The Beauty of the Three Dynasties Condensed into a Single Chapter: A Deep Interpretation of "Yan Yuan Asking about Governing the State" in the Analects of Confucius, Weilinggong
This article provides a rigorous analysis of the "Yan Yuan wen weibang" passage in the *Analects*, examining Confucius’s political pedagogy—centered on the calendar of the Xia, the carriage of the Shang, the ceremonial cap of the Zhou, and the music of Shao—as a synthesis of the essential wisdom of the Three Dynasties. By situating these practices within the broader framework of Confucian statecraft, the study elucidates the idealized civilizational paradigm of the tradition and the enduring philosophical significance of its transmission.
6. The Meaning of the Word "Follow" (Xing)
There is one more word worth pondering: "Follow" (xing). The Master said "Follow the calendar of the Xia," not "use" or "adopt."
The word "follow" (xing) in pre-Qin classics carries the meaning of practice or implementation, but its deeper meaning is "path" or "road"—as in the "firmness of the Heavenly Way." "Following the Xia calendar" is not just adopting the calendar of the Xia Dynasty, but embarking on a path that takes natural Heaven as its guide. This word "follow" is consistent with the Doctrine of the Mean: "The Way cannot be departed from for an instant."
The Analects: Xue Er records the Master:
To govern a state of a thousand chariots, be reverent in affairs and faithful, practice economy and love for the people, and employ them according to the seasons.
"Employ them according to the seasons"—using the people according to the rhythms of nature. This is exactly the spirit of "Follow the calendar of the Xia."