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孔子名丘，字仲尼。春秋魯國曲阜人。生有聖德，學無常師。是位學而不厭，誨而不倦之教育家。創立平民教育，提倡文武合一。故以禮樂射御書數六藝為教材，後人尊為萬世師表。曾為魯國大司寇，攝行相事，三月大治，有路不拾遺，夜不閉戶之德政。齊國妒之，獻女樂與魯公，三日不朝。遂辭官遊列國，未實現政治抱負。六十八歲返魯，刪詩書，訂禮樂，贊周易，著春秋。春秋有寓褒貶，別善惡之作用，當時亂臣賊子懼。在政治主張忠君愛國，在教育主張有教無類。在宗教主張敬鬼神而遠之。在學術主張仁民愛物。麒麟現而絕筆，享年七十有三。
這位古今中外出乎其類，拔乎其萃的聖人，姓孔名丘，生於尼山，故字仲尼。一般人稱他「子」，「子」即孔老夫子。父親叫叔梁紇，孔子有位殘廢的哥哥，所以有人叫他孔老二。春秋時代魯國山東曲阜縣人。生有瑞相，麒麟口裡吐玉書，又有九龍噴甘泉，洗他的身體，生來就與眾不同。一生僕僕風塵，想挽回世界的頹風，令世界平安。
孔子生有聖德，學無常師，以「眾人是我師，我是眾人師。時常師自己，自己時常師。」的態度來學習。是位學而不厭，誨而不倦之教育家。無論學什麼，聽什麼道理，都沒有厭倦、不願意聽的時候。不像我們，聽這個人講得好就願意聽，聽那個人講得不好就不願意聽。他教誨人不厭倦，無論是聰明或不聰明的學生，他都一樣循循善誘來教導。以禮樂射御書數六藝為教材，創立平民教育，提倡文武合一，後人尊稱為“萬世師表”。
曾任魯國大司寇，攝行丞相之事，發政施仁，三個月魯國大治。“路不拾遺，夜不閉戶”；路上有人丟了東西沒有人撿，為什麼呢？因為沒有人貪，晚間睡覺也不需要鎖門。“槍刀入庫，馬放南山”。槍刀都收起來，馬都趕到山上去餵草，到處是太平的現象。此時齊國深怕魯國強盛，將來會佔領齊國，於是想出一個破壞魯國政治的方法，訓練一班妖艷迷人，能歌善舞的女人去迷惑魯公。
當時魯國有一位大夫叫季桓子，接受了齊國的女樂，獻給魯公。魯公看到女樂不顧一切，吃喝玩樂，三天也不管朝廷政治，孔子看到這種情形，辭官不做，周遊列國想要發展他救世思想。可惜各國元首了無大志，沒有眼光，沒人用他。自古以來大多數的人，都是很自私的，各國元首怕用了他，自己就不能那麼盡情享樂了。
孔子無法實現偉大抱負，返回魯國，杏壇設教。杏壇是他教學之處。他在那兒教化人民，不論貧富，教育普及。門人有三千多人，精通六藝者有七十二人，其中最聰明的是顏回。孔老夫子講什麼，他都心領神會。孔老夫子讚歎顏回說：「吾與回言終日，不違如愚。退而省其私，亦足以發，回也，不愚！」我和顏回講話，顏回終日不語，也不知道他懂了沒懂，像一個很愚癡的人。等他回去，看他私人生活方式，和我所教的是一樣的。他有很多地方都有特別的發揮，顏回其實不是愚癡的人。
孔子返魯後，刪詩書、訂禮樂、贊周易、著春秋。詩經本來有很多首，孔子在其中選出最有教育價值的共三百首，並刪去書經中不正確的部分，訂禮記、音樂，贊歎周易。易經中有孔子作的贊辭。寫「春秋」，此書有寓褒貶，別善惡的作用，令當時的亂臣賊子不敢亂來，有所恐懼。在政治，主張忠君愛國。在教育，主張有教無類，在宗教，主張敬鬼神而遠之；在學術，主張仁民愛物。“麒麟現而絕筆”，最後見到麒麟被獵人抓住，他的頸上還有母親在他出生時繫的一條絨線，孔子說：「唐虞世兮麟鳳遊，今非其時何來求？麟兮麟兮吾心憂。」言畢絕筆，不再著書。享年七十三歲。
待續 |
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Essay:
Confucius was named Qiu and also known as Zhong Ni. He was a native of Qufu in the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period. He was born with the virtues of a sage and learned from different teachers. He was an educator who never wearied of learning and teaching. He established universal education and advocated the integration of scholastic and martial arts. Therefore, his teaching material was based on the Six Arts—ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. Later generations called him “a model teacher for all generations.” As the head of the judiciary of the state of Lu, he performed the work of a Minister. After three months under his rule, the nation was so well governed that lost articles remained untouched on the road and doors could be left unlocked at night. Out of jealousy, the state of Qi offered female musicians to the Duke of Lu. Consequently, the Duke of Lu didn’t hold court for three days. Confucius resigned his post and traveled through the different states. He never managed to realize his political ambitions. At the age of 68, he returned to Lu, where he compiled the
Book of Odes and the Book of History, organized the
Book of Propriety and the Book of Songs, praised the
Book of Changes and wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals. Since the
Spring and Autumn Annals served to praise and critique, and to distinguish between good and evil, it was feared by traitors and usurpers.
In politics he favored loyalty and patriotism; with regard to education he advocated education for those of all walks of life; in religion he respected spirits and gods but kept his distance; with regard to learning, he believed in being humane to people and creatures. He quit writing when a unicorn was sighted, and passed away at 73.
Commentary:
This was an outstanding sage of China and in the world. He was born on a sacred hill (qiu) called Ni. Confucius’ surname was Kong, his first name was Qiu, and he was also known as Zhong Ni. Usually people call him Elder Teacher Kong. His father’s name was Shu Liang He. Confucius had an older brother who was disabled. People called Confucius “Kong Lao Er” (the second born of the Kung’s). He was a native of Qufu in Shandong Province in the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period. His birth was marked by auspicious signs. A unicorn appeared, carrying in its mouth a jade tablet inscribed with a prophecy. Nine dragons used sweet dew to bathe him. He was different from others. He traveled throughout his life in order to save the world from deterioration and to bring it peace.
Confucius was born with sage-like virtues and did not study with a fixed teacher. His attitude was, “Everyone is my teacher and I’m everyone’s teacher. I always teach myself and I am constantly a teacher.” He was an educator who never tired of learning or teaching. Whenever he studied or listened to principles, he was never tired or unwilling to listen. We, on the other hand, don’t like to listen to someone unless he or she is eloquent or speaks powerfully. When he taught students, intelligent or otherwise, he never grew tired or weary. He taught them impartially and guided them gently. Adopting the Six Arts—ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics—as teaching material, he established education for the common people and promoted a combination of scholastic and martial arts. He was honored with a posthumous name of “a model teacher for all generations.”
Confucius was the Head of the Judiciary in the State of Lu and did the work of a prime minister. Under his rule, within three months the state was well governed. People wouldn’t take things left on the road and nobody needed to lock their doors at night. If someone lost something on the roadside, no one would pick it up. Why was this? Because no one was greedy. It was safe to leave doors unlocked at night. All the weapons were stored in the stockroom; horses were left free to roam the mountains to forage. Signs of peace were everywhere. At that time the State of Qi feared that if the State of Lu became too powerful, it would occupy Qi, so they thought of a way to destroy Lu’s government by training a group of charming women skilled in dancing and singing to delude the Duke of Lu.
At that time there was an official, Ji Huan Zi, in the State of Lu, who accepted a female music troupe from the State of Qi and offered them to the Duke of Lu. Seeing them, the Duke of Lu abandoned everything and indulged in sensual pleasures. For three days he ignored the governance of the state. Seeing this, Confucius resigned from his post and went traveling throughout various states hoping to further his ideas on saving the world. Unfortunately, the rulers of these states had no ambition and no ability to recognize talent, so no one employed him. Since ancient times, most people have been selfish; all these leaders were afraid that if he were in office, they could not recklessly enjoy their pleasures.
Confucius returned to the State of Lu and set up a school to teach students, because he couldn’t carry out his great ambition. The Apricot Grove was where Confucius taught. He taught people, poor or rich, offering education to all. He had over three thousand students, seventy-two of which were skilled in the Six Arts. The most intelligent was Yan Hui, for he understood whatever Confucius taught. Thus Confucius praised him, “I talked to Hui all day and he made no objections to anything I said—as if he were stupid. When I observe his conduct while he is away from me, I find that he is able to apply my teachings. Hui is no fool.” When Confucius talked to Yan Hui, he was silent all day long. Confucius was not sure if this disciple grasped the principles because he looked dumb. After Yan Hui left and Confucius examined his lifestyle, he found it tallied with his teachings. In many aspects Hui practiced the teachings; Hui was really not deluded.
After Confucius returned to Lu, he compiled the
Book of Odes and the Book of History, organized the
Book of Rites and the Book of Songs, praised the
Book of Changes, and wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals. Originally, there were more pieces in the
Book of Odes. Confucius selected the 300 most educational ones and deleted incorrect parts in the
Book of History. He put in order the Book of Rites, the
Book of Songs, and he praised the Book of Changes of the Zhou Dynasty. The
Book of Changes has a praise composed by Confucius. He wrote the
Spring and Autumn Annals which contains praises and critiques to discern good and evil; it made traitors and usurpers afraid so that they dared not misbehave themselves.
His political philosophy was that people should be loyal to their ruler and their country. His view on education was that people should not be discriminated because of their social standing, and he taught everyone equally. On religion, he instructed us to respect ghosts and spirits but keep a good distance from them. On study, he taught us to be humane and benevolent toward people and things. Upon the manifestation of a unicorn, he stopped writing. When Confucius saw the unicorn captured by a hunter, he noticed it had on its neck a thread tied by his mother when he was born. Confucius said, “In the time of King Yu of Tang, the unicorn and phoenix roamed freely. It is no longer that time. Why has a unicorn shown up? Its appearance worries me.” After he said that, he stopped writing. He passed away at the age of 73.
To be continued
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