Who was Confucius? - Bryan W. Van Norden

譯者: May Wu 審譯者: MQ L

Most people recognize his name

這個名字家喻戶曉

and know that he is famous for having said something,

他說過許多至理名言，

but considering the long-lasting impact his teachings have had on the world,

但是說到他對這個世界的深遠影響，

very few people know who Confucius really was,

只有為數不多的人對孔子這個人，

what he really said,

他說過的話，

and why.

以及他話語背後的真實含意， 有著深刻的理解。

Amid the chaos of 6th Century BCE China,

在公元前六世紀的中國， 社會呈現一片混亂，

where warring states fought endlessly among themselves for supremacy,

為了爭權奪利， 國與國之間的戰爭從未中斷，

and rulers were frequently assassinated,

掌權者被刺殺也是家常便飯，

sometimes by their own relatives,

有時候刺客還是他們的親人。

Confucius exemplified benevolence and integrity,

孔子提倡了"禮、仁"

and through his teaching,

也因此，使得他成為了中國史上

became one of China's greatest philosophers.

最偉大的哲學家。

Born to a nobleman but raised in poverty from a very young age

雖然出身貴族， 孔子從小就生活在很困苦的環境中，

following the untimely death of his father,

他的父親英年早逝，

Confucius developed what would become

因此，孔子對於身世艱苦的人們

a lifelong sympathy for the suffering of the common people.

有著很強烈的同理心。

Barely supporting his mother and disabled brother

為了承擔家庭重擔並照顧母親和 身有殘疾的兄弟，

as a herder and account keeper at a granary,

孔子身兼數職， 有時擔任牧羊人，

有時還得當糧倉的會計。

and with other odd jobs,

it was only with the help of a wealthy friend

幸好，他得到一位友人的資助，

that Confucius was able to study at the Royal Archives,

而得以進入皇家藏書院學習，

where his world view would be formed.

這也是他理論的發源地。

Though the ancient texts there were regarded by some

雖然資料庫中的許多古籍

as irrelevant relics of the past,

被當時的人嗤之以鼻，

Confucius was inspired by them.

但是孔子從這些書中得到很多啟發。

Through study and reflection,

隨著學習和自我省思，

Confucius came to believe that human character is formed in the family

孔子深刻地體會到人的個性和特質 是在家庭中形成的，

and by education in ritual, literature, and history.

加上宗教儀式，文學和歷史中的教育意義，

A person cultivated in this way works to help others,

一個人可以學著如何幫助他人，

guiding them by moral inspiration rather than brute force.

並以道德感念他們，而不是暴力。

To put his philosophy into practice,

為了實踐他的理念，

Confucius became an advisor to the ruler of his home state of Lu.

孔子為了當時魯國的掌權者效力。

But after another state sent Lu's ruler a troop of dancing girls as a present

但是在其他國送了魯國掌權者 一大批美麗的舞女後，

and the ruler ignored his duties while enjoying the girls in private,

魯國的掌權者便開始玩忽職守， 整天沉浸於美色。

Confucius resigned in disgust.

孔子因而辭職。

He then spent the next few years traveling from state to state,

接下來的幾年， 孔子周遊列國，

trying to find a worthy ruler to serve, while holding fast to his principles.

期望找到值得他跟隨的主公， 同時也宣揚著他的理念。

It wasn't easy.

這個過程是艱鉅的。

In accordance with his philosophy, and contrary to the practice of the time,

他的理念與當時 普羅大眾的想法背道而馳。

Confucius dissuaded rulers from relying on harsh punishments and military power

孔子試著勸告掌權者不要以 嚴厲的懲處和軍事刑罰

to govern their lands

來管制他們的國家，

because he believed that a good ruler

因為他相信一位好的統治者

inspires others to spontaneously follow him

是依靠他的美德和人格魅力

by virtue of his ethical charisma.

讓其他的人願意追隨他。

Confucius also believed

孔子也深信

that because the love and respect we learn in the family

人們從家庭中學習到的愛與尊敬

are fundamental to all other virtues,

是道德的根本，

personal duties to family sometimes supersede obligations to the state.

人們對於家庭的責任有時甚至會大於 對於國家的責任。

So when one duke bragged that his subjects were so upright

所以當一位侯爵自誇於他的一位下屬

that a son testified against his own father

因舉報了自己的父親偷了一隻羊，

when his father stole a sheep,

而有著大義滅親的美德，

Confucius informed the duke

孔子說，

that genuinely upright fathers and sons protected one another.

一對真正正直的父子是會保護彼此的。

During his travels, Confucius almost starved,

在他的旅途中， 孔子受過飢餓，

he was briefly imprisoned,

遭到過短暫的監禁，

and his life was threatened at several points.

還有數度與死神擦肩而過，

But he was not bitter.

但是他並不以為苦。

Confucius had faith that heaven had a plan for the world,

孔子相信老天爺自有祂的安排，

and he taught that a virtuous person

他也教導他人，一個具有美德的人

could always find joy in learning and music.

可以透過學習和音樂來找到樂趣。

Failing to find the ruler he sought,

在尋找值得他追隨的人無果之下，

Confucius returned to Lu

孔子回到了魯國，

and became a teacher and philosopher so influential,

他成了最具影響力的夫子和哲學家，

that he helped shaped Chinese culture

也塑造了中國文化，

and we recognize his name worldwide, even today.

也因此名留千古。

For the disciples of Confucius,

對於孔子的學生來說，

he was the living embodiment of a sage who leads others through his virtue,

他是一位至聖先師， 以他的美德服眾，

and they recorded his sayings,

他們記載了孔子所說過的話，

which eventually were edited into a book we know in English as "The Analects."

集結成篇，也造就了我們所熟知的"論語"。

Today, millions of people worldwide adhere to the principles of Confucianism,

時至今日，仍有數以萬計的人遵從著孔子的教誨，

and though the precise meaning of his words has been debated for millennia,

雖然對於孔子的話的真正含意有許多爭議，

when asked to summarize his teachings in a single phrase,

但若要總結為一句話，

Confucius himself said,

孔子他說，

"Do not inflict upon others that which you yourself would not want."

"己所不欲，勿施於人"。

2,500 years later, it's still sage advice.

在兩千五百年後的今天，它仍是一句至理名言。