The framework of knowledge about etiquette was completely destroyed, as were the techniques for playing musical instruments.(禮壞樂崩)
The framework of knowledge about etiquette
was completely destroyed, as were the techniques for playing musical instruments.(禮壞樂崩)
The Zhou dynasty was the last feudal,
hereditary dynasty in Chinese history. It was also the longest-lasting dynasty
in Chinese history.
Zhou nobles were required to acquire a
broad range of knowledge.
According to historical records, these included
the following six skills: etiquette, music, archery, chariot driving,
calligraphy and mathematics.
The renowned Confucius lived during this
era.
By mastering these skills and knowledge,
Confucius pioneered the teaching of skills that were previously only available
to the nobility to the many common people of his time who were willing and
eager to learn. Consequently, he was considered a role model by many subsequent
teachers.
The etiquette knowledge of the time was
extremely detailed, with a complete set of regulations covering every aspect of
a person's life, from birth to death. This included well-defined funeral
procedures.
Confucian scholars believe that, from birth
until the age of three, a person must be completely dependent on their parents.
They believe that everyone should be grateful for the care and love their
parents provided during these three years of complete incapacitation.
Therefore, when a parent dies, the person should cease all work and labour for
three years to mourn their father or mother.
The famous book The Analects contains a
story about Confucius and his students.
One day, a student named Zai Wo asked
Confucius a question.
Confucius replied, 'We are learning from
you about etiquette, music, archery, chariot driving, calligraphy and
mathematics.'
However, I have noticed that many students
have their father or mother pass away after completing their studies and
preparing to apply their knowledge in daily life. Consequently, these students
stop working and spend three years at home mourning their parent. I think three
years is too long. As they haven't practised the rituals for three years, they
have forgotten all the etiquette they learnt. Similarly, because they haven't
played an instrument for three years, they have forgotten all the techniques
they learnt.
I believe that the four seasons of the year
form a perfect cycle.
Spring is for sowing, summer is for
farming, autumn is for harvesting and winter is for resting. Therefore, I
believe we should shorten the period of time we spend honouring our parents
from three years to one.
After hearing this, Confucius remained
silent for several minutes.
This idiom literally means: 'The framework
of knowledge about etiquette was completely destroyed, as were the techniques
for playing musical instruments.'
It is used to describe the destruction of a
place's rules and regulations, and of its ritual education. This leads to
disarray in social order and moral norms.
Dear friend, what insights or inspiration
do you gain from this story?
If you were Confucius, how would you
respond to your student's question? Which aspects of your country's current
social system do you think need reforming?
I hope this story yields some new insights
for you.
禮壞樂崩(The framework of knowledge about
etiquette was completely destroyed, as were the techniques for playing musical
instruments.)
周王朝是中國歷史上最後一個封建世襲的王朝。也是中國歷史上延續時間最久的王朝。
周王朝的貴族都要學習許多的知識。
根據歷史書的紀載，當時的貴族要學習的技能有下列六項。
禮儀、音樂、射箭、駕馭馬車、書法、數學。
知名的孔子就生活在這個年代。
孔子精通這些知識與技能，他率先把這些只有貴族才能學習的知識與技能教導給當時的許多願意學習而且渴望學習的平民，因此他被許多後代的老師視為楷模。
當時的禮儀知識非常的詳細，一個人從出生到死的所有生活細節有著一整套完整的禮儀規範，其中有關如何舉辦喪禮方面也有詳細與明確的程序。
儒家的學者認為，一個人從出生之後到三歲之前，這個人都必須要完全的依賴自己的父母親，每個人應該要感謝自己的父母親在自己完全沒有行為能力的這三年的照顧與呵護，因此當一個人的父母親過世後，這個人就應該要完全的停止工作與勞動三年的時間，這個人要用這三年的時間來緬懷自己的父親與母親。
著名的(孔夫子論語)這一本書中，記載了一個有關於孔子與他的學生的故事。
有一天，有一個名字叫做(宰我)的學生對孔子提出了一個問題。
宰予說。
我們向你學習有關於禮儀、音樂、射箭、駕馭馬車、書法、數學這些方面的知識。
但是我發現一個現象，很多的同學在學習完這些知識之後，這些同學正想要實際地把這些知識運用在我們的生活上的時候，剛好這些同學的父親或母親就過世了，這個同學就要停止所有的工作與勞動，他每天只能待在家中緬懷自己的母親三年。
我認為三年的時間太長了，這些同學因為三年都沒有實際操作這些禮儀的流程，所以這些同學忘記了他所學過的所有禮儀知識，這些同學因為三年都沒有彈奏樂器，所以這些同學已經忘了他所學過的所有的演奏技巧。
我一年有四季，四季就是一個很好的很完整的循環。
春天播種夏天耕耘秋天收成冬天休息。因此我認為我們應該要進行改革，我們應該把緬懷自己父母的時間從現在的三年改為一年。
孔子聽完這個學生的話後，他沉默了好幾分鐘。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思禮儀知識的架構完全毀壞，彈奏樂器的技巧崩塌。
這句成語被用來形容一個地方的典章制度與禮儀教化遭受破壞，這個地方的社會秩序與道德規範混亂。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有什麼樣的或有什麼樣的啟發呢。
你如果是孔子你會怎樣回答你的學生的問題呢?你嗎?你認為你的國家的現有的社會制度有哪些地方需要改革呢?
我期待這個故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為論語-陽貨-21條