Confucius' mother hoped that her son would be successful in the future, and at the same time, she let the young Confucius receive education and learn etiquette, so that Confucius learned a lot from childhood. Due to overwork, when Confucius was seventeen, his mother also died. At this time, Confucius had to venture into the world alone.
1. Confucius was born
from 77 BC to 476 BC, which is called the Spring and Autumn Period in the history books. At this time, the regime of the Zhou Dynasty was declining day by day, and the governors of various countries no longer obeyed the orders of the Zhou Emperor, and they conquered each other for land and hegemony.
In the state of Lu at that time, there was a warrior named Kong Ge, whose name was Uncle Liang. He was a famous Hercules and fought bravely. In an siege war, Kong Ge and the soldiers just rushed into the city. The people guarding the city put down a hanging door, trying to cut off the attacking troops. In a critical moment, Kong Ge strode forward, forcibly held up the hanging door and shouted: "Everybody get out of the city quickly, and don't fall into the trap of luring the enemy." The soldiers took the opportunity to withdraw from the city gate and avoided losses.
On another occasion, the State of Qi attacked the State of Lu, surrounded its ministers in the city, and Kong Ge led 3 soldiers out of the city in the middle of the night for a surprise attack. The soldiers were in a panic, and Kong Ge took advantage of the hurry of the troops to send the ministers away, and then he returned to the city with his soldiers and closed the gate to hold on. The army of Qi learned that the minister of Lu had broken out and could not break through the city, so it had no choice but to retreat.
Kong Ge was made a general because of his outstanding military exploits.
But there is one thing that bothers Kong Ge. He married Shi, and they have nine daughters. They really want another son. Soon he married another concubine and finally gave birth to a son. Kong Ge was very happy and named him Bernie, nicknamed Meng Pi. Unfortunately, Meng Pi was born with a disease, leaving a disease on his foot and becoming a cripple. According to the etiquette at that time, a lame man couldn't get ahead, and he was proud of his ancestors, so Kong Ge sighed all day long.
One day, Kong Ge heard that an old gentleman named Yan Fu had five daughters, all of whom were outstanding in talent and appearance. At this time, although Kong Ge was over 6 years old, he was eager to find a son and wanted to marry another wife, so he went to propose marriage with a gift.
Yan's youngest daughter, Zheng Zai, is under 2 years old, but she has already heard about Kong Ge's heroic deeds. She once told people that she wouldn't marry unless she was a hero. When she saw Kong Ge propose at home, she told her father that she was willing to marry him.
After Kong Ge and Yan Zhizai got married, Yan Zhizai heard that the mountain gods of Niqiu Mountain were supernatural, so he and Kong Ge came to Niqiu Mountain to ask for children. Mr. and Mrs. Kong Ge climbed Mount Niqiu, and with the accompaniment of Lin Tao and Mountain Wind, they finished their prayers devoutly. Soon, as expected, they gave birth to a boy, so they named him Qiu, the word Zhong Ni. "Zhong" means the second child, because he has another brother.
The boy is Confucius. This year, it was 551 BC.
Confucius said
It's fun to eat and drink water, bend your arms and pillow it. Being unjust and rich and expensive is like a cloud to me.
Enlightenment from The Analects of Confucius
Confucius said that eating coarse grains, drinking white water, and bending your arms as pillows are fun. Getting rich by improper means is like floating clouds in the sky to me. This passage expresses that Confucius is content with his not-rich material life, disdains wealth obtained by improper means, and shows that Confucius is indifferent to fame and fortune and devoted himself to pursuing his ideal life.
He lost his father at the age of two or three
Kong Ge was very happy to have a son in his later years, and often stayed at home with his mother and son.
In his childhood, Confucius was clever and never stubborn, and he was very congenial to his brother Meng Pi. The two little boys often played together and spent three years happily.
However, due to the great age gap and other reasons, the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kong Ge did not conform to the etiquette system at that time, and there were many rumors in the society. Confucius' mother was not happy.
when Confucius was three years old, his father Kong Ge died. Because of Yan Zhizai's birthright, she and Confucius couldn't even attend the sacrificial activities in Kong Ge, and even she couldn't tell Confucius where Kong Ge was buried.
Yan Zhizai became a widow before she was twenty. While Kong Ge was alive, Yan Zhizai's mother and son were still protected and cared for. After Kong Ge's death, his wife Shi was in power, his concubine was abused to death, and his son Meng Pi was discriminated against. At this time, Yan Zhizai stood up, and she resolutely left the Confucius family with Confucius and Mencius. She knew that she had to leave this complicated family to let her children live with dignity. A family of three came to Qufu, the capital of Lu, and began to make a living independently, living a poor and miserable life.
Confucius, who grew up in such an environment, learned some people's faces from a very young age, felt some human feelings warm and cold, and formed a cautious character, always thinking when things happened.
Confucius said
Don't do to others the Analects of Confucius and Yan Yuan
Enlightenment
Confucius said that you don't want others to do to you, and don't do this to others. Confucius could read other people's faces when he was very young, and he knew that human feelings were warm and cold. Therefore, he summed up the principle of dealing with people, and thought that people should understand each other more, put themselves in other people's shoes, and you should not ask others to do things that you are unwilling to do.
Third, study and study etiquette
At this time, Qufu, the capital of Lu, was not only the political, economic and cultural center of Lu, but also another cultural center in the whole Eastern Zhou Dynasty except the capital city of Luoyi, which preserved a large number of ancient books and materials and was known as the country of courtesy and happiness. At the age of Confucius, Ji Zha, a native of the State of Wu, visited several vassal states of Lu, Qi, Zheng, Wei and Jin, and saw the only well-preserved music of the Zhou Dynasty in Lu. When he watched more than 2 kinds of music and dances in turn, he exclaimed, "This is the best music and dance I have ever seen! Even if there are other music and dances, I dare not watch them again! I can't stand it! "
After suffering, Yan Zhizai looked at his clever and lovely son and made up his mind to cultivate his son into a respected, knowledgeable and educated person. It is also the most important purpose for Confucius' mother to move her family from the countryside to the capital of Lu.
Yan Xiang, Zheng's father, is a well-read man. At that time, he was able to make his daughter literate and courteous, so he was enlightened. The direct teaching of his father not only accumulated rich knowledge and learning, but also had high cultivation in education and etiquette. She moved all the books from her father's family to her new home, and chose one of the three rooms as a study room to teach Confucius when he was five years old.
first, she collected five children, taught books in her own home, and got tuition fees from each student's home, five buckets of millet and a load of dry wood. Zheng is teaching children to learn Chinese characters, arithmetic and singing, as well as manners and ceremonies. Confucius began to study with his classes when he was less than six years old. Later, Zheng Zai took in several pupils, and Kong Qiu Jr. became his mother's little helper to help him. With the painstaking cultivation and careful education of Confucius, Kong Qiu, who is less than ten years old, has learned all the lessons, because he loves to ponder, is willing to think with his head, has an outstanding memory, likes to help others, and has become a leader in classmates' study.
the state of Lu is a duke of Zhou's fief, and the rites and music of the emperor can be used, so the preservation of Zhou rites is relatively complete. One year, Han Xuanzi, a doctor of the State of Jin, came to Lu, and after inspecting the cultural relics of Lu, he praised: Zhou Li is all in Lu! Not only that, Lu people are also generally eager to learn, learning etiquette and learning music, which has become a common practice. In the eyes of Lu people, learning is like planting vegetation. If you don't learn, your intelligence will decline, just like vegetation withering and falling leaves.
Confucius very much hopes that her son can do something when he grows up. She thinks that young people will do well when they grow up. The classics handed down by Fuxi, Shennong, Wenwang and Duke Zhou in the past are profound and profound. If children can learn them, they will be good at it and achieve something in the future. Therefore, Confucius attached great importance to her son's education of propriety and morality. Whenever a sacrifice was held in a nearby ancestral temple, she would take her young Confucius to watch it. Confucius was also very interested in etiquette. Every time he opened his eyes curiously to watch this sacred sacrifice ceremony, he thought to himself: What are these people doing? Why are they doing these things? Why do you look so solemn?
With more visits, the young Confucius knew the procedures of these sacred sacrificial ceremonies and the ritual vessels used in them by heart. Back home, he also likes to imitate sacrifices. His mother bought ritual vessels from the market as toys for his son, so he put them on the table, practiced kowtowing and bowing, and learned to salute and play.
Confucius said
If you don't learn etiquette, you can't stand.
The Analects of Confucius Ji
Enlightenment
Confucius said, if you don't learn manners, etiquette and politeness, it will be difficult to have a foothold. As the basic requirement of social communication, in interpersonal communication, a person who knows social etiquette will have the foundation to stand on the society, achieve career and get a better life.
IV. Mother passed away
When Confucius was in his teens, Yan Zhizai made a decision to let Confucius go to his father's house and let his grandfather educate Confucius. At this time, Confucius had more knowledge in his stomach than his mother, and often asked her nothing. Grandfather, on the other hand, has profound knowledge and is well versed in ancient and modern times. I believe that he can definitely guide his children's knowledge and teach him to become a talent.
Yan Xiang, the grandfather of Confucius, used to be a teacher. Because of his age, he no longer accepted disciples to give lectures. The old man always loved Confucius' mother and Confucius best. So I am very happy to see my grandson come back to study.
Confucius lived alone in his grandfather's house and studied hard. He worked tirelessly for several years. Yan Xiang gradually passed on the knowledge in his chest to him. Seeing that Confucius was talented and tireless in learning, he knew that he would have a bright future. He encouraged his grandson and often said, "It's a pity that I am old and can't see your achievements."
Later, Yan Xiang died a natural death. On his deathbed, Yan Xiang pointed to the grandson of this heterogeneous wizard and said to his daughter, "A willing son can teach! ..... "
After the death of his grandfather, Confucius stayed with his mother for a hundred days and returned home with her mother. At this time, Confucius was already a knowledgeable teenager.
when Confucius was seventeen, his mother died. The hard work of making a living and the desolation of the young widow made Yan Zhizai exhausted and left the world at the age of 33. Confucius, who was familiar with etiquette, knew that according to common sense, his mother's coffin should be buried with his father's coffin, which had been buried for fourteen years. As the poem says, "Death is the same point." The problem is that Confucius doesn't know where his father is buried! Mother Yan Zhizai never told him.
What should I do? Confucius figured out a way. Instead of burying his mother's coffin immediately, he temporarily parked his mother's coffin in a street called "The Road of Five Fathers" to attract people's attention and ask people where his father's grave is. After all, his father is a prestigious hero in Lu, and someone will always remember his grave. This move of Confucius really attracted the bustling pedestrians in the street. At this time, an old woman came out of the crowd who stopped to watch and told Confucius that his father was buried in Fangshan in the southeast of Qufu City. So Confucius buried his mother there.
Shortly after he buried his mother, Ji Sun, the ruling doctor of Lu, hosted a banquet for celebrities. Confucius, who was in mourning, wore mourning clothes with hemp bands around his waist and ran away excitedly. Behold, Yang Hu, the retainer of Ji Sun's family, shouted at him, "We invite nobles with status, not people like you. You go! " Confucius was shut out and had to retire.
After this incident, Confucius knew that only knowledge can change his own destiny, and to change his real status, he must rely on his own efforts. Now, Confucius, who has no father or mother, has nothing to rely on. He is going to break into the world alone.
Confucius said,
You must know your parents' years, one is happy, the other is afraid.
The Analects of Confucius in Liren inspires
Confucius said that children should remember their parents' age. On the one hand, year after year, parents are still healthy and happy; But on the other hand, I am very scared to think that my parents are getting old with the passage of time, and my days of serving my parents are getting less and less. Confucius's words remind children to be filial in time, and not to regret not being filial in time when their parents are dying.
5. Getting married and becoming an official
Confucius, a young man, is tall and has a rare literary style on his face. He not only inherits the burly prestige of the warrior father, but also has more poise and elegance than his father.
at the age of nineteen, Confucius married his wife, a Song official, and established a family. A year later, Confucius had his own son.
Confucius was already quite famous in Lu! Lu Zhaogong, the monarch of the State of Lu, heard that Confucius had given birth to a son, and sent someone to congratulate him on the carp. The hardship of life, the hardship of family circumstances and his desire to make a career and save the world made Confucius look forward to those in power. So he named his newborn son "carp", which means "Bo fish".
Confucius, who has a family and a son, will have to shoulder a heavier burden on the way to make a living and study.
When his mother was alive, little Confucius did many chores that aristocratic children disdained to do, such as sweeping the floor, firewood, pushing carts, washing clothes and carrying loads. But it was after his mother's death that he really took to the society to do things. His family came down and he was not qualified to inherit the official position, which helped him on the other hand. He learned the skills of living and doing things in hardships, strengthened his will in the face of difficulties, and also exercised a good mentality of bearing hardships and setbacks. At the same time, it also gave him a chance to see the real situation of the nobility and the common people, which also provided a unique perspective for him to think about the problems of life and the country in the future. Therefore, when Confucius looked back on these experiences in the future, he said, "When I was a child, I was poor and had no status, so I was able to do many things that were considered despicable. I couldn't be an official, so I learned many skills."
After getting married and having children, my first job was as a commissioner in Ji Sun's family, a powerful official of the State of Lu. The Commissioner is a small servant who manages the warehouse. It seems easy, but it is difficult to do it well. His predecessor was dissatisfied with Ji Sun's family because of mismanagement and suspicion of corruption. Confucius didn't think this position was contemptible, and he did his best, and his ability was fully demonstrated. The quantity of materials is raised, and the accountant and cashier are all clearly understood.
Ji Sun didn't expect that young Confucius could handle things like this, so he was assigned a second job as a farmer. Taking the field may be even meaner than the official, because it is a petty official who manages to raise cattle, sheep, donkeys and horses. Being physically strong does not lose money, and Confucius is willing to use his brains, raising in the morning and evening, pulling out and rushing in, cleaning and washing, and soon doing this work in order.
Confucius was not shy about talking about what he had done. He even talked about this experience with some pride. He said, "Let me manage the warehouse, and I will calculate the accounts in the warehouse clearly." "Let me manage the cattle and sheep, and I will make them fat and strong."
Confucius said
A gentleman is slow in words, but quick in deeds.
The Analects of Confucius
Enlightenment
Confucius said that a gentleman's words should be cautious and thoughtful; But the work should be diligent and agile. That is, a man should talk less empty words and do more practical things. Besides, if you talk too much, you will lose, but it will hurt. Doing well is more important than speaking well.