孔子赞子产

文/裴传永



孔子赞子产

文/裴传永

孔子生在礼崩乐坏的春秋后期，许多诸侯国都是昏君主政、小人当道，对这些人，孔子打心眼里瞧不起，所以当弟子子贡请他评论一下“今之从政者何如”时，孔子把头摇得像拨浪鼓，给出的回答十分干脆：“斗筲之人，何足算也！”意思是说：不过是些委琐小气之人，根本不值一提！鄙夷之情溢于言表。

然而，凡事总有例外，孔子对于“今之从政者”也并非全部一棍子打死，个别的还真让他另眼相看，比如做了20多年郑国首席执政官的子产。

子产出身于郑国的公族，他的爷爷是郑穆公，父亲是郑穆公13个儿子中的一个——公子发。虽说子产是缘于特殊的家世背景而平步青云，成为在郑国政坛上一言九鼎的人物，不过平心而论，这位公子哥还真不是中看不中用的大花瓶，而确乎是德才兼备的贤能之辈，临民理政很有些胆识和韬略，时有除旧布新、约己裕民的改革壮举。也正因如此，孔老夫子才会对他格外敬重。检诸古代文献，孔子不同场合对子产的称赞计有十来次，这在时人当中是无人能出其右的。这里不妨略举二事。

《左传》记载，郑国人闲来无事，喜欢凑到乡校，你一言我一语，对国家政治评头论足。有的高官听说后，找到子产坚决主张毁掉乡校，不给那些人非议朝政提供场所。子产听罢，摇头说道：“这是何必呢？人们劳累了一天，休闲时节聚在一块议论议论政事，他们都叫好的咱就继续实行，普遍厌恶的咱就尽快改正，他们就是我们的老师啊！我听说将心比心善待他人可以减少怨恨，没听说凭借权势滥施淫威能够消除怨恨。就像江河之水一样，一味地加高加厚堤坝去堵截，一旦决口必定造成巨大灾难，谁都无法挽救；而开些口子加以疏导，就会碧波安澜，万世太平。所以，人们的议论，对于我们就是治病的良药。”一席话说得对方心悦诚服。孔子听说此事后，不禁赞叹：“由此来看，如果有人说子产不是仁人君子，我是不会相信的。”

子产数十年如一日，夙兴夜寐，为国操劳，终于积劳成疾。他自知将不久于人世，便把太叔叫到跟前，嘱咐道：“我死之后，你会接替我的角色。你要记住，只有德行卓著的人才能够用宽和的方法临民理政，差一等的人不如使用严厉的方法。火的特点是猛烈，人们一看见就害怕，所以很少有人死在火里；水的特点是柔弱，人们轻视而戏弄它，很多人便死在水里。你要明白这个道理，做到宽和与严厉相辅相成。”对于子产的这番“政治交代”，孔子给予了充分的肯定，由衷地赞叹说：“真是太好了！施政宽和，民众就怠慢，怠慢了就用严厉的措施来纠正；施政严厉，民众就受到伤害，受到伤害就用宽和的方法来抚慰。用宽和调节严厉，用严厉调节宽和，政事因此而达至和谐之境。”几个月后，子产去世。孔子闻讯，悲伤不已，评价道：“他是一位有着古圣贤之风的仁爱之人啊！”

《论语》记载，孔子曾给子产作了一次比较全面的评价：“子谓子产：有君子之道四焉。其行己也恭，其事上也敬，其养民也惠，其使民也义。”意思是说：子产身上体现了君子的四大美好品德，即自身举止谦恭庄重，对待国君忠诚恭敬，对待民众慈爱仁惠，役使民众合理有度。这一评价可谓高矣。

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.”