Chinese Philosophy
Confucianism, as the mainstream ideology in our country, has been the most profound school of thought influencing our people for two to three millennia. Confucius, the founder of Confucianism and a revered sage, embodies this tradition. However, when it comes to Confucius, although he is well-known, many individuals have never delved into a deep understanding of him. In reality, Confucius is warm yet upright, dispelling the seemingly austere or detached figure that some might assume. His thoughts and actions are profoundly humane.
Complementary to each other, Confucianism and Daoism have become the mainstream development of Chinese thought, with “the cultivation of rituals and music" and "returning to simplicity" as their respective driving forces. Many ancient texts record a historical summit where Confucius met Laozi. The stone reliefs of Han Dynasty also depicted this event. After asking Laozi about rituals, Confucius praised him, saying, "Today, I meet Laozi, and it's as if I meet a dragon!"
The true principles of the Way and its nature cannot be expressed through any conceptual content. However, without relying on concepts, there could be no discourse on the Way and its nature. Thus, the development of the "Way" ultimately relies on the elucidation provided by concepts and languages. Nevertheless, we must understand that "The Way that can be spoken is not the eternal Way. The name that can be named is not the eternal name." In the face of this dilemma of dependence on guidance yet fearing obfuscation, Daoism offers the guidance of "grasping the essence, forgetting the words" and "catching the fish, forgetting the trap."
The essence of Chinese philosophy is to "find one’s rooting and establish a purpose in life," which means life finds a foundation, and spirit finds solace, and to create infinite eternal value of life. We must have the courage to practice our ideals and create everlasting value. We must "stubbornly do something even though we know it is impossible," not be afraid of setbacks, obstacles, and adversity, always believing in "I wish to be benevolent, and lo! Benevolence is at hand." And we should persevere to the end.
The essence of Chinese philosophy is "finding one's rooting and establishing a purpose in life," which means finding stability in this life and establishing eternal significance, creating infinite value in life. To create infinite value in life, one must have the courage to practice their ideals, to do what seems impossible, to not fear setbacks, obstacles, and adversity, always believing in the conviction of "I wish to be benevolent, and lo! Benevolence is at hand." And one should persevere until the end.
Idiom Story
The idiom "three men make a tiger" originated from the historical records of "Strategies of the Warring States." It stems from the time when King Hui of Wei sent his crown prince as a "hostage" to the state of Zhao, accompanied by the prominent minister Pang Cong. Pang Cong, fearing that he might be falsely accused by political rivals after his departure, met with king of Wei before leaving. He used the story of "three men make a tiger" as an analogy, hoping that the king would not be swayed by rumors and would maintain his trust in him.
The well-known idiom "a cunning rabbit has three burrows" originates from the story of Feng Xuan, a retainer of Lord Mengchang of the Qi state during the Warring States period. Feng Xuan helped Lord Mengchang create three secure locations, allowing him to navigate the complexities of the era and achieve a prosperous and safe life. This idiom is often used to describe someone who plans carefully and thinks ahead.
Cao Gui discusses warfare, saying, “the key to victory in battle lies in the spirit of courage and morale: at the first drumbeat the Qi soldiers’ spirits were raised. On the second time, their spirits declined. Finally, on the third time, their spirits had been exhausted. Their spirits were exhausted while those of our soldiers' still brimmed. Consequently we defeated them.” Originally, it referred to ancient battles, where the first drumbeat was the most invigorating for soldiers' morale. Later, it was used metaphorically to emphasize the importance of seizing the right moment and using the initial burst of energy to achieve success in endeavors.
The idiom "one day of exposure, ten days of freezing" is derived from Mencius' statement "exposing them for one day and then freezing them for ten days" and refers to the lack of perseverance in work or learning, which makes it difficult to achieve success.
During the Warring States period, various states competed with each other. Dai Su met with King Hui of Zhao and told him the fable about the fighting sandpiper and clam, to make him understand the principle that the ultimate beneficiary would be the fisherman. As a result, King Hui agreed to cancel the plan to attack the state of Yan. This idiom is often used later to describe situations where people were preoccupied with fighting each other, others would take advantage of the situation.