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“Ren” and ancestors’ memorials: Discussing the ancient meaning of the word “Ren” and the founding of Confucius’s reign on the way of benevolence
Author: Chen Chenjie Li Lin
Source: “Tongyue Forum” 2021 Issue 4
Abstract Abstract: “
” should be the last word for “Ren”. In this case, “corpse” refers to the “corpse” in the ancestor’s memorial, which refers to the “report” to the ancestors that are loaded, that is, gratitude and reply. The Zhou people were very concerned about the ancestors’ memorial service, and the late meaning of “benevolence” that was revealed through memorial service was closely related to their patriarchal system. “Sacrifice” is the “foundation of teaching”, and “Sacrifice” especially the “Sacrifice of the Clan”, has realized the basic energy of the Zhou Dynasty’s patriarchal system: on the one hand, it can use “love” to increase blood and combine physical consciousness, which is “faith”; on the other hand, it can respect “respect” and make a name for the difference between high and low, and distant relatives, which is “respect”. However, because “sacrifice” is the main reason for “respect”, “love” and “respect” are the priority among “respect”. This is why late-stage literature regards “respect” as “benevolence”. Since then, in the process of the development and transformation of the meaning of “benevolence”, Confucius owned many technology companies for Professor “benevolence”, and Teacher Ye has gained new explanations for others’ lives: First, “filial piety” replaces “sacrifice” as the “foundation of teaching”, and realizes his energy to regain the integrity of the people; second, “benevolence” is defined by “love people”. “Love people” includes two aspects: one is “love”, that is, to raise the position of “love” and make it equal to “respect”. Therefore, after Confucius, Confucian filial piety (such as Zengzi’s filial piety) advocated “love” and “respect” to both emphasize “love” and “respect”; the other is “people”, “benevolent people are” emphasizes the main and goal of “people”, and restricts “people” from the respect of ancestors, and further promotes the development of Confucian humanistic energy and humanistic thinking.
Keywords: benevolence; filial piety; tribute; reporter; people;
Author profile: Chen Chenjie (1981—), male, deputy professor of the Central Committee of the joint construction and innovation of Confucian civilization in Shandong Province and the Ministry of Education, the purpose of the discussion: Confucian philosophy, Chinese modern thinking history; Li Lin (1981-), female, associate professor at Shandong University of Confucianism Advanced Research Institute, the purpose of the discussion: Confucian philosophy and aesthetics
“Ren” is the focus of Confucianism. Since the Han Dynasty, the exploration of the original word and its meaning of “Ren” has not been absolutely perfect. Zheng Xuan’s notes on “The Doctrine of the Mean” “The Benevolent OnePeople are “that’s people.” Read people who look like dolls, and ask questions based on their own wishes. “The “Speaking Literature” refers to “benevolence”, but its “from people to two” is supported by Duan Yucai, Ruan Yuan and others. Later, learners invented the meaning of Confucian “benevolence” in terms of “photo dolls” that is, the mutual treatment between people. There are also many ancient people who adhere to this argument, such as Liang Qichao, Kang Youwei, Yang Xiangkui, Liu Wenying, Bai Xi, Wang Huiqin, etc. [1]. However, first of all, the “Speech” points out the two other ancient characters in addition to the “benevolence” of “from people to two”, and “from people to two” is obviously a later character; secondly, “read Ru” refers to reading the sound rather than its meaning, and Xu Shen said: “Those who say ‘read Ru’ are used to describe it with homophones. “Everyone who says ‘words’ is used to interpret the pronunciation as a scrutiny, not like 分大发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发发� ”【2】 From this point of view, “Phoenix Doll” may only refer to its pronunciation, but it has nothing to do with the meaning of “Ren”. To explore the original and ancient meaning of “Ren”, we still need to start from the two ancient characters “Ren” written by Xu Shen.
After the unearth of the Kuidian Chujian, the words “Ren” in this article are all written as “
“, which triggers the enthusiasm of the word “ren” from the “heart” symbol or body and mind relationship. For example, Teacher Lu Pu and Bai Xi, who believe that “阿” is “
“The change in “respect” is, “from the heart, it shows that ‘benevolence’ is a certain kind of mental attitude” [3]. Teacher Bai Xi’s explanation is similar to this type of understanding, and believes that “the word “confession from the heart” is related to thinking or emotions, and from the body, the object of this kind of thinking activity is the human body, that is, taking the human being himself as the object of thinking. ”【4】Teacher Mr. Lu Pu and Mr. Bai Xi both paid attention to the structure of the word “ren”. However, Mr. Lu Pu believed that “corpse” was a standing human form, and “corpse” was “yi” [3]; Mr. Bai Xi used it as a sitting human form, referring to the “corpse” representing the deceased receiving the sacrifice of a living person [5]. Xie Yang also believed that “from corpse” is the original regular word of “religion”, and “corpse” is the root of seeking benevolence.The key of the key is to set up “corpse” means that later generations dress up as ghosts and gods, “this corpse symbolically represents the ancestors and feel the ancestors to enjoy a memorial gift”, and rely on the piousness, admiration, unbearance, and sorrow of future generations to support their ancestors, and this is exactly the source of thought produced by “benevolence”. Xie Xingyang said this, regardless of the specific meaning of “benevolence” from “corpse” to “benevolence”, but it is undoubtedly clear that “corpse” shape is the key to understanding the original character of “benevolence” and its meaning. “Shi Wen” says: “Ren is to be wise, from two people. In ancient times, benevolence comes from thousands of hearts, or from corpses.” Looking at his linguistic atmosphere, he would be more sure of the “roman” of “from thousands of hearts”, and the word “or” shows that he did not see the shape of “from corpses”. The character “子” can be more Chen, and should be the last character of the character “子”. Moreover, the shape of the characters and their meanings that can be contained can obtain some supporting evidence of the world-renowned texts, which are described below. Therefore, this article will follow the thoughts of Mr. Bai Xi and Mr. Xie Yang, and try to explore the original meaning of the word “Ren” from the form of “
“>” to explore the original meaning of the word “Ren” and its position and meaning in the origin and development of Confucianism.
1. The original meaning of “benevolence”
The word “benevolence” appears in “The Book of Thoughts”. The students repeatedly asked “benevolence” several times. It can be seen that Confucius’ explanation of “benevolence” is different from the broad or conventional understandings of people at that time. It is necessary to explore the ancient meaning of “benevolence” that is not incomplete. Confucius’ explanation of “benevolence” is based on Confucius’ interpretation of “benevolence”. At the same time, other literatures from the pre-Confucian era must be evaluated in order to find some traces. The following three articles that can be seen in history today are:
1. “The Book of Songs·Yuanjing” read: “Zhonggong asked Renren, and Confucius said: ‘On the door, you will see the big things, and make the common people feel like you are in the big sacrifice.’” Similarly, I also see the words of “Zuo Ji·The Thirty-Two Years of Duke Xi” by Ji: “Respect is the gathering of virtue. If you can respect, you must have virt