New Biography of Confucius

Author: Jin Jingfang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Confucius is one of the greatest cultural giants in the history of world civilization. His thoughts and doctrines have had an extremely profound impact on the Chinese nation and even all of humanity. From the late Spring and Autumn period when Confucius lived until the modern era, over two and a half thousand years have passed with constant changes and frequent turmoil. Confucius and his doctrines have also undergone vicissitudes. Due to different social and political conditions, people's views on Confucius and his doctrines have varied greatly. Generally speaking, when a country is unified and society is stable, Confucius and his doctrines are often highly praised. However, when a country is divided, society is turbulent, or major changes are taking place, Confucius and his doctrines are often fiercely criticized and slandered. This is the historical fate of Confucius and his doctrines. Mencius once said, "The world has existed for a long time, with periods of order and chaos." Mencius detailed historical facts from the era of Yao to the Warring States period, believing that many cycles of order and chaos had already occurred. From the Warring States period to the modern era, China has also experienced numerous cycles of order and chaos. Historical development has proven that Mencius's "periods of order and chaos" align with the dialectics of historical development. In reality, what is called "order" is the quantitative change process of historical development, while "chaos" is the qualitative change process. One cycle of order and chaos is the process of historical development transitioning from quantitative change to qualitative change. This is the objective law of historical development. Different historical eras require different thoughts and theories, just as winter requires fur coats and summer requires gauze clothing. Therefore, ideas and theories suitable for a stable era may no longer apply in a chaotic one. Han Fei said, "The customs of ancient and modern times are different, and the preparations for the new and the old are different. If one wishes to govern urgent times with lenient policies, it is like driving a carriage without reins and a whip—this is the danger of ignorance." This statement is correct. Therefore, it is not surprising that Confucius and his doctrines had different fates in different historical eras. It can be said that since the rise of Confucianism, the history of China's order and chaos has also been a history of alternating reverence for and opposition to Confucius. The Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods were the longest periods of division in Chinese history since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and also a time of severe social turmoil and profound transformation. Confucius was born precisely in the late Spring and Autumn period. Due to his vast knowledge, numerous disciples, and status as the founder of the Confucian school, he indeed had a broad influence and enjoyed a high reputation in society at the time. As recorded in the "Liezi," "Confucius's prestige was no less than that of the feudal lords." However, Confucius's doctrines, especially his political views, were not well-received by the rulers of his time. Confucius himself claimed, "If there were anyone who would use me, I would achieve success within a few months and have results in three years." Yet, he "visited seventy-three rulers without success." Wherever he went, he often faced indifference and ridicule. "He felled trees in Song, had his traces erased in Wei, was impoverished in Shang and Zhou, struggled in Chen and Cai, suffered humiliation at the hands of Ji Shi, and was humiliated by Yang Hu. He lived in sorrow until his death." His situation was indeed tragic. Yan Ying, a statesman of the same era as Confucius, was one of the figures he respected most. He once highly praised Yan Ying, saying, "Yan Pingzhong is good at making friends and earns respect over time." The "Biographies of Confucius's Disciples" in the "Records of the Grand Historian" states, "Among the figures Confucius revered: Laozi in Zhou, Zhu Boju in Wei, and Yan Pingzhong in Qi."