The Research On Mencius’ Parent-child Education Thought Of "Exchange Sons For Teaching"

The Mencius’ thought of " Exchange sons for teaching" is not only a mode of exchanging sons for education simply,but a set of parent-child education ideological system including Confucian father-son ethical situation,"teaching with rites","teaching with righteousness" and "benevolence".Based on the fact of life and concept that "benevolence is the characteristic element of humanity,and the great exercise of it is in loving relatives."Confucianism formed the principle of" love predominates between father and son".Which is specifically manifested as:children naturally know filial piety when they see their parents,and parents naturally know love when they see their children.This kind of "kind parents and filial kids" is the basic ethical situation between parents and children.Such an ethical situation and its emotional activities take precedence over parent-child education.However,this does not mean that "father and son love each other" can be achieved in real life.The key lies in whether this situation can be maintained and promoted in life.Based on this ethical trend,Mencius,in answer to the question that "a gentleman does not teach his own son",started from the general premise of "the situation is not possible",and out of concern for "father and son are commanded each other to be good causes separation",analyzed the mode of "the righteousness has not been done",which leads to"father and son are estranged from each other",and put forward the educational principle of"exchange sons for teaching".So,if we want to grasp the thought of "exchange sons for teaching",we must start from the relevant discourse of Mencius.First of all,it explains the general premise of "the situation is not possible",and reveals the ethical situation and its restrictions in parent-child education.Secondly,it explains the connotation of "good" of"father and son are commanded each other to be good causes separation",and reveals the ethical norms in parent-child education--"rites" and ethical warning."Good" means "rites"or "propriety" or "ethical norms",and its essence is the standardization and embodiment of"benevolence and righteousness" in human relations.Thirdly,it explains the connotation of"righteousness" of "the righteousness has not been done",and reveals the purpose of justice in parent-child education--"righteousness" and the boundary of righteousness.Because in the parent-child education,if "the righteousness has not been done" will cause "father and son are estranged from each other".Next,it is necessary to explain the connotation of "Yi"and reveal the emotional problems in parent-child education,namely the affection of benevolence--"Jen".It is rooted in the ethical situation restrictions of parent-child education--"the situation is not possible",ethical warning--"father and son are commanded each other to be good causes separation",justice boundary--"the righteousness has not been done"and emotional harm--"father and son are estranged from each other",the ancient people formed the tradition of "the gentleman does not teach his own son",that is,the gentleman does not teach his son personally.If you have a son,you can’t teach him by yourself,but you can’t keep him from getting education.Therefore,the ancient people had the method of"exchange sons for teaching",which could not only realize the kindness of the father and son,but also serve the purpose of education.It is also to maintain the "benevolence"between parents and children represented by father and son."The gentleman does not teach his own son" is a negative principle to avoid harm,while "exchange sons for teaching" is a positive principle to deal with positively.Namely,to maintain and promote the parent-child ethical situation--"kind parents and filial kids",the ethical norm--"Rites",the principle of righteousness--"Righteousness" or "Justice" and love emotion--"Benevolence",in order to fulfill the "benevolence" between parents and children.In a word,"exchange sons for teaching" not only conforms to the ethical situation needs of Confucian parent-child education and the concept of "Benevolence--Righteousness--Rites",namely "benevolence emotion→ justice principle→ ethical norms",but also conforms to the essence of Confucian education--the need of becoming a gentleman even a saint.