[Edit this paragraph] Original text
Love of Lotus⑴
(Northern Song Dynasty) Zhou Dunyi
The flowers of land and water are extremely lovely. Fan⑵. Tao Yuanming of Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemum. Since the Li and Tang Dynasties, peonies have been loved by the world. I only love the lotus that comes out of the mud ⑸ but not stained ⑹, cleans the ripples without being evil ⑺, straight from the middle to the outside, not creeping or branching ⑻, the fragrance is far and clear (9) clear (10), the pavilion is pure and clear (11), You can watch it from a distance but don't play with it (12).
I say chrysanthemum, the flower that represents seclusion (13); peony, the flower that represents wealth (14); lotus, the flower that represents the gentleman (15). Hey (16)! The love of chrysanthemums (17) is rarely heard of after Tao (18). Who can share the love of lotus (19)? The love of peony is suitable for everyone (20)!
[Edit this paragraph] Notes
1 Ailian said: Selected from "Collection of Zhou Yuan" and "Collection of Zhou Lianxi". Zhou Dunyi wrote "Tai Chi Pictures", "Tongshu" and other "shuo", which is a genre of ancient argumentative essays that can explain things and discuss principles. Shuo: It is an ancient literary style, also called Zashuo. This style of writing can generally explain things, make discussions or record narratives, all of which are intended to illustrate a truth,
to give people some kind of inspiration or give Oneself Mingzhi
"Shuo" is an ancient literary style. It can directly explain things and explain things. It can also use narrative, write about people, chant things, discuss and reason; it can also express the author's feelings.
2 Fan (fán): many.
3 Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums: Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums. Tao Yuanming (365-427), a Qian with the courtesy name Yuanliang, was born in Chaisang, Xunyang (now Jiujiang County, Jiangxi Province) in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He was a famous poet in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Is a famous hermit. He only loved chrysanthemums, and often sang about them in his poems, such as "Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the Nanshan Mountains" in the poem "Drinking Drinking", which has always been known as a famous line.
4 Since the Tang Dynasty, people have loved peonies very much: Since the Tang Dynasty, people have loved peonies very much. Li Tang refers to the Tang Dynasty. The emperor of the Tang Dynasty was named Li, so he was called "Li Tang". People in the world, ordinary people in society. People in the Tang Dynasty loved peonies, and there are many records in ancient books. For example, "Supplement to the History of the Tang Dynasty" written by Li Zhao of the Tang Dynasty said: "Peony is highly valued when traveling in the capital... Every spring and evening, the horses and carriages are crazy... Planting for profit, one day This (one plant) is worth tens of thousands (referring to money). "Very: special."
5 Silt: Sludge accumulated in river ditches or ponds.
6 dye: contamination (dirty).
7 Zhuó (zhuó) Qinglian but not enchanting: washed in clear water, but not enchanting. Mao: washing. Qinglian: The water is clear and has microwaves, here it refers to clear water. Lian: Microwave. Demon: beautiful but not dignified.
8-pass: through.
9 straight: straight.
10. No vines (màn) No branches: no branches or vines, no branches. Vines: branches and vines. Branch: long branches.
11 The fragrance is clearer and clearer: the farther away the fragrance is, the clearer it becomes. Yi: more, more.
12. Tingting Jingzhi: standing there straight and clean. Tingting: a towering appearance. Plant: stand.
13. xiè: play with. Obscene: close but not solemn. Yan: particle.
14 Hermit: A person who lives in seclusion, a hermit. In feudal society, some people did not want to join the ranks of the rulers, so they lived in seclusion. Author: ~~flower.
15 Peony: The richest flower: Peony is the richest flower (flower). I say this because peonies look very rich.
16 Gentleman: refers to a person with high moral standards.
17噫(yī): interjection, equivalent to "ala" in modern Chinese.
18 Chrysanthemum Love: Love of chrysanthemums.
19 Xian (xiǎn) Youwen: Rarely heard. Fresh: less.
20 Who is the one who gives the gift: Who is there like me?
21 Yihu: Yi: should, used here with "hu", means "of course".
22 Public: Many.
[Edit this paragraph] Translation
There are many kinds of grass and flowers on the water and on the land, and there are many things to love. Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums; since the Tang Dynasty, people have loved peonies very much; I only love lotus, which grows out of the mud but is not polluted, and has been washed in clear water but does not look charming. The stems are straight in the middle, straight in appearance, not connected or branched, and the fragrance spreads far away, which is more fragrant. It stands straight and clean. It can be viewed from a distance but cannot be played with lightly when close.
In my opinion, the chrysanthemum is the hermit among flowers; the peony is the rich and noble among flowers; and the lotus is the gentleman among flowers. well! Tao Yuanming rarely heard of his hobby of chrysanthemums. Who else is interested in lotuses like me? Of course, there are many people who love peonies!
[Edit this paragraph] Explanation of the title
"Shuo" is an ancient literary style, which can directly explain things. To explain things, you can also use narrative, write about people, chant about things, discuss and explain things; you can also express the author's feelings.
[Edit this paragraph] Appreciation
"Shuo" is one of the ancient argumentative literary styles. It often expresses emotions and aspirations by describing things. Zhou Dunyi's "A Love of the Lotus" is a rare masterpiece handed down from generation to generation in this style of expressing one's ambitions.
The lotus has been the object of praise by literati throughout the ages, but most literati marveled at its pure appearance and described it in their writings. However, this masterpiece of prose has a unique approach, through The description of the image and quality of the lotus praises the steadfast character of the lotus, thereby also showing the author's noble personality and open mind.
From the content point of view, this article can be clearly divided into two parts: the first part does its best to describe the noble image of the lotus; the second part reveals the metaphorical meaning of the lotus and comments on it. The three flowers, and the lotus describing itself, express the author's deep feelings.
In the first part of the article, it was written that the beauty of the lotus lies in the word "clean". First of all, "coming out of the mud but not stained, washing the clear ripples without being evil" describes the valuable spirit of the lotus in the mud, but it is not stained, does not follow the world, is pure and self-loving, and is innocent and natural without showing any flattery; secondly, "It is straight in the middle and straight in the outside, neither creeping nor branching", which describes its noble quality of being connected inside and outside, straight in appearance, consistent inside and outside, and not involved in clinging; again, "can be viewed from a distance but not played with", which describes the lotus as being proud and proud. Like a distinguished gentleman, he will never be despised or toyed with by the common people.
Everything mentioned above is actually a reflection of the author's personality and a self-evident expression of the author's will. We can get clear proof of this from the second part of the article. As the author said: "Who can give the love of the lotus?" The subtext is that there are too few people who have the purity of the lotus like him.
In terms of writing method, "Ai Lian Shuo" has the unique characteristics of the "Shuo" style, that is, expressing ambitions by supporting things. The article starts from "coming out of the silt but not stained", depicting the magnanimity and integrity of the lotus with thick ink and colorful colors, which expresses the author's affirmation and pursuit of ideal personality, and also reflects the author's disdain for the greed for wealth and fame in the world. Mentally and self-pursuing the beautiful sentiments of being clean and self-sufficient. At the same time, the article also uses contrast and contrast techniques, using chrysanthemums and peonies to contrast the beauty of the lotus several times in the article; it also contrasts the seclusion of the chrysanthemum, the wealth of the peony and the nobility of the lotus, which deepens the theme of "loving the lotus" , there is no empty preaching, but through the contrast of three images, it plays the role of highlighting the center and deepening the idea. The technique can be described as extremely clever. Moreover, the word "love" runs through the entire article, making the article rigorous in structure. At the end of the article, the author laments that there are very few truly reclusive scholars, that there are rare gentlemen with noble character, and that there are many common people who are greedy for wealth. It is thought-provoking and thought-provoking.
This poem is also distinctive in terms of language, that is, it is beautiful and concise, indeed as beautiful as a lotus - "no branches, no vines", no redundant useless words
The key point is to "come out of the mud without being stained, wash out the clear ripples without being evil", which is the central theme of the whole text.
The ancients generally used objects to express their feelings when writing articles. The same sentence has two meanings, one metaphorical and one expressing feelings. Similarly, "coming out of the mud is dyed, washing lotus leaves are clear but not evil" also has a second level of lyrical meaning. It is a metaphor that the author himself has the noble character of "coming out of the mud but not stained, washing the clear lotus without being evil". In fact, what he means is: the officialdom is dark, and maintaining a noble character in the officialdom is as difficult as a lotus emerging from the mud without being stained. This is also a summary of his experience as an official, because he does not want to be complicit. And "Zhuo Qinglian is not evil" is just a good wish of the author. If you often walk by the river, how can you avoid getting your shoes wet? Therefore, among hundreds of flowers, the lotus alone can do this, which is extremely valuable. This is also the author's sigh, because in the big environment, it is impossible for him to be alone, except to escape and stay away. Or like him, who conscientiously guards his own ambitions.
Zhou Dunyi's "Theory of Love of Lotus" begins with "Flowers of water and land vegetation, the most lovely ones are even sweet". The opening chapter is deep and atmospheric. It not only points out that the lotus in "The Theory of Love and Lotus" is also a flower of land and water, it also points out that the loveliness of lotus is just one of the "very beautiful" ones. This laid the logical foreshadowing for his subsequent poem "I love the lotus alone". With such an opening, the writing is extraordinary and eye-catching. Next, Zhou Dunyi did not get entangled in Shenfan, but just shortened the scene and said "Tao Yuanming of Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums", which made the meaning of the title more clear. Tao Yuanming could love chrysanthemums and express his feelings, why can't I only love lotus?
The next sentence "Since the Li and Tang Dynasties, people have loved peonies very much", which seems to be repeated, but it actually deepens the meaning of the meaning. Moreover, the inclusion of this sentence in the text makes the contrast stronger, and I pray for lotus for it. Gao Jie laid the introduction. The general idea is that Zhou Dunyi's personal love for lotus is different from that of Jin Tao Yuanming's love for chrysanthemums. In order to maintain his nobility, he would rather live in Nanshan forever. He wants to be a gentleman who emerges from the mire and is untainted in the world. This mentality of maintaining innocence in a dirty world and seeking truth alone is fundamentally different in ideological realm from the mentality of following the herd where everyone admires wealth (peony). This is the best pavement for what Ailian said is to express "coming out of the mud but not stained".
Zhou Dunyi went directly to the topic in the next sentence: "I love the lotus that comes out of the mud but is not stained, washes the clear ripples without being evil, is straight from the middle to the outside, can be viewed from a distance but not played with", wrote The language of the lotus, the heart of loving the lotus, and the aspirations of the metaphor of the lotus can be said to be integrated in one go. It seems to be an intuitive description of the lotus, but in fact, every word is to express the heart through the appearance of the lotus.
The sophistication of this writing technique is truly astonishing. It can be said that readers throughout the article have no chance to breathe. The language is otherworldly, but the aftertaste is meaningful and long, and the more you taste it, the more delicious it becomes.
At the end of the chapter, Zhou Dunyi first uses flowers as a metaphor, allowing the characteristics of flowers to be used to describe people. Although the flower is plain, the metaphor is relevant and gives people a unique taste when reading it. "I say chrysanthemum, the flower that represents seclusion; peony, the flower that represents wealth and honor; lotus, the flower that represents the gentleman." This plain sentence follows the previous stanza: "Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty only loved chrysanthemums; since Li and Tang Dynasties, the world has loved peonies; I only loved lotus..." It can be said that it is integrated without any trace. What's more important is that by using flowers as metaphors, Tao Yuanming's escape from the world and the mentality of everyone pursuing glory and wealth are vividly described without any direct accusation.
Zhou Dunyi likened himself to a gentleman through this comparison. It is better for a gentleman to do something difficult than to hide from the world. From this point of view, Zhou Dunyi is somewhat self-admiring. However, Zhou Dunyi also had some self-awareness, and then he sighed deeply: "The love of chrysanthemums is rarely heard of after Tao; who can share the love of lotus? The love of peonies is suitable for everyone." Yes, in this world of mortals, how many people can escape from the world in order to seek truth? Jin had Tao Yuanming, but now I haven't heard of anyone else doing this. Or how many people are like me, who can maintain their purity in this world, and pursue a gentlemanly demeanor like me? Most people just follow the crowd in the world. It can be seen from this that Zhou Dunyi is arrogant. His mentality of not following the crowd and only pursuing purity is rare in the ordinary world. He lamented that it was because the world was declining and most people were tainted by the world's affairs.
This article expresses the author's attitude towards life that does not seek fame and fortune, but also expresses the author's disdain for pursuing fame and fortune and following the trend.
This article is high-spirited, elegant and refined, short and catchy. It is indeed a rare fine short story in ancient Chinese literature. Moreover, it has two interpretations in one article, with rich content and profound artistic conception. In addition, its writing is similar to vernacular, easy to read and understand, so it has become a masterpiece that has been passed down to future generations. When appreciating this article, if you can be moved by the moral principles in the article, this will be the best gain from reading this article.
[Edit this paragraph] The beautiful nickname of lotus
(1) Lotus: "Erya": "Lotus, lotus, also known as lotus."
( 2) Lotus: "Erya Shicao": "Lotus, lotus... Its flowers are actually lotus, and its root is lotus."
(3) Lotus: "Song" written by Zhang Ji of Tang Dynasty "From My Brother's Suzhou" poem: "The red tangerine trees are in the night moon, and the lotus flowers are white in the autumn wind."
(4) Water Hibiscus: "Qunfang Pu": "Lotus is also called hibiscus and water hibiscus." < /p>
(5) Grass Hibiscus: Du Shi’s note says: Those grown on land are called wood hibiscus, and those grown on water are called grass hibiscus. "
(6) Water flowers: Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Lotus" has the following names: "hibiscus, hibiscus, water bloom." "
(7) Jingyou: Also known as Jingke. The lotus is clean and unstained, so people call it Jingyou.
(8) Shuizhi: Putui Bao "Ancient and Modern" Note" under "vegetation": "Hibiscus is called lotus, water eye, water mushroom, and water flower. "
(9) Zezhi: "Leiju" Guo Pu's "Erya Tu Zan·Hibiscus of Furong" says: "Hibiscus Licao, one name is Zezhi,..."
(10) Lingcao: Wu Minhong’s "Fu Rong Fu and Preface": "There is Hibiscus Lingcao, cultivated in Zhongchuan. "
(11) Yuzhi: "Compendium of Materia Medica" contains: "Lotus is also called Yuzhi. ”
(12) Gentleman Flower: Zhou Dunyi of the Northern Song Dynasty wrote "The Theory of Love of the Lotus", which said that the lotus is the gentleman among flowers, and the lotus is also called the "gentleman flower".
(13) Water Palace Fairy: Because the lotus grows in the water, the lotus stands gracefully on the water, like a fairy floating in the air, so it is named. ”
It is said that Sakyamuni was originally a Bodhisattva in heaven who came down to earth and was born to King Suddhodana of Kapilavastu. King Suddhodana’s concubine, Mrs. Maya, was as beautiful as a fairy, gentle and virtuous. She had a deep love for the king. Mrs. Maya recalled her wedding night. She vaguely saw a person riding a white elephant coming towards her in the distance and gradually getting smaller, burrowing into her belly from her right rib. She had a vague premonition that the Bodhisattva turned into a white elephant and entered the womb. Later, the pregnant Lady Maya's face was slightly flushed, and the bright green lace on her neckline looked like a lotus leaf. Like a blooming lotus. Later, when Lady Maya gave birth to the Buddha under the Sara tree, hundreds of birds sang in flocks, the heavens sang in harmony, and the flowers and trees in the four seasons bloomed together, especially a tree as big as a car suddenly bloomed in the swamp. As soon as the Buddha was born, he stood on the lotus, pointing to the sky and the earth, and said: "I am the only one in heaven and earth."
Not only that, the lotus is also closely related to Buddhist medicine. Relationship. Lotus is rich in nutrients and is both edible and medicinal. Ancient women often used lotus in the morning to apply it on their face, or take it to nourish their skin. The fresh lotus flower is soaked in boiling water, and its juice is green and fragrant. It has the effects of clearing away heat, relieving fever, promoting body fluids and appetizing. The underground rhizome of the lotus is called lotus root.
It is said that Shariputra, one of the ten disciples of Buddha, was suffering from tuberculosis. Maudgalyana came to visit him and learned that Shariputra liked to eat lotus roots, so he brought some fresh lotus roots for Shariputra to eat. Shariputra recovered after eating lotus roots. Later, Buddha's disciples often used lotus root as medicine to treat diseases, and discovered the many medicinal values ??of lotus root.
[Edit this paragraph] The beautiful qualities of lotus
"Xizhou Song", which represents the highest achievement of Yuefu folk songs in the Southern Dynasties, has a detailed description of lotus and lotus picking: " The man who opened the door didn't come, so I went out to pick red lotuses in the south pond. I lowered my head to pick up the lotus seeds, which were as green as water. "The scene of lotus picking in this poem not only vividly shows the life of the people in the Jiangnan water town, but also expresses the heroine's deep longing for her husband who has traveled far away. The language is fresh and bright, the artistic conception is far-reaching, and the emotions are lingering.
Yang Wanli, a famous poet in the Southern Song Dynasty who is famous for his "Chengzhai style", wrote a poem "Walking off to Lin Zifang from Jingci Temple at dawn": "After all, in June, the scenery of the West Lake is different from that of the four seasons. The lotus leaves touching the sky "Infinite blue, the lotus reflecting the sun is uniquely red." In this poem, the poet picked out two typical scenes: "Lotus leaves catching the sky" and "Lotus reflecting the sun", and wrote it in a popular, lively and flexible style. It captures the beautiful scenery of the West Lake in June, changes the shortcomings of the thin and stiff style of Song poetry, and is extremely natural and spiritual.
Zhou Dunyi, the founder and philosopher of Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty, has this sentence in "The Theory of Love of the Lotus": "I only love the lotus when it comes out of the mud but is not stained, and washes the clear ripples without being evil. Straight on the outside, neither vines nor branches, the fragrance is clear even if it is far away, the pavilion is planted quietly, you can look at it from a distance but not play with it... The lotus is also the gentleman of flowers. "In this prose that expresses ambition, the author has different opinions. The angles and different aspects of the lotus describe the noble quality, elegance, graceful posture and solemn appearance of the lotus, and express the noble sentiments and aspirations of the feudal literati. From then on, the lotus flower gained spirituality and became one of the gentlemen among flowers.
Xu Zhonglin of the Ming Dynasty, in his famous novel about gods and demons, "The Romance of the Gods", created the image of a young hero Nezha incarnated as a lotus. He was innocent, brave and powerful, and dared to defy divine authority and Fighting against injustice, with a spirit of justice and resistance, he is one of the characters in Chinese classical literature that is loved by the people. Through the image of the mythical character Nezha, we see that the lotus flower has become the embodiment of justice and bravery.
[Edit this paragraph] Introduction to the author
Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073)
A thinker and Neo-Confucianist in the Song Dynasty of China. The original name is Dunshi. His courtesy name was Uncle Mao and his nickname was Lianxi. He was a native of Yingdao County, Daozhou (now Daoxian County, Hunan Province). Zheng Xiang, a bachelor of Longtuge, his mother's uncle, was appointed as the chief clerk of Fenning (Xiushui), transferred the Nan'an army commander to join the army, moved to Guiyang order, and moved to Nanchang, where he served as the magistrate of Hezhou and the general magistrate of Qianzhou. When Xining first learned about Chenzhou, he was promoted to a judge in Guangdong and sent to some prisons. Everywhere he went, he achieved results. "After four years in Hezhou County, people were convinced, but officials did not dare to make decisions without the master's hands." In his later years, he learned about the Nankang Army, and his administration is now in Xingzi County. He once visited Mount Lu and was attracted by its landscape. In his own poem, he said: "I have loved Mount Lu for a long time, and bought the fields in the mountains." Because he built a house under the Lotus Peak of Mount Lu, there was a stream in front of it, which merged with the Huan River, and he set up camp. Tao's former residence was named after Lianxi, so he settled here and moved the tomb of his mother Zheng Mujun, who was originally in his hometown, to Sanqi Mountain in Qingquanshe, Lushan Mountain. Dun Yi died and was buried next to his mother's tomb. From then on, the descendants lived in Jiangzhou for generations, and their descendants were Mianyan.
Zhou Dunyi is the founder of Neo-Confucianism in my country, and his Neo-Confucian thoughts have played a role in the history of Chinese philosophy. Qing Dynasty scholar Huang Zongxi said in his "Song Confucianism Case": "After Confucius, Han Confucianism only had the study of passing on the classics, and the nature and Tao have been discussed for a long time. The rise of Yuan Gong, and the second Cheng's successor... If we talk about elucidating the meaning of mind Its subtlety is comparable to Yuan Gong's breaking of darkness." He inherited "Yi Zhuan" and some Taoist and Taoist thoughts, and proposed a simple and systematic theory of the composition of the universe, saying that "Wuji and Tai Chi", "Tai Chi" moves and remains still, producing Yin and Yang and all things. "All things are born with endless changes, but humans are also the most beautiful and spiritual ("Tai Chi Pictures")." The sage also imitated "Tai Chi" to establish "Human Chi". "The ultimate human being" is "sincerity", and "sincerity" is the "pure and supreme good", "the tree of the five constants, the source of hundreds of actions, and the highest state of morality." This state can only be achieved through mastering tranquility and non-desire. It had a wide-ranging influence on the academic field for more than 700 years. The philosophical categories he proposed, such as Wuji, Tai Chi, Yin and Yang, Five Elements, Movement and Stillness, Life, Good and Evil, etc., became the subjects of later Neo-Confucian studies.
Zhou Dunyi was not highly respected by people during his lifetime, and his academic status was not high. People only know that he is "excellent in political affairs", "excellent" in his official career, especially "ambitious in the mountains and forests", free and easy-minded, and has the spirit of immortality. But no one knew about his Neo-Confucianism. Only Cheng Taizhong, the judge of Nan'an Tong, knew that he had profound attainments in Neo-Confucianism, and sent his two sons, Cheng Hao and Cheng Hao, to his disciples. The latter two Chengs were both famous Neo-Confucianists. Hu Hong, a scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, respected Dunyi's theory. Zhu Xi, the master of Neo-Confucianism, spoke highly of him and wrote for him. He also made annotations for "Tai Chi Diagram. Yi Shuo" and "Yi Tong". Zhang (characterized by Mu Jiawu) called him the "Master of Taoism", and his reputation gradually grew. Jiujiang, Daozhou, Nan'an and other places built Lianxi temples to commemorate him. Emperor Ningzong gave Dun Yi the posthumous title of "Yuan". Therefore, Dunyi was also called "Yuan Gong". When he came to Lizong, he worshiped Confucius in the temple, which confirmed Zhou Dunyi's status as the founder of Neo-Confucianism.
Zhou Dunyi has a simple temperament, and he said in his own words: "Tarots and vegetables can last for a long time, silk cloth is food and clothing, full and warm, rich and noble, health and peace are priceless gold, I am happy and easy to build, my integrity is a motto from day to day." He has believed in ancient times and loved justice since he was a child, and "sharpened himself with honor and integrity." He has never admired money in his life and loves to talk about fame and theory. He believes that "a gentleman regards Tao as his most valuable thing and his personal safety as his wealth." Although he worked as an official in various places, his salary was very small. Even so, when he came to Jiujiang, he gave his savings to his hometown clan.
Zhou Dunyi loved the elegant, dignified, quiet and pure lotus. When he was aware of the Nankang Army, he dug a pond on the east side of the government office to plant lotuses. It was named Ailian Pond. The pond was more than ten feet wide, with a middle There is a stone platform with a hexagonal pavilion and a zigzag bridge on both sides. He often walked by the pool in midsummer, admiring the fragrant lotus flowers that flowed in the wind, and recited "Shuo on Love of the Lotus". Since then, the lotus pond has become famous far and wide.
The Yanshui Pavilion in Jiujiang was originally built by Zhou Dunyi. Because the pavilion is in the middle of the lake, with a pier like the moon, it is named "Moon-Dipping Pavilion". After that, it continued to rise and fall, and was renamed "Yanshui Pavilion" based on the artistic conception of "the color of the water on the top of the mountain is thin and the smoke is thin". In the 17th year of Shunzhi's reign in the Qing Dynasty, Cui Langqi, a patrolman, restored Yanshui Pavilion and built the Five Sages Pavilion. Zhou Dunyi was named one of the Five Sages. There are still Lianxi Road and Lianxi Neighborhood Committees in Jiujiang City.
Zhou Dunyi wrote "The Complete Book of Zhouzi" which is widely used in the world. Lianxi Academy was the forum for his lectures, and his theories had a great influence on the future development of Neo-Confucianism.
Zhou Dunyi was the originator of systematic discussions on the origin of the world as a philosophical issue.
[Edit this paragraph] Writing background
In the fourth year of Song Xining (AD 1071), the famous Neo-Confucian Zhou Dunyi came to Xingzi to serve as the military commander of Nankang. Zhou Dunyi was an honest and upright man with an indifferent mind and loved lotus flowers all his life.
After Zhou Dunyi came to Xingzi, he dug a pond on the east side of the military office and planted lotus flowers in it. Zhou Dunyi was already in his twilight years (55 years old) and ill when he came to Xingzi, so after dinner, he would either be alone or invite friends from his staff to enjoy flowers and drink tea by the pool, and wrote an article The popular prose "Ai Lian Shuo". Although "Ai Lian Shuo" is short, every word is exquisite, and it has always been recited by people.
A year later, Zhou Dunyi resigned due to old age and frailty, and settled down to build a church at the northwest foot of Mount Lu to give lectures. The lotus pond he left behind and the "Shuo on Love of the Lotus" have always been cherished by those who came after him. In the sixth year of Chunxi (1179 AD), Zhu Xi was transferred to Nankang Zhijun. Full of admiration for Zhou Dunyi, he rebuilt the Ailian Pond and established the Ailian Hall. He also obtained Zhou Dunyi's ink of "Ailian Theory" from Zhou Zhiqing, Zhou's great-grandson. Ask someone to carve it on a stone and stand it by the pool. Zhu Xi wrote a poem: Hearing the Tao moved his roots by the jade well, and the flowers bloomed ten miles apart. The moon was bright and cold, and no one could see it. It only brought joy to the teacher. When appreciating "The Theory of Love of the Lotus", the key point is to "get out of the mud but not be stained; wash the lotus to make it clear but not evil". This is the central theme of the whole text. The ancients generally used objects to express their feelings when writing articles. The same sentence has two meanings, one metaphorical and one expressing feelings. Similarly, "Cleaning out of the mud but not staining, washing the clear lotus without being evil" also has a second level of lyrical meaning. It is a metaphor that the author himself has the noble character of "coming out of the mud but not stained, washing the clear lotus without being evil". In fact, what he means is: the officialdom is dark, and maintaining a noble character in the officialdom is as difficult as a lotus emerging from the mud without being stained.
This is also a summary of his experience as an official, because he does not want to be complicit. And "Zhuo Qinglian is not evil" is just a good wish of the author. If you often walk by the river, how can you avoid getting your shoes wet? Therefore, the lotus alone among hundreds of flowers can do this, which is extremely valuable. This is also the author's sigh, because in the big environment, it is impossible for him to be alone, except to escape and stay away. Or he might be as conscientious as he is in guarding his duty. Zhou Dunyi's "On Love of Lotus" begins with "Flowers of land and water, vegetation, are so lovely that they are like flowers."
Zhou Dunyi (1017～1073) is the founder of Neo-Confucianism in my country. His Neo-Confucian thoughts have played a role in the history of Chinese philosophy as a link between the past and the future. Zhou Dunyi loved reading since he was a child and was well-known in his hometown. People said that he had "lofty aspirations, erudition and practice, and the style of the ancients". His knowledge and magnanimity inspired many people to study with him, the most famous of whom were the two brothers Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao, who later became famous Neo-Confucians of the Southern Song Dynasty.
In 1072 AD, Zhou Dunyi came to Jiangxi and founded Lianxi Academy. From then on, he began to set up lectures, recruit students and educate people. He named the stream in front of the academy "Lianxi" and called himself "Mr. Lianxi". Because he loved lotus all his life, he built a lotus hall in the academy. In front of the hall, he dug a pond, named "Lotus Pond", to express his lifelong ambition for the purity of the lotus. When he is not lecturing and studying, he often walks in front of the hall and admires lotus flowers. Later, he created an article called "Shuo on Love of Lotus", which contains the best lines: "It comes out of the mud but is not stained, washes the clear ripples without being evil, the middle is straight and the outer is straight, not creeping or branching, the fragrance is far away and the purity is clear, the pavilion is pure and clear, you can see it from a distance." "Don't play with it" has become a masterpiece through the ages and is still popular today.
[Edit this paragraph] Junzi
1. The ideal self-cultivation personality - Junzi
"Benevolence" is the highest state of Confucian ethics and morality, but, When it comes to personal cultivation, "gentleman" is his ideal personality model. Zeng Shen emphasized that "a gentleman uses literature to make friends, and friends to support benevolence" ("The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan"). Trying to use the establishment of the gentleman to assist the realization of the cultivation of benevolence or to implement the high standards of benevolence into specific practice-the gentleman's personality.
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Regarding the meaning and requirements of a gentleman, Confucius once said: "A gentleman has nine thoughts: seeing wisely, listening wisely, looking warmly, looking respectful, speaking loyally, doing things respectfully, and questioning. "When you think hard when you are angry, you think about the meaning when you see it." ("The Analects of Confucius·Ji Shi") talks about it more broadly, but only talks about the general principles in all aspects of words and deeds. Zeng Shen then entered into more specific requirements. He said: "A gentleman has three expenses, and food and drink are not among them. A gentleman has three pleasures, and the bells, chimes, harps, and harps are not among them... There are relatives to fear, a king to serve, and children to leave behind. This is the same happiness; there are relatives to fear, and there is a king. You can go, there are children to be angry with, these are the two joys; there are kings to describe, friends to help, these three joys... Learn it when you are young, and forget it when you are long, this is a waste; you have merit in serving the king, but you take the responsibility lightly. So, these are two fees; if you make friends for a long time, you will lose them, these are three fees." ("Han Shi Wai Zhuan Collection") In addition, there are a lot of strict requirements for gentlemen in "Zengzi Establishing Affairs", such as: "A gentleman does not deny others' pleasure or courtesy. He does not hesitate when he comes and is careless when he goes. He does not slander those who leave and does not bribe them when they return. This can be said to be loyal. A gentleman is respectful but not difficult and comfortable but not comfortable. "Being humble but not flattering, generous but not indulgent, being kind but not frugal, being straight but not going forward, can also be said to be knowledgeable." He also said: "When a gentleman enters a country, he does not call it taboo, does not violate its prohibitions, and does not accept the beauty." Subdued, don't be afraid of arrogant words, so it is said: "Instead of being extravagant, it is better to be thrifty; instead of being arrogant, it is better to be fluent." ”
Obviously, the definition of a gentleman greatly exceeds the specificity and strictness of the “Nine Thoughts”, although it does not exceed the scope requirements of the “Nine Thoughts”. Throughout the history of Chinese thought and culture, this kind of division has The style of succession between disciples is very representative. Because Zeng Shen’s school’s requirements for “gentlemen” are too strict, sometimes it can’t help but reveal some Taoist style. The chapter “Zeng Zi Establishes Affairs” also says: “A gentleman is not a gentleman. Don't waste your small time on your own, and don't neglect others when you are small. If others know it, you will do it. If others don't know, I will know it myself. A gentleman should keep this for his whole life. "A gentleman sees benefit and thinks of disgrace, sees evil and thinks of criticism, is addicted to lust and thinks of shame, and is angry and thinks of trouble. A gentleman will fight this battle for the rest of his life." "This kind of careful attitude in life, although its requirements are basically within the scope of Confucianism, but the tendency of using Taoist logic to demand a gentleman is obvious. This tendency may be what Zeng Shen wanted to avoid in the first place. , but the development of thought, like many other things that people can participate in, will undergo deformation that is difficult to control.
2 .Modern people’s concepts
Original: What is a gentleman?
Let’s borrow a metaphor from the ancients:
When Confucius cursed people, he just called them “little people”. There is also a famous saying that "a gentleman is known for his righteousness, and a villain is known for his benefit".
The oldest meaning of "gentleman" mainly refers to people who are educated and have good moral character. However, ordinary people do not have the opportunity to receive education, so they are also regarded as those without moral character. And called "little people"...
What is a gentleman?
To quote a friend:
During the dinner, we were talking about "what is a good man". I asked my friend, do you think you are a good man?
He thought for a while and said: "I don't know the definition of a good man