Taber Chapter 3: When he was ill, he called his younger brother and said, "Enlightenment is enough! Yu Kaishou! " "Poetry" said:' Treading on thin ice with trepidation. From time to time, I know that I am free from my husband! Boy! "
A baseless conversation
Ceng Zi was very ill, so he called his disciples and said, "Come to my feet and let me have a look! Look at my hands! The Book of Songs says:' Beware of fear, as walking beside the abyss, as walking on thin ice.' From now on, I know I can avoid being dismembered! Boys! "
One of my thoughts is, why did I say "Ceng Zi is ill" instead of "Ceng Zi is ill"?
Ceng Zi, Zeng Shen, a 46-year-old young Confucius, was one of the important disciples of Confucius in his later years. His father Ceng Dian was also a student of Confucius, so Ceng Zi was influenced by Confucian culture since he was a child. Although he is not clever, he is diligent, can listen to the teacher's instruction, practice faithfully and save himself three times a day. In particular, he can consciously abide by and practice the Book of Filial Piety taught by Confucius, so Confucius entrusted his little grandson Kong Ji (Zi Si) to Ceng Zi, who was only 27 years old. Ceng Zi, the author of The Great Learning and The Book of Filial Piety, is the main inheritor and disseminator of Confucius' theory, which plays an important role in connecting the preceding with the following in Confucian culture and is respected as a saint by later generations.
On his deathbed, Ceng Zi gathered all his disciples and confessed his last words: "Look at my feet, look at my hands. In the Book of Songs, it is said that' walking on thin ice with trepidation'. From now on, I can avoid damaging my body given by my parents, classmates! "
"Sickness" and "Shuowen" said that "illness is aggravated" refers to the aggravation of illness, so "illness" can be understood as a minor illness with a serious illness. At this time, Ceng Zi was seventy-one. As an old man in his seventies, he knew that he was coming to the end of his life, so he called his disciples to explain things. Generally speaking, it should be said that "Ceng Zi is seriously ill" and "critically ill", but why did Ceng Zi's disciples record it as "Ceng Zi is ill" and say it was a minor illness? This is because Ceng Zi is old and dead, so he said "Ceng Zi is ill" instead of "sick".
Thinking 2: Why did Ceng Zi ask his disciples to "enlighten their feet and hands" before he died?
Wei zu! Yu Kai's hand! There are three explanations in later generations: one is to lift the quilt to see if there is any damage to hands and feet; Second, it helps to open hands and feet; The third is to look at your hands and feet carefully. Although the three explanations are different, they all think that Ceng Zi asked his disciples to do this because "his parents dare not harm him because of his physical injuries", which is an example of Ceng Zi's filial piety education for his disciples before his death.
Why did Ceng Zi call his disciples to see his hands and feet on his deathbed? Generally speaking, last words are crucial and crucial instructions. So, Ceng Zi's words and deeds here are obviously what Ceng Zi thinks is the most important and valuable thing for his disciples. I hope the disciples can remember it firmly and practice hard.
The core of Confucian education is benevolence, and the root of benevolence is filial piety. The so-called "filial piety is also the foundation of benevolence?" (Chapter 2 of Learning) So where does "filial piety" begin? Confucius said in the Book of Filial Piety: "Parents dare not damage their skin. Filial piety begins. " People's bodies, limbs, hair and skin are all given by their parents, and they dare not be easily damaged or disabled. This is the beginning of filial piety.
Confucius also said in the Book of Rites: "Both parents are born and all children return, which can be described as filial piety." Your parents gave birth to your body completely. Give your whole body back to your parents when you die. This can be called filial piety.
Every parent wants their children to grow up healthily without being hurt. When a child's body is hurt, parents can't wait to bear the pain. So we can see that many parents can personally transfuse blood for their children and even transplant body organs.
For the dutiful son, it is obviously unacceptable for his parents to feel pain because of his carelessness, so the dutiful son will pay great attention to taking care of his body to reassure his parents.
Therefore, the dutiful son will not violate the traffic rules and put himself in unnecessary danger; Filial sons don't easily do things that hurt their health, such as staying up late, drinking, overeating and even taking risks. Of course, they don't fight, take drugs or commit crimes.
If we can all be dutiful sons and protect our bodies, how many conflicts and even crimes will be reduced in society.
How to understand the Confucian emphasis on "body"
Some people may say, "Everyone is afraid of hurting their health. Who will do the risky work that must be done? " For example, soldiers can't be afraid of death. "
That's right. Therefore, the master said that not daring to damage the body and skin is only the beginning of filial piety. "The Book of Filial Piety" also said: "Stand on the street and leave a name for future generations to show your parents and be filial to the end." One can cultivate one's self-cultivation and become a truly valuable person to the family, the country and the world, because your existence makes the world a better place, makes him loved by everyone, benefits future generations and makes parents feel honored. This is the ultimate goal of filial piety.
So Confucianism didn't say that you can't do things that hurt your body. When you really stand on the road, you still have to "do your part" or even "give your life for justice" What Confucianism opposes is only those behaviors that easily damage one's body for meaningless things, and even take unnecessary risks, so there is a saying that "a dangerous country does not enter, and a chaotic country does not live."
Ceng Zi is a man with the highest filial piety, so he showed his body to his disciples before he died, just to tell them the filial piety of "covered in skins, parents dare not hurt".