本集課程重點包括：

一、誰是孟武伯？

孟武伯是前一章孟懿子的長子，從孟僖子、孟懿子到孟武伯，孔子跟孟家有三代的交情。孟懿子因為聯合季孫大夫、叔孫大夫，阻止孔子推行墮城削減三家大夫權力的政策，所以歷史上並沒有把孟懿子跟他的弟弟南宮敬叔，算成孔子的弟子。本章是孔子周遊列國回到魯國，當時孟武伯繼承了孟家大夫的地位，他向孔子問孝道。

二、唯一能讓父母親擔心的就是疾病

為人子女要進德修業，懂得做人處世的道理，好好充實自己，這些都不要讓父母親操心，讓父母親可以有幸福快樂的生活，唯有疾病是沒有辦法的事情，子女善盡養生之道，還是可能會生病。

三、孔子的回答也是針對孟武伯

孟武伯是富貴家族的子弟，生活上容易過得比較享樂，比較縱慾，所以孔子這樣的答覆，也可能是希望他們懂得養生之道。當然本章也可以是教導全天下的子女，有心要孝順父母，一定要懂得照顧自己。

為政篇第五章白話解釋

【經文】

孟武伯問孝。子曰：父母唯其疾之憂。

【白話解釋】

孟武伯是孟懿子之長子，名彘，武是諡號。

孟武伯問孔子怎樣才能盡孝道，孔子答覆他，子女事奉父母，不能使父母為子女憂愁。父母擔憂子女的事情很多，孝子應該體念父母的心，常以敬慎自居，不敢為非，以免父母憂愁。只有當子女有疾病時，生病而令父母擔憂，這是不得已的，然而疾病也多由私欲所導致，故為人子者當知父母所憂，應當寡欲守身，慎防疾病，順親之心，如此可稱為孝。

【章旨】

此章是孔子欲武伯，善體父母慈心，守身盡孝。

《論語講要》原文

馬注，孟武伯是孟懿子之長子，名彘，武是諡號。

孟武伯問為孝之道。孔子答復，父母唯其疾之憂。唯其的其字，是指子而言。子事父母，不能使父母為子憂愁。唯子有疾病時，父母憂之。其餘一切不能使父母憂。

集解，馬融曰：「言孝子不妄為非，唯有疾病，然後父母憂之耳。」

English

Teacher Tang Yuling will accompany you to read The Analects

23.Book 2 Wei Zheng (Of Governance), Chapter 6

Meng Wu asked what filial piety was. The Master said, “Parents are anxious lest their children should be sick.”

Highlights of this lecture include:

1. Who is Meng Wubo?

  Meng Wubo孟武伯, was the eldest son of Meng Yizi 孟懿子who featured in the previous chapter. Like his father he became a high-ranking minister of the state of Lu. From Meng Xizi 孟僖子(grandpa), and Meng Yizi (father) to Meng Wubo (son), Confucius had three generations of friendship with the Meng-sun family. Meng Yizi collaborated with the other two families the Ji-sun and Shu-sun to uphold real power in behind the throne of the state of Lu. He plotted to invalidate Kongzi reform to restore Lu throne power by lowering the walls of three barricaded cities under the control of the Three Families. That’s why orthodox history did not named Meng Yizi and his brother Nangong Jingshu南宮敬叔 in the list of disciples of Confucius. In this chapter Meng Wubo asks Confucius about filial devotion. And the dialogue took place around the period after the Master returned to Lu from the grand tour and Meng’s succession.

2. “Parents are anxious lest their children should be sick”

  Learn how to be a good son or daughter, one shall work hard to advance in virtue and cultivates all the sphere of his duties, to behave and associate with other properly, and to be substantial in learning. These are all deeds to be done by good sons and daughters that cheer their parents. Indeed, parents no longer have to worry or anxious about their children except for their sickness. Sickness can be a source of extreme worry for parents; but as a matter of fact, even filial sons and daughters cannot avoid to get sick sometime.

3. Confucius’ answer is for Meng Wubo in person

  Meng Wubo, from a wealthy and noble family, is easily inclined to be indulgent in different forms of pleasures in life. Therefore, Confucius gave such a reply hoping that he can restrain from indulgence in debauchery and keep himself healthy. Of course, this chapter also teaches us the practice of filial piety require taking proper care of ourselves.