A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy
Wing-Tsit Chan
Language: English
Pages: 890
ISBN: 0691019649
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy is a milestone along the complex and difficult road to significant understanding by Westerners of the Asian peoples and a monumental contribution to the cause of philosophy. It is the first anthology of Chinese philosophy to cover its entire historical development. It provides substantial selections from all the great thinkers and schools in every period--ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary--and includes in their entirety some of the most important classical texts. It deals with the fundamental and technical as well as the more general aspects of Chinese thought. With its new translation of source materials (some translated for the first time), its explanatory aids where necessary, its thoroughgoing scholarly documentation, this volume will be an indispensable guide for scholars, for college students, for serious readers interested in knowing the real China.
be on a firm foundation.19 Hold loyalty and faithfulness to be fundamental. Have no friends who are not as good as yourself. When you have made mistakes, don't be afraid to correct them." Comment. The teaching about friendship here is clearly inconsistent with Analects, 8:5, where Confucius exhorts us to learn from inferiors. It is difficult to believe that Confucius taught people to be selfish. According to Hsing Ping (932-1010),20 Confucius meant people who are not equal to oneself in loyalty
riches in the pursuit of studies. The superior man worries about the Way and not about poverty." 15:32. Confucius said, "When a man's knowledge is sufficient for him to attain [his position]159 but his humanity is not sufficient for him to hold it, he will lose it again. When his knowledge is sufficient for him to attain it and his humanity is sufficient for him to hold it, if he does not approach the people with dignity, the people will not respect him. If his knowledge is sufficient for him to
The Analects and the Book of Mencius are next to it. The student should by all means follow this work in his effort to learn, and then he will probably be free from mistakes."7 The Text The Way of learning to be great (or adult education) consists in manifesting the clear character, loving8 the people, and abiding (chih)9 in the highest good. Only after knowing what to abide in can one be calm. Only after having been calm can one be tranquil. Only after having achieved tranquillity can one have
between Taoism and Buddhism and the Confucian school and in this way prepared for the influence of Buddhism and Taoism on Confucianism, thus ushering in the Neo-Confucian movement. What attracted the Taoists, Buddhists, and the Neo-Confucianists were the two main subjects of the book, the very subjects on which Confucius' pupils "could not hear his views,"3 namely, human nature and the Way of Heaven. Human nature, endowed by Heaven, is revealed through the states of equilibrium and harmony, which
undifferentiated void should revise their opinion in the light of this long tradition of specific principles for specific things. Mencius, it is to be noted, quoted this poem to support his theory of the originally good nature of man.11 2. THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN, ANCESTORS, AND VIRTUE The Mandate of Heaven, How beautiful and unceasing! Oh, how glorious Was the purity of King Wen's12 virtue! With blessings he overwhelms us. We will receive the blessings. They are a great favor from our King Wen.