Journal of Jingchutang

Author: Ni Si (Song Dynasty), edited and annotated by Deng Zimi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-02-01
Features:
Shang Yun said: "And do not rectify the heart." The ancient saying was already illogical. Yi Chuan took "and do not rectify" as one sentence and "heart do not forget" as another, which was also illogical. The meaning was that the two characters "rectify the heart" were originally "forget" due to a miswritten character, splitting one word into two. To cultivate the noble spirit of magnanimity, one must act with purpose and not forget. Since one must not forget, one should also not overindulge. Repeating "do not forget" is a literary device. Life is filled with suffering and joy in this world—either joy or suffering. Joy is what people desire, while suffering is what people cannot endure. Unless one has lost their mind, no one does not know what to avoid and pursue. However, few recognize true joy and suffering, so they are listed below:
There are those who experience complete joy without suffering:
- Engaging in effortless, carefree living, free from thoughts.
- Unable to forget, they turn toward goodness and away from evil.
- Reading the classics of sages and virtuous men, gaining daily benefits.
- Both parents are alive, and the family lives in harmony.
- Associating with teachers and friends, discussing and spreading principles.
- Using one's abilities to help others and benefit society.
- Having excellent children who study and care for their parents.
- Enjoying beautiful scenery and landscapes on auspicious occasions.
- Maintaining good health, aging without decline.
- A peaceful nation, favorable weather, and abundant harvests.
- Both parents celebrate as one achieves high academic honors.
- Basic needs are met, and one knows contentment without greed.
- In old age, desires for fame and fortune fade, and reflections on youthful pursuits resemble an adult watching children play or an audience watching performers. How much more so when one gains something in the middle, observing worldly manners with the eye of the Dao?
The petty man and the great man:
Confucius said: "Can the petty man be trusted to serve the ruler? When he has not yet obtained it, he worries about obtaining it; once he has it, he worries about losing it. If he worries about losing it, he will go to extremes."
Mencius said: "Reside in the broad dwelling of righteousness, stand in the upright position of justice, and walk on the great path of the Dao. If one is in accord with their aspirations, share the way with the people; if not, walk their own path alone. Wealth and honor cannot corrupt, poverty and humility cannot move, and power cannot bend—this is what is called the great man."
Both are human, yet one is called petty, and the other great—it depends on the person. The gentleman wins in making the laws of our dynasty more lenient than those of the Han and Tang dynasties, not killing scholars and officials. This is the ancestral tradition that allows our dynasty to last long, using this principle. I once asked: What makes one a gentleman in this world? The ancients, as gentlemen, established their character in action—greatly risking their families, or even sacrificing themselves, yet the brave and righteous still feared nothing. Today, there are no such punishments, at most, one might cross mountains and seas. In recent times, crossing mountains and seas is rare, at most, one might be idle and unused. Yet they still receive monthly stipends. So why fear being a gentleman? Thus, it is said one "wins in being a gentleman."
When a gentleman retires and is idle, he also helps the times. Helping the times is known to all, but retreating also helps the times—is less known. A gentleman, having cultivated himself, is ready to serve the times, with the aim of helping it, not seeking profit or luxury for wealth and honor. When he retires and is in poverty, only his own profit and loss are affected, but his usefulness in helping the times remains unchanged. Why? The world is drowned in fame and profit, and the virtue of integrity is daily declining. Yet if there is a gentleman who does not compromise on the Dao, he can inspire the world's virtue of integrity. Is this not also helping the times? Thus, it is said that retreating also helps the times.
A gentleman helps the times without needing to be a gentleman with other gentlemen as friends. Within a group of gentlemen, if one person promotes what they have learned, that is enough—why must it be done by oneself? In the early years of the Yuan You era, when Sima Zhi became prime minister, he recommended Fan Shufu, but Fan did not accept. When asked why, he replied: "Whatever I wanted to do, Lord Sima has already done it, so I can stay out."
A gentleman delights in longevity, while a petty man...