How To Read Confucius

I will read this piece of writing with interest from start to finish rather than like a text book no interest and skim and scan it.

period of time, I would automatically think about the early stages of government, diseases and illnesses never came up in my mind. Now, the book has informed me of far more things to think about. Instead of

Confucianism has been a part of Chinese culture for over a thousand years. Many who have studied Confucianism would say that it is not a religion. It is better described as a philosophy or moral code. The philosophy of Confucianism comes mainly from the speeches and writings of Confucius, a great Chinese thinker and educator. He believed that Humanity, Rite, Neutrality, Virtue, Education, and Cultivation were the basis of human behavior. In addition, Confucius felt that this philosophy was the best way for people to behave and interact with others in society.

Well this book report will be one of the hardest one’s for me to write for the book was so boring I literally fell asleep every couple of pages and had to drink a huge amount of caffeine just so I would not be put to sleep. However I learned that if a pick up this book and read I’ll be able to put myself to sleep even if I’m struggling to fall asleep. For Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living In The East Teaches Us About Living In the West is like listening to a monotone speaker that makes everyone want to be anywhere else than suffer anymore to their ramblings.

There are, however, two flaws in this book that are hard to ignore. I share his fondness for Japan's national neighborhood. I lived there for 10 years with my family, and very happy campers we were. For the foreigner residing in this Confucian country is like a person given almost total access to an excellent, well-run and well-stocked club -- but without the need to pay any of the membership dues. When my friend the golfing executive talked

[Smith 154-59; Analects (Lun Yu) of Confucius (Kung Tze)] Comprehensively explain the life of Confucius. Why is he called ‘the First Teacher’? Explain one or more key instance where a biographical experience of his played a crucial role in the development of his philosophical doctrines. Provide at least one example from the Analects readings that illustrate some biographical point from his life in practice or within his explicit teachings.

Reid, T. R. Confucius Lives Next Door: What Leaving In The East Teaches Us About Living In the West. United States: Random House Publishing Group, 1999. Print.

     Confucius’s counsel and guidance recorded in The Analects instilled wisdom when they were first recorded and continue to provide a thought provoking analysis of life and the checkpoints that guide it. The Master’s commentary on restraint, diligence, decency, and citizenship are well intended and relevant. Politics and the role of government also come under scrutiny as Confucius offers his insights in bettering the organization of power. His proverb-like admonitions use clear examples of everyday life allowing them to be understood and easily digested. Confucius’s own eagerness and willingness to share goodness he experienced makes it easier to apply and practice in one’s own life.

The novel Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living in the West, the author T. R. Reid recounts him and his families experience of their time living in Tokyo, Japan. Reid originally moved to Tokyo to write for the Washington Post, however, shortly after moving there he fell in love with the social miracles that the Japanese culture possessed. When Reid first brought up the idea of moving to Tokyo in the mid-1980s to his family, they immediately shut him down, this was during the period when Americans thought that the Japanese were going to bomb the United States and possibly take over the country, however, after some convincing the Reid, his wife and

Both these thinkers talk about a monarchical system, where the ruler has absolute power and they prescribe about following one’s specific duty. But Confucius’s system provide opportunity for sympathetic understanding. They are not just bound to their role, they can go beyond their role to help others. Sympathetic understanding fosters interaction between different groups and helps them to empathise with each other. The trademark of an ideal society is when people understand each other, work together in times of crises and are aware about other groups. If we restrict people only to their role , we would encounter a society which looks perfect in parts but together they would never be able to

To Confucius, the family is one of the most important parts of society. He explains that the government is really just an extension of the family and its relationships. There are 5 base relationships that Confucius explains. He indicates that the relationships are: the ruler and the subject, the father and the son, husband and wife, elder son and younger son, and friend and friend. In these relationships, Confucius says that the superior in the relationship is the one who owns the power in the relationship because they are the leader and the role model in the situation. The inferior person in each relationship must be obedient and must give as much respect to their superior as possible. These relationships are all based on morality of the people in the relationship. The superior must be a person with good morals in order for these relationships to be successful. If the person with the power and responsibility isn’t morally just then the person that looks up to them and respects them will become morally bad as well. Since these relationships are extended into the government, it proves that morality plays a significant role in the government. Confucius thinks that every person is to carry out their appropriate responsibilities in their society just like in their relationships (Dongfang 404). For example, a ruler must carry out his responsibilities to lead

Confucius created a system of thinking called Confucianism. If only one word could be used to summarize the Chinese way of life for the last two thousand years, that word would be Confucian. No other person has had as great an effect on the life and thought of the Chinese people as Confucius. He is the most adored person in Chinese history. Confucius claimed no greatness, instead he looked to a past time that he saw as the golden age. He told one of his disciples, "I transmit but I do not create. I am sincerely fond of the ancient. I would compare myself to Old P'eng who was fond of talking about the good old days." Confucius was a transmitter of the wisdom of the past. From his study of Chinese tradition, he gathered the

     Is man naturally good or is he evil? This question has not only been pondered by countless philosophers, but also by religious leaders around the world. Most often a single religious faith believes in either one or the other, and often these beliefs tend to create a certain world-view which dictates much of the faith. However, in some cases such as the one I will be discussing, two religious dignitaries do not agree and the repercussions of this can be found throughout the religion. The two men are Mencius, an early pupil of Confucius and Hsun Tzu, a later follower of the same faith. Mencius believed that each man, born of woman, would be naturally good and Hsun Tzu

I agree on his statement that, “The great man regards Heaven and Earth and the myriad things as one body. He regards the world as one family and the country as one person. As to those who make a cleavage between objects and distinguish between self and others, they are small men. That the great man can regard Heaven, Earth and the myriad things as one body is not because he deliberately wants to do so, but because it is natural to the human nature of his mind that he do so.” a leader should unite everyone as one and treat his people as one. The Reformist Confucian’s economy ad Modern Confucians in the global economy are almost the same as the other crucial stages above that uses different technique which applies the Confucianism with the help of these thinkers named Kang Youwei, the leader of “Hundred Day Reform” who think that frugality is not a virtue, and thinks that the aim of economic production was to gratify human wants and desire. Suen Yixian, the “Father of the Republic” was also influential in this period who thought that industrialization is what China needed in order to improve its

The Analects of Confucius starts by describing the conversation among the master and its apprentices. Book 12, described how Confusions explains the importance of the art of good leadership and importance of considering the welfare of others during the creation of government. Confusions asserts that the construction of quality government depends on the creation state affairs, laws, rules and regulations governed by a leader that is capable of listening to its community. Similarly, Confucius also described the immense responsibility that a leader has, especially by setting the example of rectitude, equality and justice when serving or representing others. (Prime, minister). For instance, according to Shafritz, and Hyde (2017), “When a prince’s personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without issuing of orders. If his persona conduct is not correct he may issue orders, but will not be followed” (p. 21). By asserting this, Confucius tries to represent the idea of the importance of constructing a government with capable and skilled leaders that can be able to set the example of rectitude in order to form a positive relationship with its community. Furthermore, in book 12, it describes the significance of developing a good communication and relationship between leaders and servers. Leaders must be able to select officers that are willing to be humble, listen to the community and enforce the will of the state. Confucius instructed its apprentices to select