Confucius & Confucianism The Essentials.

280 Pages·2010·3.94 MB·English

by  Lee Dian Rainey

Confucius and Confucianism

Confucius
& Confucianism
The Essentials
Lee Dian Rainey
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
This edition fi rst published 2010
© 2010 Lee Dian Rainey
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rainey, Lee Dian.
Confucius and Confucianism : the essentials / Lee Dian Rainey.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-1-4051-8841-8 (hardcover : alk. paper) – ISBN 978-1-4051-8840-1 (pbk. : alk.
paper)
1. Confucius. 2. Confucianism. 3. Philosophy, Confucian. I. Title.
B128.C8R35 2010
181′.112–dc22
2009044654
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Set in 10 on 12pt Sabon by Toppan Best-set Premedia Limited
Printed in Malaysia by KHL Printing Co Sdn Bhd
01 2010
For my mother and father,
Phyllis MacGregor and William Rainey

When you drink the water, remember its source.
C hinese proverb

Contents
List of Illustrations xi
Preface: Why Confucius? xii
Book Notes xiv
Chronology xv
1 Confucius’ World and His Life 1
Confucius’ World: Looking Back to a Long,
Unifi ed Civilization 2
The Zhou Dynasty 2
Ancestors and Spirits 4
Heaven and the “Choice of Heaven” 4
The Decline of the Zhou Dynasty and the Rise of the
Warring States 5
The Life of Confucius 9
Sources 10
Versions of the Texts 10
Hagiography, the Pious Stories of Confucius’ Life 11
Scholarly Versions of Confucius’ Life 16
2 Confucius’ Teachings I: The Foundation of a Good Person 23
Filial Piety 23
Dutifulness or Loyalty 29
Honesty and Sincerity 30
Rightness and Knowledge 31
Courage 31
Understanding, Sympathy, Compassion 32
Humanity 34
viii Contents
Ritual 35
The Gentleman 42
3 Confucius’ Teachings II: The Foundation of a Good Society
and Other Topics 45
Setting Words Right 46
For the Benefi t of the People 48
Laws 49
Models 50
Education without Distinction 54
Women 55
The Gods, the Spirits of the Dead, and the Afterlife 57
The Choice of Heaven and Heaven 59
Fate 60
The Way 61
4 Terms, and Mozi 63
Problems with “Schools” and “-isms” 63
Problems with the Term “Confucianism” 65
Mozi and Mohism 69
5 Opponents 75
Daoism 75
The Strategists 80
The Logicians 82
Legalism 83
Others 85
6 Mencius 87
Human Nature is Good 89
Human Nature and Heaven 95
Government 96
Mencius on Confucian Themes 99
Summary 103
7 Xunzi 105
Human Nature is Evil 106
Morality is Artifi cial 109
Ritual 110
Government 111
Language 113
Heaven 114
Xunzi on Confucian Themes 116
Summary 118