論語(Rongo)

論語(Rongo in Japanese) means Analects of Confucius. Even now, many or some of Japanese leaders study Confucianism. I also read the Analects to consider how I should act. A human is not wise, the Analects gives people hints even now.



Many people may image that feudal period is like a age of slavery, Samurais serve a lord. But you would find Samurais did not so much serve a lord as they served an ethos. The lords also served the ethos. I think the true lord in Edo period was not so much Shougun as ethos.



I think a leader need a consistent ethos. A fickle and dictatorial company president is in trouble. Fickle policy causes a confusion, and the more the ethos is moral, the more ethos is good. If the leader care only about swaggering, only about making people to bow himself, I can say the leader is stupid. haha. The leader need an ethos if the leader has a moral sense.



Presidents of Japanese companies often cite Confucianism when they are asked about policy. They regard Confucianism as an amassment of human wisdom. Buddhism is also too but Confucianism is better than Buddhism as art of living well.



Perhaps, growing number of people would study Confucianism as China become big. Already old type manufacturing industry can't win China, even auto industry has become old　seen in that light. Perhaps Chinese culture would flow upstream to Western countries　more and more.



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Well, I show you several words of Analects of Confucius. I think you would find why the leaders study it.



子曰、君子成人之美、不成人之悪、小人反是、



先生が言われた、君子は他人の美徳を成し遂げさせ、他人の悪い点は成り立たないようにするが、小人はその反対だ。



Confucius said, a person of high virtue makes others to stage their virtue and makes others not to stage bad things. But a small‐minded person do the opposite.



子曰、君子喩於義、小人喩於利、



先生が言われた。君子は正義に明るく、小人は利益に明るい。



Confucius said, a person of high virtue is well-versed in righteousness and said a small‐minded person is well-versed in benefit.



子曰、徳不孤、必有隣、



先生が言われた。徳のある者は孤立しない。きっと親しい仲間ができる。



Confucius said a person of high virtue never be isolated. Surely he gets close associates.



子曰、君子喩於義、小人喩於利。



先生が言われた。君子は正義に喩り、小人は利に喩る。



Confucius said a person of high virtue liken to righteousness, a small‐minded person liken to benefit.



子曰、人之過也、各於其熏、觀過斯知仁矣、



新注; 君子は人情に厚すぎてあやまちをおかし、小人は人情に薄すぎてあやまちをおかす。



Confucius said a person of high virtue humanly commit mistakes. A small‐minded person commit mistakes because of heartless mind. (new-annotation)



君子困窮、小人窮斯濫矣、



君子ももちろん困窮する。だが小人は困窮するとでたらめになる。



Of course, a person of high virtue can be reduced to poverty. But a small‐minded person will be at haphazard.



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It is important to bring Confucianism into reality well. For example, there are five virtues, 仁義礼智信. 仁(Jin) is a kind of benevolence. 義(Gi) is a kind of righteousness. 礼(Rei) is a kind of norms in society. 智(Chi) is a kind of intelligence. 信(Shin) is a kind of trust. But, 伊達政宗 said (in a drama) Jin can be a cause of weakness. Gi can be a cause of stiffness. Rei can be a cause of obsequence and of adulation. Chi can be a cause of craftiness. Shin can be a cause of negative profit. All in all, it is better to follow 中庸(Cyuuyou in Japanese, a middle course).



Though I used the word "Confucianism", there are many kind of thoughts in it. For example 荀子、孟子、朱子学、陽明学、国学 and so on. I'll write about them, relating Buddhism. Personally, I like 孟子(Mao shi). 国学(Kokugaku) is a Japanese original thoughts affected by Confucianism. I suppose 国学 can't be called as Confucianism though.



Although many TV medias, like Discovery Channel, regard Confucianism as philosophy, accurately Confucianism is not philosophy. It is very strange to regard it as philosophy. Because it is an art of living well.



Well, have a nice weekend!



It is a photo of Himeji castle.