The Classical Literary Period Chinese Masters Literature

““Masters Literature”Masters Literature”

Charismatic Charismatic

Master/TeachersMaster/Teachers

Lao Tzu- 6Lao Tzu- 6thth Century B.C.E. Century B.C.E.

Confucius- 5Confucius- 5thth Century Century

B.C.E.B.C.E.

Zhuangzi- 3Zhuangzi- 3rdrd Century Century

B.C.E.B.C.E.

Confucius and Confucianism

Confucius lived in Confucius lived in the latter part of the the latter part of the Spring and Autumn Spring and Autumn Period(770-479BC).Period(770-479BC).

Confucius was a Confucius was a philosopher, political philosopher, political

thinker, and thinker, and educator of ancient educator of ancient China, whose China, whose influence is still felt influence is still felt across the world.across the world.

《论语》 Analects of Confucius

Lun Yu,Lun Yu, or the or the Analects of ConfuciusAnalects of Confucius, records the , records the words and deeds of Confucius as well as those of words and deeds of Confucius as well as those of his disciples. The book was compiled by the his disciples. The book was compiled by the disciples of Confucius after their Master’s death. It disciples of Confucius after their Master’s death. It covers a wide variety of subjects, ranging from covers a wide variety of subjects, ranging from politics, philosophy, literature and art to education politics, philosophy, literature and art to education and moral cultivationand moral cultivation. It is indispensable material . It is indispensable material for the study of the Master’s thought.for the study of the Master’s thought.

In a In a conversational styleconversational style, the book, rich in content , the book, rich in content but laconic (short) and clear in language, is but laconic (short) and clear in language, is profound and understandable.profound and understandable.

What is “Ren”?Could it be “Immortality”?

Confucius’ disciples asked him on various Confucius’ disciples asked him on various occasions, “What is ‘ren’?” occasions, “What is ‘ren’?”

He replied, “ He replied, “ It is to love all menIt is to love all men.”.” One aspect of this was: “What you do not want One aspect of this was: “What you do not want

done to yourself, do not do to others.” done to yourself, do not do to others.” Another was: “A man of perfect virtue, wishing Another was: “A man of perfect virtue, wishing

to be established himself, seeks also to to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.”he seeks also to enlarge others.”

The combination of these two aspects is The combination of these two aspects is regarded as the essence of “Ren”, or called “regarded as the essence of “Ren”, or called “the the doctrine of loyalty and forbearancedoctrine of loyalty and forbearance.”.”

Contributions of Confucius

As the founder of Confucianism, he contributed greatly As the founder of Confucianism, he contributed greatly to the development and success of traditional Chinese to the development and success of traditional Chinese culture.culture.

(1)He compiled (1)He compiled 6 books6 books, which are called the Six , which are called the Six Classics, including Classics, including The Book of SongsThe Book of Songs 《《诗》诗》 , , Collection Collection of Ancient Textsof Ancient Texts 《《书》书》 , , The Rites The Rites 《《礼》礼》 , , The MusicThe Music《《乐》乐》 , , The Book of ChangesThe Book of Changes 《《易》易》 , , and and The Spring and The Spring and Autumn AnnalsAutumn Annals 《《春秋》春秋》 ..

((2)He established benevolence(2)He established benevolence( 仁仁 ) ) and rites and rites (ceremonies/acts) as the core of his theory(ceremonies/acts) as the core of his theory. . Benevolence is an ethical system as well as a moral Benevolence is an ethical system as well as a moral realm, the core of which is the advocacy of love for realm, the core of which is the advocacy of love for humans.humans.

Thoughts of Confucius

But, this love for humans is divided into many But, this love for humans is divided into many levelslevels －－ a feature of a patriarchal social system. a feature of a patriarchal social system.

Rites refer to the etiquette systemRites refer to the etiquette system, the core of , the core of which is social strata. which is social strata.

Because benevolence refers to morals, rites, and Because benevolence refers to morals, rites, and politics, Confucian doctrines are thoughts of politics, Confucian doctrines are thoughts of political ethics, which stand for a policy of political ethics, which stand for a policy of benevolence and opposition to tyrannical rule.benevolence and opposition to tyrannical rule.

Confucius Confucius established private schoolsestablished private schools, advocating , advocating his learning strategies: the combination of his learning strategies: the combination of learning and thinking, reviewing and teaching.learning and thinking, reviewing and teaching.

The Current Value of Confucian Thought.

Confucius maintains the idea that Confucius maintains the idea that everyone has everyone has the right to be educatedthe right to be educated, and education should , and education should be offered to all classes. While spreading the be offered to all classes. While spreading the spirit of being spirit of being insatiable in learning insatiable in learning and and tireless tireless in teachingin teaching, he strives for educating students in , he strives for educating students in accordance with their aptitude by adopting accordance with their aptitude by adopting a a method of teaching through elicitationmethod of teaching through elicitation. .

儒家思想已无孔不入地渗透在中国人民的观念、行为、习俗、儒家思想已无孔不入地渗透在中国人民的观念、行为、习俗、信仰、情感之中，形成了中华民族某种共同的心理状态和性格特征。信仰、情感之中，形成了中华民族某种共同的心理状态和性格特征。深入地了解孔子的思想及学说，对学习和了解中国文化是很有帮助深入地了解孔子的思想及学说，对学习和了解中国文化是很有帮助的。（现实意义）的。（现实意义）

Lao Tzu Lao Tzu , founder of Taoism, was a great Lao Tzu , founder of Taoism, was a great

philosopher in the latter years of the philosopher in the latter years of the Spring Spring and Autumn Periodand Autumn Period. He was appointed as . He was appointed as an an official historianofficial historian in the Zhou Dynasty; in the Zhou Dynasty; later, he retired from public life. Strongly later, he retired from public life. Strongly influenced both Confucius and Zhuangzi.influenced both Confucius and Zhuangzi.

Lao Tzu broaches the thought of Tao, which Lao Tzu broaches the thought of Tao, which means means The Movement and Law of The The Movement and Law of The UniverseUniverse or or The Way and Its PowerThe Way and Its Power. This . This thought is reflected in his book Lao Tzu(or thought is reflected in his book Lao Tzu(or Moral DoctrinesMoral Doctrines).).

The basic nature of Tao is to let things The basic nature of Tao is to let things take their own course naturally.take their own course naturally.

He put forward a mode of reverse thinking, He put forward a mode of reverse thinking, thus making Taoism and Confucianism thus making Taoism and Confucianism exist simultaneously and complementarily, exist simultaneously and complementarily, growing into the two main schools of growing into the two main schools of China’s traditional thought.China’s traditional thought.

Zhuangzi

Taoist PhilosopherTaoist Philosopher The ZhuangziThe Zhuangzi Strongly influenced the Strongly influenced the

development of Chinese development of Chinese BuddhismBuddhism

Strongly influenced Chinese Strongly influenced Chinese landscape painting and landscape painting and poetry (Classic of Poetry: poetry (Classic of Poetry: “Fishhawk,” “Plums are “Fishhawk,” “Plums are Falling,” & “Rooster Crows”)Falling,” & “Rooster Crows”)

Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace and Contentment

In terms of world outlook, China’s traditional In terms of world outlook, China’s traditional society, based on the civilization of agriculture, society, based on the civilization of agriculture, advocated the theory that “man is an integral part advocated the theory that “man is an integral part of nature” and the notion of “of nature” and the notion of “The Golden MeanThe Golden Mean.”.”

As early agricultural production depended on the As early agricultural production depended on the blessings of nature, it was a basic requirement for blessings of nature, it was a basic requirement for the social economy to comply with natural laws; the social economy to comply with natural laws; hence, the emergence of the theory that “hence, the emergence of the theory that “man is man is an integral part of naturean integral part of nature,” which emphasized ,” which emphasized the the harmonious and inseparable relationship between harmonious and inseparable relationship between man and natureman and nature..

Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace, and Contentment

Both ideological systems of Confucianism and Both ideological systems of Confucianism and Taoism maintained the same theory that “Taoism maintained the same theory that “man man should adapt himself to natureshould adapt himself to nature.” .”

The theory that “The theory that “man is an integral part of man is an integral part of naturenature” implies the sublimation of moral quality. ” implies the sublimation of moral quality. When Confucianism refers to this theory, he When Confucianism refers to this theory, he means the means the moralization of personalitymoralization of personality, while in , while in Taoism, it means the Taoism, it means the naturalization of naturalization of personalitypersonality..

Confucianism: moral cultivationConfucianism: moral cultivation Taoism: returning to natureTaoism: returning to nature

Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace and Contentment

The The Man Should Adapt Himself to Nature Man Should Adapt Himself to Nature theory theory was adapted to enable people to both was adapted to enable people to both harmonizeharmonize their relationship with nature and to harmonize their relationship with nature and to harmonize their interpersonal relationship for the benefit of their interpersonal relationship for the benefit of their physical and mental health.their physical and mental health.

Confucius was in favor of “Confucius was in favor of “The Golden MeanThe Golden Mean,” ,” stressing the unity of opposites. The so-called stressing the unity of opposites. The so-called “unity” refers to the attempt at balance between “unity” refers to the attempt at balance between the two opposing sides, resulting in the famous the two opposing sides, resulting in the famous saying: “saying: “holding the two ends but using the middle holding the two ends but using the middle partpart.” .” The Golden MeanThe Golden Mean: seeking balance, aims at : seeking balance, aims at stability.stability.

Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace and Contentment

Striving for stability was one of the Chinese Striving for stability was one of the Chinese people’s major traits. They preferred a people’s major traits. They preferred a settled settled lifestylelifestyle to an ever-changing one. to an ever-changing one.

They were satisfied with what they got from the They were satisfied with what they got from the land. They were not interested in the external land. They were not interested in the external world, had world, had little curiosity for adventureslittle curiosity for adventures and had and had little desire for expansion. The Great Wall, which little desire for expansion. The Great Wall, which was intended as a defensive structure, not as a was intended as a defensive structure, not as a weapon for expansion, provides an early example weapon for expansion, provides an early example of the Chinese people’s love for peace. Classical of the Chinese people’s love for peace. Classical Chinese society viewed farming, reading, and Chinese society viewed farming, reading, and bringing up their children as the staples of a good bringing up their children as the staples of a good life. life.

Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace and Contentment

Harmonious and stable life established the Harmonious and stable life established the Chinese people’s character as being content Chinese people’s character as being content with what they were and what they had. with what they were and what they had.

Classical Chinese society was inclined to be Classical Chinese society was inclined to be satisfied with a simple and placid life with little satisfied with a simple and placid life with little aggressiveness.aggressiveness.

Classical Chinese society maintained a calm Classical Chinese society maintained a calm and sober dignity and took an optimistic and sober dignity and took an optimistic attitude to grievances and disaster. Beneath attitude to grievances and disaster. Beneath their mild appearance, they were aspirational their mild appearance, they were aspirational peoples.peoples.

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