“八佾舞於庭”章의 實狀과 孔子 비판의 含意

Abstract

Confucius criticized Ji-pingzi(季平子) for violating the rules of etiquette on which order is based and for violating the rules of symbolic form, which would undermine the system of common recognition. From Confucius' point of view, Ji-pingzi is defined as a bad vassal, unethical and greedy. But by different perspectives and standards, Ji-pingzi is understood completely differently. In two respects, there is room for excuse for Ji-pingzi. One is that in the absence of Zhao Gong(昭公), Ji-pingzi as a real power may have held a national event on behalf of the monarch. The other is that Ji-pingzi only followed the form of Zhao Gong's presumptuousness. Nevertheless, if Ji-pingzi did not act on behalf of the monarch at the national shrine, but violated the rules and used Bayi Wu(八佾舞) at his own shrine, this was clearly a breach of etiquette. It is not a historical narrative but a political and philosophical declaration that Confucius mentioned in Analects 3.1. Politics places more importance on utility and consequences than on distinguishing true from false or right from wrong. In this regard, Confucius, who somehow restored order in that particularly chaotic era, was forced to condemn Ji-pingzi's act of perjury, and ultimately Ji-pingzi's act became a breach of etiquette.