Zeng Shen

Zeng Zi

Zeng Zi (505-435 BC), surnamed Si, Zeng's, and Shen (there are two versions in academic circles, one is sh ē n, the other is C ā n), and Zi Yu is a native of nanwucheng (now Pingyi, Shandong, and Jiaxiang, Shandong). At the end of the spring and Autumn period, he was a thinker, a master of Confucianism, one of Confucius' late disciples, an important representative of the Confucian school, and the descendants of Xia Yu. His father, Zeng Dian, was one of the seventy-two sages. He was a teacher of Confucius with his son Zeng Shen.

Advocating the Confucian thought with "filial piety, forgiveness, loyalty and faithfulness" as the core, the political view of "repairing Qi and governing Ping", the self-cultivation view of "introspection and self-care" and the filial piety view of "filial piety as the foundation" still have extremely valuable social significance and practical value. Zeng Zi participated in the compilation of the Analects of Confucius, University, filial piety and ten articles of Zeng Zi.

In the sixth year of King Kao of Zhou Dynasty (435 BC), he died at the age of 71. Zengzi played an important role in the history of Confucianism. Later, he was honored as "Zongsheng", and became one of the four accessories of Confucius Temple, second only to "Fusheng" Yan Yuan.

Life of the characters

After Xia Yu

The 25th son of the Yellow Emperor is Changyi. Changyi gave birth to Zhuanxu, Zhuanxu gave birth to Gan, and Gan gave birth to Yu. Yu Ziqi established the Xia Dynasty, the first hereditary Dynasty in Chinese history. The capital of Xia Dynasty was built in Yangcheng, which is the southeast of Dengfeng County in Henan Province. Shaokang, the king of Xia, granted his second son Qu lie the title of Zengzi Jue, and established the state of Zhu in Zengzi. The state of Chu went through Xia, Shang and Zhou, and was destroyed by the state of Ju in 567 BC. Prince Wu went out to settle in Nanwu city of the state of Lu. Later, he took the surname "Yi" instead of Yi Pang (Yi), which means that he left the old city and did not forget his ancestors. He was called "Zeng", and xuansun was Zeng Zi.

Learn from Confucius

Zeng Zi was born on October 12, 505 BC (the 15th year of King Jing of Zhou Dynasty and the 5th year of Duke Ding of Lu Dynasty).

Zeng Shen, who often studied poetry and books with his father, said that he was "studying hard at his desk". In 492 BC (the third year of Duke AI of Lu Dynasty), "I worked hard under Mount Tai, but I couldn't return for ten days in case of heavy rain and snow. I thought about my parents and wrote the song of Liangshan." (see Huainanzi)

In 490 B.C. (the fifth year of Duke AI of Lu Dynasty), the 16-year-old once visited Confucius as his teacher. He was diligent and studious, and won the true biography of Confucius.

In 482 B.C. (the 13th year of Duke AI of Lu Dynasty), Yan Hui, a talented disciple of Confucius, died of illness, and Zeng Shen became the main successor of Confucius' theory.

In 480 B.C. (the 15th year of Duke AI of Lu), Confucius called and told it, "if you can participate in it, my way is consistent." Zengzi said, "only the way of master is loyalty and forgiveness." (Analects of Confucius · Liren) Confucius taught Zeng Shen in his great learning.

Confucius Tuogu

In 479 BC (the 16th year of Duke AI of Lu), Zeng Shen was 27 years old. Confucius died at the age of 73. Zeng shenruo lost his father and did not wear clothes. He guarded Confucius' tomb. On his deathbed, Confucius entrusted his grandson (the orphan of Kong Li) Zisi to Zeng Shen.

In 476 BC (the 19th year of Duke AI of Lu), Zeng Shen was 30 years old. After three years of guarding the tomb, Confucius disciples Zixia, Ziyou and Zizhang thought that youruo looked like Confucius. They wanted to serve youruo as Confucius and forced Zeng Shen to agree. Zeng Shen refused to say, "it's impossible to do this. The teacher's virtue is like the washing of the Yangtze River, like the sunshine of autumn, pure and white. How can we just look like it? " (see Mencius, Teng Wengong)

In 475 BC (the 20th year of Duke AI of Lu), Zeng Shen was 31 years old. When his father died of illness, he once participated in "tears gush like a spring, and the water slurry does not enter the mouth for seven days", and later "every time I read the funeral ceremony, I will weep" (see the book of rites)

Refuse to enter the official career

In 468 BC (the 27th year of Duke AI of Lu), Zeng Shen was 38 years old. The doctor of Wucheng appointed Zeng Shen as the guest teacher and set up the teaching in Wucheng.

In 456 BC (the 11th year of Lu mourning), Zeng Shen was 50 years old. At that time, Qi appointed prime minister, Chu Yingyi Lingyin, Jin Yingshang Qing, Zeng Zi should not be ordered.

Zeng Shen was 51 years old in 455 BC. In 454 BC, Zeng Shen was 52 years old.

In 446 BC (the 21st year of Lu's mourning), Zeng Shen was 60 years old. He set up a religion with Zixia and Duan ganmu in Xihe area.

Died of illness in the state of Lu

Zeng Shen was 70 years old in 436 B.C. That year, Zeng Shen was sick and bedridden. He called his disciples to him and said, "lift up the quilt and look at my feet and hands. They are well preserved."! My life is just like what the book of songs says: "trembling, like facing the abyss, like walking on thin ice." Be careful to protect yourself. From now on, I know that the body can be free from damage. Boys, remember! And he said to himself that there are three ways to cultivate a gentleman: "moving appearance is so far away, violent and slow, right color is so close to believing, and words are so far away and despicable." Can I do these three things? Never forget to cultivate yourself. (the Analects of Confucius · Taibo)

In 435 BC (the 32nd year of Lu's mourning), Zeng Shen was 71 years old. One night, Zeng Zi, who was in critical condition, suddenly remembered that there was a beautiful mat under his body, which was given to him by Ji sun, a doctor of Lu. He thought that he had not been a doctor all his life and should not lay the mat for doctors, so he asked his sons to replace the mat. Before the mat was ready, he died at the age of 71.

Main ideas

ethical philosophy

Zeng Zi's great learning puts forward three principles at the beginning of his book, namely, to be moral, to be close to the people, and to be perfect, and eight items, namely, to study things, to be knowledgeable, to be upright, to be sincere, to cultivate one's morality, to govern one's family, to govern the country, and to pacify the world. "In ancient times, those who want to understand morality in the world first govern their country; those who want to govern their country first govern their families; those who want to govern their families first cultivate their bodies; those who want to cultivate their bodies first correct their hearts; those who want to correct their hearts first sincerely express their ideas; those who want to sincerely express their ideas first acquire their knowledge. Learning lies in studying things. After studying things, you will know what you want; after knowing what you want, you will know what you want; after meaning, you will know what you want; after heart, you will know what you want; after body, you will know what you want; after family, you will know what you want; after country, you will know what you want; after country, you will know what you want. " It constitutes a complete political philosophy system of feudal ethics.

People are expensive

Zengzi Tianyuan points out: "the essence of Yang is called spirit, the essence of Yin is called spirit, and the spirit is the essence of things. The Qi of yin and Yang follows its own course, and then it is quiet. Partial wind, all are snow, traffic is electricity, chaos is fog, and rain. If Yang Qi wins, it will disperse into rain and dew; if Yin Qi wins, it will condense into frost and snow. The special Qi of Yang is hail, and the special Qi of Yin is graupel. If there is hail, it will melt with one breath. "

According to Zengzi Tianyuan, caterpillars and feather insects are metaplasia of Yang Qi, while scale insects and scale insects are metaplasia of Yin Qi. Human beings are born of yin and Yang.

This obviously highlights the position of man in the universe. This is the characteristic of Confucianism. "Zengzi Da Xiao" said: "heaven is born, earth is raised, man is big." He thinks that man is the greatest between heaven and earth, "the nature of heaven and earth is precious" (filial piety). In the book of rites of xiaodailiyun, it is said that "the five elements of human beings are delicate." Xunzi inherited and developed this thought. He thought that human beings did not conform to nature and submit to nature, but actively transformed nature. "From the heaven and tilt it, which and control the destiny and use it" (Xunzi · Tianlun). Discovering and attaching importance to the role of human beings is the cream of Confucianism.

Don't worry about power

In Volume 1 of Han Shi waizhuan, he served as an official in Ju to support his parents, and once held the official post of "getting Su Sanbing". Although he has political experience, he is still a Confucian Intellectual. Its root lies in his ideological character of abiding by etiquette, filial piety, and being strict with the power. He once said: "a scholar can not but be resolute. He has a long way to go." "Benevolence is our duty, isn't it? Is it not too far to die? " (the Analects of Confucius · Taibo) "you can trust a lonely person of six feet, you can send a hundred miles of life, and you can't seize the festival.". A gentleman and a gentleman? " (the Analects of Confucius · Taibo) and "Zhuangzi · rang Wang" recorded: "Zeng Zi lived in Wei, warm robe without a watch, swollen color, callose hands and feet, three days without fire, ten years without clothing. Crown and tassel is absolutely, catch Jin and elbow see, take shoes (Yi) and heel decision. The song "Ode to business" is full of sound, like a golden sound. The son of heaven is not a minister, and the princes are not friends. Therefore, those who cultivate ambition forget shape, those who cultivate shape forget benefit, and those who cultivate Tao forget heart. " "Shuo yuan · Li Jie" states: "Zeng Zi used his clothes to plough, but Lu Jun sent people to Zhiyi." "Han Shi waizhuan" says that "Qi employed a prime minister, Chu Ying Ling Yin, Jin Ying Qing above, all should not be ordered."

Famous sayings

Zengzi said: "loyalty, the filial piety and? Filial son does not climb high, does not walk in danger, Bi also Fu by; meticulous smile, meticulous Zi, hidden life, temporary does not mean. So it's not in particular. "

Zengzi said: "the gentleman establishes filial piety, the use of loyalty, the high ceremony."

Zeng Zi said: "there are three filial piety: filial piety and respect for relatives, followed by no humiliation, the next can support."

Zengzi said, "I have heard from all the teachers that if a man does not make his own decisions, he will be bereaved.". "

Zengzi said, "I heard from all the teachers that the filial piety of Mencius and Zhuangzi is also possible. It is impossible for him not to change his father's officials and his father's politics. "

Zengzi said: "I think about myself three times a day - is it cheating on others? Do you believe in making friends? Is it easy to pass on? "

Zengzi said, "when a bird is dying, its song is sad; when a man is dying, his words are good. A gentleman is more valuable than Tao. Third, if you move your appearance, you will be far away from being violent and slow. If you correct your color, you will be near believing. If you express your words, you will be far away from being despicable. In the case of the bean, there is the secretary. "

Zengzi said: "to be able to ask in the can't, to ask more in the few, if there is no, if there is a real place, breaking without learning, in the past my friends have been engaged in this. "

Zengzi said, "a gentleman can think beyond his place. "Zeng Zi said," it's Zhang Ye! It's hard to combine with benevolence. "

Zengzi said, "you can trust the orphan of six feet, you can send the life of a hundred miles, and you can't seize it on the occasion of a great festival? A gentleman is a man. "

Zengzi said, "a scholar can't be free from great ambition

Chinese PinYin : Ceng Can