An Army
of Benevolence and Justice.(仁義之兵)
During China's Warring States period, there
was a renowned thinker named Xun Kuang.
A renowned Confucian scholar, he held views
that differed greatly from those of other Confucian scholars.
Xun Kuang had many students, who actively
disseminated his philosophical ideas after his death. Many later generation
scholars and politicians admired his unique insights.
His students compiled the key points of his
philosophy into a book containing the following passage:
One day, Xun Kuang was conversing with his
students. One student asked,
'In your lectures, you mentioned that the
essence of war should be based on benevolence and justice. We don't understand
your point of view.
Only a compassionate person can show
benevolence, and only a morally upright person can show justice. How could such
people want to attack others through military action?'
'I believe the essence of war is the
struggle for resources. Every king wages war for his own benefit.'
Xun Kuang smiled at his student and
replied. "A compassionate and merciful person will manifest benevolence
because of their inherent nature; therefore, they will feel anger when they see
their loved ones harmed.
A morally upright person will manifest justice
because of their inherent nature, and therefore feel anger when they see their
righteous path being disrupted.
I believe the purpose of war should be to
fight violence and promote justice, and this should be the sole reason for a
king to declare war.
Only wars waged on this basis are justified
and will gain the support of the people.
Historical records corroborate the
correctness of my theory.'
Ancient China had several very brutal
tribes: Huandou, Youmiao, Gonggong, Youxia and Chong.
The people of that time were brutally ruled
by these tribes, so several wise ancient Chinese kings led armies of
benevolence and justice in a war to liberate their suffering subjects.
As these kings acted with good intentions,
their armies were warmly welcomed and supported by the oppressed, achieving
victory quickly.
This idiom translates as 'an army of
benevolence and justice'.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts have
you gained from this story?
What do you think the essence of war is?
Have you ever experienced wars fought over resources?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
仁義之兵(An Army of Benevolence and Justice.)
中國的戰國時代有一個著名的思想家，他的名字叫做(荀況)。
他是一個研究儒家思想的著名學者，他提出了很多與其他儒家學者不同的觀點。
荀況有很多的學生，他死後他的學生們積極的傳播他的哲學思想，後代有很多的學者與政治家們都很喜歡他獨特的見解。
荀況的學生們將他的思想重點集結成為一本書，這本書中有一段話如下。
有一天，荀況與他的學生在對話，學生問。
你在上課中，提到戰爭的根本應該是要建立在仁愛與正義的基礎上，我們不理解你的觀點。
一個慈悲憐憫的人才會表現出仁愛，一個道德高尚的人才會表現出正義，這些人怎麼會想要透過軍事行動去攻打別人呢?
我認為戰爭的本質就是為了爭奪資源，每個王國的國王都是為了自己的利益才會發動戰爭。
荀況微笑地看著學生並回答。
一個慈悲憐憫的人才會表現出仁愛，因為這個人的個性如此，所以這個人在看到自己所愛的人被別人傷害的時候，這個人就會感到憤怒。
一個道德高尚的人才會表現出正義，因為這個人的個性如此，所以這個人在看到
自己所遵循的正確的道路被別人擾亂時，這個人就會感到生氣。
我認為戰爭的本質應該是為了打擊暴力與發揚正義，打擊暴力與發揚正義才應該是一個王國的國王發動戰爭的唯一理由。
只有站在這個基礎上去發動的戰爭才有合理性也才會得到百姓們的支持。
根據歷史書的記載，可以印證我的理論的正確性。
中國的古代有幾個很兇殘的部落，這些部落的名字是(驩兜)、(有苗)、(共工)、(有夏)與(崇)。
當時的百姓們被這些部落殘暴的統治，所以幾個中國古代的賢明的國王帶領著一支仁愛與正義的軍隊發動戰爭去解救生活在痛苦中的百姓。
因為這些古代的賢明的國王的出發點是正確的，所以他們的軍隊受到所有被壓迫的百姓的熱烈歡迎與支持，他們在很短的時間內就取得了勝利。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一支仁愛與正義的軍隊。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你認為戰爭的本質應該為何呢?你是否經歷過那些為了爭奪資源而被發動的戰爭呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為荀子-議兵篇
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E8%8D%80%E5%AD%90/%E8%AD%B0%E5%85%B5%E7%AF%87