. , one day, our parents leave us, but we still have the information of our parents. This is Chinese civilization. It will particularly emphasize the bond of blood and give you responsibility and responsibility every day of your life. Therefore, our culture is a culture that pays special attention to how individual lives are arranged. Eastern philosophy says, “Know yourself”; and our culture requires us not only to know ourselves, but also to discover yourself, protect yourself, and achieve yourself!
So, what is the relationship between the distinction between humans and animals and filial piety?
Let’s first look at a passage from “The Book of Rites: Part 1 of Quli”: “Parrots can speak and are inseparable from birds; orangutans can speak and are inseparable from beasts. The ancients were rude, but even though they could The words are not like the heart of an animal “Huh?” In the past, the New Civilization Movement criticized traditional civilization and often said things like “ethics cannibalizes people” and “ethics kill people.” This was in response to the confinement and dogmatization of ethics, and also revealed part of the reality of authoritarian societies. But we cannot only look at one end of the problem, and we cannot completely deny the humanistic value and progressive significance of etiquette just because we see the restraint and suppression of etiquette later on.
We have to ask: Why does the animal kingdom not talk about “rituals”, but only we humans have invented “rituals”? If you ask this question, you will find that our ancestors invented rituals, but it is actually quite extraordinary.Got it. The essence of etiquette is nothing else but to distance ourselves from animals. The so-called “man and ape say goodbye”. Only in this way can people truly walk out of the jungle and enter a civilized society.
The “Book of Rites” goes on to say: “Husbands are rude to beasts, so father and son gather together.” When father and son share a sexual partner, it is actually hybrid incest – isn’t this the norm in the animal world? “This is why the saints made it as a ritual to teach people. Let people know how to be polite and distinguish themselves from animals.” This sentence is very important. It tells us that the final goal of the creation of rituals is to make people understand “different from animals.” “animal”, understand that you are a “human”, not an animal! The most unpleasant thing we Chinese can say when we curse someone is “you are not a human being”, maybe “worse than an animal”! This is equivalent to expelling you!
Therefore, the creation of etiquette is by no means to “suppress humanity”, but precisely to suppress people’s “animal nature” that may appear at any time! Looking at the creation of “rituals” in traditional culture from this perspective, you will feel that it is really a great invention.
What does the distinction between humans and animals have to do with filial piety? I have to say, it’s a great relationship! For example, “Compendium of Materia Medica: Birds” says: “The mother crow feeds the crow for sixty days when it is born, and it feeds the crow for sixty days.” It is said that the mother crow feeds the crow for sixty days, and then the crow grows up and the old crow gets old. It also understands that it feeds back to its mother for sixty days. Another example is that when a goat is sucking milk, it kneels with its front hooves. This is called the goat kneeling to breastfeed, and it is also a behavior that can produce “empathy” with us humans. However, I estimate that goats kneel down to breastfeed for the convenience of feeding, and have no conscience – therefore, whether “feeding back” or “kneeling to breastfeed” is not a perceptual and conscious activity, but comes from a habit and habit. nature.
Having said this, I would like to ask the master a very tricky question: In the history of mankind, the matrilineal clan society was later replaced by the patrilineal clan. Is it a kind of progress or a development? behind? Female friends may say, of course they are backward. Originally, we women were the ones in charge, but you men took away our rights. How can this be progress? However, if we look at the issue from the perspective of “differentiating between humans and animals” instead of a narrow gender perspective, we will come to the opposite conclusion.
So, where is the progress when the matrilineal clan is replaced by the patrilineal clan? This requires a frame of reference-the animal world. For example, let’s say we go to the zoo and see many monkeys crawling around on the monkey mountain. “Don’t worry, husband, the concubine will definitely do this. She will be filial to her mother and take care of the family.” Lan Yu Hua nodded carefully, then looked at him and explained softly: If you ask that little monkey: “Who is your mother?” If the little monkey understands human language, it may point it out to you. Pointing, saying that is my mother. Next, you ask: “Who is your father?” The little monkey will definitely look confused: Do I still have a father? with its animalsSexual cognition, it may not know that it has a father, or it may say who is its father. This Jamaicans Sugardaddy is the animal world. As the saying goes, “I only know that there is a mother, but I don’t know that there is a father.”
So, compared with the animal world, matrilineal clan society has made progress, but if the matrilineal clan is the center and the paternal lineage becomes the edge or even abolished, it will still not completely get rid of the animal world. infrastructure. There is a record in “Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals”: “In ancient times, Tai had no king for the first time. Its people lived in groups and knew their mothers and their fathers.” This is the general situation of matrilineal clan society. To put it simply, men in a matriarchal clan society are responsible for giving birth but not raising children. Although the mother is the master of the family, she has a heavy burden because she “falls in love with someone who does not come home”! Let’s think about it, when this person who doesn’t go home comes home, he begins to assume the responsibilities of the family and the responsibilities of a fatherJamaicans Sugardaddy , that is, the patriarchal clan society is constituted. Isn’t it a progress for the evolution of the entire human civilization and society? JM Escorts
We continue to ask: The first ethics of the “Five Ethics” relationship is Father and son, the so-called “father and son are related”, why not say “mother and son are related”?
It’s very simple, because there is no need to emphasize that mother and child are related, but who is the father? The parent-child relationship between father and child is subject to question. It can be seen that the determination and emphasis of the ethical relationship between father and son is crucial for humans to escape from the animal world and enter a civilized society. We often say that “mother’s love is like the sea” and “father’s love is like a mountain”. Only when a person has maternal love and father’s love can his life be complete. Therefore, Engels said: “The overthrow of the matriarchal system is a defeat of women’s world-historic significance. However, with the patriarchal family, we have entered the realm of written history, and it has indeed caused a stir here. “Great progress” (“The Origin of Family, Public Ownership and the State”)
Why does our civilization place special emphasis on filial piety? Because after all, filial piety is also a kind of love – a kind of love as a child compared to father’s love and mother’s love. Traditional Chinese culture emphasizes that a person must have love, and first of all, he must love his relatives, especially his parents. This is one of the big differences between humans and animals. “Book of Changes: Xu Gua Zhuan” says: “There are Liuhe and then Yin and Yang, there are Yin and Yang and then men and women, there are men and women and then there are couples, there are couples and then there are father and son…” Therefore, the relationship between husband and wife is not based on the nature and nature of biology. It is not a natural relationship, but a social and ethical relationship.From a value level perspective, the ethical status of “couples” is obviously higher than that of “men and women.”
American anthropologist Conrad said in the book “Anthropology: An Inquiry into Human Diversity”: “Human beings emerge from communities other than the community in which they were born. Selective partners means that at least one of the couple is from outside. This shows that in the early stages of humankind, when there was no husband-wife relationship, brother-sister marriages may have occurred, that is, men and women of the same clan could get married. Later, it was discovered that inbreeding is not beneficial. Exogamy is advocated only when the health of the child is unfavorable. Nowadays, there are provisions in the marriage law that close relatives cannot get married. This is a conclusion reached by our ancestors after years of accumulated experience.
Conrad went on to say: “But humans maintain lifelong relationships with their sons and daughters, and the system of maintaining these kinship and marriage relationships has cultivated humans and other primates. The difference between animals.” This sentence is very important. It tells us that other animals may not understand the ethics of family affection, let alone what filial piety is! The civilization of filial piety can almost be said to be a cultural phenomenon unique to us humans, which embodies the wisdom of anthropology. “The Book of Rites: The Doctrine of the Mean” says: “The way of a righteous man starts with his husband and wife.” If a person wants to be a righteous person, he must start by obeying the way of a husband and wife. If the way of a husband and wife is disordered, the position of father and son will also be disordered. JM EscortsFinally, there is the possibility of forming an incestuous relationship.
“The Book of Rites: Jiao Te Sheng” says: “A husband’s wedding is the beginning of all eternity. They are chosen from different surnames, so they are separated by distance. Men and women are different, and then father and son kiss, and father and son kiss. Love is followed by righteousness, righteousness is followed by rites, and rites are followed by all things. There is no difference and no righteousness, which is the way of animals.”
Why should men and women be different? The difference between men and women here is equivalent to the difference between husband and wife. Once husband and wife are separated, they will not be like the early human beings living in groups and interbreeding. Only when the relationship between father and son is established can family ethics be further established. This is from the perspective of genetics and eugenics, considering the differences between husband and wife and the differences between men and women. This is an “incest taboo”.
Professor Zhang Xianglong in the book “Family and Filial Piety” Jamaica Sugar pointed out: “From the perspective of the actual natural order, there are parents and children after there are couples. However, from the perspective of anthropology, philosophy, anthropology, and the composition of human history, there are parents and children before couples.” That is to say, Only after the parent-child relationship, that is, the father-son relationship is established, can the relationship between husband and wife be better consolidated.
“Book of Rites: University” says: “Being a son stops at filial piety; being a father stops at loving-kindness.” The “kindness” here is not love. ? The love that parents have for their children is called “kindness”, and conversely, the love that children have for their parents is called “filial piety.”
But why does the whole country only have the “Filial Piety Sutra” but not the “Compassion Sutra”? It is precisely because parents’ love for their children does not require teaching at all. It is almost a biological instinct. Although filial piety is also a “confidant and good ability” in human nature, because people themselves also come out of the jungle, naturally Carrying a certain animalistic gene, “filial piety” requires acquired education before it can eventually become a humanistic cultivation based on human consciousness.
Anthropological field survey found that a female orangutan grew up with her children. When the children grew up, the children forgot about her when the mother orangutan got old. Even after meeting him, I don’t know who it is anymore. Why? Because the memory of animals is limited by time, but we humans have a very long-term perception of time. We have a sense of history, time and life, so we have a heartfelt concern for our parents. . However, this concern for parents may become inert as age increases. In life, we find that when a person is young, he is particularly dependent on the love and care of his parents. At this time, he still knows how to be kind to his parents, but one day his parents grow old, his appearance and body are also old. As the words “no longer work”, his love for his parents is not so strong, and he even begins to dislike the elderly. This is all the result of the animalistic remnants in our bones.
From this perspective, the reason why our ancestors and modern sages emphasize filial piety is to curb the animalistic things that may sprout in us at any time. The advocacy of filial piety is to hinder the “lazy inertia of love” hidden in our human animal nature until it turns into a “inertia of love.”
So, filial piety is actually love – kindness is love, and filial piety is even more love. What is filial piety? It is to love relatives on the basis of self-love, and thus gain the realistic possibility of “loving all and being kind”. Because filial piety occurs between parents and children, it can be said to be “special love for special you.” If you interpret our filial piety culture from this perspective, you probably won’t be as bitter and bitter as the differences between China and the West, ancient and modern, right? Because the “differentiation between humans and animals” is the most basic, it immediately digs into the root of the problem of civilization!
Our Chinese civilization gradually curbs animal nature and inspires humanity from filial piety. Starting from the ethical education of the family, it gradually turns us into a civilized, cultivated and capable person. Only those who practice rituals and music can then talk about harmonizing the family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the whole world. This is the “ripple effect” of love. Therefore, the word “fraternity” did not come from the East. We have this word in modern times. For example, Dong Zhongshu once said that “fraternity destroys selfishness”, and Han Yu also said that “fraternity is called benevolence.”
There is a trend today that believes that I have the final say over my body and I can do with it whatever I want. Some people take drugs to destroy their bodies and lives. When he harms his body or distorts his body and mind like that, heHe must have forgotten his biological parents and the ancient adage that “the body is made of skin, and it is received by the parents, and one does not dare to damage it.”
So, traditional filial piety is actually a culture based on “self-love” and “loving others”. Love itself is love for parents. To love parents, you must first love yourself. Comments tomorrow There may be very few people in traditional civilization who can truly understand this meaning.
Next we will talk about the third topic – filial piety and love in Confucian ethics.
Recently I wrote a book called “The Four Books”. In this book, I give an overview of Confucianism. I divided it into thirteen ways, namely: study, self-cultivation, filial piety, loyalty and forgiveness, benevolence, justice, sincerity, decency, moderation, peace, family order, teacher, and friendship. Among them, the principle of filial piety and brotherhood is a very basic and crucial one. Confucius said: “The disciples should be Jamaicans Escort filial when they enter, and they should be brotherly when they leave, be sincere and trustworthy, love others universally, be kind and benevolent, and be able to act with sufficient strength. , then learn from the text. “Filial piety and brotherhood have their own connotations. Doing good things to one’s parents is called filial piety, and doing good things to one’s brothers is called brotherhood.” What is the way of filial piety? In fact, Jamaicans Escort is the early teaching of children. Let your disciples – the youngest children in the family – know that after you enjoy the love of your father and brother, you must also be able to reciprocate the love of filial piety. Therefore, filial piety is actually a teaching of love.
I believe that filial piety has three connotations:
First, “filial piety must comply with etiquette.” When we talk about the creation of etiquette later, we will already touch on the relationship between filial piety and etiquette, but that is theoretically speaking, what should be done in specific practice? We can illustrate this through a story. “The Analects of Confucius·Wei Zheng” records:
Meng Yizi asked about filial piety. Confucius said to him, “It’s no violation.” When Fan Chi tried to stop him, Confucius told him, “Meng Sun asked him about his filial piety, and I said to him, ‘It’s no violation.’” Fan Chi said, “What do you mean?” Confucius said, “Sheng. , die with etiquette, bury with etiquette, and offer sacrifices with etiquette.”
Confucius believed that filial piety and etiquette are closely related. When your parents are still alive, you must serve them according to etiquette. When they pass away, you must bury them according to etiquette. When the festival day comes, we must pay homage to him according to the etiquette. Zengzi also said: “Be cautious about the end and pursue the distant future, and the people’s morality will be thickened.” Being cautious about the end is a funeral; pursuing a distant future is a sacrifice. All this shows that filial piety must comply with etiquette.
The second is “filial piety should be based on affection.” Jamaicans Sugardaddy “The Analects of Confucius·Wei Zheng” goes on to record:
Meng Wubo asked about filial piety. Confucius said: “Parents only worry about illness.”
Confucius meant that parents only worry about you when you are sick and not when you are not sick. Parents don’t have to worry at all. In other words, when you are not sick, your words and deeds are in line with etiquette, and your parents are very at ease with you, but only worry about you when you are sick – such a child is considered a rebellious child. Some children are naughty and mischievous all day long. When they are sick, their parents are worried. If they recover, their parents may be even more worried! Because he “doesn’t fight for three days, he goes to the house to uncover the tiles” and often creates troubles for you. Of course, such a child cannot be called a traitor.
Once, Ziyou asked about filial piety. Confucius replied: “Today’s filial piety refers to being able to raise dogs and horses. As for dogs and horses, they can be raised. Why are they different?” This is also a discussion of filial piety from the perspective of “the difference between humans and animals”. “If you are disrespectful, why should you care?” That is to say, there must be a difference between the support of your parents and the care of dogs and horses. You can be disrespectful to dogs and horses, but you must have respect and love for your parents. Respect is also a kind of love. If you don’t love your parents, you won’t have true respect. What is emphasized here is exactly “filial piety must be accompanied by emotion”. Confucius gave different answers to the same question. What is this called? This is called “asking similar questions and answering different questions”, which is what everyone calls “teaching students in accordance with their aptitude.”
Another time, Zixia also asked about filial piety. Confucius replied: “It’s difficult to look good. When you have something to do, your disciples will do their work, you will have wine and food, and the teacher will eat. Do you ever think you are filial?” It means that it is very difficult to be able to serve your parents in a cheerful manner at all times and everywhere. one thing. It shows that everyone has a hidden animal nature, that is, when you are impatient, you will lose your temper and show your face to your parents. Therefore, giving your parents a kind and cheerful expression is a kind of great filial piety in ancient times, which is called “the filial piety of color and nourishment”. If when you are serving your parents, you just run around and work hard, and there are delicious food and wine at home, and you know that you should give them to your parents and elders first, but your face is expressionless or even miserable. How can this be considered true filial piety if one is deeply resentful and cannot be kind?
You must understand that Confucius lost his father at the age of three and his mother at the age of seventeen. It stands to reason that he would never have the opportunity to fulfill his filial piety properly in his life. So why did he emphasize filial piety so much? I guess it was because he saw that too many people at that time could no longer treat their parents well when their parents got old, so they spoke harshly. He felt that those old people were too worthy of sympathy, so he wanted to Emphasize this filial piety. Guard the last line of defense of “the distinction between humans and animals”. When I talk about this chapter, I often feel particularly moved when it comes to my own life experience.
Confucius also said: “One cannot know the age of one’s parents. One is happy, the other Jamaica Sugar“On the one hand, we feel happy and joyful because our parents are still alive and in good health;But on the other hand, as time goes by, parents will eventually leave. When an unfaithful son often thinks of this, he must be worried and worried. This is Confucius’ awakening of our humanity. Confucius’s teachings are actually human teachings, teachings of love. Confucius said this to remind us that we should always think about our parents and “take the hearts of our parents as our hearts”. We are happy for our parents’ health and longevity, but at the same time, we are worried about our parents’ old age and physical decline. This is “promoting emotions, stopping due to etiquette”.
The third is “filial piety must be based on righteousness.” This “righteousness” in Confucian civilization has many interpretations, and the most noteworthy one is “righteousness is appropriate.” In other words, doing what you should do and what is appropriate is in line with righteousness.
Filial piety is not only in line with etiquette and sentimental, but also based on righteousness. For example, Confucius said: “Parents can give you advice when it comes to things.” Parents are also human beings, and they are not saints. Who can have no faults? Parents also make mistakes. As a child, what should you do if you see your parents making mistakes? Of course, we should not just let things go, but should give advice; but when giving advice, we should pay attention to methods and methods, and we should use “several remonstrances”, which means to remonstrate tactfully and not with harsh words or extremely vicious words.
Jamaica SugarAccording to Confucian teachings, filial piety is not unconditional obedience to parents , but “it is necessary to keep things secret but not to offend”. Therefore, the two stories in the “Twenty-Four Filial Piety”, such as Wang Xiang lying on the ice to beg for a carp, and Guo Ju’s burying his son in marriage, are inconsistent with justice. Such filial piety is “foolish filial piety” and is completely undesirable. Confucius said in “The Classic of Filial Piety”: “If a father fights for his son, he will not fall into injustice. Therefore, if he is unjust, the son will not succeed and will not fight against the father.”
This shows that father and son are There is a kind of morality between them. If your father says that you have done something wrong, you should advise him instead of obeying unconditionally, because this is not in line with filial piety. Confucius also said: “The bitter taste of good medicine is beneficial to the disease, and the bitter taste of good medicine is beneficial to action. The king does not compete with his ministers, the father does not compete with his son, the brother does not compete with the younger brother, the scholar does not compete with his friends, and there is no fault.” (“Confucius Family Sayings”) ·Six Books”)
The above three aspects are the main connotations of Confucian filial piety. Mr. Xie Youwei, a scholar of the Republic of China, said: “Chinese culture can be said to be a culture of filial piety in a certain sense. Filial piety plays a great role in Chinese culture and has the highest status. To talk about Chinese culture and ignore filial piety is not to have a true understanding of Chinese culture. “If we only understand filial piety in traditional civilization from the distinction between China and the West, ancient and modern times, it will be difficult to understand it properly, because these two viewsJamaicans Sugardaddyoften puts theory first, but lacks real personal, emotional and rational consideration and understanding.
Is there no filial piety in Eastern civilization?Jamaicans Escort? As we all know, Eastern civilization does not seem to advocate filial piety. It emphasizes love more. However, there are also some sayings similar to filial piety in the “Old Testament” , for example: “My son wants to listen to your father’s training and teachings. “Don’t abandon your mother’s rules”, etc. These all show that “the East Sea and the West Sea are the same in the heart.” Different cultures may have different expressions, but they all have something in common. Although Eastern civilizations are not the same as ours filial piety and civilization, but they also Emphasis on parent-child love and family ethics are actually similar in this regard.
The reason why Chinese and Western civilizations are so different is because of the two. The civilization foundation and value origin of civilization are different Chinese civilization is not God-centered, but human-centered, so it places great emphasis on the distinction between humans and animals.
Generally speaking, Eastern civilization–of course not all Eastern civilization–can be regarded as a civilization based on God, with an emphasis on the “distinction between man and God.” Chinese civilization has “. Gods and humans are said to be “harmony” and “harmony between living things”, and Jamaica Sugar DaddyOriental civilization emphasizes the “dichotomy of gods and humans”. The value of gods is absolute, while the value of humans is relative. Such a civilization is different from the origin of the value of our civilization, so they emphasize humanity. Evil, people are born with original sin, and you can only be saved through your belief in “God” or “God”
And I. Our civilization believes that human nature is good. Compared with animals, humans have spiritual roots, wisdom, good conscience, and even some kind of divine factor. Therefore, humans can become virtuous and holy, and have unlimited potential. The possibility of development. This is a culture that has “confidence” in itself. Only when you believe that you are good and “Thaksin” comes from “confidence” can you “love others and be kind”. Continuously achieve the perfection of life. Because Chinese civilization emphasizes the “differentiation between humans and animals”, inhuman behaviors, such as being unfilial and disrespectful, will be devalued by mainstream values. Eastern civilization emphasizes the “differentiation between humans and gods” and is therefore blasphemous. It is a serious crime. The medieval Inquisition often imposed severe sanctions on blasphemy. According to statistics from scholars, 327 cases were committed from 1481 to 1808. In the middle of the year, the European Catholic Inquisition punished 340,000 people for blasphemy, of which about 32,000 were burned to death (see Huang Qixiang’s “The Philosophical Foundation of Filial Piety: Critics and Commentators”). Filial Piety: From a Chinese and Western Perspective>”, “China Reading News” March 1, 2017)
Although Chinese and Western civilizations have different starting points of value,All can obtain the motivation and source to enhance the value of human beings: in China, it is to try to get rid of the state of beasts, respect heaven and ancestors, be wary of fear, respect and be filial, Jamaica Sugar seeks saints and sages, thereby realizing the moral life of a human being and Jamaica Sugar Daddy‘s “inner transcendence”; The East is trying its best to get rid ofJamaica Sugar DaddyHumanity’s “original sin”, through belief in infinite closeness to God, repentance and confession, reform, hope for redemption, and thereby realize the inner beyond. Both civilizations have their own strengths and justifications, and they should learn from each other’s strengths and not treat each other equally.
The last question-how should we treat traditional culture?
I think it should be treated emotionally. Mr. Xu Fuguan said: “The culture that was completely counterJamaicans Escort during the May Fourth Movement was mostly based on temporary patriotism. At that time, it should be said It is also understandable today. I suspect that the Sugar incident was caused by being poisoned by colonialism unknowingly. Is the tragedy of this era an accident? (“The formation, evolution and role of Chinese filial piety thought in history”) Problems in “”)
Master Yinguang also said: “Recently With the advent of the European style, a group of new schools of thought disliked the old and loved the new, and they followed them like ducks. They are no different than animals.” (“Zengguang Volume 4: Fayin of the Tang Nizi Temple”) I think these comments are profound. In particular, both sages paid attention to the “differentiation between humans and animals” that is the foundation of traditional Chinese civilization.
Finally, if I want to sum up tomorrow’s lecture in one sentence, what I want to say is – filial piety is love. Because Confucianism is a study of human nature, studying means cultivating oneself, and cultivating oneself means studying. The two are integrated. Therefore, the late teaching centered on filial piety and brotherhood is essentially a teaching of love. The way of filial piety teaches people not only to enjoy being loved, but also to love others actively.
The Confucian view of the body is not individualistic but holistic, not biological but vital. It is a view of the body that contains humanistic values and moral character. Its focus is nothing else, it is love. Self-love is love for relatives, and conversely, love for relatives is love for oneself. Regardless of whether our parents are healthy or live a long life, one day they will arrive first and they will leave us. From now on, we will be separated from each other forever. As the saying goes: “The tree wants to be quiet but the wind does not stop, Zi wants to Xiu and is good at serving others, while Caiyi is good at things in the kitchen. The two complement each other and work together just right. Raise and love but don’t wait.”
My father has been gone for almost a few decades. Now that I think about my living conditions, I really want to fulfill my filial piety, but I have no chance. Sometimes I feel really helpless. And sad. Therefore, filial piety is not imposed on you by others. It is something you are willing to bear from your heart. The teaching of filial piety is ultimately the teaching of love. I think we should learn “love” again –
Learn to love your body: love your body, hair and skin, and don’t damage it easily, otherwise you will be sorry to the world and your parents.
Learn to love your parents: love your parents, brothers and children, without them our lives are incomplete.
Learn to love your family: love your ancestors, family, relatives and friends. Homeless people are the most pitiable people in the world.
Learn to love books: A person who loves reading and learning can not only avoid emptiness and depravity, but also forget the pain and feel happiness.
Learn to love your job and be dedicated to your job: Those who do not respect their profession and labor will not gain the respect and love of others.
Finally, let us end tomorrow’s lecture on filial piety with a poem. This poem is titled “See or Not See”:
You may see me, or you may not see me
I am there
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Neither sad nor happy
You may miss me, but you may not miss me
Love is there
No return, no return
You love me, maybe you don’t love me
Love is there
Neither increasing nor decreasing…
You only have one life. In this life, we and our parents, whether you love them or not, will never see each other again in the next life. When we understand this, we should feel deeply moved by our own civilization and feel a sense of simple pride.
Okay, I’ll stop here, thank you, master!
(This article is based on the recording of the lecture at the “Cross-Strait Chinese Studies Night Lecture” at Xiamen Zhuzi Academy on March 22, 2021)