08/271. Social context of early ChinaTensions between the political center (the Zhou court) and regional lordsConstant warfare and widespread desires for peace and order“This violet era of competition between the domains was one of the mostintellectually creative in China’s history” 2. The ideograph象象象象 sign:The definition: A written sigh (of a single syllable) that represents (the idea of )an object rather than the sound of the speech as exemplified in the phonetic 象象象象language. 3. The Classic of PoetryIt is an anthology of 305 ancient poems: The collection has been in circulation since the sixth century BC.It was used as a cultural encyclopedia象象象象 across the social divide betweenthe high and the low; e.g. A textbook, a manual for diplomatic 象 象 象communications, courtship, political satire象象 and social protest, etc. 4. ContentPopular songs 象 (1-160): poems from 15 different regionsElegance 象 (161-265): it overlaps象 象 with folk songs象 象 and politicalsatires/allegories象象 by elitesGreat Odes 象 (266-305): ritual象 象/ceremonial hymns象 象 and legends of theearliest period. 5. Format:Subject matters: love, war, hardship of agricultural life, sacrifice, complaint of thedeserted/banished wife/subject, and dynastic legends, etc.Style: straightforward in immediate imagery and musical nature. Mode: self-expressive 6. The Osprey:The scholarly version is the translation by Bernhard Karlgren.“Guan/Kwan/Gwan” is the mimic sound of the osprey.Lovely is the good girl whom a gentlemen desires. Controversy on the interpretation of “The Osprey” Confucian scholars tend to interpret the bird as a symbol for the royal king inpolitical allegories象象;Modern specialists perceive “The Osprey” as a love poem. 7. The Mao Commentary象象: “Great Preface象象”Over-politicize the poem: Regulate the world/relationship with the virtue of the QueenConsort象象.The problem of this exegesis象 象: The poem does not open the door for thisallegorical assertion象象. Possible reasons:Canonization 象象象象象of Confucian thought:Make the love poem respectableThe impact: the Mao renditions象象 became the politically correct reading the TheClassic of Poetry during the Han dynasty. The allegorical imposition象象 repressesdiverse voices. 8. Lyrical象象 mode versus didactic象象 codeLyrical mode: poetry, express, desirePoetry expresses: desiresThe self-expressive subjectivity象象象 is at the heart of the poetic creation.Open-ended approach Didactic mode:It aims at teaching a moral lessonIt is designated象象 to transform the mind with a certain set of ideaIt tends to talk above the listener. Closed designationSignificance of the critical debate: the interactions between defiant象 象 象 象undercurrents象 象 and the dominant powers have given rise to renewals象 象 ofliterary creations.What are some ways we can try to do this?Love, war, hardship of agricultural life, dynastic legends, strange of deserted,isolated people, sacrifice. 9. “The cypress-boat”09/03 Intellectual Foundations Confucius and Laozi Cultural Context (the 6th century BC)1. The social crisis: Competitions for leadership among statesUncertainty and change2. Thinkers emerged to respond with the chaos象象:Debates and dialogues among different schools of thought3. Re-definitions of the previous ideas:In the large pictureContextual Reference:1. Spring and Autumn (722-481 BC)Confucius:551-479 BCLaozi (?)Warring States (403-221 BC)Mencius: (371-289 BC)Zhuangzi: (369-286 BC)Xunzi: (298-238 BC)Confucius (551-479 BC)1. View Confucius in historicityPerceive his thought without the canonical象象象 glory inscribed象象象 in the HandynastyExplore the significance of his thoughtThe impact of his school of thought The Analects象象:1. Moral power as the principle for the social hierarchy2. Personal responsibility constitutes the basis for social stability Moral Power (continued):1. “let the ruler govern as he should, and the minister serve as he should. Let thefather regulate as he should, and the son act as a son should.”Filial piety象象 in the family; loyal submission to the ruler in the stateThe social order is hierarchical象象 象 as described in the analogy象象 between afamily and a statePriority of family over the state2. Re-defining the concept of “gentleman”:Nobility象象 is acquired through personal cultivation (CP 21/31)Advocate象象 character over birth is against the hereditary privilege Cultivate oneself in the here and now. “What you do not want yourself, do notdo others.”Moral behavior is reciprocal象象象3. On learning: “To learn, and at due times to practice what one has learned, is that notalso a pleasure.”It is pleasant to use the knowledge one has learned. The interrelation between practice and learning Learning and Thinking:1. “When I have hold up one corner of a square to anyone and he does not come backwith the other three, I will not bother to go over the point again.”2. “Learning without thinking is labor lose; thinking without learning is perilous”3. Learning and thinking are complementary.Complexity:1. He is critical to hereditary systems, but is favor of established norms象象, such asthe idealized past over the present, age over youth, etc.2. “I will follow [the Duke of ] Zhou” [in which old customs are followed.]The Conversation:1. Administrate the state of 1000 chariots2. Administrate the state of 60 or 70 li wide 3. Be at services of a royal ancestral象象象 temple 4. Bathe with others and return home singing: what is the response of the master tothe last student? The political ideal and the personal preference do not have to exclude each other.The Daoist Contention:1. What is the way/Path?It is the logic which underlies operations of the living universe.“The Way/Path that can be spoken of is not the constant Way/Path.” It is difficult to explain the Way/Path in concrete terms. The language can only point to the Way/Path. 2. A Different Focus:Focus on relational and individual concerns. “The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth”. RecitationConfucius = popular at time1.