The Classical Literary Period Chinese Masters Literature

1. The Classical Literary Period Chinese Masters Literature • “Masters Literature” • Charismatic Master/Teachers • Lao Tzu- 6th Century B.C.E. • Confucius- 5th Century B.C.E. • Zhuangzi- 3rd Century B.C.E.

2. Confucius and Confucianism • Confucius lived in the latter part of the Spring and Autumn Period(770-479BC). • Confucius was a philosopher, political thinker, and educator of ancient China, whose influence is still felt across the world.

3. 《论语》Analects of Confucius • Lun Yu, or the Analects of Confucius, records the words and deeds of Confucius as well as those of his disciples. The book was compiled by the disciples of Confucius after their Master’s death. It covers a wide variety of subjects, ranging from politics, philosophy, literature and art to education and moral cultivation. It is indispensable material for the study of the Master’s thought. • In a conversational style, the book, rich in content but laconic (short) and clear in language, is profound and understandable.

4. What is “Ren”?Could it be “Immortality”? • Confucius’ disciples asked him on various occasions, “What is ‘ren’?” • He replied, “ It is to love all men.” • One aspect of this was: “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” • Another was: “A man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.” • The combination of these two aspects is regarded as the essence of “Ren”, or called “the doctrine of loyalty and forbearance.”

5. Contributions of Confucius • As the founder of Confucianism, he contributed greatly to the development and success of traditional Chinese culture. • (1)He compiled 6 books, which are called the Six Classics, including The Book of Songs《诗》, Collection of Ancient Texts《书》, The Rites《礼》, The Music《乐》, The Book of Changes《易》, and The Spring and Autumn Annals《春秋》. (2)He established benevolence(仁) and rites (ceremonies/acts) as the core of his theory. Benevolence is an ethical system as well as a moral realm, the core of which is the advocacy of love for humans.

6. Thoughts of Confucius • But, this love for humans is divided into many levels－a feature of a patriarchal social system. • Rites refer to the etiquette system, the core of which is social strata. • Because benevolence refers to morals, rites, and politics, Confucian doctrines are thoughts of political ethics, which stand for a policy of benevolence and opposition to tyrannical rule. • Confucius established private schools, advocating his learning strategies: the combination of learning and thinking, reviewing and teaching.

7. The Current Value of Confucian Thought. Confucius maintains the idea that everyone has the right to be educated, and education should be offered to all classes. While spreading the spirit of being insatiable in learning and tireless in teaching, he strives for educating students in accordance with their aptitude by adopting a method 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、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的。（现实意义）

8. Lao Tzu • Lao Tzu , founder of Taoism, was a great philosopher in the latter years of the Spring and Autumn Period. He was appointed as an official historian in the Zhou Dynasty; later, he retired from public life. Strongly influenced both Confucius and Zhuangzi. • Lao Tzu broaches the thought of Tao, which means The Movement and Law of The Universe or The Way and Its Power. This thought is reflected in his book Lao Tzu(or Moral Doctrines). • The basic nature of Tao is to let things take their own course naturally. • He put forward a mode of reverse thinking, thus making Taoism and Confucianism exist simultaneously and complementarily, growing into the two main schools of China’s traditional thought.

9. Zhuangzi Taoist Philosopher The Zhuangzi Strongly influenced the development of Chinese Buddhism Strongly influenced Chinese landscape painting and poetry (Classic of Poetry: “Fishhawk,” “Plums are Falling,” & “Rooster Crows”)

10. Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace and Contentment • In terms of world outlook, China’s traditional society, based on the civilization of agriculture, advocated the theory that “man is an integral part of nature” and the notion of “The Golden Mean.” • As early agricultural production depended on the blessings of nature, it was a basic requirement for the social economy to comply with natural laws; hence, the emergence of the theory that “man is an integral part of nature,” which emphasized the harmonious and inseparable relationship between man and nature.

11. Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace, and Contentment • Both ideological systems of Confucianism and Taoism maintained the same theory that “man should adapt himself to nature.” • The theory that “man is an integral part of nature” implies the sublimation of moral quality. When Confucianism refers to this theory, he means the moralization of personality, while in Taoism, it means the naturalization of personality. • Confucianism: moral cultivation • Taoism: returning to nature

12. Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace and Contentment • The Man Should Adapt Himself to Nature theory was adapted to enable people to both harmonize their relationship with natureand to harmonize their interpersonal relationship for the benefit of their physical and mental health. • Confucius was in favor of “The Golden Mean,” stressing the unity of opposites. The so-called “unity” refers to the attempt at balance between the two opposing sides, resulting in the famous saying: “holding the two ends but using the middle part.” The Golden Mean: seeking balance, aims at stability.

13. Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace and Contentment • Striving for stability was one of the Chinese people’s major traits. They preferred a settled lifestyle to an ever-changing one. • They were satisfied with what they got from the land. They were not interested in the external world, had little curiosity for adventures and had little desire for expansion. The Great Wall, which was intended as a defensive structure, not as a weapon for expansion, provides an early example of the Chinese people’s love for peace. Classical Chinese society viewed farming, reading, and bringing up their children as the staples of a good life.

14. Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Balance, Peace and Contentment • Harmonious and stable life established the Chinese people’s character as being content with what they were and what they had. • Classical Chinese society was inclined to be satisfied with a simple and placid life with little aggressiveness. • Classical Chinese society maintained a calm and sober dignity and took an optimistic attitude to grievances and disaster. Beneath their mild appearance, they were aspirational peoples.

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