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“Distinguish between man and bird”: The foundation of Chinese traditional civilization
Author: Liu Qiang
Source: Author authorized by Confucianism website, original version 11 of “Research on Confucian Civilization” (edited by Guo Qiyong, Yuelu Bookstore December 2020)
Content summary: In the history of the structural development of traditional Chinese civilization, the “Distinguish between man and bird” developed by Confucius and Mencius has its origin value and basic meaning, not only gave birth to a series of evil ways such as filial piety and gift, benevolence and goodness, moral governance and tyranny, and, href=”https://twsharestory.com/”>Sweetheart GardenAs a perspective and method that contains the dual domains of human and ethics, in the discussion of the value of traditional Chinese civilization and solving the modern differences in Chinese civilization, “the distinction between man and bird” can be more concealed than the “distinction between Chinese and Western” and “distinction between ancient and modern times” that are more concealed by the “distinction between Chinese and Western” and “distinction between ancient and modern times”inclusive meaning and space, look at the problem from a more macroscopic vertical ethical dimension or value dimension, and therefore have a more ultimate civilization learning value and a more useful way to discuss meaning. From the perspective of “distinguishing between man and birds”, the absurdity and specialty of Chinese civilization can be clearly understood at a glance and there is no escape from the public’s references and criticisms of traditional Chinese civilization based on “Oriental Middle Discussion”.
Keywords: Distinguish between man and bird; primitive Confucianism; traditional civilization; foundation
In the study and commentary of traditional Chinese civilization, there are two common perspectives and methods: one is the distinction between China and the West, and the other is the distinction between ancient and modern times. The difference between Chinese and Western differences is based on the horizontal comparison of spatial dimensions, whether it is “Chinese learning as a body and Western learning as a use”, or “westernly to Chinese and transform Western”, we often use “Western learning” to reflect on “Chinese learning”, thereby highlighting the characteristics of Chinese traditional civilization being more similar to Eastern civilization. The distinction between ancient and modern times is a comparison of the dimensions of time. It may be based on the past and observe the present, and use the present to use the present, or use the present to judge the present and to dedicate the present to the present. It is often accompanied by an advanced and advanced color. Especially when reflecting modern civilization with the so-called “modernity” to reflect modern civilization, it is difficult to avoid some kind of “arrogance and prejudice” based on knowledge or the times. When making specific insights into traditional civilization, these two perspectives and methods cannot be said to be indifferent, but for some of the most basic civilization differences, they often fall into the dilemma. For example, when discussing filial piety and gifts, religion and memorialism, nature goodness and evil, and the distinction between heaven and human desires in theory and mind, we use the perspective of differences between Chinese and Western civilizations or the evolution of ancient and modern civilizations. As long as we are not unreasonable, we will follow the common topic first, and the conclusions drawn may not be able to convince people. This has to make people think about a more reliable or perhaps a more complete and thorough explanation. It is believed that the “distinguish between man and bird” developed by the primitive Confucianism of Confucius and Mencius,In the history of the structural development of Chinese traditional civilization, it has origin value and basic meaning. As a destiny of dual domains of human and ethics, it can transcend the limitations of three-dimensional physical dimensions such as time and space, and move from a more macroscopic sideIntegrity dimensions or value dimensions look at problems, so they have a more ultimate civilization learning value and a more useful way to discuss meaning.
1. “Discribing between man and bird” and traditional filial piety
In the discussion and discussion of traditional civilization, there is often a fantasy or Utopian paradox: it was originally based on righteousness and Progressive criticisms about the ills or habits of traditional civilization—such as criticisms of gifts, filial piety, family, marriage and even public ownership—in the end, they were in vain and came up with a conclusion that completely overturned these civilization phenomena, and the result was only one: that is, to bring human civilization back! The basis of this paradox is that the saying goes only with the “distinguish between ancient and modern times” and “distinction between Chinese and Western countries” and without paying attention to the “distinguish between man and birds” as the foundation of Chinese civilization and even human civilization.
As we all know, since the new civilization movement, there has been a kind of aggressive criticism of traditional civilization, especially family and filial piety, which has been denounced as the “source of all evil.” For example, Fu Sinian said in his article “The Source of All Evils”: “If you want to understand the situation of the Chinese family, just draw a pig circle.” [1] Lu Xun in “How do we become fathers now?” In the article 》, he also believes that “there is no grace between father and son” and “the result of eating is to nourish itself, but it is not grace for itself; the result of sexual intercourse gives birth to descendants, which is of course not grace for future generations.” [2] These two flags of new civilization movement are at the back of the anti-traditional war, holding the oriental weapons that they think are advanced (it is said to be “biogenetic” or “biozoic transformation”), which ultimately turns the criticism of civilization towards the anti-civilization and anti-civilization side.
What is so contempt is that Fu Sinian’s “pig circle discussion” just uses the Confucian “distinguishing between man and bird”. He also forgot that the family structure and moral character of primitive Confucianism were originally aimed at letting people slaughter “birds” and “dog horses”! Although there is definitely a “pig” (pig) in the shape of the character “home”, the reason why home is home is not because there are pig circles, but because there are people! It is believed that the reason why Fu Sinian created a contrast between family and pig circles was precisely the result of the long-term influence of the “distinguish between man and birds” constructed by primitive Confucianism. In other words, if there is no ethical design of “distinguishing between humans and birds” in traditional civilization, human families and pig circles are similar.What’s there to be surprised about if there is nothing wrong?
Anyway, it is believed that the “distinguishing between man and bird” originated from Mencius. In fact, in Confucius’s statement on filial piety, he has long paid great attention to the difference between man and “dog and horse”. “The Book of Confucianism” reads: “Ziyou asked about filial piety, and he said, “The filial piety now is to be able to nourish. As for dogs and horses, they can be nourished. Why are they different?’” [3] Here, Confucius has made a clear distinction between “raising parents” and “raising dogs and horses”. From this we can see that Confucius’ comment on filial piety already contains the “distinguish between man and bird” that is difficult to observe. “Traditional Notes·Fang Notes” says: “A gentleman can nourish his feelings; why do you distinguish them if you are not respected?” [4] Here, the respect and disrespect of “raising” are regarded as the main basis for distinguishing the correct people from gentlemen. In addition, “Big Birthday Book of Farewells·Sacrificial Words” quoted Zengzi: “There are three filial piety: the highest filial piety is to be filial and respectful, and the lower one can be nourished.” The meaning of the subtle meaning is that only knowing how to care for parents but not love and respect is the worst filial piety. As for the matter of a rebellious son, only offering satisfaction to the desires of the mouth and without raising the respect from the heart is to spare the time for filial piety to one’s own humanistic value. Parents and dogs have certain similarities in the results, but they have fundamental differences in the starting point and the process. And respect and love are the “essence behind the phenomenon”!
Confucius compared and discussed the care of his parents with the care of dogs and horses, pointing out the main reason for the respect and love, which has actually opened up Mencius’s “distinguish between man and birdsR
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