中国杰出的思想家是如何影响了几千年的中国文化
你们知道在古时候有这么一位名人吗？他是中国古代的教育家和思想家，也是儒家学派创始人。他影响了几千年来的中国人，特别是影响着中国的知识份子，他的想法到现在都还持续着。
他把“仁”和“义”当作道德的最高原则。在他眼里“仁”是对别人的关心，“义”则是道德。他把他一生中所累积的知识，都教给了他的学生。他一生中教过了多达三千多名学生，著名的就有颜回、子路和子贡等等。
虽然他只是一位普通人，但是他用他的行动让他成为了中国古代最伟大的思想家，教育家。你们知道他是谁吗？我想你们一定听过他的名字，甚至还学过他的文学。
Do you know of this famous historical figure? He is an ancient Chinese educator and philosopher as well as the founder of the Confucian thought. He influenced Chinese society and people for thousands of years, especially Chinese intellectuals. His ideas and philosophies continue to persist in Chinese culture until this day.
His concept of ren (仁) which can be translated as benevolence/goodness and yi (义) or righteousness are regarded as the highest moral principles. In his philosophy, “benevolence” is to be caring to others and “righteousness” is morality. He passed on on all of his philosophies along with his knowledge to his students. Throughout his life, he accumulated as many as three thousand students, the most honourable ones include Yan Hui (颜回), Zi Lu (子路), Zi Gong (子贡) etc.
Even though he has a relatively normal family background, his philosophies made him one of the greatest and most famous thinkers and educators in ancient China. Can you guess who he is? I am sure that everyone has heard of his name and even studied his philosophies.
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孔子，名丘，字仲尼，春秋鲁国陬邑人，是中国史上一位伟大的思想家和教育家, 也是儒家学派的创始人。他的教育方式是采用“有教无类”, 也是现在每个人支持和一直在学习的方式，他不分学生是否贵贱闲愚，只要是想学习的学生, 他都会用心教导。
孔子的政治思想是采用“仁”和“礼”，“仁”代表着对别人的关心，“礼”代表着守信、尊重。他主张“为政以德”，就是用道德和礼教来治理国家，他认为只有这样，这个国家才能一直保持安稳。
正因为有了孔子的“为政以德”，才让现代社会建立了秩序和制度，统治者必须要做到以身作则，不提倡暴力。
孔子认为政治的关键在于执政者是否正直，一个好的执政者自我修养很好也是全国人民的目标，还要做到社会和谐、稳定、发展和人民团结。做到上面一点后，执政者还需要以人为本，发扬民主精神，尊重人民的意见，如果一个国家没有人民的支持和信任，就不算国家，要做到以人为本，也是现代民主国家的政治方法。
千百年以来，事实证明武力不能解决一切，所以我认为以和为贵和用孔子仁政的治国方法是非常重要的。
Lu state was Confucius’ home state and he lived there during the Spring Autumn period. Confucius is considered to be one of the greatest philosophers in Chinese history and one of his methods of teaching is known as “teaching without class” (有教无类), which is still firmly supported and endorsed today. This method illustrates the idea of not discriminating against students, meaning to not distinguish between social class and intelligence level. Confucius believed that education should be available for anyone with a desire to learn.
Confucius’ political thoughts include that of benevolence and ritual propriety (礼), which depicts the importance of social etiquette, social mores and respect. Confucius advocated for “governance with morality/virtue” (为政以德), which is to use ethics to govern a country, as he believed that this is the only way of governance that would allow for stability within the country.
It is due to Confucius’ argument for governance with morality that modern society established order systems, reprimand violence and have leaders who lead by example.
Confucius believed that the key to politics lies in the integrity of the ruling party and that the goal of the entire nation is to have good self-cultivation within the ruling party. Confucius emphasizes the need for a country to achieve social harmony, stability, development and unity and that once all these points are met, the government must prioritize the citizens’ and promote democratic principles and respect the citizen’s opinions. Confucius argues that if a country is unable to support and trust its citizens, then it cannot be considered a country. Note that prioritizing citizens’ needs and opinions is also a characteristic of a modern democratic country.
After thousands of years, the concept that force cannot solve tensions has been proven through reality. Therefore, I believe that it is necessary to follow Confucius’ political thinking of unity and peacefulness when ruling a country.
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孔子的外貌在我心中应该是，眼睛上有一对浓眉，下巴的胡须和脸颊两侧的鬓角非常得长，额头长满了有知识的皱纹，露出像松鼠一样的两颗大牙，头顶上有一个黑色头巾包着他的长发。他穿着一身朴素的衣服，而衣服的颜色都是偏深色。身长九尺六寸，看着像个巨人，让人难以亲近。
孔子的性格正直、积极进取、追求真善美。他的学说后来也被统治者利用和改造，成为现在中国两千多年封建文化的正统思想。
孔子周游列国十四年，行程数千里，也曾四处碰壁，但他却始终能保持自信，不动摇其政治主张。他晚年还编订了古代文化典籍《诗经》、《尚书》等等，还根据鲁国历史编制出《春秋》。而孔子的言行是后来由他的弟子整理成《论语》，里面的很多话放在现在来看依旧很实用，由此可见，孔子真的是历史上一位非常有智慧和思維超前的人。后世都尊他为万世师表和圣人。
Confucius’ physical appearance from my recollection is that he has a pair of thick, dark eyebrows above his eyes, a long beard and a pair of equally long sideburns, a wrinkled forehead, a prominent pair of front teeth that resembles a squirrel and a black cloth in which his hair inhabits. He is dressed in plain and simple clothing and the fabric is usually of dark colours. His height is approximately 6 foot which I imagine makes him seem intimidating and difficult to approach.
Confucius’ personality is assertive, upright and he desires to pursue the truth in all situations. His doctrine was later used and transformed by leaders and it became the orthodox thought of feudal culture in China for more than two thousand years.
Confucius traveled around the world for 14 years and traveled thousands of miles while doing so. He faced many criticisms and hardships along the way, however he always remained confident and persistent with his political thinking. In his later years, he compiled ancient cultural classics like the Classic of Poetry, the Book of Documents and Spring and Autumn Annals, which is based on the history of the Lu state. Confucian teachings, including his philosophies and political thinking were later compiled by his disciples into what is known as The Analects. Many of Confucius’ teachings remain practical in society today and it is evident that Confucius was a wise man with advanced thinking. Later generations refer to him as a teacher and saint for all generations to come.
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战国时期，孔子有个学生名叫子路，他随着孔子在陈国待了三年。有一次，子路去市集买菜时，看见了一位摊主在给别人称白菜。称好后，摊主说：“每斤8块，你买了四斤一共是三十二块。” 买主却说：“明明四八三十一，你这不是骗人吗？”
摊主生气地说：“四八三十二，连三岁小孩都知道，你却说我骗人，简直是胡搅蛮缠！”
就这样他们两个人越吵越激烈。
子路看不下去了，便走过去对买主说道：“四八明明就是三十二，就是一株的钱，你赶紧补上吧！” 摊主也发现了这个人便是孔子的得意门生子路，于是连忙道谢。可买主却依然不依不饶，反过来说：“亏你还是孔子的学生，连基本尝试都不知道，你要是不认错，我们就去找你的老师评评理去！”
子路顿时火冒三丈：“去就去。要是我说错了，我就将我头上的帽子送给你。” 买主也不甘示弱：如果我错了，我就将我的头砍下来给你。”
孔子听完这件事后，他说：“子路啊，买主说的对，四八三十一，你把头顶上的帽子给他吧。”
等到买主走后，子路很不服气的问孔子：“老师，四八明明是三十二，为什么你要说我说错了呢？”孔子回答：“你觉得是对错重要呢，还是那位买主的性命重要？”子路毫不犹豫的回答：“当然是性命重要。”
孔子说：“如果我说他错了，搞不好会闹出人命来，为了区区一株钱把事情闹大，你觉得好吗？”子路瞬间恍然大悟，谢过孔子后，便心平气和的离开了。
这个故事是我在上大学修ASIA371学到的，让我印象深刻，也教会我与人交往时，的确需要遵守原则，分清楚是非对错，但是有些情况下可能会带来不必要的困扰，相比下来原则就没有这么重要了。
During the Warring States Period, Confucius had a student named Zi Lu who stayed with him in Chen state for three years. Once when Zi Lu went to the market to buy groceries, he stumbled upon a salesman selling someone cabbage. After the salesman weighed the cabbage, he informed the customer that the cabbage was 8 yuan per pound and that the cabbage was 4 pounds, making the total 32 yuan total. After hearing the price, the customer responded,
“4 times 8 is 31, you are lying!”
“4 times 8 equals 32, even a three-year-old child knows this, how dare you call me a liar!” the salesman responded angrily.
Zi Lu could not stand contain himself, so he walked towards the customer and said,
“4 times 8 is definitely 32, there is no debate! It’s only a one dollar difference, just hurry up and pay for it!”
The salesman recognized Zi Lu as Confucius’ student and thanked him for correcting the customer.
However, even after Zi Lu’s attempt to correct the customer, the customer remained reluctant and said,
“You are Confucius’ customer, yet you can’t do basic math. If you refuse to admit your mistake, then we shall go seek your teacher for the correct answer.”
“Okay, let’s go then! If I am wrong, then I will give you the hat on my head!” Zi Lu said in frustration.
“Then if I am wrong, then I will cut off my head and give it to you,” the customer replied.
After Confucius was informed about the situation, he told Zi Lu that he is wrong and that he must give his hat to the customer.
After the customer left, Zi Lu asked Confucious,
“Teacher, 4 times 8 is clearly 32, why did you say I was wrong?”
“Do you think being right is more important or another person’s life?” Confucius said.
“Of course someone else’s life,” Zi Lu said without hesitation.
“If I said he is wrong, it might result in him dying. Do you think it’s justifiable to make a big deal out of such a small amount of money?”Confucius responded.
After Zi Lu realized what Confucius was trying to teach him, he left calmly.
This is a story that I learned in my ASIA 371 course in university. I remember this story very clearly because it taught me that when the consequences of abiding by one’s principle leads to a worse outcome in comparison to setting aside my own principles, it is better to be knowingly wrong.
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如果让我穿越到孔子的时代，我会告诉他：“我来自2500年后，我想告诉您，您提出的有教无类，认为世界上的所有人都有资格接受教育的权利，是个很好的建议，您的教育思想，至今也还在延续着，您在现代社会是一位受人尊敬的先师，我们都称呼您为万世师表和圣人。”
If I could travel back in time into Confucius’ dynasty, I would tell him:
“I am from 2500 years from the future, I would like to tell you that your concept of “education without class” is one that is still followed in the present day, along with your philosophical concepts. You are a respected teacher in modern society and we all treat your ideas with deep regard.”