Confucius himself explicitly cautions against the idea that…
Confucius himself explicitly cautions against the idea that his thinking is in any way revolutionary or even new. He strongly contends that he is merely transmitting the thought of the ancients, as if to urge contemporary audiences back to a Golden Age when men (and yes, he probably only meant “men”) were more virtuous, more heroic, and more cultivated. And Confucius continues what must be said to be an incredibly conservative strategy of discourse: Don’t innovate, stay true to the old ways, honor your parents, remember your duties and responsibilities. At the very beginning of The Analects (a collection of his sayings compiled by his followers), he declares, “To remain unsoured, even though one’s merits are unrecognized by others, is after all what is expected of a gentleman?” He stresses the value of knowing what one doesn’t know, and cultivating the ability to learn from anybody, no matter how humble or mean. He famously notes, “Even when walking in a party of no more than three I can always be certain of learning from those I am with. There will be good qualities that I can select for imitation and bad ones that will teach me what requires correction in myself.” The thought of Confucius as expressed in The Analects is one of social duty, the Golden Rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and study, study, study! Hard work, self improvement, and personal growth are hallmarks of the text and clearly evident in the East Asian focus on education and learning. QUESTIONS: 1. What are the characteristics of a government founded on Confucian principles? 2. How did Confucian principles influence practical life in China? Your answer must be in your own words- do not use direct quotes. Your answer must be a minimum of 100 words.