At first glance, this sentence seems simpler than the question asked to Zhu Ping. It is nothing more than an answer to "Wealth and honor are what everyone wants to pursue." The literal meaning can be interpreted.
However, there is actually a trap hidden in it. If you simply translate this sentence, it is inconsistent with the moral principles of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.
This title comes from "The Analects of Confucius: Li Ren Chapter". "The Master said, Wealth and honor are what people want. If you don't follow the way to get them, you can't get them. Poverty and lowliness are what people hate. If you don't follow the way, you can't get them.
If you get it, don’t go.”
A simple translation means that everyone wants to get riches and honors, but if they cannot get it through proper channels, a gentleman will not enjoy it. Everyone wants to get rid of poverty, but if they cannot get rid of poverty in the right way, a gentleman will not pursue it.
Its real meaning is in the second half of the sentence, "If you don't follow the way to get it, you won't get it."
Just saying the first half of the sentence is to defend greed, which is treason!
Hearing this, Zhu Su stood up and answered literally: "What's so difficult about this? The meaning of this sentence is: 'Wealth and honor are what everyone wants to pursue.'"
Zhu Fan was very anxious. Under Lao Zhu's gaze, he did not dare to speak, but he was really worried that his brother would make his father angry.
"No, no. Down below!" Zhu Laosan reminded in a low voice despite the pressure.
"Down below? What below?" Zhu Su was stunned and responded in a low voice.
"Of course!" Zhu Su really knew.
Then I can only wrong this little brother and bear the blow of my lack of martial ethics.
"Great kindness." Song Lian shook his head after hearing this, as if he were drinking fine wine. He couldn't be more satisfied. "Your Majesty, Fifth Highness, what do you think?"
"How brave you are to say bad words in front of dad!"
But if he still asks about the Analects, he will be blinded. He cannot continue to use "slang" to excuse himself. If he does this, Lao Zhu will not eat himself?
In order to leave this hellish place called Ohondo, I can only win, not lose!
"Can we really understand the true meaning of Sage Kong without using our brains to think?"
"Since His Highness the Fifth Prince said so, does he have his own opinion?"
"Is this also called knowledge? If you don't see with your eyes and don't think with your brain, you just use your mouth to follow the instructions. Is this also called a scholar?"
"The original meaning of the sage is in the second half of 'If you don't follow the way to achieve it, it will not be achieved.' This sentence is also consistent with Cheng Zi and Zhu Zi's 'preserve the principles of heaven and destroy human desires'."
"Everyone has desires. If he has no desires or pursuits, who is he? How can we get to the point of 'preserving heaven's principles and destroying human desires' from this sentence!"
"Your Highness, you are a member of the royal family, how can you say such vulgar words!" Master Song pointed at Zhu Su with a trembling hand.
Lao Zhu couldn't see the interaction between the two of them, so his face turned even darker and he let out a displeased "hum". Song Lian also shook his head and said: "Although the fifth prince meant what he said, he didn't see the inside."
It is not easy for a child in his teens to express such an opinion. Why should he be angry?
It's much better than that "whispering".
"What he said was all what Cheng Zhu thought, and what he said was all Cheng Zhu's old words. In this way, he just became a mouthpiece for Cheng Zhu and a clay puppet of Cheng Zhu."
"Ask me?" Zhu Su smiled slightly.
Didn't you see daddy sitting on it? If he gets angry and takes off his boots and spanks you in public, will you still be a human being?
Xi straightened up and felt that he had shed his previous confusion and seemed to be becoming a completely new person. Yes, if you don’t have your own opinions when reading, how is it any different from a clay doll?
Old Man Song's face darkened, and Old Zhu and Zhu Biao also looked frightened and angry. Zhu Fan was even more frightened and scolded in a low voice: "Old Five, don't talk nonsense!"
It's not "preserve the laws of nature and destroy human desires", but "people must have their own selfishness, and then their minds will see"?
This was the first time he heard such an answer from a completely different perspective!
Which of the two is the true meaning of Confucius's words?
"This..." Song Lian frowned slightly, and was about to refute this statement that was not in line with Cheng Zhu's words. Unexpectedly, the disciple named Xizhi had already passed him and made a long speech to Zhu Su.
Zhu Su shamelessly used the leverage rule of online scolding: I don’t care whether your point of view is right or not, I won’t talk about my point of view, I will just belittle you as a person!
Even Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao began to think deeply. Only Song Lian was a master of Neo-Confucianism. He had studied Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism all his life, so he could not be easily shaken. He stroked his beard and scolded: "What the Fifth Highness said,
It’s also biased.”
He hurriedly continued speaking, hoping to divert Lao Zhu's attention.
Zhu Fang looked at Zhu Su in shock and said in admiration: "He is indeed the man who wrote the 'whispering language'."
"Cheng Zhu was a Confucian saint, how could he not know what Confucius thought?"
Are you so confused when you study by yourself and have no ideas of your own?
So he said loudly: "What is selfish is the heart of a person. People must be selfish, and then their heart will be seen."
In that case, I could use the rich scientific knowledge in my mind to completely confuse this little brother.
That's right! After studying for several years, everything I learned was from Cheng Zhu, and everything I said was from Cheng Zhu. Those were all Cheng Zhu's thoughts, but what were my own thoughts?
His posture was open and aboveboard, and he didn't look angry at all.
"I would like to be taught!"
"Sage Confucius once said, 'If you don't follow the way to achieve something, you won't get anywhere.' But I read the whole text, but I didn't find anything about 'eliminating human desires.'"
He thought he was competing academically with that little brother to compete with each other.
This is where the benefits for time travellers lie.
"This article comes from "Li Ren Chapter". Although it talks about wealth, it actually talks about "virtue"."
"His Royal Highness King Wu's words are like enlightenment. You are a true scholar, no one else can compare with me!"
But he was thick-skinned, and his expression returned to normal after a while.
Am I really just a puppet with Cheng Zhu carved all over it?
The young man was shocked. For a moment, he began to doubt himself.
"Yes." The young man in Confucian robes came forward humbly, first bowed to Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, and then saluted him again. Although he was young, he was impeccable.
"Xizhi, you answer."
In fact, I am just like him, I just use other people's words to imitate others. The difference is that he uses the past, and I use the future...
In front of Zhu Su, the young man named Xi Zhi looked shocked. Zhu Su's words were like a blow to the head, making his ears buzz.
Zhu Su occupied the academic high ground as soon as he came up, and condescendingly attacked the young man in Confucian shirt. Looking at the pale face of that buddy, Zhu Su could only say sorry. Who didn't expect him at the beginning, this time?
The test is still based on questions...
He lowered his head and saw that there was nothing wrong down there, but the zipper was not open. Speaking of which, the clothes didn't have a zipper either.
"The wording may be a bit radical, but the meaning should be expressed properly," Zhu Su said. He also felt a little regretful. He had been trolling too much on the Internet and accidentally said something that was easy for him to say.
"Hey, that's all." Old Master Song shook his head. "Let's just consider His Highness the Fifth as having passed."
"You should stop saying a few words, otherwise you will bring trouble to Lao Wu!" Zhu Fan turned around and scolded his second brother. Seeing Lao Zhu Hu staring at him, he lowered his head in fear.
"Only by preserving the inherent laws of nature in the heart and eliminating people's private desires can we achieve virtue. This is the true meaning of the sage's words."
"If you are selfless, then you have no intention?!" When the Confucian scholar named Xi Zhi heard this, he was stunned again.
No matter who is right or wrong in the views of Zhu Zi and His Highness the Fifth, His Highness does have unique insights into the words of the saints, but he only follows the words of his ancestors. From this point of view, he has already lost.
"Concession, concession..." Zhu Wu was a little confused. This sentence "Husband's selfishness is the heart of man" actually comes from Li Zhi, a great scholar of the Taizhou School of Psychology in later generations. As a pioneer in the fight against Neo-Confucianism, Li Zhi has been sought after by countless people.
He is a super great Confucian, and his words will naturally cause shock in the hearts of Confucian scholars like Xi Zhi who are not deeply involved in the world.
"If you are selfless, you have no intention!"
"In my opinion, this brother doesn't have any profound insights into what Confucius said. He just followed the script according to Cheng and Zhu's standards."
And there is some truth in what His Highness the Fifth Highness said, but the way is not in line with Cheng and Zhu. I need to supervise more and correct it, that's all.
Seeing that his disciple was already impressed, although Song Lian was not happy with Zhu Su's deviant views, he did not want to reprimand him for being disrespectful in front of His Majesty.
Without waiting for Song Lian's reaction, Zhu Su targeted the young Confucian scholar.
"On the contrary, Confucius said at the beginning, 'The rich and noble people want whatever they want.' This shows that Confucius also believed that these desires are normal."
"I thought Dashan was nothing!" Zhu Laowu said without any surprise.
"Thank you, Master." Zhu Su bowed in salute. Then he raised his head and raised his eyebrows at Lao Zhu and his eldest brother.
Lao Zhu's originally better-looking face darkened again, while his eldest brother Zhu Biao had a doting look on his face, looking helplessly at this inconspicuous younger brother.
"That's it for today." Lao Zhu flicked his robe and stood up.