"Ceng Zi is not at his seat" is a very famous story in the Book of Filial Piety. Ceng Zi is a disciple of Confucius. Once he sat next to Confucius, and Confucius asked him, "The king of the sages has supreme virtue, and he needs mysterious theories to teach people all over the world and make people live in harmony. There is no dissatisfaction between the monarch and the minister." Do you know what they are? "

Hearing this, Ceng Zi understood that Confucius wanted to point out the deepest truth in his heart, so he immediately stood up from the mat where he was sitting, walked outside the mat and respectfully replied, "I'm not smart enough. How can I know?" Please ask the teacher to teach me these truths. "

Here, "avoiding the seat" is a very polite behavior. When Ceng Zi heard that the teacher was going to teach him, he stood up and went to the mat to ask the teacher for advice to show his respect for the teacher. Ceng Zi's polite stories are told by later generations, and many people learn from him.

2. Chengmen Sydney

Shi Yang (1053- 1 135) was a gifted scholar in the Northern Song Dynasty and a musician in Nanjianfu (now Fujian). After winning the Jinshi, he gave up being an official and continued his studies.

Cheng Hao (1032- 1085) and Cheng Yi (1033- 1 107) were famous scholars, philosophers and educators at that time, and they were both founders of Neo-Confucianism in the Northern Song Dynasty. Their theory was inherited by Zhu in the Southern Song Dynasty and was called the School.

Shi Yang admired Cheng Cheng's knowledge and went to the school in Hao Cheng to learn from his teacher. Four years later, Cheng Hao died, and he continued to learn from Cheng Yi. At this time, he is 40 years old, still respecting teachers and studying hard. One day, it snowed heavily and it was freezing. When Shi Yang encountered a problem, he braved the cold wind to ask his classmate You Zuo (1053- 1 123) to go to the teacher's house for advice.

When he came to the teacher's house, he found the teacher asleep in the chair. He couldn't bear to disturb him, for fear of affecting the teacher's rest, so he stood quietly outside and waited. When the teacher woke up, the snow under their feet was one foot deep and covered with snow. The teacher invited Shi Yang and others into the room to give them a lecture.

Later, "Chengmen Sydney" became a widely circulated model of respecting teachers.

3. Send goose feathers thousands of miles away

The story of "sending goose feathers a thousand miles away" took place in the Tang Dynasty. At that time, a minority leader in Yunnan sent a special envoy to Mian Bogao to offer a swan to Emperor Taizong.

When passing by Mianyang, kind Mian Bogao released the swan from its cage and wanted to give it a bath. Unexpectedly, the swan soared into the sky. Mian Bogao was busy reaching for it, only pulling out a few goose feathers. Mian Bogao was so anxious that she stamped her feet and began to cry. His entourage advised him, "It's no use crying because it has already flown away. Let's think of a remedy. " Mian Bogao thought, also can only be so.

In Chang 'an, Mian Bogao met with Emperor Taizong and presented a gift. Emperor Taizong saw that it was a delicate satin bag and opened it. At first glance, it is just a few goose feathers and a poem. The poem says: "Swan pays tribute to Tang Dynasty, the mountain is high and the road is far. Mianyang River lost its treasure and fell on the ground crying. After the Emperor of Heaven, Mian Bogao was spared. The ceremony is light and affectionate, and the goose feathers are sent thousands of miles. " Emperor Taizong was puzzled, and Mian Bogao immediately told the story. Emperor Taizong repeatedly said, "What a treat! It's commendable! Send goose feathers a thousand miles away, and the ceremony is light and affectionate! "

This story embodies the precious virtue of the giver's honesty. Today, people use "a thousand miles to send goose feathers" to describe the gift as thin, but the affection is extremely deep.

4. Confucius respects teachers

In the spring of 52 1 BC, Confucius learned that his students had been ordered by the king of Lu to pay homage to the emperor in Luoyang, Kyoto, Zhou Dynasty. He thought it was a good opportunity to ask Laozi, the guardian of Tibetan history in the Zhou Dynasty, about "etiquette", so he agreed with Lu and went with the palace.

The day after Confucius arrived in Kyoto, he went to the Tibetan History Museum on foot to visit Laozi. Lao Zi, who is writing the Tao Te Ching, heard that the world-famous Kong Qiu came to consult, so he quickly put down his knife and pencil and adjusted his clothes. Confucius saw a healthy old man coming out of the gate, thinking it was Laozi. He hurried forward and respectfully paid tribute to one of Lao Zi's disciples.

After entering the hall, Confucius bowed again before sitting down. Laozi asked Confucius why he came. Confucius left his seat and replied, "I have little knowledge and know nothing about the ancient' etiquette system', so I specially asked the teacher." Seeing that Confucius was so sincere, Lao Tzu expressed his views in detail.

After returning to Lu, Confucius' students asked him to explain Laozi's knowledge. Confucius said, "I am a good teacher, knowing the past and the present, the source of rites and music, and the return of virtue."

At the same time, I praise Laozi as an example. He said: "bird, I know it can fly;" Fish, I know it can swim; Beast, I know it can run. I can weave a net to catch a running beast, I can tie a swimming fish to a hook to catch it, and I can shoot a flying bird with a good arrow. As for the dragon, I can't know how it took the wind and cloud to heaven. Laozi, it's still evil! "

5. Kong Rong lets pears.

Kong Rong (153—208), a native of Lu (now Qufu, Shandong), was a famous writer in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and one of the seven sons of Jian 'an. His literary creation was highly praised by Wei Wendi Cao Pi. According to historical records, Kong Rong was not only very clever when he was young, but also a typical example of paying attention to brotherhood, mutual help and friendship.

When Kong Rong was four years old, he often ate pears with his brother. Every time, Kong Rong always takes the smallest pear. Once, my father saw it and asked, "Why do you always take the small one instead of the big one?" Kong Rong said, "I am the younger brother, and I am the youngest. I should eat the small one and let the big one be eaten by my brother! "

At an early age, Kong Rong learned the truth of mutual courtesy, mutual help, unity and friendship between brothers and sisters, which surprised the whole family. Since then, Kong Rong has spread the story of pears for thousands of years, becoming a model of unity and friendship.