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Lost Dreams

Duke Mu asked Zisi, "Is it ancient to return to serve the old monarch?" Zisi said, "In ancient times, gentlemen promoted people with courtesy and dismissed people with courtesy, so there was a ritual of returning to serve the old monarch; today's gentlemen promote people as if they were about to kneel down and dismiss people as if they were about to cross the abyss, and do not act like the head of an enemy, isn't that good! So why is there a ritual of returning to serve?"

The Fifth Lady, the God-Defying Lady

Ziyun: "Filial piety to serve the king, respect to serve the elders", showing that the people are not two-faced, so the gentleman does not seek official position when he has a king, but only calls the two kings on the day of divination. The mourning of a father for three years and the mourning of a ruler for three years show the people that they should not doubt. When parents are alive, one dare not take possession of their own person or property for personal use, showing the people that there is a distinction between superiors and subordinates. Therefore, the emperor has no guest etiquette within the four seas, and no one dares to be the master. Therefore, when the ruler welcomes his ministers, he ascends from the steps of the east and takes the throne in the hall, showing the people that they dare not take possession of their rooms. When parents are alive, gifts and offerings are not given as carriages and horses, showing the people that they dare not take possession of their own. With this, the people will still forget their parents and be disloyal to their ruler. Confucius said: "The first thing in etiquette is money and silk, which is to make the people first serve and then pay salaries." If money is put first and etiquette second, the people will benefit; if there is no excuse and the market is traded, the people will quarrel. Therefore, the gentleman will not look at the gifts if he cannot see them. The Book of Changes says: "Not ploughing and harvesting, not weeding and weeding, is a disaster." With this, the people will still value salaries and despise behavior. Confucius said, "A gentleman does not take all the benefits and leave them to the people." The Book of Songs says, "There are those who have left their crops, there are those who have not gathered their crops, and they are the benefits of the widow." Therefore, a gentleman does not farm when he is in office, and does not fish when he is in the field; he does not work hard to eat delicacies; a senior official does not ride on a sheep, and a scholar does not ride on a dog. The Book of Songs says, "When you pick radishes and mulberries, do not lower your body; do not violate the virtuous words, and die together with you." With this, the people in the streets still forget righteousness and fight for benefits, and lose their bodies.

The Queen's Character

The rising sun is as red as fire

Honglu Qing Kong Qun loved drinking. Prime Minister Wang said, "Why do you ask about drinking? Haven't you seen wine shops cover their wine jars with cloth, which have been rotten for years?" Qun said, "If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have seen rotten meat, which would have made it last longer." Qun once wrote to his relatives and friends, "This year I got 700 hu of sorghum from my fields, but I didn't have time to make glutinous rice."

Monthly Debt

In ancient times, teachers had private schools at home, schools in the community, and schools in the country. Students entered school at the same age and were examined in the middle of the year. In the first year, they were evaluated for their ability to distinguish between classics and aspirations; in the third year, they were evaluated for their dedication to work and their enjoyment of society; in the fifth year, they were evaluated for their extensive learning and their closeness to their teachers; in the seventh year, they were evaluated for their learning and their friendships. This was called small success; in the ninth year, they were evaluated for their ability to understand the categories and to be able to establish themselves firmly without turning back. This was called great success. Only then could they transform the people and change their customs, convince those who were close to them, and make those who were far away cherish their memory. This was the way of the university. The Records says, "The moths were taught from time to time." Is this what it means?

When will the old dream end?

When Xie An was young, he asked Ruan Guanglu to talk about the White Horse Theory. I wrote this essay to show Xie, but Xie did not understand what Ruan said at that time, so I consulted him again. Ruan then sighed and said, "Not only is it impossible to find someone who can explain it, it is also impossible to find someone who can explain it!"