Isahluko 7

UbuTao NobuConfucius—Iphulo Lokufuna Indlela Yezulu

UbuTao, ubuConfucius, nobuBhuda buzezona nkonzo zintathu ziphambili eTshayina nakwiMpuma Ekude. Phofu ke, ngokungafaniyo nobuBhuda, ubuTao nobuConfucius abukhange bube ziinkonzo zehlabathi kodwa buye ngokusisiseko bagqugqisa kwelaseTshayina nakuzo zonke iindawo eziye iinkolelo ezingokwesithethe zaseTshayina zanempembelelo kuzo. Nangona engekho amanani angokwasemthethweni achaza inani langoku labalandeli bezo nkonzo eTshayina, ubuTao nobuConfucius xa buhlangene buye baphembelela ngokonqulo phantse ikota yabemi behlabathi kangangama-2 000 eminyaka edluleyo.

1. (Quka intshayelelo.) (a) UbuTao nobuConfucius buqheliselwa phi, yaye bande kangakanani? (b) Ngoku siphethukela kwiliphi ixesha ukuze sihlolisise ezi mfundiso?

‘IINTYATYAMBO ezilikhulu mazityatyambe; amaqela alikhulu mawalwe idabi.’ Loo mazwi, awathethwa nguMao Tse-tung weRiphabliki Yabantu baseTshayina kwintetho yakhe yowe-1956, eneneni ayecacisa ibinzana elasetyenziswa ngabaphengululi abangamaTshayina ekuchazeni ixesha laseTshayina elisusela kwinkulungwane yesihlanu ukuya kweyesithathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, elibizwa ngokuba lixesha Lokulwa kwaMazwe. Ngeli xesha umnombo weengangalala zabalawuli bamaChou (malunga nowe-1122-256 B.C.E.) wawonakalele ekubeni yinkqubo yokwabelwa kwemihlaba kumagorha awayengabaphumi-mkhosi ababesoloko betshayinta ezimfazweni, nto leyo eyabangela ukuba zilile ezimathontsi iintathambula zabantu abangazelwe nto.

2. (a) Yintoni eyakhokelela ekuvelisweni ‘kwamaqela alikhulu’? (b) Yintoni esaseleyo eyaveliswa ‘ngamaqela alikhulu’?

² Udushe nokubandezeleka okwabangelwa ziimfazwe kwalenza buthathaka ngokulusizi igunya lodidi lwabo balawulayo ngokwesithethe. Abantu nje abaqhelekileyo babedikwe yeyokosa kukuthobela imithetho ekhiw’ entloko neyobuqhetseba yeziphatha-mandla baze bathwaxwe yimiphumo yoko bengakhuphi nelimdaka. Ngenxa yoko, iingcamango neminqweno eyayikade igcinwe ngaphakathi kangangethuba elide yadubuleka ‘njengeentyatyambo ezilikhulu.’ Amaqela awahlukeneyo aneengcamango ezifanayo avelisa uluvo lwawo ngokuphathelele urhulumente, umthetho, ukugcinwa kocwangco kwezentlalo, ihambo yokuziphatha, imigaqo yokusesikweni, kwanemibandela enjengezolimo, umculo, neencwadi, njengemijelo yokubuyisela ubomi kwimeko yesiqhelo. Athi aziwa ‘njengamaqela alikhulu.’ Inkoliso yawo ayizange ivelise imiphumo ehlala ihleli. Phofu ke, amaqela amabini afumana udumo olukhulu kangangokuba aye aphembelela ubomi babemi baseTshayina ithuba elingaphezu kwama-2 000 eminyaka. Aba koko kwathi ekugqibeleni kwabizwa ngokuba bubuTao nobuConfucius.

ITao—Iyintoni?

3. (a) Iyintoni ingcamango yamaTshayina ngeTao? (b) Kunokuba akholelwe kuMdali, yintoni amaTshayina awayekholelwa ukuba yabangela ukubakho kwayo yonke into? (Thelekisa amaHebhere 3:4.)

³ Ukuze uqonde isizathu sokuba ubuTao (gama elo eliphinyiselwa ngokuthi ubu-dow; ngesandi esifana nesegama elithi now) nobuConfucius bube nempembelelo enzulu gqitha nehlala ihleli kubantu baseTshayina, kuquka nabo baseJapan, eKorea, nakwezinye izizwe eziselumelwaneni, kufuneka ube nolwazi oluthile ngengcamango esisiseko yamaTshayina ngeTao. Eli gama lithetha “indlela okanye umendo.” Ngengqiqo ephangaleleyo, likwanokuthetha “inkqubo, umgaqo okanye imfundiso esisiseko.” KumaTshayina, imvisiswano nolungelelwano awayelubona kwindalo iphela lwaluyimbonakaliso yobukho beTao, amandla okanye umthetho othile ovela ezulwini olawula indalo iphela. Ngamany’ amazwi, endaweni yokuba akholelwe kuThixo onguMdali, olawula indalo iphela, akholelwa kulwalathiso oluvela ezulwini, kumandla ezulu, okanye kwizulu ngokwalo njengelibangele ukubakho kwayo yonke into.

4. AmaTshayina ayisebenzisa njani ingcamango yobuTao kwimicimbi yabantu? (Thelekisa IMizekeliso 3:5, 6.)

⁴ Esebenzisa ingcamango yeTao kwimicimbi yabantu, amaTshayina ayekholelwa ukuba kukho indlela yemvelo nechanileyo yokwenza yonke into kwanokuba wonke ubani nayo yonke into inendawo yayo efanelekileyo nomsebenzi wayo ofanelekileyo. Ngokomzekelo, ayekholelwa ekubeni ukuba umlawuli wayeyiphumeza imfanelo yakhe ngokubaphatha ngokusesikweni abantu aze aqiniseke ukuba uyawanyamekela amadini angokwesithethe ngokuphathelele izulu, isizwe sasiya kuba seluxolweni yaye sibe nempumelelo. Ngokufanayo, ukuba abantu babekulungele ukufuna indlela, okanye iTao, baze bayilandele, yonke into yayiya kuba kwimvisiswano, ibe seluxolweni ize iphumelele. Kodwa ukuba babeyigatya okanye beyityeshela, oko bekuya kuphumela kwisiphithiphithi nakwintlekele.

5. (a) UbuTao bunxulumene njani neTao? (b) UbuConfucius bunxulumene njani neTao? (c) Yiyiphi imibuzo efuna ukuphendulwa?

⁵ Le mbono yokulandela iTao neyokungaphazamisani nokusebenza kwayo ingundoqo kwingcamango yentanda-bulumko nengokonqulo yamaTshayina. Kusenokuthiwa ubuTao nobuConfucius bungamagama amabini awahlukeneyo anengcamango efanayo. UbuTao buyindlela yokomfuziselo yaye, kwasekuqaleni kwabo, bebukhuthaza ukungenzi nto, ukuzola, nokuyekelela, ukucezela kude kwibutho labantu uze unikele ingqalelo kwindalo. Ingcamango yabo esisiseko yeyokuba yonke into iya kulunga ukuba abantu babenokubuya umva, bangenzi nto, baze bavumele indalo ukuba yenze umsebenzi wayo. Kwelinye icala, ubuConfucius, buyindlela yokoqobo. Bufundisa ukuba kuya kubakho ucwangco ekuhlaleni ukuba wonk’ ubani uphumeza indima yakhe ayabelweyo nemfanelo yakhe. Ngokuvisisana noko, bulungelelanisa zonke iindidi zolwalamano olukhoyo phakathi kwabantu nolwasekuhlaleni—umlawuli nomlawulwa, uyise nonyana, indoda nomfazi, njalo njalo—buze bunikele imigaqo kubo bonke. Ngokuzenzekelayo, oku kuphakamisa le mibuzo ilandelayo: Ezi nkqubo zimbini zabakho njani? Babengoobani abaseki bazo? Ziqheliselwa njani namhlanje? Yaye zibe naliphi igalelo kwiphulo loluntu lokufuna uThixo?

UbuTao—Isiqalo Sabo Esingokwentanda-bulumko

6. (a) Yintoni eyaziwayo ngomseki wobuTao? (b) Kwenzeka njani ukuba umseki wobuTao aziwe njengoLao-tzu?

⁶ Xa babusakhasa, ubuTao babutyekele ngakumbi kwintanda-bulumko kunaselunqulweni. Umseki wabo, uLao-tzu, wayekruqulwe ngumbhodamo naziziphithiphithi zaloo maxesha waza waxoza mphini wumbi wokuzikhulula kule meko ngokuthi acezele kude kwibutho labantu aze anikele ingqalelo kwindalo. Akukho zinkcukacha zingako zaziwayo ngale ndoda, ekuthiwa yayiphila ngenkulungwane yesithandathu Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, nakubeni kwanako oko kungaqinisekwanga ngako. Yayibizwa ngokuqhelekileyo ngokuthi Lao-tzu, gama elo elithetha “iNkosi Eyalupheleyo” okanye “Owalupheleyo,” ngenxa yokuba, ngokutsho kwebali lakhe, unina wamkhulelwa ithuba elide kangangokuba xa wayezalwa, iinwele zakhe zazisele zijike zamhlophe.

7. Yintoni esiyifundayo ngoLao-tzu ‘kwiiNgxelo Ezingokwembali’?

⁷ Ekuphela kwengxelo eyamkelwayo ekhoyo ngoLao-tzu ikwiShih Chi (Iingxelo Ezingokwembali), ebhalwe nguSsu-ma Ch’ien, umbhali-mbali ohloniphekileyo wasebukhosini wenkulungwane yesibini neyokuqala Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Ngokutsho kwalo mthombo, igama lokwenene likaLao-tzu lalinguLi Erh. Wayesebenza njengomabhalana kumzi wolondolozo lweencwadi ezingokwembali zasebukhosini eLoyang, kumbindi waseTshayina. Kodwa okubaluleke ngakumbi kukuba, inikela le ngxelo ngoLao-tzu:

“ULao Tzu wayehlala kwisizwe samaChou phantse bonke ubomi bakhe. Wathi akubona ukonakala kolawulo lwamaChou, wemka apho waza waya emdeni welizwe. Igosa lomzi werhafu uYin Hsi lathi: ‘Mhlekazi, ekubeni uzimisele ukurhoxa emsebenzini, ndiyakucela ukuba ngenxa yam ubhale incwadi.’ Ngenxa yoko uLao Tzu wabhala incwadi enamacandelo amabini anamagama angaphezu kwamawaka amahlanu, awathi kuyo waxubusha ngengcamango yeNdlela [Tao] neyaMandla [Te]. Wandula ke wazichitha iintente. Akukho bani waziyo apho wafela khona.”

8. (a) Yiyiphi incwadi ekuthiwa yabhalwa nguLao-tzu? (b) Kutheni le ncwadi itolikwa ngeendlela ezininzi ezahlukeneyo nje?

⁸ Abaphengululi abaninzi bayabuthandabuza ubunyaniso bale ngxelo. Phofu ke, loo ncwadi awayibhalayo yabizwa ngokuba yiTao Te Ching (ngokuqhelekileyo eguqulelwa ngokuthi “INcwadi Yodidi Oluphezulu YeNdlela NaMandla”) yaye igqalwa njengeyona ncwadi ibalaseleyo yobuTao. Ibhalwe yaneziqendu ezifutshane nezintsonkothileyo, zimbi zazo zinobude nje bamagama amathathu okanye amane kuphela. Ngenxa yoku nangenxa yokuba intsingiselo yamagama athile iye yaguquka ngokuphawulekayo ukususela ngexesha likaLao-tzu, le ncwadi itolikwa ngeendlela ezininzi ezahlukeneyo.

Amavandlakanya E-“Tao Te Ching”

9. ULao-tzu wayichaza njani iTao kwiTao Te Ching?

⁹ KwiTao Te Ching, uLao-tzu wacacisa iTao, indlela epheleleyo yokusebenza kwendalo, waza wayihlobanisa nayo yonke into eyenziwa ngabantu. Apha sicaphula kwinguqulelo yakutshanje kaGia-fu Feng noJane English ukuze sifumane amavandlakanya eTao Te Ching. Ngokubhekisele kwiTao, ityatyadula yenjenje:

10. (a) Iyintoni injongo yobuTao? (b) Le mbono yamaTao ibonakala njani kwihambo yokuziphatha?

¹⁰ Sinokufikelela kwisiphi isigqibo ngokusuka kwezi zicatshulwa zintsonkothileyo? Sinokugqiba ngelokuba kumaTao, iTao ingamandla amangalisayo endalo iphela athe avelisa yonke indalo ebonakalayo. Injongo yobuTao kukufuna iTao, ukufulathela ihlabathi, nokunikela ingqalelo epheleleyo kwindalo. Le ngcamango yamaTao ikwabonakala kwimbono anayo ngehambo yomntu yokuziphatha. Khawubone indlela le ngcamango ecaciswa ngayo kwiTao Te Ching:

11. Lunokuchazwa njani usukelo lwamaTao?

¹¹ Le mizekelo imbalwa ibonisa ukuba ubuncinane ekuqaleni, ngokusisiseko ubuTao babuyinkqubo esekelwe kwintanda-bulumko. Ngenxa yokubona okungekho sikweni, ukubandezeleka, imbuqo, nemeko yokungabikho ntweni ebangelwe lulawulo olungqongqo lwenkqubo yokwabiwa komhlaba ngelo xesha, amaTao ayekholelwa kukuba indlela yokufumana uxolo nemvisiswano yayikukubuyela kwizithethe zamanyange awayephila ngaphambi kwexesha lokubakho kookumkani nabaphathiswa ababelawula abantu nje abaqhelekileyo. Usukelo lwabo lwalukukuphila ubomi obuzolileyo, nobasemaphandleni, benikela ingqalelo epheleleyo kwindalo.—IMizekeliso 28:15; 29:2.

Inkokeli Yesibini Esisilumko YobuTao

12. (a) Wayengubani uChuang Chou? (b) Wongezelela ntoni kwiimfundiso zantlandlolo zikaLao-tzu?

¹² Intanda-bulumko kaLao-tzu yaphuhliswa ngakumbi nguChuang Chou, okanye nguChuang-tzu, gama elo elithetha “iNkosi uChuang” (369-286 B.C.E.), owayegqalwa njengelona landela libalaseleyo likaLao-tzu. Kwincwadi yakhe ethi, Chuang Tzu, akazange nje kuphela acacise iTao kodwa kwakhona wanaba ecacisa ingcamango yeyin neyeyang, eyathi yaveliswa okokuqala kwi-I Ching. (Bona iphepha 83.) Ngokwembono yakhe, ayikho into ngokwenene ehlala ngokusisigxina okanye egqibeleleyo, kodwa yonke into iyaguquguquka. Kwisahluko esithi “Umkhukula Wasekwindla,” wabhala oku:

“Akukho nanye into kwindalo iphela ehlala ngokusisigxina, njengokuba yonke into iphila nje ixesha elithile ize ife. YiTao kuphela, engenasiqalo nasiphelo, ehlala ngonaphakade. . . . Ubomi bunokufaniswa nehashe elinamendu eliphala ngesantya esiphakamileyo—buyaqhubeka buguquka ngokuthe ngcembe, mzuzu ngamnye. Yintoni ofanele uyenze? Yintoni ofanele ungayenzi? Eneneni oku akwenzi mahluko.”

13. (a) Ngokwenkcazelo kaChuang-tzu, iyintoni imbono yamaTao ngobomi? (b) Liliphi iphupha likaChuang-tzu elikhunjulwa kakuhle?

¹³ Ngenxa yale ntanda-bulumko yokuba yonke into iyaguquguquka, amaTao anembono yokuba akukho sizathu sokuba nabani na aphazamisane nokusebenza kwendalo. Kungekudala, yonke into iza kuguquka. Enoba imeko imaxongo kangakanani na, iza kulunga kwakamsinya. Enoba imeko imyoli kangakanani na, iza kuphela kwakamsinya. (Ngokwahlukileyo koko, bona INtshumayeli 5:18, 19.) Le mbono yobomi isekelwe kwintanda-bulumko ifanekiselwe kwiphupha likaChuang-tzu akhunjulwa kakhulu ngalo ngabantu abaqhelekileyo:

“Ngaxa lithile uChuang Chou waphupha elibhabhathane, ibhabhathane eliphaphazela esithubeni, onwabile yaye esenza unothanda. Wayengazazi ukuba wayenguChuang Chou. Ngequbuliso wavuka yaye nanko, enguChuang Chou ubuqu. Kodwa wayengazazi nokuba wayenguChuang Chou owayephuphe elibhabhathane, okanye wayelibhabhathane elaliphuphe linguChuang Chou.”

14. Impembelelo yamaTao ibonwa kwiziphi iinkalo?

¹⁴ Impembelelo yale ntanda-bulumko ibonwa kwisimbo sokubhalwa kwemibongo nakwimizobo yamagcisa aseTshayina ezizukulwana zamva. (Bona iphepha 171.) Phofu ke, ubuTao babungazi kuhlala thuba lide buyintanda-bulumko ekhuthaza ukungenzi nto.

Ukusuka Kwintanda-bulumko Ukuya Elunqulweni

15. (a) Ukutsaleleka kwindalo kwawakhokelela kwiyiphi ingcamango amaTao? (b) Ziziphi iingxelo zeTao Te Ching ezafak’ isandla kuloo ngcamango?

¹⁵ Kwilinge lawo lokuphila ngokuvisisana nendalo, amaTao ayezixakekisa ngokucinga ngokungaphelelwa kwayo lixesha nangokuzihlaziya kwayo. Athelekelela ukuba mhlawumbi ngokuphila ngokuvisisana neTao, okanye ngokwendlela yendalo, ubani unokuthi ngandlel’ ithile athaphule kwiimfihlelo zendalo aze akhuseleke ekwenzakalisweni ngokwasemzimbeni, zizifo, nakukufa. Nangona uLao-tzu engazange agxininise koku, izicatshulwa zeTao Te Ching zibonakala zivelisa le ngcamango. Ngokomzekelo, kwisahluko 16 ithi: “Ukuphila ngokuvisisana neTao kuthetha ubomi obungunaphakade. Nakubeni umzimba usifa, iTao ayisayi kuze iphele.”a

16. Imibhalo kaChuang-tzu yazongezelela njani iinkolelo zomlingo zobuTao?

¹⁶ UChuang-tzu wakwafak’ isandla kwiingcamango ezinjalo. Ngokomzekelo, kwingxoxo ekwiChuang Tzu, omnye umlinganiswa wasentsomini wabuza omnye esithi, “Uneminyaka emininzi kakhulu, ukanti unobuso obumpuluswa okomntwana. Kwenzeka njani oko?” Omnye uphendula athi: “Ndifunde iTao.” Ngokubhekisele kwesinye isithandi sobulumko esingumTao, uChuang-tzu wabhala oku: “Ngoku uLiehtse unokubhabha emoyeni. Unokuphaphazela ngokukhululekileyo kwimpepho epholileyo, aze angabikho kangangeentsuku ezilishumi elinesihlanu ngaphambi kokuba aphinde abuye. Phakathi kwabantu abafayo abonwabileyo, umntu onjalo unqabe oku kwezinyo lenkuku.”

17. Luluphi uqheliselo lwamaTao olwabangelwa ziingcamango zamandulo, yaye waba yintoni umphumo? (Thelekisa abaseRoma 6:23; 8:6, 13.)

¹⁷ Amabali anjengala avelisa imibono yentelekelelo ezingqondweni zamaTao, yaye aqalisa ukwenza ulingelo loku ngokuthi acamngce, azile ukudla aze enze uqheliselo lokuphefumla ngendlela efanelekileyo zinto ezo ekwakucingelwa ukuba zazinokukuthintela ukonakala komzimba nokufa. Kungekudala, kwaqalisa ukuvela amabali abantu abangafiyo abanokubhabhela emafini baze babonakale baphinde bathi shwaka ngokokuthanda kwabo nababephila iminyaka engenakubalwa kwiintaba ezingcwele okanye kwiziqithi ezithe qelele, bephila ngombethe okanye ngeziqhamo zomlingo. Imbali yaseTshayina inikela ingxelo yokuba ngowama-219 B.C.E., umlawuli wamaCh’in, uShih Huang-Ti, wathumela umkhosi weenqanawa wamakhwenkwe namantombazana angama-3 000 ukuba aye kufuna isiqithi sasebalini esiyiP’eng-lai, ekwakuhlala kuso abantu abangafiyo, ukuze beze neqwili lokungafi. Njengoko bekulindelekile, abazange babuye nelo qwili lobomi obungunaphakade, kodwa imbali engokwesithethe ithi bahlala kwiziqithi ezathi zaziwa njengeJapan.

18. (a) Iyintoni ingcamango yamaTao ngokuhlobene ‘neepilisi zokungafi’? (b) Luluphi olunye uqheliselo lomlingo olwaveliswa bubuTao?

¹⁸ Ebudeni bongcelele lomnombo wookumkani baseHan (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.), uqheliselo lomlingo lobuTao lwafikelela incopho entsha. Kwavakala iindaba zokuba uMlawuli uWu Ti, nangona wayexhasa ubuConfucius njengemfundiso esemthethweni yeSizwe, wayetsaleleke ngakumbi kwingcamango yamaTao yokungafi komzimba. Wadlwengulwa umxhelo ngokukodwa yinkqubo yenzululwazi yemichiza yokuvelisa ‘iipilisi zokungafi’. Ngokwembono yamaTao, ubomi bubakho xa kudibana amandla angafaniyo eyin naweyang (ubukhomokazi nobuduna). Ngaloo ndlela, ngokunyibilikisa ndawonye ilothe (emnyama, okanye iyin) nemekyuri (ekhanyayo, okanye iyang), izazinzulu ngokuveliswa kwamachiza okuzuza ubomi obungunaphakade zazilinganisa inkqubo yendalo, yaye zazicinga ukuba, umphumo woko, wawuya kuba kukuveliswa kwepilisi yokungafi. Kwakhona amaTao avelisa uqheliselo oluhlobone neYoga, ubugcisa bokulawula indlela aphefumla ngayo, ukungatyi ukudla okuthile, kwanoqheliselo lwesini awayekholelwa ukuba lwalusomeleza amandla kabani obomi luze lumenze aphile ubomi obungakumbi. Izinto zabo zobuqu zaziquka amakhubalo omlingo ekwakusithiwa ayenamandla okumenza ubani angabonakali yaye angenzakaliswa zizixhobo okanye akwazi ukuhamba phezu kwamanzi okanye abhabhe esibhakabhakeni. Kwakhona babenamakhubalo omlingo, ngokuqhelekileyo awayenophawu lweyin-yang, awayencanyathiselwa kwizakhiwo nasentla kwemigubasi yeengcango ukwenzela ukugxotha imimoya emibi namarhamncwa asendle.

19. UbuTao balungelelaniswa njani?

¹⁹ Ngenkulungwane yesibini yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ubuTao balungelelaniswa. Indoda ethile enguChang Ling, okanye uChang Tao-ling, yaseka umbutho ofihlakeleyo wamaTao kwintshona Tshayina yaza yaphilisa ngomlingo nangamachiza okuzuza ubomi obungunaphakade. Ngenxa yokuba lungu ngalinye lalinikela ngoonomenteshe abahlanu berayisi, lo mbutho wakhe waziwa njengobuTao Boonomenteshe Abahlanu Berayisi (wu-tou-mi tao).b Ekubeni wayezibanga njengowayefumene isityhilelo kuLao-tzu uqobo, uChang waba “yinkosi ezukileyo” yokuqala. Ekugqibeleni, kwaye kwavakala iindaba zokuba wayephumelele ekwenzeni iyeza lokunyanga umntu angafi waza wanyukela ezulwini ephilile, ekhwele ingwe, ukusuka kwiNtaba iLung-hu (iNtaba Yezingwe Ezingamagongqongqo) kwiPhondo leKiangsi. Ukususela kuChang Tao-ling kwaqalisa ulandelelwano lweenkulungwane ezininzi ‘lweenkosi ezizukileyo’ zamaTao, nganye kuzo kusithiwa ingumzimba ozelwe ngokutsha kaChang.

Ukuhlangabezana Nocelomngeni LobuBhuda

20. UbuTao bazama njani ukuxhathisa impembelelo yobuBhuda?

²⁰ Ngenkulungwane yesixhenxe, ebudeni bomnombo wookumkani baseT’ang (618-907 C.E.), ubuBhuda babuphembelela unqulo lwamaTshayina. Ngokuchasene noko, ubuTao bazibabaza njengonqulo lwamaTshayina. ULao-tzu wenziwa isithixo, yaye imibhalo yamaTao yenziwa iincwadi ezingcwele zecawa. Kwakhiwa iitempile, imizi yeemonki, nemizi yoonongendi, zaza iimonki noonongendi zalungelelaniswa ngokwamaqela azo, phantse ngendlela efanayo neyamaBhuda. Ukongezelela, kwakhona ubuTao bamkela kwiitempile zawo zezithixo oothixo abaninzi, oothixokazi, oohili nabantu abangafiyo beentsomi zamaTshayina, njengaBantu Abasibhozo Abangafiyo (Pa Hsien), uthixo weziko lomlilo (Tsao Shen), oothixo besixeko (Ch’eng Huang), nabagcini-sango (Men Shen). Umphumo woko waba kukwamkela kwabo iziqalelo zobuBhuda, iinkolo ezingokwesithethe, ukusebenzelana nemimoya, nokunqula iminyanya.—1 Korinte 8:5.

21. Ekugqibeleni, ubuTao baziguqula baba yintoni, yaye njani?

²¹ Njengoko ixesha lalihamba, ubuTao batyekela ngokuthe ngcembe kwinkqubo yokunqula izithixo neyeenkolo. Mntu ngamnye wasuka nje wazinqulela oothixo noothixokazi bakhe abathandayo kwiitempile zasekuhlaleni, ebabongoza ukuba bamkhusele ebubini nokuba bamncede abe namathamsanqa. Abefundisi babeqeshelwa ukuqhuba imingcwabo; ukukhetha iziza ezifanelekileyo zamangcwaba, zezindlu, nezamashishini; ukuqhagamshelana nabafi; ukugxotha imimoya emibi neziporho; ukuqhuba imibhiyozo; nokwenza ezinye izithethe ezahlukahlukeneyo. Ngaloo ndlela, oko kwaqala njengenkqubo entsonkothileyo yentanda-bulumko kwakuziguqulele ekubeni lunqulo olumiliselwe ngokunzulu kwinkolelo yemimoya engafiyo, yesihogo somlilo neyoothixo abangabantu—ngcamango ezo ezavela kumthombo omileyo nonukayo weenkolelo zobuxoki zeBhabhiloni yamandulo.

Esinye Isilumko Esidumileyo SaseTshayina

22. Liliphi iqela elathi longama eTshayina, ibe yiyiphi imibuzo ekufuneka siyiqwalasele?

²² Ngoxa siye saphanda ngokuvela, ukuhambela phambili, nokuwohloka kobuTao, sifanele sikhumbule ukuba babulelinye nje ‘lamaqela alikhulu’ awathi atyatyamba eTshayina ebudeni bexesha Lokulwa kwaMazwe. Elinye iqela elathi ekugqibeleni laba lelidumileyo, nelathi enyanisweni, longama, yayilelobuConfucius. Kodwa kwakutheni ukuze ubuConfucius budume kangako? Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, kuzo zonke izilumko zaseTshayina, uConfucius wayesesona saziwa kakhulu kumazwe angaphandle kweTshayina, kodwa kanye kanye wayengubani? Ibe yintoni awayifundisayo?

23. Ziziphi iinkcukacha zobuqu ezinikelwayo ‘kwiiNgxelo Ezingokwembali’ ngokubhekisele kuConfucius?

²³ Ngokubhekisele kuConfucius, kwakhona siphethukela kwiShih Chi (Iingxelo Ezingokwembali) kaSsu-ma Ch’ien. Ngokwahlukileyo kwinkcazelo emfutshane engoLao-tzu, sifumana imbali ende yobomi bukaConfucius. Nazi ezinye zeenkcukacha zobuqu ezicatshulwe kwinguqulelo yomphengululi waseTshayina uLin Yutang:

“UConfucius wazalelwa kwidolophu yaseTsou, kwisiphaluka saseCh’angping, kwilizwe laseLu. . . . [Unina] wathandaza ekwinduli iNich’iu waza wazala uConfucius ekuphendulweni komthandazo wakhe, ngonyaka wamashumi amabini anesibini wokulawula kweNkosi uHsiang waseLu (551 B.C.). Wazalwa eneqhuma eliphawulekayo entlokweni yakhe, yaye kungenxa yeso sizathu le nto wabizwa ngokuba ‘nguCh’iu’ (gama elo elithetha “induli”). Igama lakhe lokwenene lalinguChungni, yaye ifani yakhe yayinguK’ung.”c

24. Yintoni eyenzekayo kwiminyaka yokuqala yobomi bukaConfucius?

²⁴ Kungabanga thuba lide emva kokuzalwa kwakhe, itshoba lalal’ umbethe kuyise, kodwa unina, nangona wayelihlwempu, wabopha amabande ukuze unyana wakhe afumane imfundo efanelekileyo. Eli tyendyana laba nomdla omkhulu kwimbali, kwimibongo nakumculo. Ngokutsho kweThe Analects, enye yeeNcwadi Ezine, zikaConfucius, wazinikela kuphengululo xa wayeneminyaka eli-15 ubudala. Uthe akuba neminyaka eli-17 ubudala, wanikwa umsetyenzana waseburhulumenteni kwilizwe lakhe lomthonyama laseLu.

25. Ukufa kukamama kaConfucius kwamchaphazela njani? (Thelekisa INtshumayeli 9:5, 6; Yohane 11:33, 35.)

²⁵ Kuyabonakala ukuba wakwazi ukuqokelela ubugcwabalalana bemali, awathi ngabo wakwazi ukutshata xa wayeneminyaka eli-19 ubudala waza wazibula ngonyana kunyaka olandelayo. Noko ke, xa wayephakathi kwiminyaka yakhe yama-20, unina wayambatha ingubo kaqaqaqa. Kubonakala ukuba oko kwamkhathaza kakhulu. Ekubeni wayebambelele ngokungqongqo kwizithethe zamandulo, uConfucius wazikhetha ebantwini waza wazilela unina engcwabeni lakhe iinyanga ezingama-27, ngaloo ndlela emisela amaTshayina umzekelo obalaseleyo wokuhlonela abazali.

Umfundisi UConfucius

26. Nguwuphi umsebenzi awawenzayo uConfucius emva kokufa kukanina?

²⁶ Emva koko, wayishiya intsapho yakhe waza wangumfundisi ohambahambayo. Izinto awayezifundisa zaziquka umculo, imibongo, ukubhalwa kweencwadi, izifundo ngezentlalo, imigaqo yokuziphatha nenzululwazi, okanye nantoni na eyayinokufundwa ngelo xesha. Kumele ukuba wazenzela igama elihle, kuba kwaye kwavakala ukuba ngaxa lithile wayenabafundi abangama-3 000.

27. Yintoni eyaziwayo ngoConfucius njengomfundisi? (Thelekisa uMateyu 6:26, 28; 9:16, 17; Luka 12:54-57; Yohane 4:35-38.)

²⁷ KuMazwe aseMpuma, uConfucius uhlonelwa ngokuyintloko njengomfundisi omkhulu. Enyanisweni umbhalo oselityeni lengcwaba lakhe eCh’ü-fou, iPhondo laseShantung, umbiza ngokucacileyo ngokuthi “Oyena Mfundisi Ungcwele Wamandulo.” Omnye umbhali waseNtshona uyichaza indlela awayefundisa ngayo ngolu hlobo: “Wayehambahamba ‘kwiindawo ngeendawo ephelekwa ngabo babethabathekile ziimbono zakhe ngobomi.’ Nanini na uhambo lusiba lude wayekhwela inqwelo etsalwa yinkomo. Ukucothoza okonwabu kwesi silwanyana kwakubangela ukuba abafundi bakhe bakwazi ukulandela ngeenyawo, yaye kucacile ukuba ngokufuthi izifundo awayezihlohla zazisekelwa kwiziganeko ezenzeka endleleni.” Okubangel’ umdla kukuba, uYesu kamva, wasebenzisa inkqubo efanayo, nangona wayengaxhomekekanga kwimfundiso yaloo mfundisi.

28. Ngokutsho kombhali ongumTshayina uLin Yutang, yintoni eyenza uConfucius waba ngumfundisi ohloniphekileyo?

²⁸ Ngokungathandabuzekiyo, into eyenza uConfucius waba ngumfundisi ohloniphekileyo kubantu baMazwe aseMpuma, yayisisibakala sokuba wayengumfundi otshatsheleyo yena ngokwakhe, ngokukodwa kwezembali nakwimigaqo yokuziphatha. ULin Yutang wabhala oku: “Abantu babethabathekile nguConfucius, kungekhona kangako ngenxa yokuba wayeyeyona ndoda isisilumko ngexesha lakhe, kodwa ngenxa yokuba wayengoyena mphengululi ufundileyo, inguye nje kuphela ngomhla wakhe owayenokubafundisa ngeencwadi zamandulo nangemfundo yamandulo.” Egxininisa koku kuthanda kwakhe imfundo mhlawumbi njengesizathu esiyintloko sokuba ubuConfucius buwagqwese onke amanye amaqela aneengcamango ezithile, uLin wawushwankathela lo mbandela ngale ndlela: “Abefundisi ababeqeqeshwe nguConfucius babenento ebambekayo ababenokuyifundisa nabafundi bobuConfucius babenento ebambekayo ababenokuyifunda, oko kukuthi, imfundo engokwembali, ngoxa amanye amaqela ayenyanzelekile ukuba afundise uluvo lwawo olukhiwe nje emoyeni.”

“IZulu Liyandazi!”

29. (a) Liliphi ibhongo eneneni uConfucius awayenalo ebomini? (b) Yintoni awayenzayo ukuzama ukuphumeza ibhongo lakhe, yaye waba yintoni umphumo?

²⁹ Phezu kwayo nje impumelelo yakhe njengomfundisi, uConfucius akazange akugqale ukufundisa njengomsebenzi wobomi bakhe bonke. Wavakalelwa kukuba iingcamango zakhe ngemigaqo nangemilinganiselo yokuziphatha zazinokulisindisa ihlabathi lomhla wakhe elalizaliswe ziinkathazo ukuba nje kuphela abalawuli babenokuzisebenzisa ngokuqesha yena okanye abafundi bakhe kumaziko abo aseburhulumenteni. Ngenxa yoko, yena neqela elincinane labona bafundi bakhe basenyongweni balishiya ilizwe labo lokuzalwa eliyiLu baza bakhenketha kumazwe ngamazwe bezama ukufumana umlawuli osisilumko owayenokwamkela iingcamango zakhe ngokuphathelele urhulumente nocwangco kwimicimbi yezentlalo. Waba yintoni umphumo? IShih Chi inikela le nkcazelo: “Ekugqibeleni wayishiya iLu, wagxothwa eCh’i, wakhutshwa ngomva eSung naseWei, wahlwempuzeka eCh’en naseTs’ai.” Emva kweminyaka eli-14 engunothwal’ impahlana wabuyela eLu, edane eyinko kodwa engehlanga nomcinga.

30. Ziziphi iincwadi ezisisiseko sobuConfucius?

³⁰ Kwiintsuku zakhe eziseleyo, wazinikela kumsebenzi wokubhala iincwadi nowokufundisa. (Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 177.) Nangona ngokungathandabuzekiyo wayekukhalazela ukungadumi kwakhe, wathi: “Andiligxeki iZulu. Andikhalazeli mntu. Ndiqhuba izifundo zam apha emhlabeni, yaye ndiyaqhagamshelana neZulu elingasentla. IZulu liyandazi!” Ekugqibeleni, ngonyaka wama-479 B.C.E., wafa eneminyaka engama-73 ubudala.

Umongo Weengcamango ZobuConfucius

31. Yintoni uConfucius awayifundisa njengendlela yokudala ucwangco kubemi basekuhlaleni?

³¹ Nangona uConfucius wayengumphengululi nomfundisi ogqwesileyo, impembelelo yakhe yayingapheleliselwanga konke konke kwezemfundo. Enyanisweni, injongo kaConfucius yayingaphelelanga nje ekufundiseni imithetho engehambo okanye engokuziphatha kodwa kwanokubuyisela uxolo nocwangco kwibutho lasekuhlaleni, elalithe ngelo xesha, ladlakazwa ziimfazwe ezingapheliyo ezaziliwa ziinkosi zemihlaba. Ukuze afikelele olo sukelo, uConfucius wafundisa ukuba wonk’ ubani, ukususela kumlawuli ukusa kumntu nje oqhelekileyo, umele ayazi indima yakhe ebuthweni aze aphile ngokuvisisana nayo.

32, 33. (a) Yayiyintoni ingcamango yobuConfucius yeli? (b) Ngokutsho kukaConfucius, wawuya kuba yintoni umphumo wokuqhelisela ili?

³² KubuConfucius le ngcamango yaziwa njengeli, gama elo elithetha imikhwa elungileyo, isimilo, ukucwangciswa kwezinto, yaye, ukongezelela, likwathetha isithethe, umsitho nokunqula. Ekuphenduleni umbuzo othi, “Iyintoni le li inkulu?” uConfucius wanikela le nkcazelo ilandelayo:

“Kuzo zonke izinto ezizimasa ubomi babantu, ili yeyona inkulu. Ngaphandle kweli, asiyazi indlela efanelekileyo yokunqula imimoya yendalo iphela; okanye yokumbeka kwindawo efanelekileyo ukumkani nabaphathiswa, umlawuli nabalawulwa, kwanamagqala nabangaphantsi; okanye indlela yokumisela imilinganiselo yolwalamano lokuziphatha okuhle phakathi kwabesini esahlukileyo, phakathi kwabazali nabantwana naphakathi komntu nomntakwabo; okanye indlela yokuqonda iinkalo ezahlukeneyo zolwalamano lwentsapho. Kungako le nto umntu olinene eyixabisa kangaka nje ili.”

³³ Ngenxa yoko, ili ingumthetho wokuziphatha elithi ngawo inene lokwenyaniso (ichün-tzu, maxa wambi liguqulelwa ngokuthi “indoda eyongamileyo”) lilondoloze ulwalamano lwalo lwasekuhlaleni. Xa wonk’ ubani ezabalazela ukwenjenjalo, “yonke into ihamba ngocwangco entsatsheni, elizweni nasehlabathini,” watsho njalo uConfucius, yaye oko kwenzeka xa iTao, okanye indlela yezulu, iphunyeziwe. Kodwa ili inokuchazwa njani? Oku kusifikisa kwenye yeengcamango ezisisiseko zobuConfucius—ijen (gama elo eliphinyiselwa ngokuthi ren), ubuntu okanye imfesane.

34. Iyintoni ingcamango yobuConfucius yejen, yaye inceda njani ekuqhubaneni nobubi basekuhlaleni?

³⁴ Ngoxa ili igxininisa ukumiselwa kwemiqathango yimithetho engaphandle, ijen inokuthanani nesimo sengqondo somntu, okanye umntu wangaphakathi. Ingcamango yobuConfucius, ngokukodwa njengoko ichazwa ngumfundi ophambili kaConfucius, uMencius, yeyokuba ngokusisiseko umntu unesimo sengqondo esilungileyo. Ngaloo ndlela, isicombululo sabo bonke ububi basekuhlaleni sixhomekeke ekuziphuculeni komntu, ibe oko kuqala ngemfundo nolwazi. Isahluko sokuqala sencwadi ethi The Great Learning sithi:

“Kwakuba kuzuzwe ulwazi lokwenyaniso, ngoko umnqweno uba ngowokwenene; xa umnqweno ungowokwenene, ngoko intliziyo ithi tye . . . ; xa intliziyo ithe tye, ngoko ubomi bomntu ngamnye buyaphuculwa; xa ubomi bomntu ngamnye buphuculwe, ngoko ubomi bentsapho buyalawuleka; xa ubomi bentsapho bulawuleka, ubomi besizwe buba nocwangco; yaye xa ubomi besizwe bunogcwangco, ngoko kuya kubakho uxolo kweli hlabathi. Ukusuka kumlawuli ukuhla ukuya kubantu nje abaqhelekileyo, bonke bamele bakugqale ukuphucula ubomi babo bobuqu njengento engundoqo okanye isiseko.”

35. (a) Umgaqo weli nowejen unokushwankathelwa njani? (b) Kuboniswe njani konke oku kwimbono yamaTshayina ngobomi?

³⁵ Ngaloo ndlela, siyabona ukuba ngokutsho kukaConfucius, ukugcinwa kweli kuya kwenza abantu bakwazi ukuziphatha ngendlela efanelekileyo kuyo nayiphi na imeko, yaye ukuhlakulelwa kwejen kuya kubenza baphathe wonk’ ubani ngobubele. Ngenxa yoko, kucingelwa ukuba, kuya kubakho uxolo nemvisiswano kwibutho labantu. Ingcamango yobuConfucius, esekelwe kumgaqo weli nowejen, inokushwankathelwa ngolu hlobo:

Konke oku kunceda ekucaciseni isizathu sokuba inkoliso yabantu baseTshayina, kwanabanye abakuMazwe aseMpuma bagxininise kangaka kumaqhina entsapho, ekukhuthaleni, kwimfundo, nasekwazini nokwenza ngokuvisisana nesigxina ubani akuso. Enoba zaziphucula okanye zazenza mbi ngakumbi iimeko, ezi ngcamango zikaConfucius zamiliselwa ngokunzulu ezingqondweni zamaTshayina kwiinkulungwane ezidluleyo.

UbuConfucius Baba Lunqulo LwasebuRhulumenteni

36. UbuConfucius balifumana njani iwonga lokuba lunqulo lwasebuRhulumenteni?

³⁶ Ekusekweni kobuConfucius, ixesha ‘lamaqela alikhulu’ lafikelela esiphelweni. Abalawuli bomnombo wookumkani baseHan bafumana kwimfundiso yobuConfucius engokunyaniseka kumlawuli kanye inkqubo ababeyifuna ukuze baqinise igunya lasebukhosini. Phantsi koMlawuli uWu Ti, esele sithethile ngaye ngokuhlobene nobuTao, ubuConfucius baphakanyiselwa kwiwonga lokuba lunqulo lwasebuRhulumenteni. Kuphela ngabo babezazi kakuhle iincwadi zodidi oluphezulu zobuConfucius ababenyulwa njengamagosa asebuRhulumenteni, yaye nabani na owayenethemba lokungenela umsebenzi waseburhulumenteni wayemele aphumelele iimviwo zesizwe jikelele ezazisekelwe kwiincwadi zodidi oluphezulu zobuConfucius. Izithethe zobuConfucius zaba lunqulo lwendlu yasebukhosini.

37. (a) UbuConfucius baba lulo njani unqulo? (b) Kutheni, ngokwenene, ubuConfucius bungaphezu kokuba yintanda-bulumko nje?

³⁷ Oku kuguquka kweziganeko kwaba negalelo elikhulu ekuphakamiseni isigxina sikaConfucius kwibutho laseTshayina. Abalawuli baseHan baqalisa isithethe sokunyusa amadini kwingcwaba likaConfucius. Bamthiya amagama okumhlonipha. Kwathi ke, ngowama-630 C.E., umlawuli waseT’ang uT’ai Tsung wayalela ukuba kwakhelwe uConfucius itempile yasebuRhulumenteni kwiphondo nakwisiphaluka ngasinye esasiphantsi kobukhosi bakhe yaye kwakumelwe kunyuswe amadini rhoqo. Ngandlela zonke, uConfucius waphakanyiselwa kwiwonga lokuba nguthixo, yaye ubuConfucius baba lunqulo olungenakufane lwahlulwe lula kubuTao okanye kubuBhuda.—Bona ibhokisi, kwiphepha 175.

Ubulumko BaseMpuma Obazuzw’ Ilifa

38. (a) Yintoni eyenzekileyo kubuTao nakubuConfucius ukususela ngowe-1911? (b) Kodwa yintoni eseyinyaniso ngeengcamango ezisisiseko zezi nkonzo?

³⁸ Ukususela ekupheleni kolawulo lookumkani bomnombo waseTshayina ngowe-1911, ubuConfucius nobuTao bahlatyw’ amadlala kanobom, kwada kwazanywa amalinge okupheliswa kwabo. UbuTao basingelwa phantsi ngenxa yoqheliselo lwabo lomlingo nolweenkolo. Ibe ubuConfucius buye bagxekwa njengobuxhasa ukwabiwa kwemihlaba kubaphumi-mkhosi, bukhuthaza isimo sengqondo sobukhoboka sokugcina abantu bephantsi kwegunya, ngokukodwa amabhinqa. Phofu ke, phezu kwako nje oko kugculelwa kungokwasemthethweni, iingcamango ezisisiseko zezi nkonzo zendele nzulu ezingqondweni zamaTshayina kangangokuba zisenempembelelo enamandla kubantu abaninzi.

39. Ithini enye ingxelo yeendaba ngoqheliselo lweenkolo olungokonqulo eTshayina?

³⁹ Ngokomzekelo, phantsi komxholo oyintloko othi “Izithethe Ezingokonqulo ZamaTshayina Zinqabile EBeijing Kodwa Zixhaphakile Kwimimandla Egudle Unxweme,” ngowe-1987 iphephandaba laseKhanada iGlobe and Mail lanikela ingxelo yokuba malunga nasemva kwama-40 eminyaka yolawulo lwaseTshayina lokungabukholelwa ubukho bukaThixo, izithethe zemingcwabo, iinkonzo eziqhutyelwa ezitempileni, nolunye uqheliselo oluninzi lweenkolo lusaxhaphakile kwimimandla yasemaphandleni. “Kwinkoliso yeedolophana kukho umntu oyifengshui, ngokuqhelekileyo ongummi oligqala okwaziyo ukufunda amandla omoya (feng) nawamanzi (shui) ukuze akwazi ukukhetha eyona ndawo ifanelekileyo yayo yonke into ukususela kwingcwaba lentsapho, indlu entsha okanye ifanitshala yegumbi lokuhlala,” itsho njalo le ngxelo.

40. Luluphi uqheliselo lonqulo olukhoyo eTaiwan?

⁴⁰ Ngoko ke, ubuTao nobuConfucius bufumaneka naphi na apho kukho khona impembelelo engokwesithethe yamaTshayina. ETaiwan, enye indoda ezibanga iyinzala kaChang Tao-ling yongamela ‘njengenkosi ezukileyo’ yaye inegunya lokubeka izandla abefundisi bamaTao (Tao Shih). Uthixokazi odumileyo uMatsu, owaziwa “njengoMama Ongcwele Wasezulwini,” unqulwa njengengcwele engumlindi wesiqithi nowoomatiloshe nowabalobi beentlanzi. Bona abantu nje abaqhelekileyo, bazixakekise kakhulu ngokwenza iminikelo nangokunyusa amadini kubantu bomlambo, ezintabeni nasezinkwenkwezini; kwizithixo ezingabalindi bawo onke amashishini; nakoothixo bempilo, bamathamsanqa nabobutyebi.d

41. UbuConfucius buqheliselwa njani njengonqulo namhlanje?

⁴¹ Kuthekani ngobuConfucius? Indima yabo njengonqulo iye yathotyelwa ekubeni yinto nje esisikhumbuzo sesizwe. ETshayina eCh’ü-fou, ndawo leyo uConfucius awazalelwa kuyo, uRhulumente uyilondolozile iTempile kaConfucius nemihlaba yentsapho yakhe ukwenzela ukutsala iliso labakhenkethi. Apho, ngokutsho kwephephancwadi iChina Reconstructs, kwenziwa amalungiselelo “okuvuselela isithethe sonqulo lukaConfucius.” Ibe eSingapore, eTaiwan, eHong Kong, nakwezinye iindawo ezikwimpuma Asiya, abantu basawubhiyozela umhla wokuzalwa kukaConfucius.

42. UbuTao nobuConfucius busilela njani njengeenkonzo ezikhokelayo ekufuneni uThixo wenyaniso?

⁴² KubuConfucius nakubuTao, sibona indlela inkqubo esekelwe kubulumko nakwindlela yomntu yokuqiqa, esilela ngokuphelele ngayo ekufuneni uThixo wenyaniso, kungakhathaliseki ukuba isengqiqweni yaye ineenjongo ezintle kangakanani na. Kutheni kunjalo nje? Kungenxa yokuba ityeshela oyena thunywashe usisiseko, oko kukuthi, ukwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo. UbuConfucius buphethukela kwisimo sengqondo somntu njengamandla amshukumisela ekwenzeni okulungileyo, yaye ubuTao buphethukela kwindalo ngokwayo. Kodwa oku kukuba nentembelo engafanelekanga kuba kuphumela nje ekunqulweni kwezinto ezidaliweyo kunasekunquleni uMdali.—INdumiso 62:9; 146:3, 4; Yeremiya 17:5.

43. Izithethe ezingokonqulo zamaTshayina ziwathintela njani xa ewonke kwiphulo lokufuna uThixo wenyaniso?

⁴³ Kwelinye icala, izithethe zonqulo lweminyanya nolwezithixo, ukuhlonela izulu, nokuhlonela imimoya yendalo, kwanezithethe ezinokuthanani nayo, ziye zendela nzulu kwiingqondo zamaTshayina ukusa kwinqanaba lokuba azamkele njengenyaniso engenakuphikiswa. Ngokufuthi kunzima kakhulu ukuthetha nomTshayina ngoThixo okanye uMdali kuba loo ngcamango ayiqhelekanga kwaphela kuye.—Roma 1:20-25.

44. (a) Abantu abaqiqayo basabela njani kwimimangaliso yendlela indalo esebenza ngayo? (b) Yintoni esikhuthazelwa ukuba siyenze?

⁴⁴ Alinakukhanyelwa elokuba indalo izaliswe zizinto eziyimimangaliso nezobulumko obukhulu kwanokuba thina bantu sijizekwe ngesiphiwo esimangalisayo sokuba ngabanengqiqo nesazela. Kodwa njengoko kubonisiwe kwisahluko esithetha ngobuBhuda, izinto eziyimimangaliso esizibonayo kwihlabathi lemvelo ziye zabangela ukuba abantu abaqiqayo bagqibe ekubeni kumele kubekho uMyili okanye uMdali. (Bona iphepha 151-2.) Ngoko, ekubeni oko kunjalo, akukho ngqiqweni kusini na ukuba sifanele sizabalazele ukufuna uMdali? Enyanisweni uMdali uyasimema ukuba senjenjalo: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu, nibone: ngubani na owadala ezi zinto? Ngulokhupha umkhosi wazo ngamaqela, uzibiza zonke ziphela ngamagama.” (Isaya 40:26) Ukuba senjenjalo, asisayi kuphelela nje ekwazini uMdali, oko kukuthi uYehova uThixo, kodwa kwanoko asigcinele kona kwikamva.

45. Luluphi olunye unqulo lwaMazwe aseMpuma esiza kuluqwalasela ngokulandelayo?

⁴⁵ Ukongezelela kubuBhuda, ubuConfucius nobuTao, obuye baba nendima enkulu kunqulo lwabantu baMazwe aseMpuma, kukho olunye unqulo, olukhethekileyo kubantu baseJapan—ubuShinto. Bahluke njani? Iyintoni imvelaphi yabo? Ngaba buye bakhokelela abantu kuThixo wenyaniso? Oku siza kukuqwalasela kwisahluko esilandelayo.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 162]

Ukuphinyiselwa Kwamagama EsiTshayina

Ukuze sivisisane nenkoliso yeencwadi zemfundo, siye kule ncwadi sasebenzisa uhlobo lwenguqulelo ngqo yeWade-Giles yamagama esiTshayina. Indlela aphinyiselwa ngayo ngesiNgesi ichazwe ngasezantsi:

ch j, njengakwelithi Tao Te Ching (jing)

ch’ ch, njengakumnombo wookumkani baseCh’in (chin(

hs sh, njengakwelithi Ta Hsüeh (shu-eh), iThe Great Learning

j r, njengakwelithi jen (ren), ubuntu

k g, njengakuthixokazi wamaBhuda u“Kuan”-yin (gwan-yin)

t d, njengakwelithi Tao (dao), iNdlela

t’ t, njengakumnombo wookumkani baseT’ang (tang)

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 175]

UbuConfucius—Ngaba Buyintanda-bulumko Okanye Bulunqulo?

Ngenxa yokuba uConfucius wenza amagqabaza nje ambalwa ngoThixo, abantu abaninzi babugqala ubuConfucius njengentanda-bulumko kuphela kungekhona njengonqulo. Kanti, oko wakuthethayo nawakwenzayo kwakubonisa ukuba wayetyekele elunqulweni. Oku kunokubonwa kwiinkalo ezimbini. Eyokuqala yeyokuba, wayenoloyiko lwentlonelo ngamandla awongamileyo okomoya endalo iphela, lawo amaTshayina awabiza ngokuba yiT’ien, okanye iZulu, awayewagqala njengomthombo wabo bonke ubulungisa nokuziphatha okuhle, nawayevakalelwa kukuba, alawula zonke izinto ngokokuthanda kwawo. Eyesibini yeyokuba, wagxininisa kakhulu ekugcineni ngokupheleleyo izithethe nemisitho ehlobene nokunqula izulu nemimoya yeminyanya engasekhoyo.

Nangona uConfucius engazange azibabaze ezi mbono njengohlobo oluthile lonqulo, kwizizukulwana zaseTshayina ziye zaba sisiseko sonqulo.

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 177]

Iincwadi Ezine ZobuConfucius Nezintlanu Zodidi Oluphezulu

Iincwadi Ezine

1. The Great Learning (Ta Hsüeh), isizinzi semfundo yomntu olinene, incwadi yokuqala efundisiswa ngamakhwenkwe ahamba isikolo kwiTshayina yamandulo

2. The Doctrine of the Mean (Chung Yung), incwadi engokuphuculwa kwesimo sengqondo somntu ngokuhlakulela ubungcathu

3. The Analects (Lun Yü), ingqokelela yezaci zikaConfucius, yaye igqalwa njengomthombo oyintloko weengcamango zobuConfucius

4. The Book of Mencius (Meng-tzu), imibhalo nezaci zoyena mfundi ubalaseleyo kaConfucius, uMeng-tzu, okanye uMencius

Iincwadi Ezintlanu Zodidi Oluphezulu

1. The Book of Poetry (Shih Ching), imibongo engama-305 echaza ngobomi bemihla ngemihla ngexesha lokulawula kookumkani bomnombo wamaChou (1000-600 B.C.E.)

2. The Book of History (Shu Ching), igubungela iinkulungwane ezili-17 zembali yaseTshayina eqala kumnombo wookumkani baseShang (1766-1122 B.C.E.)

3. The Book of Changes (I Ching), incwadi yokuvumisa, esekelwe kwindlela yokutolikwa kwentlanganisela yamagama anokuba ngama-64 abhalwe kwimigca emithandathu epheleleyo okanye engaphelelanga

4. The Book of Rites (Li Chi), ingqokelela yemithetho ephathelele imibhiyozo nezithethe

5. Annals of Spring and Autumn (Ch’un Ch’iu), imbali yelizwe likaConfucius lokuzalwa iLu, esusela kowama-721-478 B.C.E.

[Umfanekiso]

Iincwadi Ezintlanu Zodidi Oluphezulu, ngasentla, yaye ngasekhohlo, licandelo leThe Great Learning (enye yeeNcwadi Ezine), elicatshulwe kwiphepha 181

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 163]

ITao, ‘indlela umntu afanele ahambe ngayo’

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 165]

ULao-tzu, isithandi sobulumko sobuTao, sikhwele inyathi

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 166]

Itempile yamaTao enikelwe kuMatsu, “Umama Ongcwele Osezulwini,” eTaiwan

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 171]

Iintaba ezinenkungu, amanzi acwengileyo, imithi eyokozelayo, nabaphengululi abazonwabeleyo—leyo yimixholo ethandwayo xa kuzotywa imbonakalo yelizwe laseTshayina—ibonisa ingcamango yamaTao yokuphila ngokuvisisana nendalo

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 173]

Ekhohlo, ngumfanekiso okroliweyo wamaTao amandulo wothixo woBomi Obude ekunye naBantu Abasibhozo Abangafiyo.

Ekunene, ngumfundisi wamaTao enxibe isambatho esipheleleyo eqhuba umngcwabo

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 179]

UConfucius, esona silumko sibalaseleyo saseTshayina, uhlonelwa njengomfundisi wemilinganiselo nemigaqo yokuziphatha

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 181]

Imibhiyozo, ehambisana nomculo, eSung Kyun Kwan, iziko lezemfundo lamaConfucius lenkulungwane ye-14 eliseSeoul, eKorea, ekuqhutyekwa kusenziwa kulo izithethe zobuConfucius

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 182]

Enoba úngumBhuda, úngumTao, okanye úngumConfucius, umTshayina oqhelekileyo, ukusuka ekhohlo, uhlonela iminyanya ekhayeni lakhe, unqula uthixo wendyebo, aze anyuse amadini ezitempileni ngeentsuku zemisitho