A memorial tablet for Confucius to enter the Zhou Dynasty

The inscription of Confucius' entering Zhou Dynasty was made in 1727, the fifth year of Yongzheng reign in Qing Dynasty. It was engraved by Zhang Han Shudan, the official of Henan Province, and Guo Chaoding, the magistrate of Luoyang county during the reign of Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty. The stele is 3.056 meters high and 0.92 meters wide. On the surface of the stele, nine characters are inscribed: "Confucius asked about rites and music in Zhou Dynasty".

A memorial tablet for Confucius to enter the Zhou Dynasty

Located in the east of Dongguan Street, Fuhe District, the monument is 3.056 meters high and 0.92 meters wide. On the surface of the tablet, nine characters are engraved in the Inscriptions: "Confucius asked about rites and music in Zhou Dynasty". This monument was erected in 1728 A.D. in the fifth year of Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was erected when Zhang Han, the official of Henan Province, and Guo Chaoding, the county magistrate of Luoyang, rebuilt the Confucian temple.

Life story

Confucius (551-479 B.C.) was named Qiu, with the word Zhongni. He was born in zouyi of the state of Lu (now Southeast of Qufu, Shandong). At the end of the spring and Autumn period, he was a thinker, educator and the ancestor of Confucianism. Confucius asked about rites and music in Zhou Dynasty in the 24th year of Duke Lu Zhao (518 BC). At that time, he asked Duke Lu Zhao to visit Luoyang. The Duke of Lu Zhao agreed, and gave him a chariot of two horses, sent a royal husband, and asked the aristocrat Nangong Jingshu to go with him

.

Confucius came all the way to Luoyang. He not only consulted Laozi about the etiquette of the Zhou Dynasty, but also learned the noble music from the doctor of Zhou Dynasty. He also visited the temples of the royal city. He paid a visit to the Ming hall where the emperor of Zhou summoned the princes and carried out the national ceremony. He also visited the ancestral temple of Hou Ji and the Social altar where he offered sacrifices to heaven and earth. Through his visit and investigation, he admired the Duke of Zhou who formulated the ritual and music system of the Western Zhou Dynasty. When he was ready to return to the state of Lu, Laozi saw him off and gave him a farewell speech

.

The stele "Confucius asked about rites and music in Zhou Dynasty" records the historical event that Confucius came to Luoyang to ask about rites and music more than 2000 years ago from Qufu, Shandong Province. The monument was once broken and the top half fell to one side. In 1961, according to the suggestions of Zhang Naiqi, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a member of the Chinese people's Political Consultative Conference, and Zhang Bojun, the restoration was carried out

.

Confucius asked Li to Laozi

There is such a record in historical records: "Confucius Shizhou, will ask the ceremony to Laozi, Laozi day:" the person and bone of what he said are decayed, only his words in the ear. And a gentleman can drive when he has the right time, but not when he is tired. I heard it, good Jia deep if empty, gentleman virtue, appearance if stupid. It is not good for a son to get rid of his arrogance, lust, lust and lust. So I tell you, if it's just. "

The records in historical records are basically credible. Lao Tzu's views on Confucius are consistent with one of the consistent thoughts in Lao Tzu.

In the pre Qin classics, Zhuangzi of the Taoist school, the book of rites of the Confucian school and Lu's spring and Autumn Annals of various schools all recorded the historical fact that Confucius asked for rites from Laozi.

There are 16 references to Laozi in Zhuangzi. Eight of the 16 articles are about the relationship between Confucius and Laozi. Among the eight items, Tiandi chapter records the discussion between Laozi and Confucius on "Zhi Dao"; Tiandao chapter records the discussion between Confucius and Laozi on "Shi", "Shu", "Yi", "Li" and "Ren Yi"; Tianyun chapter records the discussion between Laozi and Confucius on Tao, Ren Yi, ancient classics (Six Classics) and "Three Emperors and five emperors ruling the world"; Tianzifang chapter records the discussion between Laozi and Confucius on "Zhi Dao", "Ren Yi", "Ren Yi", "Ren Yi" and "Ren Yi" This paper discusses Lao Tzu and Confucius about "the way of heaven" (cosmology); travel to the North records Lao Tzu and Confucius about the spontaneity of heaven and earth. In Zhuangzi, there are nineteen fables and seventeen tautologies. In its fable part, "except for the completely elevated figures, there is no disorder in the relationship between historical figures.". What we are talking about here is the so-called "restatement seventeen"!

In addition, a close examination of the records of the relationship between historical figures in Zhuangzi, such as the relationship between Confucius and his disciples Yan Yuan, Zi Lu, ran Qiu, Confucius and ye Gongzi Gao, Confucius and Chu Kuang Jie, Huizi and Zhuangzi, Gongsun Longzi and Wei Mou, Guan Zhong and Qi HuanGong and so on, shows that there are 79 times of absolutely possible and probably possible questions or contacts There are only two times when it is absolutely impossible. That is to say, the record of Confucius asking for rites from Laozi in Zhuangzi is not made up out of thin air.

Lu's spring and Autumn Annals is a combination of Confucianism, Taoism, farmers, yin and Yang, Legalists and other schools of thought. There are five points about Lao Tzu in the book: (1) GUI Gong Pian says Lao Tzu is "Zhi Gong"; (2) dangran Pian says "Confucius learns from Lao Tzu"; (3) Qu you Pian says Lao Tzu is "independent, it will not conform to the customs"; (4) Bu Er Pian says "Lao Tzu is gentle, Confucius is benevolent"; (5) Chongyan Pian says "sages listen to silence, see invisible The old man is also a "man". These records not only show the thought and image of Lao Tzu, but also show the fact that "Lao Tzu and Confucius are the teachers of Confucius at the same time", which is "no doubt" in the group of scholars under the LV clan.

Another important record of the relationship between Lao and Kong can be found in Zeng Ziwen in the book of rites of Confucianism. There are four records of Confucius talking about Laozi in Zeng Zi Wen. Three of them are "I heard about the old days". Another also said that "I was buried in the alley party from laodan.". In terms of content, they are all the teachings that Confucius got from laodan under certain unusual circumstances. Professor Xu Fuguan believes that the story in Zeng Ziwen is "different from the legend in Zhuangzi and other scholars in content; it comes from Confucianism itself and belongs to another system completely, but in the relationship between Confucius and Laozi, it can still be mutually printed, so it can be accepted that the story is true." He also said: "the book of rites was compiled in the Han Dynasty, and the opposition between Confucianism and Taoism has become very obvious. The four stories in Zeng Zi Wen are not from the pre Qin Confucianism, but from the early Han Confucianism. What about the ambition of others

The three different schools of thought in the pre Qin period all recorded that Confucius asked Li to Laozi. In addition, in the academic atmosphere of rejecting hundreds of schools and respecting Confucianism alone, the works of Han Confucianism, such as Han Shi waizhuan, also recorded that "Confucius learned from laodan" and "Confucius asked Laozi" in Confucius' family language. All these ancient books and records prove that "Confucius learned from laodan" is an indisputable historical fact

.

The time, place and content of Confucius' asking ceremony to Laozi

It is a historical fact that "Confucius asked Li to Laozi". Now let's further explore the time, place and content of Confucius asking Li to Laozi. There are four opinions about the time when Confucius asked the ceremony to Laozi: (1) Confucius asked the ceremony to Laozi when he was seventeen years old. Gao Heng said that "Confucius asked the ceremony to Laozi when he was seventeen years old" according to Bian Shao's Laozi inscription and Li Daoyuan's shuijingzhu Weishui. According to the records of the solar eclipse in the seventh year of Zhaogong in the spring and Autumn Annals, he held this opinion. ① (2) when Confucius was 34 years old, he asked Lao Tzu for rites. According to the records in Zeng Zi Wen that Confucius had food when Lao Tzu was buried and the records of solar eclipse in the 24th year of Zhaogong in spring and Autumn Annals, he calculated the age of Confucius at that time. (3) At the age of 51, Confucius asked Laozi to be polite. "Zhuangzi Tianyun chapter" records: "Confucius travel 50 years, there is one, but did not hear the road, is the South Pei see laodan." Huang Fanggang thought: "Laozi Jupei, Zhuangzi repeatedly said, Pei is the land of Song Dynasty. Confucius was born in Song Dynasty, and it is quite reasonable to see Laozi again. " ② When Confucius was fifty-seven years old, he asked Laozi to be polite. According to the records of "solar eclipse" in Zeng Zi Wen and the records of solar eclipse in the 15th year of Dinggong in the spring and Autumn Annals, Huang Fanggang believed that Confucius was fifty-one years old when he saw Laozi twice. The second time Confucius was 57 years old. " ⑧

There are four opinions about the place where Confucius asked for rites from Laozi: (1) the biography of Laozi, biography of disciples of Zhongni and Confucius family all recorded that Confucius asked for rites from Laozi in Zhou Dynasty (now Luoyang, Henan Province). (2) In the book of rites, Zeng Ziwen said that Confucius "helped to bury the party in the lane", and the party in the lane may be Lu. (3) In Zhuangzi Tianyun, it is recorded that Confucius "Pei in the south meets laodan", and Pei is in the Song Dynasty (now Peixian County in Jiangsu Province), not far from Laozi's hometown. (4) According to the Confucius family in historical records, Confucius "lived in Chen for three years" and Laozi was from Chen (kuxian belonged to Chen). Therefore, it is possible for Confucius and Laozi to meet in Chen. As a matter of fact, Confucius may have asked Laozi more than once in time and place. In my opinion, what is recorded in the book of rites, Zeng Ziwen, is that Confucius in his youth met Lao Tzu in his middle age. When Confucius was 17 years old, Lao Tzu was exiled to the state of Lu for some political reason. This is because Confucius sought advice from Lao Tzu in Lu and "helped Lao Tzu to be buried in the alley party". The possible encounters recorded in historical records are "Confucius is suitable for Zhou Dynasty", "Confucius lives in Chen three years old" and "Confucius is rich in the South" in Zhuangzi. These are the situations that Confucius met Lao Tzu in his later years when he traveled around the world after middle age. At that time, transportation was inconvenient and information was not available, so what each school recorded was only the things that each school was familiar with. For example, the records of Zengzi school are only limited to the state of Lu; the records of Zhuangzi school are only limited to Peidi; the records of Sima Qian focus on Zhou; and so on.

In different periods and different places, the content of Confucius' asking Li to Laozi is also different. The so-called "ceremony" has broad and narrow sense

Chinese PinYin : Kong Zi Ru Zhou Wen Li Bei