The Classical Literary Period
Chinese Masters Literature
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“Masters Literature”
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Charismatic Master/Teachers
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Lao Tzu- 6th Century B.C.E.
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Confucius- 5th Century B.C.E.
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Zhuangzi- 3rd Century B.C.E.
Confucius and Confucianism
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Confucius lived in the
latter part of the Spring
and Autumn Period(770479BC).
Confucius was a
philosopher, political
thinker, and educator of
ancient China, whose
influence is still felt across
the world.
《论语》Analects of Confucius
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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.
What is “Ren”?
Could it be “Immortality”?
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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.”
Contributions of Confucius
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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.
Thoughts of Confucius
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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.
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）
Lao Tzu
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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.
Zhuangzi
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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”)
Seeking Harmony and Maintaining
Balance, Peace and Contentment
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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.
Seeking Harmony and Maintaining
Balance, Peace, and Contentment
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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
Seeking Harmony and Maintaining
Balance, Peace and Contentment
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The Man Should Adapt Himself to Nature theory was adapted
to enable people to both harmonize their relationship with
nature and 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.
Seeking Harmony and Maintaining
Balance, Peace and Contentment
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Striving for stability was one of the Chinese people’s
major traits. They preferred a settled lifestyle to an everchanging 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.
Seeking Harmony and Maintaining
Balance, Peace and Contentment
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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.
End