How did Confucius examine his disciples' aspirations in his later years?

Wen/Meng loves rain lightly. Confucius was a thinker, educator and founder of Confucianism in the late Spring and Autumn Period. Confucius was a small official in his early years, engaged in sorting out ancient books and giving lectures in his middle age, and traveled around the world in his later years to devote himself to education. It is said that Confucius has three thousand disciples. Confucius is knowledgeable and has the attitude of "never getting tired of learning" and "never getting tired of teaching", and advocates "teaching students in accordance with their aptitude". Confucius' political proposition is rule by courtesy, and his Confucianism and educational thoughts have a great influence on later generations. Since the Han Dynasty, the rulers have always respected Confucius as a "saint". In his later years, in order to examine his disciples' aspirations, one day, Confucius and several disciples sat idle. Confucius said, "I am too old to be hired." Usually you like to say,' People don't know me!' What will you do if someone knows you well and is willing to hire you? Proud disciple Lutz replied without thinking: "A country with thousands of personnel carriers is in a state of panic among several big countries, with troops invading outside and famine inside. If I am in power, it will take me three years to make people there have the courage, understand the truth and understand the direction of life. " Confucius smiled as if he thought it was funny. Ask again: "Ran Qiu, how are you?" Ran Qiu said, "A small country 60 or 70 miles across or 50 or 60 miles across needs my administration. After three years, people can get enough food and clothes. As for rites and music, it's up to the gentleman. Confucius asked again, "Gong Xihua, how are you?" "Not that I am very capable, but that I am willing to learn to do it. Gong Xihua said modestly: "For example, the sacrificial ceremony in the ancestral temple, or the alliance meeting between countries, and so on. On such an occasion, I would like to put on my dress and hat and be a small emcee. Confucius asked again, "Ceng Dian, how are you?" ? When Confucius asked himself and answered, Ceng Dian was playing the piano. He stopped the harp loudly, stood up and replied, "My ambition is different from the three of them." "What's the difference? I just want you to talk about your ambition! " Confucius encouraged. So Ceng Dian said, "In the twilight, I put on my spring clothes, and five or six adults came to Yishui with six or seven children. Take a bath by the river, and then climb the platform to blow the wind. Then, I sang all the way with satisfaction and walked back slowly. Confucius sighed appreciatively and said, "I really appreciate Ceng Dian's pursuit! Disciple, Ran Qiu and Gong Xihua all went out and stayed behind. "。 Ceng Dian asked, "What did the three students say? "Confucius said," It's just that everyone is talking about his ambition. " Ceng Dian said, "Then why did you laugh at Lutz? "Confucius said:" Governing the country should follow etiquette, but I smiled at him because he was not modest. "So, Ran Qiu said is not a country? Ceng Dian asked. Confucius said, "How can we say that Fiona Fang's land of 60 or 70 miles or 50 or 60 miles is enough for the country? "Gong Xihua said is not a country? Ceng Dian asked again: "There are ancestral ceremonies and alliances between countries. How can it not be considered as a country? Confucius replied, "He just wants to be a little master of ceremonies, so who else can be a great master of ceremonies?" "This story comes from The Analects of Confucius and is an important information reflecting Confucius' thoughts. Usually people think that this story expresses Confucius' love for secular life in his outlook on life. However, Confucius appreciated Lutz's political pursuit very much, but he thought Lutz was too modest. As for disciple Gong Xihua, Confucius thinks his ambition is too small, which shows that Confucius' basic pursuit is to manage the world. Confucius praised Ceng Dian's attitude of enjoying life, but it was actually a "martyr's twilight years", and he was helpless. This story mainly reflects the ideological changes of Confucius in his later years. All blog posts are original by the author. Please don't pick it without permission!