{論語} 顔淵問仁章 辨釋

Abstract

As the core of Confucius' idea, benevolence (仁) has been particularly stressed but Confucius himself did not directly define the concept of benevolence (仁) but taught in different manners from person to person so there are numerous studies done on this notion. This study, therefore, among various descriptions of benevolence in The Analects of Confucius, examines how to interpret the Confucian classics; analyzes, reviews and organizes representative interpretation by different masters and Dasan Jeong Yak-Yong and; attempts new interpretation as preliminary consideration for the researcher myself to grasp the original meaning of Confucian school (孔門原義), focusing on Yanyuanwenrenzhang (顔淵問仁章, Yanyuan's asking benevolence) on the passus of Yanyuan which is also known as Kejifulizhang (克己復禮章, discipline self and return to ritual propriety). The reason why Yanyuanwenrenzhang (顔淵問仁章) is chosen is that Yanyuan is generally admitted to be the best student of Confucian school (孔門) and that it is deemed that Confucius' answer to him best describes the notion of benevolence (仁). This study has significance as follows. First, it collects and makes the best use of strengths of existing annotation books as to interpretation of words and gives appropriate meanings in accordance with the original meaning of Confucian school. Second, it reexamines the subject of each sentence. For example, assuming that the subject of Yirikejifuli (一日克己復禮, proper discipline on self and returning to ritual propriety even for a day) is a leader and if the leader disciplines himself and returns to ritual propriety, this study considers that it makes the whole world surrender with his influence. Additionally, it is generally considered that the subject of 'Weirenyouji, eryourenhuzai (爲仁由己, 而由人乎哉, Benevolence is done by self, not by anyone else.) is an ordinary person but the researcher regards it as sovereign or the relation between Confucius and Yanyuan. Third, provided that existing interpretations present general causes and too much focus on inner cultivation, this study reveals that Confucius school's Chuanshouxinfa (傳授心法, one's enlightenment handed down from teacher) concentrates not only on self cultivation (修己) but on governing the people (治人). In other words, Confucius school's spirit is newly recognized as study of internal saint and external king (內聖外王學).