中国文化英语教程文本

P a r tIW i s d o ma n dB e l i e f sUnit 1 Confucian thought on heaven and humanityConfucius (551-479 BC), known in China as Kongzi, given name Qiu and alias Zhongni, was anative of Zouyi (present-day Qufu in Shandong Province) of the State of Lu during the Spring andAutumn Period (770-476 BC). A great thinker, educator and founder of Confucianism, Confucius isan ancient sage to the Chinese people. His words and life story were recorded by his disciples andtheir students in The Analects (Lunyu).Confucius on Heaven: the source of EverythingIn the Shang (1600-1046 BC) and Zhou (1046-256 BC) dynasties, the prevalent concept of“Heaven” was that of a personified god, which influenced Confucius. Generally, however,Confucius regarded “Heaven” as nature. He said, “Heaven does not speak in words. It speaksthrough the rotation of the four seasons and the growth of all living things.” Obviously, heavenequaled nature, in the eyes of Confucius. Moreover, nature was not a lifeless mechanism separatefrom humans; instead, it was the great world of life and the process of creation of life. Human lifewas part and parcel of nature as a whole.Confucius on People: ren and liRen and Li are the two core concepts of Confucius’s doctrine about people.When his students Fan Chi asked him about ren, Confucius replied, “love people”. This isConfucius’ most important interpretation of ren. Love for the people is universal love. Confuciusfurther emphasized that this kind of love should “begin with the love for one’s parents”. Hebelieved no one could love people in general if they did not even love their own parents. Confuciusregarded “filial piety and fraternal duty” as the essence of ren. The Doctrine of...