Behind the ox and horse lies a desire for freedom, dignity, and self-worth.
Should we continue on this path of "ox and horse"? Or should we rise up in resistance and seek our own light? The imprint of Confucian thought has persisted from ancient times to the present, and under its influence, the common people seem to have long become synonymous with being "obedient." Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust—these seemingly beautiful moral standards are deeply ingrained, yet they also become shackles that bind individual innovative thought.
At home, we listen to our parents' teachings, and outside, we obediently comply with our leaders, as if living under a natural sense of oppression. It is almost impossible not to become an "ox or horse." It teaches us how to be qualified children, students, and citizens, emphasizing the hierarchical order of "ruler and ruled, father and son."
In the family, absolute obedience to parents may limit personal development space;
In society, blind obedience to leaders may also lead to a lack of independent thinking and the courage to innovate.
When this mindset is overly emphasized, it may lead to a learned helplessness behavior. Not striving for progress, self-abandonment, waiting for others to provide guidance, and doing nothing when no one points the way. But in today's society, we can no longer be bound by this mindset. Confucian thought is the baseline, not the entirety; we need to break through to change our fate.
Those so-called "superior people" have long abandoned the concept of blind obedience and cultivated the ability to think independently. The Legalist strategies of manipulation and control stand in contrast to Confucian thought and represent another choice for the powerful. Legalism emphasizes strategy and control, focusing on how to maintain rule through law and power.
In ancient times, the powerful learned not only the basic principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust but also the manipulative strategies of Legalism, known as "manipulating people." They understood how to utilize human nature and how to remain undefeated in the complex game of power.
The shackles of those within the game turn society into a series of games, with everyone as a player. Confucian thought constructs a moral framework, while Legalist thought provides operational means for this framework. Players are forced to survive in the crevices of these two thoughts, adhering to Confucian moral norms while cautiously navigating the power games of Legalism. This dual pressure often leaves people feeling powerless and confused while pursuing personal value. In such an environment, individual innovative thought is suppressed, and many prefer a stable life rather than risk pursuing dreams. We are taught to respect authority and follow arrangements; however, behind this obedience often lies a surrender of self-worth. People struggle in invisible shackles, yearning to break through but unsure of how to start. Legalist thought, built upon Confucian thought, forms a more complex power structure, becoming a tool for rulers.