A Deep Exploration of the Way of Sovereign and Minister in 'The Analects: Xian Wen' and the Contingency of Benevolence and Righteousness
This paper focuses on the core political discourse passages in 'The Analects: Xian Wen' concerning figures like Zang Wuzhong, Guan Zhong, and Duke Ling of Wei. It analyzes Confucius's profound insights into the sovereign-minister relationship, the distinction between hegemony and true kingship, and the calibration of benevolence (Ren) and righteousness (Yi), particularly investigating the gap between 'the difficulty of action' and 'the essence of Ren'.
Section 7: The Tradition of "Forceful Remonstrance" in Pre-Qin Texts
"Forceful remonstrance" (Fan Jian, speaking frankly to a superior) has a rich tradition in Pre-Qin literature.
The most famous example is Master Bi Gan. Analects, Chapter 18, records: "Vicki left him, Jizi became his slave, and Bi Gan remonstrated and died. Confucius said: 'The Yin Dynasty had three men of Ren.'" (微子去之，箕子为之奴，比干谏而死。孔子曰：“殷有三仁焉。”) Bi Gan spoke frankly to the tyrant Zhou of Shang and was disemboweled to death. The Master called this "Ren"—this is the extreme form of "remonstrating forcefully" (Fan Zhi).
Guoyu, Zhou Yu Shang records Master Shao Mu Gong remonstrating with King Li of Zhou. King Li was tyrannical and lawless, and Shao Mu Gong advised: "Stopping the mouths of the people is more dangerous than damming a river. A river when dammed will burst, wounding many people. The people are the same. Therefore, those who manage rivers clear them to let them flow; those who manage people allow them to speak" (防民之口，甚于防川……为民者宣之使言). This means that not only should ministers speak frankly to the ruler, but the ruler should create an environment where ministers dare to speak frankly.
Zuo Zhuan, 31st Year of Duke Xiang records the words of Master Zi Chan: "What they approve of, I practice; what they dislike, I correct. They are my teachers" (其所善者，吾则行之；其所恶者，吾则改之。是吾师也). Master Zi Chan allowed the common people to discuss governance freely; what they approved of, he implemented; what they criticized, he corrected. His refusal to destroy the village schools is the embodiment of the spirit of "remonstrance" in an enlightened statesman.