孔子贊子產

文/裴傳永

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孔子贊子產

文/裴傳永

孔子生在禮崩樂壞的春秋后期，許多諸侯國都是昏君主政、小人當道，對這些人，孔子打心眼里瞧不起，所以當弟子子貢請他評論一下“今之從政者何如”時，孔子把頭搖得像撥浪鼓，給出的回答十分干脆：“斗筲之人，何足算也！”意思是說：不過是些委瑣小氣之人，根本不值一提！鄙夷之情溢于言表。

然而，凡事總有例外，孔子對于“今之從政者”也并非全部一棍子打死，個別的還真讓他另眼相看，比如做了20多年鄭國首席執政官的子產。

子產出身于鄭國的公族，他的爺爺是鄭穆公，父親是鄭穆公13個兒子中的一個——公子發。雖說子產是緣于特殊的家世背景而平步青云，成為在鄭國政壇上一言九鼎的人物，不過平心而論，這位公子哥還真不是中看不中用的大花瓶，而確乎是德才兼備的賢能之輩，臨民理政很有些膽識和韜略，時有除舊布新、約己裕民的改革壯舉。也正因如此，孔老夫子才會對他格外敬重。檢諸古代文獻，孔子不同場合對子產的稱贊計有十來次，這在時人當中是無人能出其右的。這里不妨略舉二事。

《左傳》記載，鄭國人閑來無事，喜歡湊到鄉校，你一言我一語，對國家政治評頭論足。有的高官聽說后，找到子產堅決主張毀掉鄉校，不給那些人非議朝政提供場所。子產聽罷，搖頭說道：“這是何必呢？人們勞累了一天，休閑時節聚在一塊議論議論政事，他們都叫好的咱就繼續實行，普遍厭惡的咱就盡快改正，他們就是我們的老師啊！我聽說將心比心善待他人可以減少怨恨，沒聽說憑借權勢濫施淫威能夠消除怨恨。就像江河之水一樣，一味地加高加厚堤壩去堵截，一旦決口必定造成巨大災難，誰都無法挽救；而開些口子加以疏導，就會碧波安瀾，萬世太平。所以，人們的議論，對于我們就是治病的良藥。”一席話說得對方心悅誠服。孔子聽說此事后，不禁贊嘆：“由此來看，如果有人說子產不是仁人君子，我是不會相信的。”

子產數十年如一日，夙興夜寐，為國操勞，終于積勞成疾。他自知將不久于人世，便把太叔叫到跟前，囑咐道：“我死之后，你會接替我的角色。你要記住，只有德行卓著的人才能夠用寬和的方法臨民理政，差一等的人不如使用嚴厲的方法。火的特點是猛烈，人們一看見就害怕，所以很少有人死在火里；水的特點是柔弱，人們輕視而戲弄它，很多人便死在水里。你要明白這個道理，做到寬和與嚴厲相輔相成。”對于子產的這番“政治交代”，孔子給予了充分的肯定，由衷地贊嘆說：“真是太好了！施政寬和，民眾就怠慢，怠慢了就用嚴厲的措施來糾正；施政嚴厲，民眾就受到傷害，受到傷害就用寬和的方法來撫慰。用寬和調節嚴厲，用嚴厲調節寬和，政事因此而達至和諧之境。”幾個月后，子產去世。孔子聞訊，悲傷不已，評價道：“他是一位有著古圣賢之風的仁愛之人啊！”

《論語》記載，孔子曾給子產作了一次比較全面的評價：“子謂子產：有君子之道四焉。其行己也恭，其事上也敬，其養民也惠，其使民也義。”意思是說：子產身上體現了君子的四大美好品德，即自身舉止謙恭莊重，對待國君忠誠恭敬，對待民眾慈愛仁惠，役使民眾合理有度。這一評價可謂高矣。

CONFUCIUS PRAISING ZICHAN

Zichan was an able and virtuous person who has both ability and political integrity. He had courage, sight and military strategies on governing the country and people. He often carried on the reform such as removing the old regulations in order to establishing the new regulations and restricting himself and enriching the people. That is why Confucius looked up to him with great respect.

Zichan kept working for the country at day and night with perseverance and consistency. Finally, he broke down from constant overwork. He knew that he would die before long. So he asked Taishu to come and said, “After I was dead, you would take over my position. You need to remember, you shall govern the outstanding people with moral integrity by using moderate approaches; and govern the lower people with strict approaches. The characteristic of fire is violent. When people see fire, they would be afraid of it. Therefore, there are few people dead in fire. However, the characteristic of water is delicate. People look down on water and make fun of it. Therefore, there are many people dead in the water. You shall understand the principle and make moderate approaches and strict approaches supplement each other.”