The Research Of The Thought Of Mutual-Concealing Between Relatives From The Perspective Of Pre-Qin

It is the thought of mutual-concealing between relatives that is not only the starting point and essence of wisdom of Confucius, but also the cornerstone of the vitality of Confucianism thought. Confucius argues that in the mutual-concealing between father and son, there is the important thought of being true. Only when we construct a close relation between father and son, and consider it as the basement of our theory and practice by associating it with the relation between emperor and the ministers, between family and state, therefore connect filial piety in family moral with loyalty in social and political field, could there cultivates and embodies the spirit of benevolence in institutional designing. So the understand of the thought of mutual-concealing between relatives can not be limited to the tension between emotion and law, we should place it in the whole discourse of Pre-Qin, reconsider it from the perspective of benevolence, in order to disclose its importance and influence in Chinese society and culture.The first part describes the context of the event of ZHIGONG and gives a brief interpretation of it. By analyzing the story in The Analects, we read this dialogue in two ways. One is the reconstruction of the story itself, in which the relation of being true and concealing is converted to the relation between trustworthiness, filial piety and being true by the different readings in Chuang-tzu, Lushi-chunqiu, and Huainanzi. The theory in Hanfeizi embodies the integration of Confucianism and Legalism. The other way is to give a brief account of interpretations of the thought of mutual-concealing between relatives in history.The second part is the most important one, which analyze the thought of mutual-concealing between relatives in logical perspective. First of all, this part clarifies the concept of concealing and being true. Then analyzes the role playing in moral construction, and notes the close connection between being true and benevolence so as to point that being true is the kernel of Confucius. The thought also embodies moral importance greatly. Thirdly by the discussion of filial piety and the conception of good nature of man in Mencius, this part argues the necessity of the thoughts of benevolent government. Lastly, we will discuss the concept of frank admonishment in XunZi. After all of these investigations, we can say that all the thought of the mutual concealing between relatives is in the same strain, the thoughts of Confucius, Mencius and XunZi are complete system.The third part bases on the newly excavated documents, which further our understanding of the thought of mutual concealing between relatives. There are two kinds of documents, the Confucian documents——which concerns the Five Element and Spirit Stems from Fate in Guodian Chu Slips, and Chu Bamboo Slips at Shanghai Museum as well—— and the legalism document——which concerns Shuihudi bamboo slips of Qin and Bamboo Slips Unearthed form a Grave in Zhangjiashan.The last part tries to discuss the great role of Chinese traditional culture plays in saving the crisis of western culture. In this part we will read the myths and legends of Ancient Greek and Roman, the Euthyphro of Plato, and argue that the western culture is likely to push the tension between the relatives to an extreme, while Chinese culture can solve the contradiction perfectly by rites and music culture. We conclude that it is high time that western culture learned from Chinese traditional culture.