Confucianism was the mainstream thought of various dynasties in ancient China for a long time before modern times. Especially from the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, although the dynasties changed several times, Confucianism as the mainstream thought did not change with the change of dynasties. Until modern times, in the context of great changes in the world, Confucianism was pulled down from the altar and the Confucian store was smashed. In the past 100 years, Confucianism has ceased to be the mainstream ideology, but has been criticized as a typical example of reactionary and backward thought.
In the new culture and the first period, stepping on Confucianism was regarded as open-mindedness, and advocating Confucianism was regarded as an old antique. The pioneers of the New Culture Movement were highly regarded by the students at the time, while Gu Hongming, Liu Shipei, Huang Kan and others admired Confucianism and others, and were regarded as old antiques. The new culture seems to represent an advanced civilization, but in the face of the new culture and the world civilization, Confucianism seems so ancient and backward. As a result, there are many literary works criticizing the pedantry and obsolescence of Confucian learners, and these literary works can be said to be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the most typical of which is Kong Yiji, who can't take off his long robe.
During this period, there was a nationwide criticism of Confucius, and the image of Confucius became the spokesman of the feudal rulers in the hearts of the common people, and the main culprit of China's backwardness and beating. Since it is the culprit, it is too late to defeat it, and how many people will go to learn from Confucius? Therefore, many people in modern society must criticize Confucianism and scold Confucius when they meet. Although these people do not know Confucius at all, nor do they understand Confucianism, they still cannot prevent them from talking about Confucianism and Confucius, and they can criticize and criticize Confucianism and Confucius endlessly. It seems that if you do not criticize Confucianism or scold Confucius, you will be ashamed of the education he has received for decades.
This is what the people can do, but not what they know. When people accept a point of view and do not seek verification, then this point of view will unconsciously shape people, and when they see the opposite point of view, they must assume that the point of view they have must be 100% correct, so they will not hesitate to criticize as long as it is not in line with their own cognition. It's like a program in which people go through their lives in a state of confusion and never really pursue the truth. People are swayed by the programs in their own minds, as if they were living in a dream. This is what Mencius called 'those who do things without paying attention to them, those who practice without noticing them, and those who do not know their ways for the rest of their lives, are also the people'.
Confucianism can lead China for hundreds of years, and there must be merit. The core of Confucianism is to solve the problem, some people think that Confucianism is used to govern the country and help the ruler enslave the people. Therefore, once Confucianism is mentioned, he gritted his teeth, like mourning. Such people simply hate Confucianism as they understand it, and there are a thousand Hamlets for a thousand people, and a thousand Confucians for a thousand people.
Confucianism, as a systematic thought, has become a huge treasure trove of ideas after being expounded by the sages of the past generations. It seems that people are talking about Confucianism, but how many people can really understand the real Confucianism that exists objectively? It seems that they are all discussing Confucianism, but they are just expressing their understanding of Confucianism in their hearts, so what does it have to do with the real Confucianism?
The core problem to be solved in Confucianism is the problem of people, and to be born as a human being, we need to learn how to be a real person. The people of the primitive tribes had no ideas to learn, so they had no civilization to speak of, and the development of the world today is also in a primitive state. Therefore, teaching people how to develop according to their nature is the core purpose of Confucianism, and if self-cultivation can stop at the highest goodness, then they will be saints, and they will be able to hear the Tao and grasp the true truth of human beings in the universe.
Therefore, at the beginning of the university, he said: "The way of the university is to be clear and virtuous, to be close to the people, and to stop at perfection." "From the Son of Heaven to the common people, all of them are based on self-cultivation. Therefore, the core of Confucianism is to solve the problem of how people can be a gentleman, how to cultivate themselves, and how to truly develop according to human nature. Therefore, Zhongyong said at the beginning: "The mandate of heaven is sexuality, the spontaneity is the Tao, and the cultivation of the Tao is teaching." ”
If people don't learn how to grow according to their nature, they will be shaped by the times in which they live. And the human beings shaped by the times are just products of the times.
Cultivating human beings beyond their time is the true pursuit of Confucianism. In other words, cultivating saints is the true pursuit of Confucianism.
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