"RISE OF CONFUCIUS" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglas R K)

years took lessons in music from the celebrated master, Seang. At thirty he tells us "he
stood firm," and about this time his fame mightily increased, many noble youths enrolled
themselves among his disciples; and on his expressing a desire to visit the imperial court
of Chow to confer on the subject of ancient ceremonies with Laou Tan, the founder of
the Taouist sect, the reigning duke placed a carriage and horses at his disposal for the
journey.

The extreme veneration which Confucius entertained for the founders of the
Chow dynasty made the visit to Lo, the capital, one of intense interest to him. With
eager delight he wandered through the temple and audience-chambers, the place of
sacrifices and the palace, and having completed his inspection of the position and shape
of the various sacrificial and ceremonial vessels, he turned to his disciples and said,
"Now I understand the wisdom of the duke of Chow, and how his house attained to
imperial sway." But the principal object of his visit to Chow was to confer with Laou-tsze;
and of the interview between these two very dissimilar men we have various accounts.
The Confucian writers as a rule merely mention the fact of their having met, but the
admirers of Laou-tsze affirm that Confucius was very roughly handled by his more
ascetic contemporary, who looked down from his somewhat higher standpoint with
contempt on the great apostle of antiquity. It was only natural that Laou-tsze, who
preached that stillness and self-emptiness were the highest attainable objects, should be
ready to assail a man whose whole being was wrapt up in ceremonial observances and
conscious well-doing. The very measured tones and considered movements of
Confucius, coupled with a certain admixture of that pride which apes humility, must have
been very irritating to the metaphysically-minded treasurer. And it was eminently
characteristic of Confucius, that notwithstanding the great provocation given him on this
occasion, he abstained from any rejoinder. We nowhere read of his engaging in a
dispute. When an opponent arose, it was in keeping with the doctrine of Confucius to
retire before him. "A sage," he said, "will not enter a tottering state nor dwell in a
disorganized one. When right principles of government prevail he shows himself, but
when they are prostrated he remains concealed." And carrying out the same principle in
private life, he invariably refused to wrangle.

It was possibly in connection with this incident that Confucius drew the attention
of his disciples to the metal statue of a man with a triple clasp upon his mouth, which
stood in the ancestral temple at Lo. On the back of the statue were inscribed these
words: "The ancients were guarded in their speech, and like them we should avoid
loquacity. Many words invite many defeats. Avoid also engaging in many businesses,
for many businesses create many difficulties."

"Observe this, my children," said he, pointing to the inscription. "These words are
true, and commend themselves to our reason."

Having gained all the information he desired in Chow, he returned to Loo, where
pupils flocked to him until, we are told, he was surrounded by an admiring company of
three thousand disciples. His stay in Loo was, however, of short duration, for the three
principal clans of the state, those of Ke, Shuh, and Mang, after frequent contests
between themselves, engaged in a war with the reigning duke, and overthrew his
armies. Upon this the duke took refuge in the state of T'se, whither Confucius followed
him. As he passed along the road he saw a woman weeping at a tomb, and having
compassion on her, he sent his disciple Tsze-loo to ask her the cause of her grief. "You