A Study Of The Pre Qin Confucian Concept Of Junzi

The Confucian concept of "Junzi" has been developing with the praise and deduction of the sages.In the process of its generation and evolution,it contains rich philosophical implications and forms a certain philosophical theoretical system,which includes the theory of human nature,the theory of effort,the theory of realm and the theory of value.The Pre-Qin Confucian concept of Junzi is the origin and foundation of Chinese gentleman culture.It is of great ideological significance to clarify the origin,development and connotation of the Pre-Qin Confucian concept of Junzi.This paper will start from the following five parts:The first part is the formation of the Pre-Qin Confucian concept of Junzi.This paper mainly discusses the origin of the concept of Junzi and the basis of the theory of human nature.From the perspective of the relationship between heaven and man,we can see the birth of the concept of Junzi in Pre-Qin Confucianism.Behind it lies the evolution of the ideological history from "only heaven is great" to "heaven has virtue".From the background of the times,the complex social and historical conditions at that time had a great relationship with the formation of "Junzi".With the great changes of society,the hereditary system of hereditary nobility and hereditary wealth in the early Pre-Qin Dynasty turned to the appointment of talents and abilities who "the Great Britain does not care about the origin".In this era of great social change of "the deep valley is the mausoleum" and "the high bank is the valley",people’s destiny lies not in God or whether the origin is noble,but in their own progress and pursuit.In Confucianism,human nature is the most spiritual existence.Mencius further expanded the metaphysical foundation of Junzi from the problems of good and evil,body and mind,and life,and laid the core content of Confucian Junzi.Xunzi discussed human nature from the biological and social aspects,and regarded human lust as man’s innate nature.Both of them pointed out that man should embody his unique value(to be a Junzi).In addition,there are also such sayings as "human nature has no distinction between good and evil","human nature has good and evil" and"human nature is quiet",These are also the human basis for the formation and evolution of the concept of Junzi.The second part is the connotation and evolution of the Pre-Qin Confucian concept of Junzi.In the Xia,Shang and Zhou dynasties,Junzi was a general name for the nobility and a symbol of class status.At the end of the spring and Autumn period,the meaning of gentleman changed,and the connotation of Junzi’s view tended to"Virtue".With the aggravation of the phenomenon of "the duty of the monarch and the teacher is transferred downward",the disproportion between the virtue and the position of the gentleman is obvious,which catalyzes the moral personification of the connotation of the concept of Junzi."Junzi" gradually transforms from the symbol of status and moral Junzi to the moral name with personality characteristics.Great changes have taken place between Confucius and Mencius in the concept of Junzi.In the transitional stage,it is shown to us through Guodian bamboo slips:on the one hand,the concept of Junzi retains the function of social and political order in the Confucius era;on the other hand,it opens Mencius’ moral metaphysics.As one of the natural emotions,moral emotion is contained in human nature and displayed through moral behavior.The third part is the value orientation of Confucian scholars in the Pre-Qin Dynasty.The five main values of Confucian culture are called "Five chang"benevolence,righteousness,propriety’,knowledge and faith,which embody the benevolence spirit,moral rationality and moral consciousness of Confucian Junzi.In the process of analysis,we not only pay attention to the usage and significance of the handed down literature,but also analyze their meanings and indications in the unearthed literature.In other words,"Virtue" is the background of the Pre-Qin Confucian gentleman personality.The main content of the fourth part is the Pre-Qin Confucian Junzi cultivation and moral self-discipline.The purpose of Junzi’s moral practice is to make man a Junzi.In the process of cultivation,the Junzi’s own subjectivity is highlighted.Moral practice requires the Junzi to give play to his subjectivity and individuality,and implement it in action.Moral practice requires not only the Junzi’s subjectivity and initiative,but also the Junzi’s moral self-discipline.The way of cultivation involves not only erudition in literature,the doctrine of the mean and the unity of knowledge and practice,but also the Junzi’s caution in independence.From this,we can see the subjectivity and moral self-discipline of the Junzi in Pre-Qin Confucianism.The main content of the fifth part is the comparison between Junzi and other personality images.Besides the Junzi,the personality of Pre-Qin period includes villain,country wish,sage.This paper distinguishes the differences between the Junzi and the villain from four aspects:moral cultivation,the distinction between justice and benefit,public morality and private morality,and the view of behavior.In a certain sense,both Junzi and saints can be called sages.They are different and closely related.Based on the handed down literature,this paper analyzes the relationship between Junzi and saints from the perspective of "the difference between heaven and man" in Guodian bamboo slips,and points out that the difference between "the way of heaven" and "humanity" lies in "saints".By demonstrating that a Junzi should distinguish between nature and man,and the unity of "the way of heaven" and"humanity",this paper explores that a Junzi in Pre-Qin Confucianism can achieve the goodness of the way of heaven.Through the comparison with different personalities,it shows the connotation and extension of Confucian Junzi personality,and shows the uniqueness of Junzi in the differences.The sixth part focuses on the modern interpretation of the Pre-Qin Confucian concept of Junzi.Throughout the historical evolution and development,Junzi has always played an important role.In modern China,the traditional value orientation and moral system of China were greatly impacted in the process of cultural collision.exchange and integration between China and the West.Many thinkers,such as Liang Qichao,Zhang Taiyan and Liao Ping,are concerned about the country and the people.They reflect on the traditional Chinese ideal personality and try to establish a new moral value system to adapt to the current social development.With the continuous development of Confucianism in the Western English world."Junzi",an important Confucian concept,naturally arouses great interest of contemporary sinologists,such as Antonio S.Cua,Herbert Fingarette,and Roger Ames.They have made unique interpretations of "Junzi" from different perspectives or through different disciplines.The Confucian view of Junzi in the Pre-Qin period is the essence of Chinese traditional culture,which still affects the Chinese nation.As an example of personality,Junzi has important theoretical value and practical significance for today’s education,the formation of an upward social atmosphere,the construction of socialist spiritual civilization and the cultivation of socialist core values.Junzi is not only the goal of individual life practice,but also the ideal personality of the whole society.Modern China needs Junzi.