用英语讲中国文化——Confucius 孔子

孔子，名丘，字仲尼，是中国春秋末期的一位伟大思想家、教育家，儒家学派的创始人。

Confucius, whose name was Qiu and whose courtesy name was Zhongni, was a great thinker and educator in the late Spring and Autumn Period of China and the founder of the Confucian school.

一、生平背景

Biography

  • 出生地与家族：孔子出生于鲁国陬邑（zōu yì）（今山东曲阜东南），其先世为宋国贵族，后因避宋国内乱而迁于鲁。

Birthplace and family: Confucius was born in Zouyi, Lu State (now southeast of Qufu, Shandong Province). His ancestors were nobles of Song State, and later moved to Lu to avoid civil strife in Song State.

其父叔梁纥（shú liáng hé）因军功封于陬邑，母亲颜征在则是鲁国一位普通的妇女。

His father Shuliang He was granted the title of Zouyi for military merit, and his mother Yanzheng Zai was an ordinary woman in Lu State.

• 早年经历：孔子幼年丧父，家境贫寒，但其母颜氏注重对他的教育，尤其是音乐方面的培养。

Early life: Confucius lost his father in his childhood and his family was poor, but his mother Yan focused on his education, especially in music.

在母亲的教导下，孔子不仅学会了吹、拉、弹、唱，还逐渐形成了对音乐的深厚情感。

Under the guidance of his mother, Confucius not only learned to blow, play, play and sing, but also gradually formed a deep affection for music.

二、求学与从政

Studying and engaging in politics

  • 刻苦学习：孔子青少年时期刻苦学习，以广博的礼乐知识闻知于鲁，引起了朝廷的注意。

Hard work: Confucius studied hard in his youth and was known in Lu for his extensive knowledge of rituals and music, which attracted the attention of the court.. 

他先后向多位老师求学，不断充实自己。

He studied from many teachers and constantly enriched himself.

• 创办私学：34岁时，孔子开始创办私学，打破了学在官府、贵族垄断教育的传统。

Founding of private schools: At the age of 34, Confucius started to establish private schools, breaking the tradition of education being monopolized by government officials and aristocrats.

他“有教无类”，弟子多达三千人，其中贤人七十二，被称为“七十二贤士”。

He "taught without distinction" and had as many as 3,000 disciples, including 72 sages, known as the "72 Sages".

• 从政经历：孔子曾任鲁国中都宰、司空、大司寇等职。

Political experience: Confucius served as Zhongdu Zai, Sikong, and Da Sikou in Lu.

在任期间，他政绩卓著，尤其是在齐鲁夹谷会盟中，以相礼的身份成功帮助鲁国收回被齐国侵占的土地。

During his tenure, he made outstanding political achievements, especially in the Qi-Lu Jiagu League, where he successfully helped Lu to recover the land occupied by Qi as Xiangli.

然而，由于政治抱负在鲁国难以实现，他最终选择离鲁出游，宣传自己的政治主张。

However, since his political ambitions were difficult to achieve in Lu, he eventually chose to leave Lu and travel to promote his political ideas.

三、周游列国

Traveling around the countries

  • 游历背景：孔子离开鲁国后，先后到过卫、陈、匡、蒲、曹、宋、郑、蔡、楚等地，宣传其“仁政”和“礼治”的政治主张。

Travel background: After leaving Lu, Confucius went to Wei, Chen, Kuang, Pu, Cao, Song, Zheng, Cai, Chu and other places to promote his political ideas of "benevolent government" and "ritual governance".

然而，由于当时各国战乱频繁，他的主张并未得到广泛认可。

However, due to the frequent wars among countries at that time, his ideas were not widely recognized.

• 遭遇困境：在游历过程中，孔子多次遭遇困境。

Encountering difficulties: During his travels, Confucius encountered difficulties many times.

如在匡城被围困五日，在陈蔡之间绝粮七日等。

For example, he was besieged in Kuangcheng for five days and had no food for seven days between Chen and Cai.

但即便如此，他依然坚持自己的信念，不放弃对理想的追求。

But even so, he still insisted on his beliefs and did not give up the pursuit of his ideals.

四、晚年归鲁与逝世

Return to Lu in his later years and death

  • 晚年归鲁：鲁哀公十一年（公元前484年），季康子迎孔子返鲁。

Return to Lu in his later years: In the eleventh year of Duke Ai of Lu (484 BC), Ji Kangzi welcomed Confucius back to Lu.

归鲁后，孔子集中精力从事教育与《诗》《书》《春秋》等文献的整理工作。

After returning to Lu, Confucius focused on education and the compilation of documents such as "Book of Songs", "Book of Documents" and "Spring and Autumn Annals".