By 'n' by hard times comes a-knocking at the door ! (50)

子曰 :「為政以德。譬如北辰，居其所，而眾星共之。」(論語為政)
The Master said, "He who exercises government by means of his virtue, may be compared to the north polar star which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it." ( Confucian Analects, English translation by James Legge, D. D., LL. D., Ch. II, Wei Chang )
北辰、北極星是小熊星座的恆星，民間稱帝星，而大熊星座的北斗七星為其御輦，民間稱帝車。北極星居天體樞紐地位，而群星環繞而自律運行，故曰眾星拱之。
北極星的樞紐地位，如太陽系的太陽，九大行星繞著太陽，各依固定軌道，以不變的速度，周行不息。地球依其固定軌道繞著太陽一圈，人間稱一年。
樞紐如車輪的轂，各個行星的固定軌道，如輪圈。
不見輪輻，也不見御者。
輪轂如何攝持輪圈 ?
又輪轂如何轉動輪圈，使得輪圈速率平均，轉動不息 ?
孔子不說上天的操控 ，也不說萬有引力所致。然而，特別指出，這是為政以德的模範( pattern ) ，揭示上天啟示的政治原理。
孔子乃謂 :「大哉，堯之為君也 ! 巍巍乎，唯天為大，唯堯則之 ! 蕩蕩乎，民無能名焉 ! 巍巍乎，其有成功也 ! 煥乎，其有文章 ! 」(論語泰伯)
The Master said, " Great indeed was Yao as a sovereign ! How majestic was he ! It is only Heaven that is grand, and only Yao corresponded it. How vast his virtue ! The people could find no name for it. How majestic was he in the works which he accomplished !
How glorious in the elegant regulations which he instituted ! "( Ibid., Ch. VIII, Tai Po )
孔子同於堯帝的自然神論( Deism )，唯天為大，仲尼則之，不認為上天操控天體運行和人間事務。
孔子乃以舜帝的為政以德，作為此政治原理的範例。
故謂 :「無為而治者，其舜也與 ! 夫何為哉 ? 恭己南面而已矣。」(論語衛靈公)
The Master said, " May not Shun be instanced as having governed efficiently without exertion ? What did he do ? He did nothing but gravely and reverently occupied his royal seat. "( Ibid., Ch. XV, Wei Ling Kung )
北辰居其所的眾星共之，舜恭己南面的無為而治，彰顯孔子的機械論宇宙觀。
孔子的自然神論和機械論宇宙觀，形構儒家的核心價值---仁，演繹道德與政治原理。
因此，"Old Kentucky home"就是仁的成果，果實纍纍遍及，孔子的大同理想世界，或孟子王道說的小康社會。
但，這早已是人間稀果或只是儒家的紙上作業( paper work )。
為什麼 ?
(取材自Alex Pan's Digest)
Alex Pan TheWalker