The core content of Confucius' political thought is "ritual" and "benevolence". In terms of the strategy of governing the country, he advocated "governing with virtue", and governing the country with morality and etiquette is the highest way to govern the country. This strategy of governing the country is also called "virtue governance" or "ritual governance". This strategy imparts virtue and etiquette to the people, strictly follows the hierarchy, and completely divides the nobles and common people into the governed and the governed. It breaks an important original boundary between the nobles and common people.

Confucius lived in the Lu State, where the patriarchal ritual system of the Western Zhou Dynasty was deeply rooted in the tradition of patriarchal rituals. At this time, the ruling power of the Zhou Dynasty had already been in name only, and the princes fought against each other, and the social reality of "the king's way was abolished, the etiquette and righteousness were abolished, the regime lost, and the family was different from customs". "The king did not have a monarch, the ministers did not have a minister, the father did not have a father, and the son did not have a son" became the characteristics of that era. The intensification of social contradictions hindered the development of productivity, and human spirit and beliefs also suffered unprecedented destruction. These together constituted the historical origins and social conditions for the emergence of Confucius' political thoughts. "Benevolence" and "ritual" were the basic spirit of his political thoughts.

Confucius' highest political ideal was to establish a Datong society where "the world is for the public". The basic characteristics of the "Datong" society are: the great way is smooth and "the world is for the public", so that one can "select the wise and capable, be faithful and harmonious", "people do not only have their relatives, not only their sons, but also their sons, so that the elderly can have something to live, the strong can have something to use, the young can have something to gain, and the widows and lonely can have something to support."

In the world of great harmony, people in the world not only regard their own family as relatives, not only regard their parents and children as love, but also respect each other and love everyone in the world. To make old age last for a long time and use it for a strong person, children can gain warmth and care, lonely people and disabled people have their own things, men each have their own affairs, and women have a satisfactory home. Conspiracy and fraud do not prosper, theft does not arise, theft does not arise, the road does not collect any remains, the doors are closed at night, everyone talks about faith and cultivates harmony, and selects talents and abilities. This is an idealized primitive social scene in the legendary Yao and Shun era, and it is also the highest ideal society that Confucius longs for.

The lower political goal advocated by Confucius is a well-off society. The basic characteristics of a well-off society are: the great way is hidden, "the world is the family", "each relatives are his relatives, his sons are his own, and his goods are his own," which is in line with this uneven wealth and poverty, and the disparity of high and low, and has produced a series of rules and regulations, ethics and morals, "to correct the monarch and ministers, to strengthen the father and son, to be harmonious with brothers, to be harmonious with husband and wife", to establish the fields, to be brave and wise, and to establish the city and valleys and pools, to be solid." Therefore, "making a plan is to do it, and the soldiers are born from this". This society is obviously not as perfect as the "Datong" world, but it has normal order, politeness, benevolence, trust, and righteousness, so it is called a well-off society. This society actually describes the "prosperity" of the class society after the emergence of "private ownership". [33]

Confucius's Datong society and the ideal of a well-off society had a profound impact on China's future generations. Later, different historical periods, thinkers at different stages proposed different concepts of longing for blueprints and goals. This idea also inspired progressive thinkers and reformers. Hong Xiuquan, Kang Youwei, Tan Sitong and Sun Yat-sen were all influenced by them.

The benevolent government advocated by Confucius in troubled times had no room for implementation, but during the three months of governing Lu, the powerful Qi State was also afraid of Confucius' talents, which shows that Confucius deserves the title of outstanding politician.

Economics

Confucius' economic thoughts are the most important thing about righteousness and over profit, the concept of righteousness and profit of "seeing profit" and the idea of ​​"enriching the people". This is also the main content of Confucian economic thought and has a great influence on later generations.

Confucius statue

Image of Confucius (6 photos)

Due to Confucius' conservative political attitude, the reform of the economic system also reflects conservative ideas. For example, in the 15th year of Duke Xuan of Lu (594 BC), the implementation of "first tax mu" was implemented, and legally recognized the legal status of private land was a major economic reform in the Spring and Autumn Period. However, according to "Zuo Zhuan", Confucius recorded "first tax mu" when he edited the "Spring and Autumn Period" with the purpose of criticizing it as "not polite". If the people were not rich, the king would not be rich. In the "Analects of Confucius, Yao Yue", it is also recorded that Confucius advocated "

It is beneficial to the people, that is, to do things that are beneficial to the people. On the other hand, he advocated that taxes should be lighter and that the levy of corvee should not delay the farming season. The Analects of Confucius: Shuer" records that Confucius also preached the people who ruled at that time, requiring that those who ruled at the time should not be too extravagant and should pay attention to frugality. He said: "Extraordinary means not rude, and frugal means not to be rude. Instead of being rude, it is better to be solid." At the same time, he also advocated "consumption and love others". This includes applying Confucius' idea of ​​"benevolence" to the economic field. [33]

Educational Thoughts

Confucius first proposed in Chinese history that people's talents and qualities are similar, and their personality differences are mainly due to the influence of acquired education and social environment ("similarity is similar, and habits are different"). Therefore, everyone can be educated, and everyone should be educated. He advocated "teaching is not different", founding private schools, recruiting students widely, breaking the monopoly of slave owners and aristocrats over school education, expanding the scope of education to the common people, and adapting to the trend of social development at that time.

Confucius advocated "study well and become an official". After learning, he still had enough energy to become an official. His education aims to cultivate gentlemen who are in politics, and gentlemen must have high moral qualities. Therefore, Confucius emphasized that moral education must be placed first in school education ("Disciples enter when they are filial, and when they are out, they are ungrateful and trustworthy, love the masses widely, and be kind to the benevolent, and have the spare energy to do so, so they should learn literature").

The main contents of Confucius' moral education are "ritual" and "benevolence". Among them, "ritual" is the moral norm and "benevolence" is the highest moral norm. "ritual" is the form of "benevolence" and "benevolence" is the content of "ritual". With the spirit of "benevolence", "ritual" is truly fulfilled. In terms of moral cultivation, he proposed methods such as setting ambitions, self-restraint, practicing, introspecting, and being brave to correct mistakes.

"Learn and know" is the dominant idea of ​​Confucius' teaching thought. While advocating not being ashamed to ask questions and being humble and eager to learn, he emphasized the combination of learning and thinking ("If you study without thinking, you will be confused; if you think without learning, you will be in danger"), and at the same time, you must "put what you learn" and apply the knowledge you have learned to social practice.

In terms of teaching methods, Confucius required teachers to have an educational concept of "teaching without distinction", "maintaining the world", "teaching according to aptitude", and "heuristic" methodology, focusing on children's education and enlightenment education. He taught students to have an honest learning attitude, be humble and studious, and often review the knowledge they have learned in order to "review the old and learn the new", expand new knowledge, and "learn one by one and go against three". He was the first to propose heuristic teaching. He said: "If you are not angry, you will not be enlightened, and if you are not confused, you will not be expressed." This means that teachers should inspire and enlighten them just right when students think carefully and have reached a certain level.
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