君子有三戒：少之时戒之在色，及其壮戒之在斗，及其老戒之在得。——孔子
(jūn zǐ yǒu sān jiè — Kǒngzǐ)
Translation: “Nobles triple-guard: youth—lust; prime—combat; age—acquisition.”
Explanation:
Confucius’ lifespan risk management principle “君子有三戒(jūn zǐ yǒu sān jiè)” establishes humanity’s earliest life-stage vigilance framework: 戒色(jiè sè) (youthful lust restraint), 戒斗(jiè dòu) (prime-age conflict avoidance), and 戒得(jiè dé) (elderly acquisition moderation). The character 戒(jiè)—depicting 廾(gǒng, dual hands) gripping 戈(gē, battle-axe)—metaphorizes proactive defense against age-specific existential threats. This philosophy shaped 汉代冠礼(hàn dài guàn lǐ) (Han Coming-of-Age Rites), where youths received jade 戒(jiè) rings to curb impulses, warriors surrendered blades at 40, and elders donated 70% assets to public granaries.
The Ming Dynasty 养老令(yǎng lǎo lìng) (Elder Care Edicts) operationalized 戒得(jiè dé) through inheritance laws capping personal wealth at 30% post-60. Modern finance mirrors this: China’s Lifecycle Funds allocate 18-30 year-olds 90% growth stocks (戒色(jiè sè)-style risk control), then shift to bonds at midlife (戒斗(jiè dé) stability), finally converting 70% to annuities at retirement (戒得(jiè dé) anti-greed).
Neuroscience validates this triphasic model. 2023 fMRI studies show prefrontal cortex maturation (戒色(jiè sè) capacity) peaks at 25, amygdala regulation (戒斗(jiè dòu)) optimal at 45, while ventral striatum sensitivity (戒得(jiè dé) necessity) surges post-65. AI systems now encode Confucian wisdom—Ant Group’s LifeGuard uses 三戒(sān jiè) algorithms to auto-rebalance portfolios based on users’ biometric aging markers.
From CRISPR trials applying 戒色(jiè sè) principles to delay puberty-onset gene expressions to Mars colony retirement protocols enforcing 戒得(jiè dé) resource caps, this 2,500-year-old framework evolves into a transhumanist survival code. As longevity science stretches lifespans, Confucius’ axe-wielding hands become our symbol for eternal vigilance.
