Why is it that old people who don't die are thieves?

Why is it that old people who don't die are thieves?

In traditional Chinese culture, loyalty and filial piety are moral ethics that are infinitely magnified, especially the word "filial piety", which has almost become a basic requirement for Chinese people to establish themselves as human beings. An unfilial person cannot hold his head up no matter where he is.

However, physiognomy mentions that the behavior of the elderly will have some impact on their descendants, especially if an old father grows yellow or black hair under his beard, if an old man with white hair grows black hair, or if an old man who is about to lose all his teeth grows new teeth. These are all unfavorable to the descendants. If the old man becomes prosperous, the descendants will encounter major changes.

There is also a saying in the Analects of Confucius: "The Analects of Confucius·Xianwen": "The original land was barbarian. Confucius said: 'When he was young he was not respectful to his younger brothers, when he grew up he did not pass on his teachings, when he was old he did not die. This is a thief!' He hit his shin with a stick." What does it mean? That is to say, if a person does not respect his elders when he is young, and does nothing when he grows up, and when he is old and cannot die, he is just a thief and a harmful insect.

Confucius' statement not only includes ancient history, but also his own insights. Because productivity was low in ancient times, young and middle-aged people mainly did two things: labor and having children. Especially in the case of food shortage, they had to support the elderly who could no longer go to the fields, as well as their newly born underage children. Therefore, the labor force will be affected, and the family's financial situation will gradually deteriorate. If young people die of illness and exhaustion due to lack of adequate food security, the whole family will have to beg.

Therefore, Confucius particularly emphasized that if you are unfilial since childhood, you will not be recognized by society; if you do not work hard in middle age, you will not set an example or inheritance for future generations, not to mention what will happen to your descendants when you are old. You will also become a burden and be called a pest.

In fact, most of the food needs in modern society can be guaranteed, and the lives of the elderly have also been enriched. The original meaning of this sentence is that young people should be filial and respectful, have goals in life, and be able to serve as role models for their children. If these cannot be done, they will be useless when they are old.

But how do we explain the situations mentioned in physiognomy? It has not been truly verified in reality, but the fortune of children will be reflected in the faces of their parents. This theory exists, but there is relatively little data. Whenever the elderly grow new hair and new teeth, that is, when the fortune should be declining but it is prospering instead, the fortune of their descendants will be mediocre, or even worse than usual when the fortune is bad.

In fact, this is different from being filial to the elderly, because filial piety is not only a kind of care for ancestors, but also a role model for future generations and society. If the elderly have characteristics that are unfavorable to future generations, it is just the feedback of the influence of the future generations' own circumstances and has nothing to do with the elderly.

This article Why the Old and Immortal Are Thieves was originally published by Ziwei Mansion. Reprinting is welcome but please indicate the source! Please continue to follow us for more exciting content.