Gallatin School of Individualized Study
New York University
[IDSEM-UG 1695]
Competing Images of the Sage: Confucius and Lao Tzu
Spring 2016
Mon, Wed 9:30-10:45
1 Washington Place, Room 527
Ethan R. Harkness (harkness@nyu.edu)
Office Hours: Tues 2:00-6:00 PM (by appointment)
411 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor, Office #368
Among the early Chinese philosophers whose ideas have framed moral, social and political
discourse in East Asia, the figures of Confucius and Lao Tzu stand out, not only as thinkers of towering
influence, but also as diametrically opposed archetypes of wisdom. In this seminar, we begin by
reading the works attributed to each man, and then we proceed to examine the ways in which their
legacies have been and continue to be appropriated by others. Toward this end we explore competing
manifestations of Confucius and Lao Tzu in Chinese religion, in popular culture, and in the marketplace
of ideas. Themes include the opposing impulses of idolization and iconoclasm, censorship and
propaganda, and the sacralization and commercialization of traditional values.
Course Texts:
Confucius, The Analects (New York: Penguin, 1979).
Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching (New York: Penguin, 1963).
Lu Xun, The Real Story of Ah-Q and Other Tales of China: The Complete Fiction of Lu Xun
(London: Penguin, 2009).
Arthur Waley, Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China (Stanford: Stanford University, 1939).
Burton Watson (tr.), Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hsun Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu (New York: Columbia
University, 1963-64).
Burton Watson (tr.), The Tso Chuan: Selections from China’s Oldest Narrative History (New York:
Columbia University, 1989).
All of the above texts are available for purchase at the NYU Bookstore, 726 Broadway.
required readings will be distributed electronically.
Any other
Course Policies and Requirements:
Grading: Grades will be awarded on the following basis
10% Completion of 10 one-paragraph weekly response papers (submit by email attachment
labeled with your name and the subject line “response ##” no later than 10:00 pm on Sunday).
15%
1st writing assignment, due 2/26 at 5pm (submit pdf by email attachment)
20%
2nd writing assignment, due 3/25 at 5pm (submit pdf by email attachment)
25%
3rd writing assignment, due 5/6 at 5pm (submit pdf by email attachment)
30% Class participation, including punctual attendance, completion of assigned readings, and
participation in class discussion. This aspect of the class is weighted heavily because it will be to
everyone’s benefit if you are actively engaged with class readings and work together with your
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classmates through class discussion to draw connections with larger themes of the course. Please
note – bodily attendance is a necessary but not sufficient condition for receiving participation
credit. Exceptions will be made for documented medical illnesses or family crises. Whenever
possible in such cases, please notify me by email in advance of your absence.
Late papers will be penalized by one letter grade per day. No rewrites will be allowed, but you
are encouraged to discuss drafts of your papers with me or with tutors at the Writing Center in
advance of final submission deadlines.
Academic Integrity: High standards of academic integrity are essential to your reputation and that of
Gallatin/NYU. I will uphold the Gallatin policy on cheating and plagiarism found at
http://www.gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/policies/policy/integrity.html.
Electronics: Cell phones should be turned off and placed out of sight during class.
tablets, and e-readers may be used for class-related purposes.
Laptop computers,
Course Calendar:
Mon. 1/25: Preliminary Discussion.
Wed. 1/27: Confucius, The Analects, introduction (9-55).
Mon. 2/1: Confucius, The Analects, Book I – Book XI (59-111).
Wed. 2/3: Confucius, The Analects, Book XII – Book XX (112-160).
Mon. 2/8: This week we will watch the 2010 award-winning Hong Kong movie Confucius starring
Chow Yun-fat. For helpful background reading, see The Analects, appendix 1 “Events in the Life of
Confucius,” and appendix 2 “The Disciples as they Appear in The Analects” (161-219).
Wed. 2/10: Confucius continued.
Mon. 2/15: No Class – University Holiday!
Wed. 2/17: Arthur Waley, Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China, “Mencius” section (83-147).
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Mon. 2/22: Burton Watson, tr., The Tso Chuan, sections 1, 5, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 28, 29, and 35.
Wed. 2/24: Burton Watson, tr., The Tso Chuan, sections 7-15 (the saga of “Double Ears”).
WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1: 5-PAGE PAPER DUE FRIDAY 2/26 BY 5PM (EMAIL)
Q: Some passages of The Analects may seem impossibly remote from our modern lives, but others can
still resonate strongly with familiar experience. Choose three passages that appeal to you and describe
how they provide insight or wise counsel in a modern context.
Mon. 2/29: Perspectives from excavated manuscripts – Guodian.
Wed. 3/2: Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, introduction (7-52).
Mon. 3/7: Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Book One (57-96).
Wed. 3/9: Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Book Two (99-143).
Mon. 3/14: No Class – Spring Recess!
Wed. 3/16: No Class – Spring Recess!
Mon. 3/21: Arthur Waley, Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China, “Chuang Tzu” section (3-79).
Wed. 3/23: More selections from Chuang Tzu
WRITING ASSIGNMENT #2: 5-PAGE PAPER DUE FRIDAY 3/25 BY 5PM (EMAIL)
Q: In this paper we will look for wisdom of relevance to modern life in the Tao Te Ching. Choose
three passages that you can read with reference to your own experience and elaborate on their
connection to you despite differences of historical and cultural context.
Mon. 3/28: Selections from Hsun Tzu
Wed. 3/30: More selections from Hsun Tzu
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Sat. 4/2: Chinatown Trip!
A visit to Confucius Plaza and a dim sum brunch.
Mon. 4/4: Selections from Han Fei Tzu
Wed. 4/6: Political ramifications of classical thought: “The Burning of the Books and the Burying of the
Scholars.” Selected passages from The Records of the Grand Historian.
Mon. 4/11: Stephen R. Bokenkamp, “The Xiang’er Commentary to the Laozi” in Early Daoist
Scriptures, 29-58 and 78-142. [In class: The Tao of the internet – discuss selected websites]
Wed. 4/13: Lu Xun, “introduction,” “Nostalgia,” “Diary of a Madman,” and “Kong Yiji” in The Real
Story of Ah-Q and Other Tales of China: The Complete Fiction of Lu Xun – early 20th century criticism
of Confucius.
Mon. 4/18: Lu Xun continued - “Medicine,” “Hair,” and “The Real Story of Ah-Q”.
Wed. 4/20: Wu Tien-wei, Lin Biao and the Gang of Four: Contra-Confucianism in Historical and
Intellectual Perspective (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University, 1983), chapter 2 “The Campaign
against Lin Biao,” and chapter 5 “Confucius and His Communist Critics” - the role of Confucius in the
Cultural Revolution. Also see “The Cultural Revolution (I, II)” on YouTube.
Mon. 4/25: Yu Dan, Confucius from the Heart, selections.
Wed. 4/27: Confucianism and Taoism in the news today – selected articles.
Mon. 5/2: 10-minute in-class presentations of student projects.
Wed. 5/4: 10-minute in-class presentations of student projects continued.
WRITING ASSIGNMENT #3: 10-PAGE PAPER DUE FRIDAY 5/6 BY 5PM (EMAIL)
Q: Discuss a modern adaption of either Confucian or Taoist philosophy (e.g. books of the genre “Tao of
…”). Do these ancient texts provide useful tools for modern life? Do you see an element of
manipulation for commercial and/or political purposes?
Mon. 5/9: Final Thoughts
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