The Study On The Concept Of The "Friendship" In Ancient China

In the oracle bone inscriptions, helping each other with hands is the original meaning of "friendship". Basing on the original meaning, the content of "friendship" are quite widespread, its range includes the relationship between brothers, friends, the monarch and the subordinate. The concept of "friendship" is not only the way of making friends.The concept of "friendship" contacts the monarch and the subordinate closely. It contains the friendship between brothers, also "friendship" or friends and teachers are the model for the relationship between the sovereign and subject. Confucian scholars often talk about the topic, the monarch and the subordinate need to own the common aspiration, they must obey orders in the etiquette, and they are friends on administering a country. "Friendship:a model for the relationship between sovereign and subject" is the primary coverage of the article. It is almost the important content of writings of many thinkers. From the Pre-Qin to the Qing Dynasty, the thought about "the monarch and the subordinate are friends" has never stopped, it sometimes produces the new contents.The ruler guiding subject means that the monarch and the subordinate must obey orders in the etiquette, "the monarch and the subordinate are friends" means that "Yi" is the standard for getting along with the monarch and the subordinate under the common aspiration. They are close and indispensable. The political principle about the ruler guiding subject and "the monarch and the subordinate are friends" are some parts of the civilization fruits in China. On the ideal political principle, respects and etiquette between the monarch and the subordinate are the contents of "the monarch and the subordinate are friends", ambiguous criticism and "Zhong" are the contents of the ruler guiding subject.Chapter 1 firstly summarizes the meanings and connotations of "friendship" Helping each other with hands is the original meaning of "friendship". Basing on the original meaning, it includes the relationship between brothers and friends. As ethical norms, "friendship" is the standard for getting along with brothers in the family. To make a concrete analysis, "friendship" applies to the brother, and "Ti" applies to the younger brother. "Ti" has special content and important social values. In the society, respecting for the moral people is the code of conduct for friends, this shows the connotation of "friendship" between friends and teachers, the monarch and the subordinate. "Friendship" in ancient China has two notable features, firstly friends can sacrifice their lives when they encounter troubles, secondly "the virtuous please and befriend each other" and "appreciating the friend" are common spirit pursuits for Chinese friends.Chapter 2 tries to find the the principle of making friends, The common aspiration is the principle of making friends. The "friendship" concept of Confucius lays the basic connotation on the view of making friends. "Zhi", "Liang", abundant experience are the moral characters of friends. Criticisms and credits are the standards of getting along with friends. "Expressing the benevolence through friends" is the aim of "friendship". Mencius carried on the bamboo slips of the Kingdom of Chu in Guodian’s idea "the virtuous please and befriend each other", and introduced his theory of "respecting the virtuous" and "appreciating the friend". Xunzi thought that "make Friends carefully", friends need to own the common aspiration, respecting teachers and staying together with friends usually are the views of making friends for Xunzi. Bai Hu Tong summarizes that friends need to criticize each other when they get along with friends, compliment each other when they can not stay with friends, miss each other when they are lucky, sacrifice their lives when they encounter troubles. Chengyi thought that discussing the knowledge with friends are the most happiness in the world. "Watching between friends" is more helpful for friends. Lizhi thought that they were not friends who get along with others for money and interests, Lizhi proposed the view of "teachers contain friends" firstly, Lizhi said that friends were also teachers, and teachers were friends.Chapter 3 analysis the generation and development of the thought about "the monarch and the subordinate are friends". The bamboo slips of the Kingdom of Chu in Guodian and Mencius’s view of friendship was an equal relationship based on moral character. "Friendship as a model for the relationship between emperor and subject" was an outstanding presentation of the view of friendship expressed by the bamboo slips of the Kingdom of Chu in Guodian, and Mencius pointed out the relationship between sovereign and subject might be extended to the relationship between instructors, friends and colleagues. Xunzi said that "obey the way and against the monarch meanwhile", he points that the subordinate who can criticize the monarch is the treasure for country and the monarch. Bai Hu Tong points the ruler guiding subject, and it thinks that "Yi" is the standard for getting along with the monarch and the subordinate, this view developed the opinion of "friendship:a model for the relationship between sovereign and subject". Chenghao and Chengyi think that "the monarch and the subordinate common governance the world". Under this premise, they recognize the importance of "Yi" between the monarch and the subordinate, they have their own responsibility. Viewpoints on friendships of He Xinyin have an important role in Ming Dynasty, he attached great importance to the relationship between teachers and friends, and he hoped emperor and officials to know the Tao step by step. He agreed that friends are the most important relationships in the society. He pointed that friends are the basis of social relationships, relationships between emperor and officials need to assist the formation of social orders. Following the thought of Mencius, Huang Zongxi said that "serving for the world and subordinates are teachers and friends of the monarch".Chapter 4 analysis the modern value of "friendship" and "Ti". In the family "Xiao", "Ci", "friendship", "Ti" are helpful for harmonious relationships. The thought of Confucian tradition points that the monarch serve the people and the world, "the monarch and the subordinate common governance the world" is the prerequisite of the opinion which express "the monarch and the subordinate are friends". The people-first idea is the foundation of the view that "the monarch and the subordinate common governance the world". In the society, "Ti" has special content and important social values. Friendship and respecting others are advantageous to harmonious relationships. The common aspiration is the principle of making friends. Good friends are the foundation of the achievement of virtue.