Chapter 765: Sima Qian once said

Sima Qian once said....

April 16: Sima Qian once said.....

Sima Qian once said, Kongzi placed great emphasis on learning ritual propriety even in childhood, and even when playing with peers, he imitated the procedures and movements of adults during sacrifices or celebrations to practice ritual propriety. (Shiji, Kongzi Shi: "Kongzi, as a child at play, would arrange the sacrificial vessels and display ritual demeanor.") Sima Qian was a rigorous scholar; the historical materials he wrote were carefully screened and investigated. He said that when Kongzi played as a child, he used the vessels set out for sacrifices to practice the movements of ritual propriety, and that must have been based on evidence.

In the countryside, parents do not allow children to play with household utensils, let alone utensils used for sacrifices. Kongzi had the opportunity to take the utensils used for sacrifices at home and practice ritual propriety with his peers; his mother not only did not stop him but also encouraged him. Moreover, she went to the market to specially sell the vessels used for arranging the sacrificial offerings in sacrifices, so that Kongzi and his companions could practice ritual propriety while playing. ("Kongzi Shi Jia Kao": "Holy Mother, \"the Holy Mother\" refers to Kongzi's mother; she sold ritual vessels in Yu market to provide for play.") It can be seen that Kongzi's mother, in Kongzi's early years, was just Africa emphasis on the cultivation and education of Kongzi's ritual propriety. Kongzi's mother's such education and upbringing thoroughly influenced Kongzi's whole life.

After Kongzi became famous, in the Classic of Poetry he compiled, there are such verses:

The rat has skin, but humans lack propriety!

Humans lack propriety; why not die?

The rat has teeth, but humans lack restraint!

Humans lack restraint; why not die?

The rat has a body, but humans lack Classic of Rites!

Humans lack Classic of Rites; why not hasten death?

The rat still has skin; how can a person not observe ritual propriety? A person who lacks ritual propriety toward others is not even as good as a rat; someone who is not even as good as a rat—what meaning does such a person's life have? A person lacking ritual propriety, why not just die?

The rat even has teeth; how can a person not know shame? If a person is ignorant of shame and lacks ritual propriety, why not die instead of waiting for what time?

The rat even has its own limbs, but humans lack ritual propriety. A person lacking ritual propriety—what is such a person living for? Hurry up and die!

Kongzi's compiled 'The Rat', although its words are a bit rough and a bit extreme, making it hard for people to accept and understand: one who does not observe ritual propriety toward others should just die! But from Kongzi's extreme words, one cannot see Kongzi's emphasis on ritual propriety and his deep hatred and resentment toward those barbaric and rude people?

Once, Kongzi's student Lin Fang asked Kongzi what the fundamental meaning of ritual was. Kongzi said to Lin Fang, 'You ask this question; its meaning is truly significant! When practicing ritual propriety, rather than extravagance, prefer simplicity; as for funerals, rather than formal thoroughness, prefer heartfelt sorrow.'(Analects: Lin Fang asked about the basis of ritual. Kongzi said: 'Great question! Classic of Rites, rather than extravagance, prefer simplicity; mourning, rather than Classic of Changes, prefer sorrow.')

From these few sentences of Kongzi, one can infer that in the rites concerning people, Kongzi not only emphasizes form but also stresses the substance, practicality, and effectiveness of the content................