From: Yan Yuan in the Spring and Autumn Period of The Analects of Confucius.
Excerpts from the original text:
Sima Niu said sadly, "Everyone has brothers, but I am alone." Xia Zi said: "Businessmen have all heard:' Life and death have a life, and wealth is in the sky.' A gentleman treats others with courtesy, and all men are brothers within the four seas. Why don't gentlemen have brothers? "
Explanation:
Sima Niu said sadly, "Everyone else has brothers, but I don't." Xia Zi said: "I have heard:' Life and death have a life, and wealth is in the sky.' As long as a gentleman takes what he has done seriously, does not make mistakes, respects others and conforms to the rules of etiquette and righteousness, then everyone in the world is his brother. Why should a gentleman have no brothers? "
Extended data
Sima Niu Xuanbu didn't recognize Huan Xuan as his younger brother, which was contrary to the concept of Xun advocated by Confucianism. But because his younger brother was guilty of insurrection, Confucius did not blame him, but advised him not to be sad or afraid. As long as he had a clear conscience, he was a "benevolent man". In this chapter, Xia Zi also encourages Sima Niu, saying that as long as his words and deeds are in line with the "ceremony", he will win the praise of everyone in the world, and don't worry that he has no brothers, "all brothers are also within the four seas."
His thoughts and actions against rebellion were beneficial to the rulers to maintain social order, so he was sacrificed and rewarded by officials in previous dynasties. Ming Di Yongping, the monarch of the Eastern Han Dynasty, sacrificed Confucius and his seventy-two disciples in the fifteenth year (72), and he was one of them. In the 27th year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (739), it was named "Xiang Bo". In the second year, Song Zhenzong Dazhong Xiangfu sealed "Chu Hou". He devoted himself to spring for three years (1267) and worshipped Confucius as the "Emperor Sui".