Source: Song of Confucius by Sima Qian in Han Dynasty.
original text
Taishi said: The Book of Songs says: "The lofty mountains can be seen, and the broad avenues can be followed." Although I can't go back to the era of Confucius, I am very yearning for it. I read Kong's books, so I can see him. When I arrived in Shandong, I saw the halls, cars, clothes, rituals and music, and Confucian scholars exercised etiquette at Confucius' house on time. I couldn't leave.
There are many kings and saints in the world, before and after Dou Rong's death. Confucius is a civilian, and by more than ten generations, people who study have respected him. Since Tian Zi, China's "Six Arts" have been compromised by Confucius, who is the most sacred!
Translation:
Tai Shigong said: There is a saying in the Book of Songs: "The towering mountains make people look up and the wide roads make people walk." Although I can't go back to Confucius' era, I yearn for it. I read Kong's books, so I can see him.
When I went to Ludi, I saw Zhong Ni's ancestral temple, vehicles, costumes and sacrificial objects. Confucian scholars practice etiquette in Confucius' former residence on time, and I can't leave there. There are many things in the world, from kings to sages. They were all brilliant for a while before they died.
Confucius is a civilian, handed down from generation to generation, and scholars respect him. From the emperor to the princes, all the people who teach the Six Classics in the Central Plains should be judged by Confucius, who can be said to be the supreme saint!
Extended data
The core content of Confucius' political thought is "courtesy" and "benevolence". In the general plan of governing the country, he advocated "governing the country by virtue", which is the noblest way to govern the country. This strategy of governing the country is also called "rule by virtue" or "rule by courtesy". This strategy applies morality and politeness to the people, strictly follows the hierarchical system, and divides nobles and civilians into rulers and ruled. Broke the original important boundary between nobles and civilians.
Confucius lived in Lu, which had a deep tradition of patriarchal clan system in the Western Zhou Dynasty. At this time, the ruling power of the Zhou Dynasty had existed in name only, and there were constant struggles among governors, resulting in the social reality of "losing the king, abolishing etiquette and righteousness, losing political power, and being at home in the world". "No monarch, no minister, no father and no son" became the characteristic of that era.
The intensification of social contradictions has hindered the development of productive forces, and people's spirit and beliefs have also been destroyed as never before. These isomorphisms have become the historical origin and social conditions of Confucius' political thought, and "benevolence" and "courtesy" are the basic spirits of his political thought.