Confucius

Average customer rating:

Nice Set-Up, Old Translation
Nice philosophy
I, for one, liked the introductory comments
Needs Repeated Readings
Quality of printing

The Analects (Penguin Classics)
Confucius
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Confucianism | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Eastern Philosophy | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Qualifying Textbooks - Spring 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Tao Te Ching (Penguin Classics)
Mencius (Penguin Classics)
The Bhagavad Gita (Penguin Classics)
The Upanishads (Penguin Classics)
The Dhammapada (Penguin Classics)

ASIN: 0140443487

Book Description

A record of the words and teachings of Confucius, The Analects is considered the most reliable expression of Confucian thought. However, the original meaning of Confucius's teachings have been filtered and interpreted by the commentaries of Confucianists of later ages, particularly the Neo-Confucianists of the Song dynasty, not altogether without distortion.

In this monumental translation by Professor D. C. Lau, an attempt has been made to interpret the sayings as they stand. The corpus of the sayings is taken as an organic whole and the final test of the interpretation rests on the internal consistency it exhibits. In other words, The Analects is read in the light of The Analects.This results in a truer understanding of Confucius' thought than the traditional interpretation and paves the way for a re-assessment of its importance in the history of Chinese thought and its relevance to the present day world.

This volume also contains an introduction to the life and teachings of Confucius, and three appendices on the events in the life of Confucius, on his disciples, and on the composition of The Analects.

Customer Reviews:

Nice Set-Up, Old Translation.......2007-03-05

While 'Penguin Classics' paperbacks are generally some of the best on the market, the Analects themselves are, in this case, a bit out a date.

Better translations have been made, in my opinion. However, the prose itself is well-styled and clearly separated. Concise and easy to understand. The fluency of the book is what seems most troubling.

Nice philosophy.......2007-01-03

It's amazing how after so many years Confucius thoughts are still important. Here you can find the basis for most of the later philosophists, including some universal principles of most religions. Even though it is not easy to read, with a little effort is a book to enjoy.

I, for one, liked the introductory comments.......2006-03-09

I guess, there is not much point in buying this book for the text of Lunyu itself: it is available in full on the Internet (for example at Wengu: http://afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=intro - in the Chinese original, two English - including Lau's - and one French translation) but it is the introduction and adjoining commentaries that are of value. In this respect, I found D.C.Lau's work quite pleasing. He explains the main terms and how they hang together, illustrates his arguments with quotations from the actual Analects and tries his best to relate Confucius' philosophy to suitable analogues in the Western tradition. I am no China-expert, so this helped a lot. The book also has a post-script outlining Kong-zi's life and a short piece on the individual disciples and friends that Confucius converses with in the book. I think there is $9 of value (or whatever the price) in this book.

Needs Repeated Readings.......2006-01-25

Filled with totally obfuscated phrases like, "The Kuan-chu Ode is lively but not licentious, plaintive but not harrowing," are gems like, "Po I and Shu Ch'i never remembered old injuries, and therefore their enemies were few." The thing about it, is that I read it cover to cover. Clearly, this deep and old wisdom is best taken in small bits for not many words are wasted. Also, the Lionel Giles translation I read was weak on supplemental commentary so I really felt like I needed a more knowledgeable guide as I was reading. Perhaps the Norton version would have better annotations then the beautiful Easton Press version from my library. It is clearly a five star book, but I think I only got about three stars out of it. Most certainly a book to read again, and again and again.

Quality of printing.......2005-10-08

The quality of printing of the book (new) I received was rather poor. I kept it just because I didn't want to go through the trouble of returning it.

Chinese Society in the Age of Confucius (Monumenta Archaeologica) (Cotsen Institute of Archaeology: Ideas, Debates and Perspectives)

Average customer rating:

Chinese Society in the Age of Confucius (Monumenta Archaeologica) (Cotsen Institute of Archaeology: Ideas, Debates and Perspectives)
Lothar Von Falkenhausen
Manufacturer: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

China | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Government of the Qin And Han Empires: 221 Bce-220 Ce
The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han (History of Imperial China)
The Construction of Space in Early China (Suny Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)
Text And Ritual in Early China
Readings in Han Chinese Thought

ASIN: 1931745307

The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China)

Average customer rating:

excellent resource
Very interesting, historical, and different from anything else
Sheds new light on Confucius
error in the previous review
fantastic translation!

The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China)
Roger T. Ames
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Greek & Roman | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Sun-Tzu: The Art of War (Classics of Ancient China)
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation
Mencius (Penguin Classics)
A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy
Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World)

ASIN: 0345434072
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Amazon.com

There are more translations of Confucius' Analects than you can shake a stick at, but until now none have plumbed the depths of Confucius' thinking with such a keen sensitivity to philosophical and linguistic underpinnings. Following up on his groundbreaking work with David Hall in Thinking Through Confucius, Roger Ames has teamed up with Henry Rosemont to put theory into practice, portraying Confucius in light of his communitarian leanings. In a translation that comes off as surprisingly relaxed and colloquial, gone are the adherence to strict rules of propriety and righteous moralizing. Confucius has long been the victim of a certain unwitting Christianization, having been interpreted through the lens of Western philosophical assumptions. Ames and Rosemont scale away these assumptions, revealing a flexible and subtle thinker whose ideas of how to live well in a harmonious community have much to offer a fragmented society tied to reductive atomism and the exclusive exaltation of the individual. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

"To quietly persevere in storing up what is learned, to continue studying without respite, to instruct others without growing weary--is this not me?"
--Confucius

Confucius is recognized as China's first and greatest teacher, and his ideas have been the fertile soil in which the Chinese cultural tradition has flourished. Now, here is a translation of the recorded thoughts and deeds that best remember Confucius--informed for the first time by the manuscript version found at Dingzhou in 1973, a partial text dating to 55 BCE and only made available to the scholarly world in 1997. The earliest Analects yet discovered, this work provides us with a new perspective on the central canonical text that has defined Chinese culture--and clearly illuminates the spirit and values of Confucius.

Confucius (551-479 BCE) was born in the ancient state of Lu into an era of unrelenting, escalating violence as seven of the strongest states in the proto-Chinese world warred for supremacy. The landscape was not only fierce politically but also intellectually. Although Confucius enjoyed great popularity as a teacher, and many of his students found their way into political office, he personally had little influence in Lu. And so he began to travel from state to state as an itinerant philosopher to persuade political leaders that his teachings were a formula for social and political success. Eventually, his philosophies came to dictate the standard of behavior for all of society--including the emperor himself.

Based on the latest research and complete with both Chinese and English texts, this revealing translation serves both as an excellent introduction to Confucian thought and as an authoritative addition to sophisticated debate.

Customer Reviews:

excellent resource.......2006-11-06

What an excellent resource for Asian studies in general. The translation is great to compare with Lau et al. And the other material sheds light on previous interpretations of the text and context.

Very interesting, historical, and different from anything else.......2006-10-18

This is a nicely presented book, containing over 325 pages. The
graphics are well done (cover, and layout of the text within, including
the chinese original phrases, for those reading Mandarin). There's a lot
of footnotes in the back, stimulating further research, and backing up
the interpretations contained within, as well as an appendix with more
material, that is intended to add context to Confucius' outlook on
societal relationships and behavioral beliefs.

Next, I had to admit that each page has different scenarios of interaction
among people, or philosophical reflections, such that, for some, this
book is a cure for insomnia, no doubt. The fact that Europeans and North
Americans have not been taught to read the Chinese alphabet or the language, further beckons understanding.

Also, the 65 page introduction to the Analects is surely relevant
as the author justifies himself, of some choices in terminology as
compared to other translations and the works of previous tranlators.

A read here on Amazon didn't understand how an archeological find could
bring higher understanding of these classics from Ancient China. Well,
the answer resides in the manuscripts. Much like the Holy Bible was
discovered in several languages (Greek, and also near-Hebraic languages,
for example) the meaning of the texts and the final translation will
depend a lot on on the ability of the underlying language to express
human thought, and the scholar's ability to read it, understand it,
interpret it, and translate it for English speakers, no doubt.

For $10 and change, this is a not a bad work to own.

Sheds new light on Confucius.......2004-08-18

Confucius has been much maligned since he is perceived as wanting a static rigid society. This translation attempts to show that that is not really true. The translators and editors explain in the foreword that the Chinese language is dynamic, and therefore Confucius sayings does not reflect a static society, but rather a society in a constant flux. It does come out that Confucius will not tolerate revolution, but he does accept evolution. He is not preaching a static society, but rather that all development should build on the previous.
While he stresses the importance of ritual, he also hammers in that ritual must be combined with warmth, caring, and even humour. A more gentle, less rigid, Confucius appears in this translation.
Lastly, I think Confucianism relates to Daoism as Shaolin relates to t'ai ch'i (or Bruce Lee to Yang Cheng Fu): on is concerned with the external, and one with the internal. It is just a matter of which way you chose. Ones you have achieved mastery, there is no difference.

error in the previous review.......2004-08-16

Daomonkey's reviews exhibit detailed knowledge in Chinese philosophy, and I agree with many of his criticisms. But he has made a small error in his review of this book, which is important to note.

This book is NOT by Hall and Ames, and thus does not show the proclivity towards 'pragmatization' that runs throughout their stimulating work. Rather, it is by Ames and ROSEMONT, a philosopher who has published extensively on topics in Chinese philosophy. You will find little by way of "speculative acrobatics and obsolete wheedlings" here.

The unconventional nature of the translation may seem awkward at first but repays careful reading; Ames and Rosemont provide good arguments in the introduction for adopting them.

(Also, the translation by Slingerland he mentions, published by Hackett, is indeed a fine translation with much running commentary.)

fantastic translation!.......2003-02-14

This is by far one of the most well thought out and justified translations I have come across. Though true that it can be "wordy", I find that it clearly conveys ideas that have been missed by others who avoid the time to clearly articulate the depth of certain concepts. Sometimes brevity is not the most important factor in a good translation. The use of 'authoritative', especially after reading the explanation given by the translator, I find to be one of the better translations I have come across. It asks the reader to put aside a certain negatice "baggage" that goes with this vocabularty, but conveys a sentiment that I find very accurate to the word itself and the religion. This is a fablulous traslation with wonderful commentary from the translator. I would consider it a first choice for anyone serious in studying the analects.

Average customer rating:

"A proper man is inclusive, not sectary."
The first stop on the Way
A classic
Excellent translation with helpful introduction and notes!

The Analects of Confucius
Arthur Waley
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Confucianism | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Eastern Philosophy | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Mencius (Penguin Classics)
Tao Te Ching, 25th-Anniversary Edition
Tao Te Ching
The Bhagavad-Gita : Krishna's Counsel in Time of War (Bantam Classics)
Tao Te Ching (Penguin Classics)

ASIN: 0679722963
Release Date: 1989-08-28

Book Description

The Analects of Confucius is one of the central books of Chinese literature and Chinese thought; memorized and studied for many centuries, it has been certainly one of the most influential books in world history. There are many translations of this rewarding but difficult work. Arthur Waley -- the translator of the Tale of Genji, of a vast body of Chinese poetry, and of many other classics of Oriental literature and thought -- brings to this translation his great gifts as a scholar and a writer, and has produced what is without question the best version in English of the Analects. A full introduction gives the social and political background of this work, analyses of key terms in Chinese thought that are prominent in it, and a careful study of the history of the book and its interpretations. There are also full notes illuminating the references to contemporary events and clarifying obscure passages.

Customer Reviews:

"A proper man is inclusive, not sectary.".......2001-06-20

THE ANALECTS OF CONFUCIUS. Translated and annotated by Arthur Waley. 257 pp. New York : Vintage Books, nd. Originally published by George, Allen, & Unwin, 1938.

Classical Chinese is an extremely concise and highly ambiguous language. Since any given line can have a wide range of possible and equally valid meanings, there can in fact be no such thing as a definitive interpretation, and hence, as Burton Watson has pointed out, no such thing as a definitive translation, although Arthur Waley's scholarly reading of this important Confucian classic is possibly as close to 'definitive' as we're ever likely to get.

What we may overlook when considering Confucianism, however, is that it represented an ideology very much like Marxism, one imposed by an all-powerful bureaucracy on a not-always willing population. As ideological documents of the highest importance, since they served to justify the existence of the Imperial system, works such as the 'Analects' were often engraved on stone.

And it's interesting to note that, in the many popular uprisings which have riven China, the stone tablets and drums on which the 'Analects' and other Classics were engraved often became the first target of the mob's fury. They were regularly smashed and pulverized, only to be re-engraved on new stones when the Mandarinate re-established its authority.

In addition, it goes without saying that the Communist Party, which is as it were China's modern 'Mandarinate,' also takes a very dim view of the Chinese Classics, seeing them as relics of a detested feudalistic past, a detestation not perhaps untinged with envy, since the Mandarinate was the most efficient, successful and long-lasting bureaucracy in human history.

None of this, perhaps, need bother the modern reader as opposed to the scholar, since we go to these old books to discover in them what relevance they may have for our lives today, and there is much real wisdom in Confucius that anyone can benefit from.

Arthur Waley's edition, while scholarly, is not so cluttered with scholarly impedimenta as to be unapproachable by the general reader, and is written in a style that remains relatively modern. After a brief Preface, he gives us an interesting and informative 66-page Introduction. Then follows his extensively annotated translation, and the book is rounded out with an Index.

Though Waley was undoubtedly a brilliant translator, I was weaned on Ezra Pound's more lively and idiosyncratic version, and although I've read and compared both translations, the lines that tend to stick in my mind are invariably those of Pound, lines such as:

"He said : A proper man is inclusive, not sectary; the small man is sectarian and not inclusive" (Book II, xiv).

For the same passage Waley gives:

"The Master said, A gentleman can see a question from all sides without bias. The small man is biased and can see a question only from one side" (p.91).

Both, so far as I can see, mean pretty much the same thing, although Waley is a bit more prosy and takes almost twice as many words to say it. Pound's edition, besides its greater punch, also has the merit of being relatively free of distracting footnotes, and of including two additional and very powerful texts, along with beautiful reproductions of them from the stone Classics.

Waley and Pound give us Confucius as filtered through two highly intelligent though different sensibilities, both of them valuable. My advice would be to read both. For those who may be interested, here are details of Pound's edition:

CONFUCIUS : THE GREAT DIGEST, THE UNWOBBLING PIVOT, THE ANALECTS. Translation and Commentary by Ezra Pound. Stone Text from rubbings supplied by William Hawley. 288 pp. New York: New Directions, 1951 and Reissued.

It is in Pound's translation of 'The Great Digest' that we find the striking line: "If the root be in confusion, nothing will be well governed" (p.33). And who would want to miss a line that has such a powerful relevance to the world that we see around us today ?

The first stop on the Way.......1999-10-11

Perhaps the best introduction to the Confucian philosophy. Extensive footnotes and explanations of key concepts. Language slightly archaic but still clear. Wade-Giles romanization.

A classic.......1998-09-15

A classic in Chinese literature. Arthur Waley is the best translator of Chinese works that I have found. This version of the Analects are extensively footnoted which I found broke up the flow of the reading. So I read it through first without the footnotes, then read it again with them. A interesting look at Chinese thought at the time.

Excellent translation with helpful introduction and notes!.......1998-03-19

Although originally published in 1938, this is still one of the best translations of the Analects of Confucius. Waley also has an extensive and informative introduction, plus some helpful notes. Other good translations of the Analects include those by D.C. Lau and James Legge.

Socrates, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus: From The Great Philosophers, Volume I

Average customer rating:

There's scholarship and there's scholarship
Interesting idea, but is it trustworthy scholarship?
Made a big impression on me!
Well Written
pleasure at leisure

Socrates, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus: From The Great Philosophers, Volume I
Karl Jaspers
Manufacturer: Harvest/HBJ Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Modern | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Anaximander, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Plotinus, Lao-Tzu, Nagarjuna: From the Great Philosophers: The Original Thinkers (Harvest Book, Hb 288)
Plato and Augustine: From The Great Philosophers, Volume I
Way to Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy, Second Edition (Yale Nota Bene)
Kant: From The Great Philosophers, Volume 1
Landscape of Wisdom: A Guided Tour of Western Philosophy

ASIN: 0156835800

Amazon.com

Arguably the four most influential individuals in human history, Socrates, the Buddha, Confucius and Jesus have cast shadows on history that are nearly inescapable even today. Who were they, what were their doctrines, and what was their influence? These are some of the questions that the 20th-century philosopher Karl Jaspers explores in this short excerpt from his larger volume, Great Philosophers.

Book Description

A part of JaspersÂ's planned universal history of philosophy, focusing on the four paradigmatic individuals who have exerted a historical influence of incomparable scope and depth. Edited by Hannah Arendt; Index. Translated by Ralph Manheim.

Customer Reviews:

There's scholarship and there's scholarship.......2003-08-22

The previous reviewer, in reminding us of recent scholarship on Jesus and the Gospel tradition, raises several pertinent considerations. Jaspers' book generally reflects the more modern scholarship that has focused increasingly on certain parallel sayings in Matthew and Luke as "Q Gospel" remnants and on the earliest Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts of the earliest extant Gospel, Mark. Yet recent similarly focused studies on the other three paradigmatic figures covered here don't seem reflected in Jaspers' book to the same extent. Personally, I am not as disturbed as the previous reviewer may be by applying modern scholarship to the Gospels. Rather, what I miss is the same strictness applied to the other three written traditions. Confucius, for example, is eventually described as having held high office only when we get to relatively late texts in the Confucian tradition. Yet Jaspers accepts this description of him without question. In fact, if, as Jaspers does by inference in his Jesus chapter, we are to set some of what we read in the Gospel of John aside, then oughtn't we set aside similar texts describing Confucius as having had conspicuous political success? If the "Q Gospel" passages in Matthew/Luke and the earliest manuscript tradition for Mark are to be highlighted as delineations of the "historical Jesus", then only Chapters 3 through 9 of the Analects of Confucius, generally regarded as the earliest stratum of Confucian text, should be the primary basis for the kind of modern philosophical scrutiny Jaspers purports to offer. Jaspers' Confucius chapter does not confine itself to the kind of wandering, almost homeless, figure found in these seven earliest chapters. To be consistent, shouldn't it? While it's useful for Jaspers, at the outset of his Buddha chapter, to single out the Digha-Nikaya collection as the earliest stratum of Buddha sermons, the rest of the Buddha chapter goes well beyond the Digha-Nikaya collection, even flirting occasionally with Buddha traditions lying outside the Pali tradition, let alone the Digha-Nikaya collection! There's nothing inherently wrong with this, but it becomes inconsistent in the light of Jaspers' tacit adoption of certain tenets of modern historical criticism in his Jesus chapter. (To do Jaspers justice, he never explicitly offers quite the detailed textual background on the Gospel tradition that I attempt here.) What, IMO, might prove a more creditable effort -- since I would agree that these four figures indeed emerge as the most strongly verified human beings in history to live an essentially blameless life oriented toward an entirely self-made, and therefore inherently courageous, ethic -- would be a survey based exclusively on those fifteen or so sermons in the Digha-Nikaya regarded by modern scholars as the earliest for Buddha, on Chapters 3 through 9 of the Analects for Confucius, on the earliest, least "spun", Plato dialogues, such as the Charmides, the Hippias Minor, the Euthyphro, the Apology and the Crito, for Socrates, and on the Vaticanus/Sinaiticus Mark tradition plus the "Q" passages in Matthew/Luke for Jesus. It is unfortunate that Jaspers' book, with all its modern trappings (not in itself a bad thing, IMO), fails to do this rigorously. Hence, my three-star rating. Jaspers should be given credit, though, for a worthwhile start at the important task of evaluating perhaps the four finest human beings ever to walk this earth.

Interesting idea, but is it trustworthy scholarship?.......2002-11-14

Karl Jaspers has undertaken an interesting study in the little book. He looks at the teachings of four men who have had the most far-reaching impact on our world. He claims that the greatness of their influence is measured in centuries as well as globally. The four great men he chose for this book are, as the title suggests, Socrates, Buddha, Confucius and Jesus. He entertained the thought of including Mohammed but chose not to. He explains that Mohammed "might be comparable in historical importance but not in individual depth (p. 87)." One other interesting insight comes from Jaspers on the same page. We have no writings from any of the four themselves - what we do have comes from their disciples after they died.

So much for the interesting, now for the question of trustworthiness.

Jaspers examined the biblical accounts of Jesus through the lens of higher criticism. In other words, Jaspers did not deal with the biblical text itself when he studied Jesus, he dealt with the text after sifting through what others thought was truly the teaching of Jesus. The reason this poses a problem is important to all readers, not merely to Christians. If he did not take the teachings of Jesus (as recorded by his disciples) at face value, did he take the teachings of Socrates, Buddha and Confucius (as recorded by their disciples) at face value? Is the reader really getting Socrates, Buddha, Confucius and Jesus, or is the reader getting Karl Jaspers? Knowing the aspects of Jesus' teachings that have been ignored in this study, and their importance to understanding Jesus' view of himself and the world around him, makes me wonder what we may have lost, in this study, from the other three great men included here.

This book is a very interesting idea. But, is it trustworthy scholarship? Not in my humble opinion. However, those who do not wish to sift through the original writings will inevitably want to read Jasper's abridgement of those writings. This may be to the readers' benefit, or to their detriment.

Made a big impression on me!.......2002-01-09

Aside from being an intelligently written book, I gave this book 5 stars because it made a big impression on me. Jaspers explanation of Confucius made the strength of Confucious's teaching clear. Now I'm very interested in Confucious and am reading more books about him. In that respect, this slim volume changed my life: It brought Confucious to life. What's more, by explaining Confucius's feelings about Taoism, this slim book did more to explain classic Taoism than the 2 books on the Tao I've already read.

Be aware that this book is due to the editing of Hannah Arendt. This means that Jaspers did not put this book out and say "Ta Da, the 4 Greatest!" No, Jaspers wrote a 2 volume book on the great philosophers due to his post War interest in increasing tolerance among men (per the Encyclopedia Britanica). This book does not appear to have any noticable Existentialist influence.

Finally, if you are a fundamentalist Christian, be warned that it is clear from his writing that Jaspers does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, nor does he believe the Bible is free of error. He is not disrespectful of Jesus nor of Christianity, but do not think that because Jesus is in this book that the book is strongly pro-Jesus.

Well Written.......2000-10-14

This book is a joy to read. Jaspers has a real talent for breaking down complex thoughts into detailed, easy to read format. Jaspers presents a broad overview that should be attractive to newcomers. More advanced readers will appreciate his style and his refreshing perspective.

pleasure at leisure.......2000-07-26

This is a short reflection of different philosophers which can give you a glimpse of their thoughts living and effect of them on social set ups at that time. Book is written in a very simple language but mostly the names of cities are confusing and it would have been helpful if with every city there would have been a hint of geographical location . Some places it is there and mostly the place is left just with a distorted name. Overall readable book in free time but I doubt if it is worth of serious thought.

Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living in the West

Average customer rating:

Not a bad introduction to Japan
A feel good book for people who like Japan.
A Worthwhile Introduction to Japanese Culture
Book review
Very imperfect, but still containing a lot of food for thought

Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living in the West
T.R. Reid
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy
East Asia: A New History (4th Edition)
Dave Barry Does Japan
Musui's Story: The Autobiography of a Tokugawa Samurai
A Daughter of Han: The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman

ASIN: 0679777601
Release Date: 2000-03-28

Amazon.com

Despite setbacks, the economic "miracles" achieved by many Asian countries in the latter 20th century have been impressive. This entertaining and thoughtful book invites the reader to consider East Asia's other miracle: its dramatically low rates of crime, divorce, drug abuse, and other social ills. T.R. Reid, an NPR commentator and former Tokyo bureau chief for the Washington Post, lived in Japan for five years, and he draws on this experience to show how the countries of East Asia have built modern industrial societies characterized by the safest streets, the best schools, and the most stable families in the world.

Reid credits Asia's success to the ethical values of Chinese philosopher Confucius, born in 551 B.C., who taught the value of harmony and the importance of treating others decently. This is not a new perception--Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and others have rather heavy-handedly invoked it to claim moral superiority over the West--but the author's vivid anecdotes strengthen its relevance. Public messages constantly remind Asian citizens of their responsibilities to society. To enhance a sense of belonging, civic ceremonies encourage individuals' allegiance to a greater good; across Japan, for example, April 1 is Nyu-Sha-Shiki day, when corporations officially welcome new employees, most of whom remain loyal to their company for life. Citing Malaysia's ideas of a "reverse Peace Corps," Reid sees a case for Asians coming to teach the West in the same way that Westerners have evangelized in Asia for over four centuries. --John Stevenson

Book Description

"Fascinating...clearly stated, interesting and provoking.... A plainspoken account of living in Asia." --San Francisco Chronicle

Anyone who has heard his weekly commentary on NPR knows that T. R. Reid is trenchant, funny, and deeply knowledgeable reporter and now he brings this erudition and humor to the five years he spent in Japan--where he served as The Washington Post's Tokyo bureau chief. He provides unique insights into the country and its 2,500-year-old Confucian tradition, a powerful ethical system that has played an integral role in the continent's "postwar miracle."

Whether describing his neighbor calmly asserting that his son's loud bass playing brings disrepute on the neighborhood, or the Japanese custom of having students clean the schools, Reid inspires us to consider the many benefits of the Asian Way--as well as its drawbacks--and to use this to come to a greater understanding of both Japanese culture and America.

Customer Reviews:

Not a bad introduction to Japan.......2007-05-31

T.R. Reid spent several years in Japan as a bureau chief for the Washington Post, and Confucius Lives Next Door is, on one level, about his and his family's experiences. Reid, however, is most interested in the "social miracle" he observes in most of East Asia: the low crime and drug use rates, the stable family structure, the relatively egalitarian distribution of wealth, the successful schools. His thesis is that this social harmony derives from the system of values in the teachings of Confucius, particularly the idea of "wa" or group harmony. If you, like most westerners, know little about Confucius, Reid provides a basic introduction. Interestingly, at the end of the book, he offers an "atogaki" or counter-thesis to his own, observing, among other things, that Confucian values are not very different from Judaeo-Christian ones and that the difference between western societies and the ones of East Asia may be that the East Asians do a better job of bringing moral values to bear on daily life. Whether or not you agree with his thesis, Reid offers some sharp observations of daily life in Japan. The book is a good place to begin if you're planning to travel to Japan. Sure, there are a lot of generalizations, as is typical in this sort of book, but the writing is good and the book functions well as an introduction to Japanese culture.

A feel good book for people who like Japan........2007-05-30

T.R. Reid loves Japan and would never criticize the place. Every short coming is a blessing in disguise. I love Japan, so I enjoyed the book. His description of the schools is candy coated and reads more like a promotional brochure. He says his kids attended Japanses schools. In fact they only attended classes when the international school they really attended was on break. (He confessed to this on C-Span.) Though he mentions bullying in passing, he ignores the many problems plaguing Japanese schools. All in all, an entertaining book.

A Worthwhile Introduction to Japanese Culture.......2007-04-29

T R Reid, an accomplished American journalist and a fine writer, lived and worked in Tokyo for several years. Most of this book is based on Reid's personal experience with Japanese culture, although there is some discussion of Asian culture generally.

Reid explains how Asian cultures have succeeded socially where the West has not, e.g., lower crime rates, more economic equality and more social cohesion. For example, he tells of purchasing a bicycle in Japan. The cost of the bike is higher than it would have been in the US, because the Japanese store has more and higher paid employees. On the other hand, there is no risk of the bike being stolen, so Reid does not feel compelled to buy a lock.

Reid's observations are interesting and worthwhile, although not necessarily unique. The book is easy and pleasant to read. I recommend it.

Book review.......2006-09-22

T. R. Reid's stated purpose of his book, Confucius Lives Next Door, is to illustrate why he thinks the West should adopt Confucian values. In doing so, he ignores the apparent downsides of a Confucian society. Despite his overlooking of these faults, he intelligently and thoughtfully conveys his views.

Reid concedes that the thesis of his book is to illuminate the values of Asian society. "Asians achieved their social miracle primarily by holding on to a set of values - what they call Confucian values ..." (Reid 228). He maintains that these values are needed and should be adopted in the West.

It would be hard for one to argue with the statistics Reid demonstrates. It is evident that Japan has far lower rates of violent crime compared to Western countries. "There are about 7.5 murders each year for every 100,000 Americans ... In Japan, the murder rate is below 1.0 per 100,000" (23).

Other factors are at play in the societal stability of Japan other than reduced crime. Divorce rates are far lower in Asian societies, as well. "About 16 percent of marriages in Japan end in divorce." Reid compares this to rate in the United States, "... close to 50 percent ..." (10). There is also little unemployment to plague the economy. Reid points out that Japanese "commitment to keep everybody at work ..." has the positive result that "employees don't get laid off" (86).

While these statistics are astonishing, there are downsides to a society that is created through Confucian learning which Reid seems to skim over or exclude altogether.

In a society so focused on community, there is little room for individuality. Reid demonstrates this with the common Japanese saying, "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down ..." (151). This kind of thinking can lead to pain and confusion for those in the society who, for whatever reason, do not fit the mold. This is evident in the practice of ijime amongst Japanese children. When this happens, students who do not fit in are singled out and effectively bullied until they commit suicide.

Reid himself was disturbed by how robotic his own children were in their learning of the Japanese alphabets, but dismissed it as necessary to succeed. The pressure for children to succeed is immense in Japan and, according to Mrs. Keightly, our in-class speaker, leads to many problems.

Mrs. Keightly, a native of Japan, does not thoroughly confirm Reid's views of Japanese life. According to her, divorce rates are climbing, more and more people are anxious to express their individuality, and materialism among young people is astounding.

It is inevitable that the East is influenced by the ways of the West, as their once very traditional society becomes more comfortable with the idea of changing roles of women and individuality. While I agree that it is obvious that Japan is doing something right in the formation of their societal values, I see Reid's belief that the West must adopt these practices, without acknowledging the inherent problems, as irresponsible.

Despite my opinions on Reid's conclusions, he deftly immerses the reader in all aspects of Japanese life. Through the retelling of humorous stories and the depiction of a colorful world with new tastes, sights, and smells, the reader can imagine him or herself living a typical day in Japanese society.

Reid is unabashed about his purpose of Confucius Lives Next Door. He aims to demonstrate why he thinks the West should adopt Confucian values. However, he overlooks some of the flaws in a Confucian society. Despite this, he writes an intelligent and entertaining book about the wonder that is the Japanese culture.

Very imperfect, but still containing a lot of food for thought.......2006-09-20

Overall, there is much to enjoy in CONFUCIUS LIVES NEXT DOOR; with even touches of enlightenment and humor scattered throughout. There are some significant problems as well, though I found the book to be enjoyable overall.

Reid's basic thesis - that much of the success seen in Eastern Asia evolves from the influence of Confucianism - is thoughtful and provocative, even if it also potentially flirts with stereotype and glosses over the many vast differences between nations as varied as Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan. The influence of several other religions and philosophies isn't investigated, nor are the South Asian (Indian) or Southwest Asian (Islamic) influences that filter into parts of East and Southeast Asia, and in discussing a few of these countries - Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore definitely, it's a very serious oversight.

This book was inspired by a stint of living in Japan, and Japan is the cultural and philosophical jumping-off point for Reid's thesis; this is problematic as well: historically Japan has created a substantial amount of bad blood that lingers to the present in all of the other countries profiled here, and Reid would have been smarter to test the majority of his ideas against the accomplishments and failures of other countries.

The more recent rise of some South Asian nations - notably India - was underway at the time Reid was writing this book, and that continued rise has very substantially dented Reid's central thesis: India would conform to very few of Reid's theories (it completely obliterates several of them), and aside from China, some of the most spectacular transformations (of a positive variety) in Asian history are happening there.

And those failures: Reid glosses over, or ignores a great many of them. Internal ethnic tensions, or the changing roles of women never rise above the surface here.

But there is much to like in CONFUCIUS LIVES NEXT DOOR. The friendship with a wise, and useful, neighbor alluded to in the title is described in touching terms, and Reid's slice-of-life anecdotes detailing his family's life in Japan are revealing, funny, nicely self-deprecatory and the center of several of the greater insights to be found here.

And - as an American greatly troubled by the seemingly intractable social problems seen and tolerated in this country - Reid's willingness to get into harsh social critiques of the US is valuable and challenging - it isn't anti-American in the least, but rather would seek to strengthen the US through a process of very tough self-examination and resultant debate, of the sort that a challenging thesis of the nature he builds his book would provoke.

Reid's writing isn't the most exciting in the world - he sticks to a traditionally-flavored journalistic dryness that is careful, well-spoken and direct, if not the most scintillating stuff in the world. So be it - Reid is more interested in communication than in style; and this book stands or falls upon the strength of that. He could be better organized, he could rely less on generalizations about varied Asian societies, and he would strengthen his arguments by looking more closely at the weaknesses in his ideas.

Thus we have a highly-imperfect book; an imperfect one still loaded with much food for thought.

-David Alston

Analects of Confucius - A New-Millennium Bilingual Edition

Average customer rating:

Christmas Gift as We Enter the New Millennium
Christmas Gift as We Enter the New Millennium
Excellent work
Most valuable to those who can read both Chinese and English
A title 2,500 years ago is of interest to us chess players

Analects of Confucius - A New-Millennium Bilingual Edition
Confucius
Manufacturer: Premier Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Confucianism | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Dao De Jing: a New-Millennium Translation
Art of Leadership by Sun Tzu - A New-Millennium Bilingual Edition of Sun Tzu's Art of War
Confucius: Golden Rule, The
Confucian Analects, The Great Learning & The Doctrine of the Mean
The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China)

ASIN: 0963785281

Customer Reviews:

Christmas Gift as We Enter the New Millennium.......1999-12-18

As the 20th century comes to an end, both scientific achievements and material abundance have reached record-high levels. But, avariance and emptiness in humans and cruelties and coarseness in the society have also produced violences rarely seen in history. The best-selling books in rcent years in the United States, in Taiwan, and in Hongkong are mainly on self-encouragement and self-improvement, reflecting the thirst for spiritual and emotional guidance by people in search of direction. For this Christmas, would you be willing to buy, for your US-raised children and grandchildren, for your fellow first-generation-immigrant friends and relatives, or even for yourself, a classical book that embodies the wisdom of life as a gift as we enter the beautiful new millennium?

David Li's the Analects of Confucius - A New-Millennium Translation, is such a book.

Graduated from St. John's University in Shanghai, well known for the command of English, Mr. Li earned an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from the University of Illinois. He was a Professor at the California State University, Fullerton; at the University of Washington, Seattle; and at the University of Texas, Dallas. He was also a Visiting Professor to the Chinese University of Hong Kong and to India.

Versed in seven or eight foreign languages, Mr. Li, prior to translating the Analects of Confucius, has published 16 English-language books single-handedly. Although he left China at age 20 and spent more than a half century abroad, Mr. Li nevertheless feels a personal responsibility for the dissimination of Chinese culture to the world. Even though a septuagenarian, Mr. Li still goes to the Library of Congress regularly to collect materials, and to Taiwan and mainland to do interviews and research. He also already published books on Xiangqi and on Mah-jong.

Although there are over 20 English translations of Confucius's Analects, what prompted Mr. Li to engage in another translation of this 2500-year-old classic?

1) age - personal experiences accumulated through 70 years of life allow him to appreciate the real meaning of the Analects.

2) facility in both Chinese and English; observance of translation standards of truthfulness, clarity, and elegance

3) avoidance of incorrect interpretation and inaccurate translation

4) exhaustive annotation - some 500 footnotes for the Analects' 515 segments, with particular emphasis on historical background and geopolitical environment likely to be unfamiliar to wester readers, and on cross-references between abstract concepts and specific applications

5) several indexes (this is a common shortcoming of reference works in Chinese; indexes in this book evidences Mr. Li's schoarlship after decades of western-style training) - including a chronology on Confucius, an index of his disciples, an index of people other than his disciples, and a subject index.

I was particularly moved by Mr. Li's dedicating this work to the Younger Generation of Chinese Ethnicity, expressing the hope that they would be proud of their cultural heritage that is second to none.

This new translation of the Analects of Confucius should not only be read by our American-raised younger generations, but should also be recommended to friends of other ethnicity, even to the first-generation immigrants who were deprived of opportunities of gaining access to Confucius's thoughts in their growing-up period, or who had misunderstood his teachings. They should all take advantage of this elegant and thoughtful bilingual volume to gain a new understanding of Confucian thought.

Christmas Gift as We Enter the New Millennium.......1999-12-18

David Li's the Analects of Confucius - A New-Millennium Translation, is such a book.

Although there are over 20 English translations of Confucius's Analects, what prompted Mr. Li to engage in another translation of this 2500-year-old classic?

1) age - personal experiences accumulated through 70 years of life allow him to appreciate the real meaning of the Analects.

2) facility in both Chinese and English; observance of translation standards of truthfulness, clarity, and elegance

3) avoidance of incorrect interpretation and inaccurate translation

Excellent work.......1999-07-05

Li's translation on various passages are really wonderful -- truly reflecting the traditional culture of Chinese under "Confucism" -- "li" (Conduct). In fa (Law, Legal) society (most in U.S. and contemporary transitional Taiwan}, individualities are based on legalistic conditions/situations. Personal morality and values under "li" are frequently questioned. Li's book may serve a bridge for American Chinese to discuss the disparities between "li" and "fa". Parents/teachers may use Li's book as the means for educational purposes. Good -- excellent work.

For example: "A common man will do whatever is needed to be out of poverty" (p 182). This sentence connotes "bad" value in Chinese tradition. But the conception is "good" in the American contemporary mentality. This represents a cultural and temporal diversity. In Li's book, Li did not endorse either. For this reason, Li's book is extremely valuable as an educational means.

Most valuable to those who can read both Chinese and English.......1999-06-22

This [Dr. Li's] rendition is most valuable to those who can read some Chinese but need English translation to fully understand the passages in Chinese. An example is the following (4.10); the passage in Chinese is rendered as follows:

The Master said: "A gentleman focuses on virtue; a common man, on land. A gentleman focuses on civic responsibilities; a common man, on gaining advantage."

With a footnote, explaining that "land" is a general reference to items of value, that passage in Chinese is fully and accurately translated into English.

This volume by Dr. Li, "The Analects of Confucius, a New-Millennium Translation," is a very worthwhile book to read.

A title 2,500 years ago is of interest to us chess players.......1999-05-22

Why is a title, Lun Yu, from 2,500 years ago of any interest to us chess players?

The author addresses this question in a forward evoking current events, the tribulations of President Clinton, and, in a personal context, there is an amusing quote from the hyper-modern Confucius: "When a fault is allowed to remain uncorrected, that is then a fault," and also "If one cannot resist minor temptations, one's grand plan might be ruined."

Confucius seems so ancient that he is practically new to us. Although I joke about hyper-modernism, the intent of the author seems to be to present the work as current advice on a palpable them of Confucius, Conduct.

Perhaps the best compliment that I could offer to him, by way of his current interpreter, is that I picked up his book and paid it rapt attention, the kind usually reserved for new chess titles.

I should finish with something of value to any writer on a newsgroup, or elsewhere:

"When a name cannot be justified, words have no authority. When words have no authority, missions cannot be accomplished, Conduct and music cannot flourish. When Conduct and music are not flourishing, penalties and punishments cannot be on target. When penalties and punishments are not on target, the populace are without anchors to guide themselves. Thus, a gentleman's name must have authority; his words must be put into practice. A gentleman, in relation to his words, must always be vigilant."

And he has.

Book Description

Born in China in 551 B. C., Confucius rose from poverty to the heights of his country's ruling class. But then he quit his high post for the life of an itinerant philosopher. "The Analects" collects his teachings on education and government, the definition of nobility, the equality of man and the right way and purpose of living, ideas that eventually spread to the West and influenced the great thinkers of the Enlightenment. And five centuries before Christ, Confucius set forth his own Golden Rule: "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself."

Customer Reviews:

Confucius: The Golden Rule.......2004-07-12

Confucius was a minor government official who desperately wanted to change the government of China. But because of his radical ideas, he was never given the opportunity. He became a scholar who taught his pupils to think. Many years after his death, his ideas were written down and have survived for thousands of years. Tidbits of Confucius's wisdom have even made their way into American fortune cookies. Because little is known of the fifth century B.C. scholar, Freedman makes an effort to establish what information is believed to be fact and what is more likely legend.

The book's beautiful antiquated illustrations complement the text. They are as mysterious as the life of Confucius. I especially like the little details in this book: the quotes from the Analects on the endpapers, the author's note detailing his observations of the celebration in China held for Confucius each year, and the annotated bibliography.

The Life and Times of Confucius............2003-02-13

"More than 2,500 years have passed since Confucius walked the dusty country roads of China, chatting with his disciples, yet his voice still rings clear and true down through the centuries. Those who knew him never forgot him. Those who came after handed down his sayings from one generation to the next, right up to our own time..." So begins Russell Freedman's brilliant and engaging biography of Confucius, a minor government official who desperately wanted to be a political force in ancient China. "Though he offered many bold ideas for reform, his advice was ignored by the rulers of the day. For this reason, he spent much of his time teaching and discussing his ideas with his students." His simple, yet profound thoughts about government, education, and religion were shared with his followers through conversations and dialogues, and finally written down, many years after his death, in a book that has come to be known as the Analects. "This slim volume is the one source where we can most clearly hear the unique voice of the real, living Confucius." Mr Freedman's well researched story is written in an easy to read, conversational style and filled with history, mystery, intriguing biographical details, quotes from the Analect, and fascinating fun facts. Frederic Clement's elegant and evocative Chinese-style illustrations look ancient and authentic, and are rich in emotion, color, and detail. Together word and art bring the great philospher and his times to life on the page. With an enlightening Author's Note, and informative sources and suggestions for further reading included at the end, Confucius: The Golden Rule is an entertaining and inspiring introductory biography that is sure to whet the appetite of kids 10 and older, and send them out looking for more. "And so, after twenty-five centuries, the pros and cons of what Confucius said or didn't say are still being debated. The reason isn't hard to find. He trusted people to think for themselves. He was always ready to offer suggestions, but he insisted that each of us must find answers for ourselves. And he admitted that he himself did not know the truth, only a way to look for it..."

Fifty Major Thinkers on Education: From Confucius to Dewey (Fifty Key Thinkers) (Routledge Key Guides)

Average customer rating:

Deceptive title
Great resource.

Fifty Major Thinkers on Education: From Confucius to Dewey (Fifty Key Thinkers) (Routledge Key Guides)
Joy A. Palmer
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Fifty Modern Thinkers on Education: From Piaget to the Present Day (Fifty Key Thinkers) (Routledge Key Guides)
Philosophy of Education
Curriculum: Alternative Approaches, Ongoing Issues (4th Edition)
Theories of Childhood: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget & Vygotsky
Foundations of Education

ASIN: 0415231264

Book Description

Why and how people should be educated has, throughout history, preoccupied some of civilization's greatest minds. This unique work summarizes and analyzes the thinking on education of fifty individuals drawn from a time span covering 500 BC to the nineteenth century. Among those included are:
Confucius Plato St. Augustine Eamus John Wesley Immanuel Kant Mary Wollstonecaft Nietzche John Dewey Rudolf Steiner
Together with Fifty Contemporary Thinkers on Education, this book provides an intellectual history of educational thinking, through the ages. Each essay gives biographical information, an outline of the individual's principal achievements and activities, an assessment of his or her impact and influence, a list of their major writings and suggested further reading. Joy Palmer is Pro Vice-Chancellor of Durham University. She is a member of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication, and is the author of numerous books on education and the environment. She is the editor of two other titles in Routledge's Key Guide series: Fifty Key Thinkers on the Environment and Fifty Contemporary Thinkers on Education.

Customer Reviews:

Deceptive title.......2007-05-05

I bought this book because I was doing research into Confucius and his influences on Japanese education. A title that states "From Confucius to Dewey" would lead one to believe that Confucius would receive a certain degree of attention.

There was too much biographical information on each of the "thinkers" covered. In some cases, the "thinker's" contributions to education were barely discussed. This was especially true in the case of Confucius, who only receives a couple of pages of attention, very little of which has to do with his massive contributions to educational theory. This was dissappointing, considering the headliner status he received in the title of the book.

Western "thinkers" are covered thoroughly enough for me to give a 3-star rating to this book.

Great resource........2003-03-30

This book is a great resource for those interested in education theory. The author provides the reader with a short overview of the thinking of each of the individuals covered. I particularly appreciate the international diversity represented in this book. I found the book provided my students with a more global perspective on education theory and motivated them to do more independent research on the topic. I recommend this book as a resource and a good introduction to education theory.

Thinking Through Confucius (SUNY Series in Systematic Philosophy)

Average customer rating:

A philosophical Confucius

Thinking Through Confucius (SUNY Series in Systematic Philosophy)
David L. Hall , and Roger T. Ames
Manufacturer: State University of New York Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Eastern Philosophy | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation (Classics of Ancient China)
Thinking from the Han: Self, Truth, and Transcendence in Chinese and Western Culture
Anticipating China: Thinking Through the Narratives of Chinese and Western Culture
Focusing the Familiar: A Translation and Philosophical Interpretation of the Zhongyong
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation

ASIN: 0887063772

Customer Reviews:

A philosophical Confucius.......2001-03-16

Perhaps the best study of Confucius' thought available. There is a very detailed study of all the key terms in the Analects, with an emphasis on the capacity of the individual Confucian to use his better judgment in specific situations. In other words Confucius does not recommend blind obedience to the rules of etiquette (Li). The book also includes an in-depth comparison with Western philosophy, even post-modern. One of the authors, Roger Ames, has also recently written a splendid translation of the Analects together with Henry Rosemont. Both of these books are musts for a deeper understanding of the Analects.

Philosophers:

Philosophers

Philosophers