What kind of view of wealth did Confucius have? How Confucius viewed poverty and wealth

Concept of wealth: emphasizing righteousness over profit; Happiness in poverty.

I'm Fan Deng.

This is the 328th day of my daily article studying the Analects

Day 4. I found that since I started writing about the Analects, I have been reading less and less every day, which is a phenomenon that I expected, but also what I am worried about, proves that everyone is interested in Chinese culture and traditional culture.

The enthusiasm is not high, and there is little concern about the basic principles of life, this society does have too much flashiness, which makes it easy to get lost, but people ultimately want to find meaning, only to live clearly can live clearly! Otherwise, every day is chaotic, life is just like this...

In these few sentences, we can see Confucius.

It is believed that the state and realm that a gentleman should have when he treats poverty and wealth, ordinary people are poor but not flattering, rich and not arrogant and arrogant, and it is very good, but what a real gentleman wants to do is to have a higher level of wisdom, poverty but rich thoughts, and happiness in the pursuit of continuous self-improvement, rich but abide by etiquette and modesty to imitate humility, how can ordinary people upgrade to the height of a gentleman, which is to continue to learn and ponder in life, continue to experience, and sharpen the noble character of a gentleman in the ups and downs.

Reflecting on ourselves, what values do we have about poverty and wealth? Did you deny yourself when you were poor and early? Arrogant when rich?

Is there a difference in attitude towards poor people and rich people? Have you ever judged in your heart?

In the end, it is necessary to think about the relationship between wealth and life at the level of people themselves, and what is the most important thing in life, which is the foundation of doing things.

Confucius's attitude towards wealth and nobility is as follows:

Confucius's attitude towards wealth and nobility was based on morality, focusing on the rational acquisition and use of wealth, and emphasizing the relationship between wealth and self-cultivation and self-cultivation to govern the country and level the world.

1.Confucius's concept of wealth

Confucius believed that wealth was an important indicator of social development, but he was cautious about wealth. He believed that wealth should be acquired by legitimate means, not by ill-gotten gains or exploitation of others. He taught people to abide by moral norms and to maintain good character and behavior in the pursuit of wealth.

2.The relationship between wealth and virtue

Confucius believed that wealth and virtue were closely linked. He believed that a person's wealth depends not only on the accumulation of material wealth, but more importantly, on his virtue and character. He emphasized that self-cultivation and governing the country and leveling the world is the fundamental way to achieve wealth and prosperity, and only through self-discipline and moral cultivation can we truly achieve wealth and righteousness.

3.The right way to pursue wealth

Confucius emphasized that the premise of the individual's pursuit of wealth is to correctly understand the meaning of wealth. He believed that true wealth was spiritual abundance, not just material abundance. Wealth is a comprehensive embodiment of material wealth, family happiness, social status and moral cultivation.

He instructed people to achieve abundance and happiness in life through hard work and wise management of wealth.

4.Wealth and public welfare

Confucius advocated that wealthy people should give full play to their influence and wealth advantages and make positive contributions to society. He encouraged the rich to do good deeds, help the poor and needy, promote social fairness and justice, and give back to society through public welfare. He believes that personal wealth should be combined with social welfare, so that the acquisition and use of wealth are conducive to social progress and common prosperity.

5.Wealth and humility and modesty

Confucius emphasized the need to maintain a humble and modest attitude in the pursuit of wealth. He believes that the truly wealthy should be humble and humble in learning, not arrogant, not impatient, and not complacent. He taught people to always maintain a humble mentality, and not to forget their original intention and moral bottom line because of wealth.

Summary:

In short, Confucius's attitude towards wealth and nobility was based on morality and virtue. He believes that wealth and nobility should be a moral and positive pursuit, and that wealth is closely related to self-cultivation and family governance.

He advocated that those who pursue wealth should pay attention to spiritual prosperity and the improvement of personal morality, and combine the acquisition and use of wealth with social welfare undertakings to repay the society and benefit others. At the same time, he also emphasized that wealthy people should maintain a humble and modest attitude, never forget their original intentions, and do not lose their moral bottom line. These views have provided a useful reference and inspiration for later generations in the process of pursuing wealth.

"Wealth and nobility are what people want; If you don't get it by its way, you can't get it anywhere. Poverty and cheapness are the evil of people, and they do not go to them in their way, and they do not go to them. (Rijen IV).

A spoonful of food, a scoop of drink, in the alley, people are unbearable, and they will not change their pleasures. Virtuous and virtuous! "Yongye Sixth".

Rich and can be sought, although the whip is a man, I will also do it. If you can't ask for it, do what I like. ”

Eat and drink water, bend the humerus and pillow, and enjoy it. Unrighteous wealth and nobility are like floating clouds to me. ”

Luxury is not grand, thrift is solid. Rather than not grandson, Ninggu. See the above three articles, see "Shu and VII".

A gentleman seeks a way but does not seek food. Ploughing is also in it; Learn also, Lu is in it. A gentleman is not worried about poverty. "Wei Linggong: The Fifteenth".

The first layer: "Seek wealth and poverty" must follow the "Tao". Obviously, this "Tao" refers to law and morality. That is to say, if you seek to be rich and rich, the way and the way to act should be legal, reasonable, and virtuous, and not illegal, irrational, or immoral.

Level 2: Maintain an optimistic mindset in a difficult living environment. When people cannot get out of poverty through subjective efforts and due to the constraints of various conditions, they should not be depressed and sad, complain about the heavens and others, but be energetic and stick to the belief in life with an optimistic attitude.

The third layer: "Extravagance and frugality". Confucius believed that although luxury symbolizes wealth, it hides evil and will not last long; Although frugality is a symbol of shabby and poverty, it can be stable for a long time.

The fourth layer: "seeking the way" is more important than "seeking food". "Tao" is the truth pursued by Confucius, which belongs to the spiritual level, and "food" is necessary for human survival and belongs to the material level.

Compared with the spiritual, Confucius valued the spiritual more. Judging from the popular philosophy of vulgar materialism, Confucius's thinking is wrong. In fact, Confucius grasped the truth of "humanism".

From the point of view of natural biological evolution, material first is good, but from the perspective of sociology and from the perspective of man's survival and development, the human spirit plays a decisive role. Things are passive, people are active, a person has learned knowledge and grasped the "Tao", can't he still ask for food and clothing?

Rich and can be sought, although the whip is a man, I will also do it. If you can't ask for it, do what I like. ”

Unrighteous wealth and nobility are like floating clouds to me.

Zi said: "Rich and can be sought; Even if I am a whipper, I will do it. If you can't ask for it, do what I like. ”

From the Analects of Confucius

Translation: Confucius.

He said, "If wealth is in line with the Tao, you can pursue it, and even though it is an inferior errand for giving people whips, I am willing to do it." If wealth is not in line with the Tao, there is no need to pursue it, then I still do it according to my hobby. ”

Here Confucius again mentions the relationship between wealth and Taoism. As long as it conforms to the Tao, wealth can be pursued; If it is not in accordance with the Tao, wealth cannot be pursued. Then, he did what he loved.

From here, it can be seen that Confucius is not opposed to being an official or making a fortune, but he must conform to the Tao, which is a matter of principle, and Confucius showed that he would not violate his principles to pursue wealth and glory.