"The Analects" in Detail: For All Those Who Misinterpret Confucius (61)
2007/4/3 15:27:02
Zigong asked: "Is there one unified doctrine that can thread through one's entire life?" The Master said: "Does 'do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself' really constitute 'reciprocity'?"
Yang Bojun: Zigong asked: "Is there one saying that can be practiced throughout one's life?" Confucius replied: "Probably 'reciprocity'! Whatever you do not desire for yourself, do not impose upon others."
Qian Mu: Zigong asked: "Is there one word that can be practiced throughout one's life?" The Master said: "Perhaps only the word 'reciprocity'! What you yourself do not wish for, do not impose upon others."
Li Zehou: Zigong asked: "Is there one saying that can be followed throughout one's life?" Confucius said: "Probably 'reciprocity': whatever you do not want for yourself, do not give to others."
Detailed Explanation: Qian interprets "言" (yán) as "word," while the other two interpret it as "sentence" — both are superficial views. Actually, the "一言" here is not about "words or sentences" — it is "言" (speech/doctrine) that is "一" (one/unified). "一" means pure and unmixed, and without "一," how could there be "终身行之" (practiced throughout one's life)? "行" is pronounced háng, meaning continuously threading through. "One threading through" (一而行之) is essentially the same meaning as "one threading through all" (一而贯之). Note that Zigong's understanding of "one threading through all" differs from Confucius's understanding. Zigong hoped to obtain a rule, a definition, a heavenly principle, a heavenly way, or something similar to "thread through all" — this is also the thinking of the vast majority of people, a God-like way of thinking. But this is clearly not what Confucius's "one threading through all" refers to. For Confucius, only the present reality of the here-and-now can "thread through all." No unchanging principles, morals, or the like can "thread through all." To make this point clear, Confucius gave the following answer.
"其恕乎？己所不欲，勿施於人" is an inversion of "己所不欲，勿施於人，其恕乎？" Throughout the ages, everyone has taken "己所不欲，勿施於人" (Do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself) as Confucius's so-called doctrine of "reciprocity" (恕). In fact, they have all reversed the meaning of this inverted sentence. The sentence pattern "其...乎" expresses a rhetorical question or challenge. Precisely because at that time everyone loved to discuss the so-called doctrine of "reciprocity," giving different definitions, each believing their own definition was correct, and then all attempting to "thread their definition through all" — this kind of thinking, just like Zigong's thinking — Confucius refuted it with a rhetorical question.
"己所不欲，勿施於人" was the most popular definition of the doctrine of "reciprocity" at the time, and also the most common piece of common sense. Confucius was asking rhetorically: does "do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself" really constitute the doctrine of "reciprocity"? Clearly, Confucius did not unconditionally, detached from present reality, consider "己所不欲，勿施於人" to be the so-called doctrine of "reciprocity." By refuting the non-absolute nature of this most commonsensical statement, Confucius demonstrated that no statement can be "threaded through one's entire life" as Zigong supposed. The laughable thing is that throughout the ages, people have been confused by such a simple rhetorical question, actually taking what Confucius opposed as Confucius's own position. These Confucian scholars treated the Analects like a meal ticket — what "analects" are they even discussing?
Actually, suppose what one "does not desire" is precisely "do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself" — then should "do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself" itself be "not imposed on others"? If not, this contradicts the statement "do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself." If yes, since "do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself" should itself "not be imposed on others," then why bother saying it at all? Such garbage rhetoric has been foisted onto Confucius as his so-called sayings for over two thousand years — utterly absurd. Confucius saw through the logical contradiction of this statement over two thousand years ago, saw that it was a piece of garbage nonsense. A single "其恕乎？" rhetorical question stripped this statement bare. What a pity that for over two thousand years, not a single person has pointed this out again — how laughable and pitiful!
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán's Vernacular Translation
Zigong asked: "Is there one unified doctrine that can thread through one's entire life?" The Master said: "Does 'do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself' really constitute 'reciprocity'?"
Zigong asked: "Is there a doctrine that can thread through one's entire life?" Confucius said: "Does 'do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself' really constitute 'reciprocity'?"
Zigong said: "I do not want others to slander me, and I also do not want to slander others." The Master said: "Ci, this is beyond your ability."
Yang Bojun: Zigong said: "I don't want others to bully me, and I also don't want to bully others." Confucius said: "Ci, this is not something you can achieve."
Qian Mu: Zigong said: "I don't want others to impose these things on me, and I also don't want to impose them on others." The Master said: "Ci! This is beyond your ability!"
Li Zehou: Zigong said: "I don't want others to force anything on me, and I don't want to force anything on others either." Confucius said: "Zigong, this is not something you can accomplish."
Detailed Explanation: The key to this chapter lies in the meaning of "加" (jiā). The above interpretations, as well as the conventional ones, all explain it as "impose, force upon." In fact, these are extended meanings of "加." "加" is composed of "口" (mouth) and "力" (force) — very vivid. Its original meaning is to falsely report, exaggerate, speak beyond the truth, add onto what was originally there, fabricate what didn't originally exist, and slander. Zigong didn't want to slander others, and also didn't want others to slander him. Confucius believed this was beyond Zigong's ability. In fact, it's not just Zigong — as long as one is a person in society, as long as one exists in the state of "people not understanding" (人不知), it's impossible to achieve this. Even Confucius himself couldn't achieve it.
This Zigong never understood Confucius and continued his "threading through with one doctrine" word game. In this chapter, he came up with another one: "I don't want others to slander me, and I also don't want to slander others" — dreaming the dream of "I don't want others to falsely accuse me, and I also don't want to falsely accuse others." But in present reality, this sort of thing has never been possible to "thread through all" — it has always been fantasy, impossible to realize. A person's commentary and observation of others is "inevitably" (不患) from their own angle. In quantum mechanics, an observer cannot be "without influence" (无加) on the observed result. In present reality, in the observation of "person to person," this is obviously also impossible. If this trick of "without influence" is pursued as a goal, one would be a great fool — just like trying to eliminate the influence of the observer's state in quantum mechanics. Confucius understood this principle over two thousand years ago. A single "赐也，非尔所及也" — put plainly — means "Zigong, stop letting water into your brain and daydreaming."
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán's Vernacular Translation
Zigong said: "I do not want others to slander me, and I also do not want to slander others." The Master said: "Ci, this is beyond your ability."
Zigong said: "I don't want others to slander me, and I also don't want to slander others." Confucius said: "Zigong, this is not something you can achieve."
(To be continued)
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Replies
缠中说禅 2007/4/3 15:38:24
[Anonymous] 3G
2007-04-03 15:34:02
Blogger, that was a typo — you meant interest rate hike, right?
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Yes, it's an interest rate hike. But this ID has always thought this rate hike was an intellectually deficient move, so the typo may not have been entirely without reason.
缠中说禅 2007/4/3 15:43:07
[Anonymous] 一七
2007-04-03 15:40:34
Good afternoon Blogger. How's the weather in Beijing today?
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Not bad, at least the sun's visible, just a lot of thick clouds drifting around in the sky.
缠中说禅 2007/4/3 15:51:18
[Anonymous] 你的样子
2007-04-03 15:39:53
Boss, I finally thought of a question about the concept of completion.
My understanding is as follows:
The completion signal of a trend is divergence.
The completion of a hub is the third buy or third sell point.
Is this correct?
Also, how do you determine the completion of a consolidation trend type? Is it also by the third buy or third sell point?
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Basically you can understand it that way. When the consolidation hub at that level ends, the consolidation at that level ends. But you must note that the consolidation at that level ending doesn't necessarily mean it has broken free of consolidation — it could enter a larger level of consolidation. If viewed from the annual line perspective, consolidation is basically absolute.
缠中说禅 2007/4/3 15:54:51
[Anonymous] hehe2
2007-04-03 15:53:00
[Anonymous] 你的样子
2007-04-03 15:39:53
Boss, I finally thought of a question about the concept of completion.
My understanding is as follows:
The completion signal of a trend is divergence.
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BLOG host, I've asked you this question many times, but you never replied.
Is it true that the completion signal of a movement is divergence? And that a hub needs at least one is just a necessary condition.
Please advise.
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It's "trend," not "movement." Consolidation is also a type of movement, and its completion cannot be said to be entirely determined by consolidation divergence.
缠中说禅 2007/4/3 16:03:11
[Anonymous] Sina User
2007-04-03 16:00:44
Blogger, do you also practice esoteric Buddhism?
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The esoteric is right beside you.
缠中说禅 2007/4/3 16:05:24
Two Tigers
2007-04-03 15:53:00
Fairy Sister, I strongly request special commendation for classmate Big Market!
He's too touching. When everyone is busy, he still writes such detailed analytical text to share with everyone — truly your excellent student.
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Big red flower for him.
缠中说禅 2007/4/3 16:07:26
Sorry, I have a gathering tonight and need to leave early, otherwise I'll get stuck in traffic.
Signing off, goodbye.
缠中说禅 2007/4/3 15:36:57
[Anonymous] 钢股份
2007-04-03 15:30:52
Your Majesty! Today all the classmates are very worried about tomorrow's market trend!!
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There's nothing to be afraid of. Afraid when it rises, afraid when it falls, afraid when it consolidates — then coming to the stock market is just suffering.