What does Chen Duxiu think of Confucianism?

Chen Duxiu: Re-discussion on Confucianism

Chen Duxiu

The main reason for the lack of progress in China's academic thought lies in the difference between generality and argumentation. The recent controversy between Confucianism has been unresolved, which is also the reason. I dare to treasure it for readers before making a statement.

First of all, the belief in it. In the future, the truth of mankind will be scientifically proved and all religions will be abandoned. The reason is more complicated, so let me briefly talk about it. There are two laws in the universe: one is the law of nature; One day, man-made law. The law of nature is universal, permanent and inevitable, and science belongs to it; Man-made law is partial, temporary and natural, and religion, morality and law all belong to it. If you don't eat, you will be hungry, and if you get old, you will die. This is the eternal necessity of all living things, not a certain part or a certain period of course. The husband worships the Lord, the minister is martyred, and the wife is martyred, so there is a penalty for early marriage. These people only do it for a period of time, and it is by no means universal and permanent. The future evolution of mankind should be developed with the budding science today, and all man-made laws should be revised to the same effect as natural laws, and then the universe and life can really fit together. This is not our greatest and ultimate goal, nor is it the secret of life in the universe. If science cannot solve it, religion can solve it. I think the progress of science is still far away. In today's science, we can't draw by ourselves. This is called the last difficulty. On the other hand, if religion can make people free, I think I must deceive myself first, and then I will explain myself, which is not correct. I can really doubt it, but I'm just scientific. Therefore, I advocate replacing religion with science and opening up our true beliefs, although it is achieved slowly. If you are superstitious about religion in order to get rid of it, it is just "haste makes waste."

The second time, Confucianism. The word Confucianism is by no means a noun. In China's old saying, only the Yin and Yang families say that they belong to religion. Mohism knows ghosts, but it is still near. Confucianism gains people by Tao and teaches people by six arts. Confucius, Confucianism, Confucianism before Confucius and Confucianism after Confucius are all centered on Confucius. He is a teacher by example, deeply believes in words, and is silent about ghosts and gods, regardless of life and death. He said that Confucianism is kind to Lu Jun, and they all go their own way. There are no people close to the so-called religion in this world. The word Confucianism originated from the dispute between the three religions in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. In fact, Laozi of Taoism and Confucius of Confucianism are not leaders. The essence of his argument is absolutely beyond the words of religious scholars. The word "Confucius' l religion" cannot be established, and there are many people who want to make Confucianism the state religion. It is not a rumor that two nearsighted people fight over the right and wrong of plaque calligraphy and painting. The discerning person snickered from the side and covered it with a plaque. Advocating Confucianism today is tantamount to!

Pretend to accept Confucianism or Confucianism as a noun according to social habits, and you can't get involved in politics or hang a charter. It has become a common practice to separate politics from religion. The constitution is legal in nature and is consistent throughout the country. It must not involve religion or morality, leaving room for people to go in and out. Mr. Cai Yumin said, "Confucius is Confucius, religion is religion, and the country is a country. Don't talk about it forcibly." Mr. Cai is not against Confucius, let alone absolutely against religion, and the rest are different. On Confucius, religion and country, they are absolutely different in nature, with clear boundaries. They cannot be combined into one, and the rest are the same. Confucianism can be regarded as the state religion. If it takes effect, what will happen to the equal rights of Buddhists, Taoists and Christians? If it does not take effect, the national law is not the unity of politics and religion, which will lead to continuous national disputes. The way of Confucius can be the foundation of self-cultivation. The Constitution was established in Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang and He before the way of Confucius, and then in Yang, Mo, Meng, Xun, Cheng, Zhu, Lu and Wang Zhidao. Why can't the controversy be solved in one sentence on the basis of self-cultivation?

Or the state religion cannot be sincere, and Confucius is not a religious scholar. But Confucius' self-cultivation is the source of moral education in China, which has been attached to people's hearts for thousands of years. Once abandoned, it will be a matter of customs and people's feelings, so it should be written into the constitution as a major policy of education. I have three questions to answer.

(1) Can Confucius' ethical theory of self-cultivation be compatible with * * * and constitutionalism, and can Confucian ethics be applied to the daily life of contemporary citizens?

(2) Can the Constitution deal with education and moral issues?

(3) No one's name can be found in the provisions of the world constitution.

If these three questions can't be answered, it is particularly absurd to add the theory of self-cultivation to the constitution, compared with making Confucianism the state religion! Because the state religion is not good, but there are precedents. As for education, all countries have stipulated the theory of who should be the foundation of self-cultivation in the constitutional provisions, which is a big joke! Among members of Congress, many people put forward such ignorant opinions. Undoubtedly, the voice of dissolving the Congress will win the world! I believe in science, thinking that in the future, mankind will embark on the right path, achieve enlightenment and enjoy happiness, which is what our country needs especially at present. It should advocate respect, of course, above the religious philosophy such as Confucianism and Taoism. But advocate it and respect it, too; If this is stipulated in the Constitution, it is a great event that people advocate and respect it. The constitution is purely within the scope of the law, and it cannot involve education, let alone industrial issues. Education and industry are not important. We can't use the law to respect Confucius' way, nor can we use the law to respect what kind of science. Don't pay attention to channels and science. As for the way of Confucius, we can't cultivate ourselves for the people, that's another problem. The constitution cannot stipulate who is the way to cultivate one's morality, nor does it choose Confucius or Rousseau. Why not simply oppose the channels of civil rights and harmony and not establish a constitution, thinking that the great service of self-cultivation is to advocate the study of civil rights and harmony and not establish a constitution, which is the foundation of self-cultivation. Architecture, religion and education have their own sides, so don't confuse them.

Today, opponents of the state religion hold the freedom of religious belief in the contract law, and think that Mao Ge. They are all closely related, and some people have initiated a "religious freedom conference" to advocate public opinion. I think it makes sense, but I still have to do something. Why can it be said that the Confucian temples in China are all over the counties, and the Guanting School in the Spring and Autumn Period has been enshrined, and it has been implemented for a long time and has become a national religion. The government has never persecuted or banned people who believe in other religions. Even if Confucianism is incorporated into the constitution as the state religion, it is expected that the philosophers will go hand in hand, but it may not be harmful. Therefore, I believe that the right of believers of various religions to freedom of religious belief of non-people is the right of the state to treat all religions equally. National income is the responsibility of the people of the whole country, and non-Confucianism bears it alone. To build a temple to worship Confucius at public expense, we should also build a temple to worship Buddhism and Taoism at public expense, and build a hall to worship leaves and benefit. Otherwise, there would be no temple and no sacrifice. If the country treats all religions equally, there will be no crime of perverting. All believers are equal to the country and should enjoy equal rights. It must be so, and then the disaster will not be brewing at home. From Sri Lanka's point of view, non-independence should not take Confucianism as the state religion and decide the future constitution, but should destroy the existing Confucius Temple in China and stop offering sacrifices!