儒何以柔

How to Understand the Reason of Confucian′s Softness

近代学者多以“柔缓”以至“柔懦”释“儒”之“柔”，但儒者之“柔”并非由“驯顺”的意志发出，而是由“包容”之心而来。儒者具关爱同情之心，而又守以“德”安人服人之道，故而呈现出“慈爱”、“祥和”的“柔”的气息。这种气息来自于儒者对族类的“大爱”，实际可以追溯至华夏先民一以贯之的对“生生”观念的体认。大儒由体味“天地之大德日生”而具有“大爱”，故而具有“柔和”地对待世人以及天地万物的心态。

In the past, many scholars who studied the origin of Confucian had explained the meaning of the Confucian＇s ＂Softness＂ as ＂dilatory＂ or ＂gentle＂, or ＂reereanee＂ or ＂docile＂. But the Confucian＇s ＂Softness＂ probablely came from ＂comprehensive＂ instead of ＂tame＂. Confucians are kindheartedness, and treat others with ＂virtue＂, that is why they have a smell of ＂kindness＂ and ＂harmony＂. This smell came from a kind of ＂big - love ＂Confueians towards their breed. It can be traced back to the realization of Chinese concept of creation. Confucians have the ＂big-love by way of appreciate the creation of the world, therefore have a kind of mentality ＂Softness＂ to treat others and anything other things.