Book Review: the Analects of Confucius
Book Review: The Analects of Confucius
China experienced a lot of the revolutionary changes and a proliferation of new ideas in the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period. These periods can be represented as chaotic periods, so eventually there were many tries for solving the disorders of the societies by many philosophers[1]. Philosophers in those periods tried to address within these historical context and requests such as the needs for stability and reunification. Among them, Confucius has become the most noticeable philosopher, and his thought, Confucianism, has influenced significantly the cultures and histories of countries in East Asia such as China, Korea, and Japan. The analects of Confucius is a record of words and discussions of Confucius and his disciples after his death. Although the Analects of Confucius was not directly written by Confucius, this book contains most of critical ideas of Confucius. Also, this book will lead us better to understand ethics of East Asian countries and historical situations of the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period.
At first we should understand what the main teachings of Confucius are. Confucius stressed the importance of virtue because he thought the disorder of the society came from lack of virtue. Confucius believed that the society would be stable when people recover virtue. Confucius emphasized some kinds of virtue. From my personal perspective, benevolence, ren, is the pillar of Confucian virtues according to the Analects. And Confucius believed only based on benevolence, people can establish the properties, li. In other words, benevolence, which is intangible virtue, is precondition to the properties. Contrary to benevolence, the properties are actual actions to make proper order prevail throughout heaven and earth. Ritual performance and how to interact with other people can be good examples of the properties. Confucius thought benevolence and the properties could be the
China experienced a lot of the revolutionary changes and a proliferation of new ideas in the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period. These periods can be represented as chaotic periods, so eventually there were many tries for solving the disorders of the societies by many philosophers[1]. Philosophers in those periods tried to address within these historical context and requests such as the needs for stability and reunification. Among them, Confucius has become the most noticeable philosopher, and his thought, Confucianism, has influenced significantly the cultures and histories of countries in East Asia such as China, Korea, and Japan. The analects of Confucius is a record of words and discussions of Confucius and his disciples after his death. Although the Analects of Confucius was not directly written by Confucius, this book contains most of critical ideas of Confucius. Also, this book will lead us better to understand ethics of East Asian countries and historical situations of the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period.
At first we should understand what the main teachings of Confucius are. Confucius stressed the importance of virtue because he thought the disorder of the society came from lack of virtue. Confucius believed that the society would be stable when people recover virtue. Confucius emphasized some kinds of virtue. From my personal perspective, benevolence, ren, is the pillar of Confucian virtues according to the Analects. And Confucius believed only based on benevolence, people can establish the properties, li. In other words, benevolence, which is intangible virtue, is precondition to the properties. Contrary to benevolence, the properties are actual actions to make proper order prevail throughout heaven and earth. Ritual performance and how to interact with other people can be good examples of the properties. Confucius thought benevolence and the properties could be the