6.8 Ji Kangzi asked: "Zhong You can make politics also have to?"Zi said: "From the fruit, what is there in politics?"”
He said: "Giving can also make politics and doing the same."He said: "What is there to be in politics?"”
He said: "Asking can also make politics the same."He said: "Seeking art, what is there in politics?"”
Ji Kangzi asked: "Can Zhongyou govern political affairs?"Confucius said, "If you are bold and decisive, what is the difficulty in governing political affairs?"”
Asked again: "Can Duanmuci govern political affairs?"Confucius said: "Duanmu is knowledgeable and sensible, what are the difficulties in governing political affairs?"”
He also asked, "Can Ran Qiu govern political affairs?"Confucius said: "Ran Qiu is versatile and talented, what is the difficulty in governing political affairs?"”
Analects 68
Interpretation] Ji Kangzi - Ji's, famous fat. The Zhengqing of the Lu State, one of the three Huan, Zhen Kang, known as "Ji Kangzi" in history.
Zhong You - Zi Zi Road, one of the ten philosophers of Confucius.
Politics - to be an official, to deal with government affairs, to govern political affairs.
Fruit - resolute and decisive.
Ci - Duanmu Ci, the word Zigong, one of the ten philosophers of Confucius.
Da - accessible, sensible.
Seeking - Ran Qiu, the word has, one of the ten philosophers of Confucius.
Art - multi-talented.
Ji Kangzi, reigned from the second year of Lu Ai to the twenty-seventh year of Lu Ai (492 BC - 468 BC), when the Lu State Office was weakened and the three Huan led by Ji were strong.
Meng Wubo and Ji Kangzi were around the same time, and Meng Wubo asked Confucius about the situation of Zilu, Ran You, and Gongxichi, and asked them if they were benevolent("Gongye Long Story" 5.)8) In this chapter, Ji Kangzi understands the situation of Zilu, Zigong, and Ran You, and directly asks them if they can enter politicsIn addition to the difference in personal speaking style, it can also be seen that Ji Sun's is obviously more powerful than Meng Sun's. When you can decide on appointments and dismissals, you don't need to go around in circles when you speak.
When Ji Kangzi ascended the throne, Confucius was already traveling around the world, and it was Confucius who he sent to welcome back in the eleventh year of Lu Ai (484 BC). This kind of dialogue, in theory, is most likely to take place after Confucius's return.
But when Confucius returned to China, Zilu, Zigong and Ran You had all been officials in the Lu State, and it was because of Ran You's meritorious service in resisting the invasion of Qi that he tried his best to persuade Ji Kangzi to welcome back Confucius, and Ji Kangzi asked them again if they could be in politics, which was also a bit strange.
Judging from the content of this chapter, it is obvious that it is a face-to-face conversation, not a correspondence, so it is a bit puzzling to think about the time and context in which this dialogue took place.
Fortunately, this does not prevent us from understanding the content of the dialogue, and the three questions and answers generally let us understand what kind of people can be officials and politicians.
The first is "fruit", we must be decisive and dare to act. Don't dare to make decisions, dare not take responsibility, do things "and mud", and act as a good person, it is not the way of politics.
The second is "reach", that is, reasoning. For the political leaders to be sensitive, able to judge the machine, understand physics, and dispose of it at their discretion, if they do not understand the reason, they will not be able to convince the public, and if they cannot serve the public, there will be no popular will.
The third is "art", that is, multi-talent. Do a line, love a line, understand a line, understand a line. You can't be an expert, but you can't be a layman all the time.