Brave men and women

Author: Zhu Ziqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The Xunzi discusses the commoner in terms of "self-reliance": "The ruler regards the officials as capable, while the commoner regards self-reliance as capable." The Zhuangzi discusses the commoner in terms of "extremity": "Confucius and Mozi were commoners in extremity." The Water Margin discusses the commoner in terms of "illiteracy and lack of talent": "Little Lin Chong is just a rough commoner, knowing nothing but spear and staff, illiterate and talentless, without ambition or skill." Gu Yanwu's Daily Records discusses the commoner in terms of "protecting the world": "There is the loss of a country and the loss of the world. How to distinguish between the loss of a country and the loss of the world? It is said: Changing dynasties and altering titles is called the loss of a country; when benevolence and righteousness are exhausted to the point where beasts devour men, and men devour each other, it is called the loss of the world. Therefore, one must first understand how to protect the world before knowing how to protect the country. Those who protect the country are the ruler and his ministers, the ones who eat meat, who plan for it; while those who protect the world, even the humblest commoner shares the responsibility." Mai Menghua discusses the commoner in terms of "forty million people": "Gu Yanwu said: When the world rises or falls, even the humblest commoner shares the responsibility. Now China faces internal turmoil and external fear of dismemberment, this is indeed a time when the world rises or falls. We forty million people must take responsibility personally, and no one can escape the blame."