The Analects ( Lun Yu ) English Translation: James Legge
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Two Conceptions of Harmony in Ancient Western and Eastern Aesthetics: “Dialectic Harmony” and “Ambiguous Harmony”
TWO CONCEPTIONS OF HARMONY IN ANCIENT WESTERN AND EASTERN AESTHETICS: “DIALECTIC HARMONY” AND “AMBIGUOUS HARMONY” Tak-lap Yeung∗ Abstract: In this paper, I argue that the different understandings of “harmony”, which are rooted in ancient Greek and Chinese thought, can be recapitulated in the name of “dialectic harmony” and “ambiguous harmony” regarding the representation of the beautiful. The different understandings of the concept of harmony lead to at least two kinds of aesthetic value as well as ideality – harmony in conciliation and harmony in diversity. Through an explication of the original meaning and relation between the concept of harmony and beauty, we can learn more about the cosmo-metaphysical origins in Western and Eastern aesthetics, with which we may gain insights for future aesthetics discourse. Introduction It is generally accepted that modern philosophy can trace itself back to two major origin points, ancient Greece in the West and China in the East. To understand the primary presuppositions of Western and Eastern philosophical aesthetics, we must go back to these origins and examine the core concepts which have had a great influence on later aesthetic representation. Inspecting the conception of “harmony”, a central concept of philosophical aesthetic thought for both the ancient Greek and Chinese world, may bring us valuable insight in aesthetic differences which persist today. In the following, I argue that the different understandings of “harmony”, which are rooted in ancient Greek and Chinese thought, can be recapitulated in the name of “dialectic harmony” and “ambiguous harmony” regarding the representation of the beautiful.1 The different understandings of the concept of harmony lead to, at least, two kinds of aesthetic value as well as ideality – harmony in conciliation and harmony in diversity. -
A New Examination of Confucius' Rectification of Names
Journal of chinese humanities � (���6) �47-�7� brill.com/joch A New Examination of Confucius’ Rectification of Names Cao Feng (曹峰) Professor of Philosophy, Renmin University, China [email protected] Translated by Brook Hefright Abstract Confucius’ explanation of the “rectification of names” is not necessarily related to the theories of “social status” and “names and actuality.” The reason scholars have inter- preted the rectification of names in the Analects in so many different ways is, to a large degree, due to assumptions about Confucius’ thinking by his successors, and based on the views on rectification of names among later generations. In the course of the devel- opment of thinking about names, scholars have augmented Confucius’ own explana- tion, gradually fleshing it out from an empty shell into a substantial edifice. The original meaning may have been very simple: Confucius did not wish to establish a standard system of names. Rather, he was simply the first person in history to realize the impor- tance of language in politics. As a politician, Confucius noticed and foresaw the influ- ence that the indeterminacy, ambiguity, and arbitrariness of names could have on politics. He discerned the political consequences when language could not accurately express meaning or when there was no way for people to accurately perceive it. He also recognized how names, as a way of clarifying right and wrong and establishing norms, could have a great effect on a society’s politics. Although Confucius noted that disunity in speech could lead to disunity in politics, he did not propose a solution. -
The Analects of Confucius
© 2003, 2012, 2015 Robert Eno This online translation is made freely available for use in not for profit educational settings and for personal use. For other purposes, apart from fair use, copyright is not waived. Open access to this translation is provided, without charge, at http://www.indiana.edu/~p374/Analects_of_Confucius_(Eno-2015).pdf Also available as open access translations of the Four Books Mencius: An Online Teaching Translation http://www.indiana.edu/~p374/Mengzi.pdf Mencius: Translation, Notes, and Commentary http://www.indiana.edu/~p374/Mencius (Eno-2016).pdf The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean: An Online Teaching Translation http://www.indiana.edu/~p374/Daxue-Zhongyong.pdf The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean: Translation, Notes, and Commentary http://www.indiana.edu/~p374/Daxue-Zhongyong_(Eno-2016).pdf The Analects of Confucius Introduction The Analects of Confucius is an anthology of brief passages that present the words of Confucius and his disciples, describe Confucius as a man, and recount some of the events of his life. The book may have begun as a collection by Confucius’s immediate disciples soon after their Master’s death in 479 BCE. In traditional China, it was believed that its contents were quickly assembled at that time, and that it was an accurate record; the Eng- lish title, which means “brief sayings of Confucius,” reflects this idea of the text. (The Chinese title, Lunyu 論語, means “collated conversations.”) Modern scholars generally see the text as having been brought together over the course of two to three centuries, and believe little if any of it can be viewed as a reliable record of Confucius’s own words, or even of his individual views. -
Melancholy in Europe and in China: Some Observations of a Student of Intercultural Process*
ASIAN AND AFRICAN STUDIES, 5, 1996, 1, 5069 MELANCHOLY IN EUROPE AND IN CHINA: SOME OBSERVATIONS OF A STUDENT OF INTERCULTURAL PROCESS* Marián GÁLIK Institute of Oriental and African Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Klemensova 19, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovakia The aim of this paper is to characterize the different modes of melancholy in the West and in China during the ages beginning with the 8th cent. B.C. in Greece and 3rd cent. B.C. in China up to the beginning of the 20th cent. within the framework of intercultural process. There are the men who are wanting in the comparative, they are as a rule the most interesting. (Søren Kierkegaard: The Journals) The subject I am just beginning to talk about, is probably the most difficult and debatable topic during more than 35 years of my scholarly career. To solve adequately or at least approximately the question of melancholy in two parts of the world, that is Europe and China, is certainly not possible in the contempo- rary state of research, and even to try it, could be characterized as an adventure. One should have the measures of the bird Peng [1] from the book Zhuangzi [2], which with a back like Mount Tai and wings like clouds filling the sky1 would roam through the space under the blue and grey skies of the Eurasian continent to study variegated processes within the broad frameworks encom- passing that which our Western world labelled as melancholia, mélancolia, Melancholie, melenconie, malinconia, acedia, tristitia, tristesse, etc., just to name a few terms, concerned with this concept, and be good in or to understand enough from the ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, medicine, psychology, * This paper was delivered at the international conference: Melancholy and Society in China, organized by Professor Wolfgang Kubin, Bonn, July 36, 1995. -
Inscriptional Records of the Western Zhou
INSCRIPTIONAL RECORDS OF THE WESTERN ZHOU Robert Eno Fall 2012 Note to Readers The translations in these pages cannot be considered scholarly. They were originally prepared in early 1988, under stringent time pressures, specifically for teaching use that term. Although I modified them sporadically between that time and 2012, my final year of teaching, their purpose as course materials, used in a week-long classroom exercise for undergraduate students in an early China history survey, did not warrant the type of robust academic apparatus that a scholarly edition would have required. Since no broad anthology of translations of bronze inscriptions was generally available, I have, since the late 1990s, made updated versions of this resource available online for use by teachers and students generally. As freely available materials, they may still be of use. However, as specialists have been aware all along, there are many imperfections in these translations, and I want to make sure that readers are aware that there is now a scholarly alternative, published last month: A Source Book of Ancient Chinese Bronze Inscriptions, edited by Constance Cook and Paul Goldin (Berkeley: Society for the Study of Early China, 2016). The “Source Book” includes translations of over one hundred inscriptions, prepared by ten contributors. I have chosen not to revise the materials here in light of this new resource, even in the case of a few items in the “Source Book” that were contributed by me, because a piecemeal revision seemed unhelpful, and I am now too distant from research on Western Zhou bronzes to undertake a more extensive one. -
The Analects of Confucius
The analecTs of confucius An Online Teaching Translation 2015 (Version 2.21) R. Eno © 2003, 2012, 2015 Robert Eno This online translation is made freely available for use in not for profit educational settings and for personal use. For other purposes, apart from fair use, copyright is not waived. Open access to this translation is provided, without charge, at http://hdl.handle.net/2022/23420 Also available as open access translations of the Four Books Mencius: An Online Teaching Translation http://hdl.handle.net/2022/23421 Mencius: Translation, Notes, and Commentary http://hdl.handle.net/2022/23423 The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean: An Online Teaching Translation http://hdl.handle.net/2022/23422 The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean: Translation, Notes, and Commentary http://hdl.handle.net/2022/23424 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION i MAPS x BOOK I 1 BOOK II 5 BOOK III 9 BOOK IV 14 BOOK V 18 BOOK VI 24 BOOK VII 30 BOOK VIII 36 BOOK IX 40 BOOK X 46 BOOK XI 52 BOOK XII 59 BOOK XIII 66 BOOK XIV 73 BOOK XV 82 BOOK XVI 89 BOOK XVII 94 BOOK XVIII 100 BOOK XIX 104 BOOK XX 109 Appendix 1: Major Disciples 112 Appendix 2: Glossary 116 Appendix 3: Analysis of Book VIII 122 Appendix 4: Manuscript Evidence 131 About the title page The title page illustration reproduces a leaf from a medieval hand copy of the Analects, dated 890 CE, recovered from an archaeological dig at Dunhuang, in the Western desert regions of China. The manuscript has been determined to be a school boy’s hand copy, complete with errors, and it reproduces not only the text (which appears in large characters), but also an early commentary (small, double-column characters). -
The Teachings of Confucius: a Basis and Justification for Alternative Non-Military Civilian Service
THE TEACHINGS OF CONFUCIUS: A BASIS AND JUSTIFICATION FOR ALTERNATIVE NON-MILITARY CIVILIAN SERVICE Carolyn R. Wah* Over the centuries the teachings of Confucius have been quoted and misquoted to support a wide variety of opinions and social programs ranging from the suppression and sale of women to the concerted suicide of government ministers discontented with the incoming dynasty. Confucius’s critics have asserted that his teachings encourage passivity and adherence to rites with repression of individuality and independent thinking.1 The case is not that simple. A careful review of Confucius’s expressions as preserved by Mencius, his student, and the expressions of those who have studied his teachings, suggests that Confucius might have found many of the expressions and opinions attributed to him to be objectionable and inconsistent with his stated opinions. In part, this misunderstanding of Confucius and his position on individuality, and the individual’s right to take a stand in opposition to legitimate authority, results from a distortion of two Confucian principles; namely, the principle of legitimacy of virtue, suggesting that the most virtuous man should rule, and the principle of using the past to teach the present.2 Certainly, even casual study reveals that Confucius sought political stability, but he did not discourage individuality or independent *She is associate general counsel for Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. She received her J.D. from Rutgers University Law School and B.A. from The State University of New York at Oswego. She has recently received her M.A. in liberal studies with an emphasis on Chinese studies from The State University of New York—Empire State College. -
China's Nationalism and Its Quest for Soft Power Through Cinema
Doctoral Thesis for PhD in International Studies China’s Nationalism and Its Quest for Soft Power through Cinema Frances (Xiao-Feng) Guo University of Technology, Sydney 2013 Acknowledgement To begin, I wish to express my great appreciation to my PhD supervisor Associate Professor Yingjie Guo. Yingjie has been instrumental in helping me shape the theoretical framework, sharpen the focus, and improve the structure and the flow of the thesis. He has spent a considerable amount of time reading many drafts and providing insightful comments. I wish to thank him for his confidence in this project, and for his invaluable support, guidance, and patience throughout my PhD program. I also wish to thank Professor Wanning Sun and Professor Louise Edwards for their valued support and advice. I am grateful for the Australian Postgraduate Award that I received via UTS over the three-and-half years during my candidature. The scholarship has afforded me the opportunity to take the time to fully concentrate on my PhD study. I am indebted to Yingjie Guo and Louise Edwards for their help with my scholarship application. I should also thank UTS China Research Centre, the Research Office of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at UTS, and UTS Graduate Research School for their financial support for my fieldwork in China and the opportunities to present papers at national and international conferences during my doctoral candidature. Finally, my gratitude goes to my family, in particular my parents. Their unconditional love and their respect for education have inspired me to embark on this challenging and fulfilling journey. -
A New Examination of Confucius' Rectification of Names
Journal of chinese humanities � (���6) �47-�7� brill.com/joch A New Examination of Confucius’ Rectification of Names Cao Feng (曹峰) Professor of Philosophy, Renmin University, China [email protected] Translated by Brook Hefright Abstract Confucius’ explanation of the “rectification of names” is not necessarily related to the theories of “social status” and “names and actuality.” The reason scholars have inter- preted the rectification of names in the Analects in so many different ways is, to a large degree, due to assumptions about Confucius’ thinking by his successors, and based on the views on rectification of names among later generations. In the course of the devel- opment of thinking about names, scholars have augmented Confucius’ own explana- tion, gradually fleshing it out from an empty shell into a substantial edifice. The original meaning may have been very simple: Confucius did not wish to establish a standard system of names. Rather, he was simply the first person in history to realize the impor- tance of language in politics. As a politician, Confucius noticed and foresaw the influ- ence that the indeterminacy, ambiguity, and arbitrariness of names could have on politics. He discerned the political consequences when language could not accurately express meaning or when there was no way for people to accurately perceive it. He also recognized how names, as a way of clarifying right and wrong and establishing norms, could have a great effect on a society’s politics. Although Confucius noted that disunity in speech could lead to disunity in politics, he did not propose a solution. -
Chapter Three
526 Chapter Three 經學昌明時代 The Period of Advancement of Classical Scholarship [3/1 SVA Introductory Comments: In the opening section of Chapter Three, Pi Xirui quotes extensively from the "Rulin zhuan" chapter of the Shi ji so as to support his position that during the reign of Emperor Wu (141-87 B.C.), Classical Scholarship was in its purest and most orthodox form. He also uses the lack of information in the "Rulin zhuan" regarding the Old Script Documents, Zhouli, Mao Shi, and Zuozhuan to argue that Sima Qian did not have access to these texts, which are texts of the "Old Script" school.] 3/11 The "Rulin zhuan" chapter of the Shi ji states, "When the present emperor2 ascended the throne, there were men such as Zhao Wan 趙綰 and Wang Zang 王臧3 who clearly understood Confucian learning and the 1[SVA: Section 3/1 corresponds to pp.69-72 of the Zhonghua ed. and to pp.60-64 of the Yiwen ed.] 2(3/1, n.1) Zhou Yutong comments: In the Chinese jinshang 今上, "the present emperor," refers to Emperor Wu of the Han. 3(3/1, n.2) Zhou Yutong comments: Zhao Wan 趙綰 was a native of Dai 代 and Wang Zang 王臧 was a native of Lanling 蘭陵. They both studied the Lu 527 emperor himself was also inclined toward it.4 He thereupon issued an order recruiting scholar-officials in the recommendation categories of Straightforward and Upright, Worthy and Excellent, and Learned.5 After this, as for giving instruction in the Songs, in Lu it was Master Shen Pei 申 培公, in Qi it was Master Yuan Gu 轅固生, and in Yan, it was Grand Tutor Han Ying 韓(嬰)太傅. -
Confucian Ren.Pmd
CONFUCIAN “REN” AND CHRISTIAN LOVE Zhao Jianmin Beijing Institute for the Study of Christianity and Culture, Bejing, China Abstract “Ren” (benevolence, perfect virtue 仁) is the core of Confucian- ism, which says “The benevolent man loves others”. But what is the place of Ren in today’s society? The heart of Christianity is “love” __ “The one who loves others is a kind hearted man”. But is “love” being misused in society? In order to create a new spirit for modern society, people should explore their own tradition, which should be combined with the modern values first. Ren and love could work together to achieve this goal. Great civilizations can not only coexist but also work hand in hand to found a harmonious society for every one. º·¤Ñ´ÂèÍ礼 ¤ÓÇèÒ àËÃÔ¹ (àÁµµÒ¸ÃÃÁ ¤Ø³¸ÃÃÁ·ÕèÊÁºÙóì) ¹Ñé¹à»ç¹ËÑÇ㨢ͧ¤ÓÊÑè§Ê͹ ¢Í§ÅÑ·¸Ô¢§¨×êÍ·Õè¡ÅèÒÇÇèÒ ºØ¤¤Å·ÕèÁÕàÁµµÒ¸ÃÃÁÂèÍÁÃÑ¡¼ÙéÍ×è¹ ã¹·Ó¹Í§à´ÕÂǡѹ ¤ÇÒÁÃÑ¡ ¡çà»ç¹¤ÓÊ͹ËÅÑ¡¢Í§¤ÃÔʵÈÒÊ¹Ò ¤¹·ÕèÃÑ¡¼ÙéÍ×蹡ç¤×ͼÙéÁÕã¨àÁµµÒ à¾×èÍ·Õè¨ÐÊÃéÒ§Ê»ÔÃÔµÊÓËÃѺÊѧ¤ÁÊÁÑÂãËÁè ¤¹àÃÒ¤Çäé¹ËÒ¨Ò¡¢¹º¸ÃÃÁà¹ÕÂÁ »ÃÐླմÑé§à´ÔÁ¢Í§µ¹àͧáÅйÓ仺ÙóҡÒáѺ¤Ø³¤èÒÊÁÑÂãËÁè àËÃÔ¹ áÅÐ ¤ÇÒÁÃÑ¡ ÊÒÁÒö仴éÇ¡ѹä´é 㹡Ò÷Õè¨ÐºÃÃÅØ¶Ö§à»éÒËÁÒ¹Õé ºÃôÒÍÒøÃÃÁ ·ÕèÂÔè§ãËè·Ñé§ËÅÒ¨֧äÁèà¾Õ§áµèÍÂÙèÃèÇÁâÅ¡¡Ñ¹à·èÒ¹Ñé¹ áµèÊÁ¤ÇÃÍÂèÒ§ÂÔè§·Õè¨ÐÃèÇÁÁ×͡ѹ ÊÃéÒ§Êѧ¤Á·ÕèÃÒºÃ×è¹ÊÁѤÃÊÁÒ¹ÊÓËÃѺ·Ø¡¤¹ “Ren”of Confucianism “Ren” and “Li” ( ) are the most important concepts in Confucian 210 Prajna~ __ V ihara, __ Volume 13, Number 1-2, January-December, 2012, 210-226 c 2000 by Assumption University Press thought, but Ren is more fundamental. -
Sun Tzu the Art Of
SUN TZU’S BILINGUAL CHINESE AND ENGLISH TEXT Art of war_part1.indd i 28/4/16 1:33 pm To my brother Captain Valentine Giles, R. C., in the hope that a work 2400 years old may yet contain lessons worth consideration to the soldier of today, this translation is affectionately dedicated SUN TZU BILINGUAL CHINESE AND ENGLISH TEXT With a new foreword by John Minford Translated by Lionel Giles TUTTLE Publishing Tokyo Rutland, Vermont Singapore ABOUT TUTTLE “Books to Span the East and West” Our core mission at Tuttle Publishing is to create books which bring people together one page at a time. Tuttle was founded in 1832 in the small New England town of Rutland, Vermont (USA). Our fundamental values remain as strong today as they were then—to publish best-in-class books informing the English-speaking world about the countries and peoples of Asia. The world has become a smaller place today and Asia’s economic, cultural and political infl uence has expanded, yet the need for meaning- ful dialogue and information about this diverse region has never been greater. Since 1948, Tuttle has been a leader in publishing books on the cultures, arts, cuisines, lan- guages and literatures of Asia. Our authors and photographers have won numerous awards and Tuttle has published thousands of books on subjects ranging from martial arts to paper crafts. We welcome you to explore the wealth of information available on Asia at www.tuttlepublishing.com. Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Distributed by Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. North America, Latin America & Europe www.tuttlepublishing.com Tuttle Publishing 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon Copyright © 2008 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.