Detailed Analysis of "The Analects": For All Those Who Misinterpret Confucius (20)
2006/11/2 12:06:43
The Master said: If there were a true king, it would take a generation before benevolence prevails.
Detailed Analysis: A chapter composed of just a few simple characters, yet no one has ever been able to explain it clearly. The difficulty here lies in the character "世" (shì). Virtually all interpretations take "世" to mean "one generation of thirty years." The general meaning then becomes: "If there were one who became king, he must certainly wait one generation of thirty years before he could practice benevolent governance." From this, many bizarre theories are derived — for example, that one must first have rule of law before rule by virtue, first develop the economy before developing morality, and so on. The subtext of such thinking is that, from the king's perspective, the people are all scoundrels who must first be put through the wringer before being given the good fruit. Of course, whether that good fruit ever actually arrives is another matter. As the saying goes, "thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west bank" — who knows what the next generation will bring? In any case, while the river flows east, one might as well plunder the east bank dry and at least accumulate experience for plundering the west bank in the next generation. What does it matter what happens to the east bank? This king truly has a grand scheme!
In reality, this passage follows from the earlier discussion of "transforming Qi once to reach Lu." The previous chapter stated that the six-character maxim for long-term national stability is "善人、胜残去杀" (make people good, overcome cruelty and eliminate killing). Yet in the real world, in a world of "people not knowing," how many can actually accomplish this six-character maxim? If they cannot, then inevitably it becomes "flags changing atop the city walls" — in Chinese history, isn't this kind of dynastic change all too common? Within this vicious cycle, there is a pattern, which is precisely this chapter's "If there were a true king, it would take a generation before benevolence prevails." "世" means hereditary succession through generations — the dream of Qin Shi Huang from the first generation to ten thousand generations. "王" (king) — one who achieves kingship through the arts of despotism and hegemony, who gains political power through "Qi-style" methods — will necessarily first establish the foundation for hereditary succession from one generation to ten thousand generations before then practicing so-called "benevolence." This is what "If there were a true king, it would take a generation before benevolence prevails" means. The "benevolence" here is not the "benevolence" as understood by the Confucian school; it is merely the "Lu-style" pseudo-"benevolence" that flies the banner of "humanity" and "virtue" after "transforming Qi once to reach Lu" — it has nothing to do with The Analects or Confucius.
Some might say this only applies to feudal societies and that so-called democratic societies would never have such things. This is nothing but a narrow view. Take the United States, for example: after the Civil War established the hereditary perpetuation of its national system — from one generation to ten thousand generations — it then began practicing its so-called "democracy and freedom" brand of "benevolence." This pattern was revealed by The Analects over two thousand years ago. A "king" does not necessarily require someone to be an emperor — the establishment of capitalism is also a form of kingship, and the "democracy and freedom" peddled everywhere afterward is precisely the "generation before benevolence prevails." In fact, this pattern exists not only in the political realm but is ubiquitous in academia, economics, religion, and other fields. Even in a small company or a small office, isn't "If there were a true king, it would take a generation before benevolence prevails" all too common?
Just as the Confucian school, regarding "transforming Qi once to reach Lu," acknowledges its progressive aspect while never endorsing this "Lu-style" charade, so too does it disdain the false "benevolence" of "a generation before benevolence prevails." Of course, even false "benevolence" is better than brazen "cruelty and killing." But what is false must eventually be exposed. Qin Shi Huang's dream of ten thousand generations turned out to be a great historical joke that barely lasted past the third. "A generation before benevolence prevails" can only be a footnote to the vicious cycle of a world of "people not knowing," a recurring basso ostinato. The Confucian main melody is "善人为邦百年，亦可以胜残去杀矣" — "Making people good and governing a state for a hundred years can also overcome cruelty and eliminate killing." It is the six-character maxim for lasting national stability: "make people good, overcome cruelty and eliminate killing." It is promoting goodness and punishing evil simultaneously, valuing both civil and military virtues, elevating the good, punishing the wicked, and "not manifesting" the appearances of "poverty and wealth." How great the Confucian! How could any petty tyrant compare?
(To be continued)
Strictly prohibited to plagiarize, violators will be prosecuted
Replies
缠中说禅 2006/11/2 12:18:39
[Anonymous] 路过
2006-11-01 12:50:02
Little miss, could you post your newly punctuated and reordered <<Analects>> online in batches so everyone can enjoy reading it? Please.
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It's best to just come read it here — isn't this "online"? With too many reposts, and reposts of reposts, things get messy and nobody knows who wrote it. Since publication has already been arranged, copyright is very important.
缠中说禅 2006/11/2 12:25:48
An announcement regarding this book
This book will be published after completion. Drinking with friends yesterday, we've already agreed to find a super heavyweight figure to write the preface. The only thing slightly dampening my motivation is that once the book comes out, I'd have to appear publicly. This ID has done quite a few earth-shaking things in a certain industry, but just doesn't like appearing in public. If publishing under the name Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán, with a super heavyweight figure writing the preface, it would be impossible not to include my real name — I'm still quite conflicted about it. Mainly I feel it's not yet time to step into the public eye.
缠中说禅 2006/11/2 12:39:27
Real Men Do You
2006-11-02 12:32:10
This timing is perfect. Host, why do you always post at noon?
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I have time during the noon break. After 1 PM it won't work.
缠中说禅 2006/11/2 12:44:43
[Anonymous] 路过
2006-11-02 12:35:50
Publishing is great! Will definitely read it!
Still hoping for some peaceful days ahead.
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Somewhat. Fame is not a good thing, especially too early. Moreover, the industry this ID works in absolutely cannot afford fame — fame means death. I expect that once this book is published, this ID will have to wash my hands of it all.
Tranquility requires sufficient merit, virtue, and wisdom to attain. If I truly do come out and forsake tranquility, it would be purely for the sake of the world's moral compass — for this ID, it would actually be a thankless task.
缠中说禅 2006/11/2 12:46:49
[Anonymous] sdf
2006-11-02 12:39:47
As long as you can't disprove that Confucius endorsed hereditary succession and autocracy — that is, that Confucius had no concept of modern democracy — even if you talk until the sky falls, you still can't vindicate Confucius...
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The thought of Confucius is far beyond what people like you, who feed on hearsay, could ever comprehend.
Market's opening, going offline first.
缠中说禅 2006/11/2 21:37:57
[Anonymous] 我都说
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán
2006-11-02 12:25:48
An announcement regarding this book
This book will be published after completion. Drinking with friends yesterday, we've already agreed to find a super heavyweight figure to write the preface. The only thing slightly dampening my motivation is that once the book comes out, I'd have to appear publicly. This ID has done quite a few earth-shaking things in a certain industry, but just doesn't like appearing in public. If publishing under the name Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán, with a super heavyweight figure writing the preface, it would be impossible not to include my real name — I'm still quite conflicted about it. Mainly I feel it's not yet time to step into the public eye.
——————Could it be that you're thinking of asking Comrade Li to write the preface? Can a lady like you get him to agree?
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Except for those in official positions where it would be inconvenient, as long as they're human, it's possible. Haven't decided on anyone yet — this kind of thing is a mutual selection process; the key is whether there's a rapport.
缠中说禅 2006/11/2 21:46:46
[Anonymous] 大平山
2006-11-02 15:05:03
Dear miss, I won't be able to follow the posts for the next few days. Please forgive me for reposting without notice.
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Alright.
缠中说禅 2006/11/2 12:14:10
Final friendly reminder
Please do not include links in your comments, otherwise Sina will automatically delete them. I just saw someone's comment with a link, and it disappeared shortly after — it would be a shame to waste your time.