1229中国简史【英语版本二】.docVIP

中国简史【英语版本】 张铁城 2016、、发送 A Brief History Of China Confucianism: Rational Humanism ? ???? The first, most famous, and certainly most influential Chinese philosopher and teacher was Kung-fu-tzu (Master Kung, the Sage, 551-479 B.C.), known in the West as Confucius after Jesuit missionaries to China in the seventeenth century latinized his name. ? ???? Later Confucianists attributed to the master the role of composing or editing the Five Confucian Classics (two books of history and one book each on poetry, divination, and ceremonies), which were in large part a product of the early Chou period. But the only work that can be accurately attributed to Confucius is the Analects (Selected Sayings), a collection of his responses to his disciples questions. ? ???? Confucius, who belonged to the lower aristocracy, was more or less a contemporary of the Buddha in India, Zoroaster in Persia, and the early philosophers of Greece. Like the Buddha and Zoroaster, Confucius lived in a troubled time - an age of political and social turmoil - and his prime concern, like theirs, was the improvement of society. To achieve this goal, Confucius did not look to the gods and spirits for assistance; he accepted the existence of Heaven (Tien) and spirits, but he insisted it was more important to know the essential duties of man living in a society of men. We dont know yet how to serve men, he said, how can we know about serving the spirits? And, We dont yet know about life, how can we know about death? He advised a ruler to respect the ghosts and spirits but keep them at a distance and devote yourself to the proper demands of the people. ? ???? Confucius believed that the improvement of society was the responsibility of the ruler and that the quality of government depended on the rulers moral character: The way (Tao) of learning to be great consists in shining with the illustrious power of moral personality, in making a new people, in abiding in the highest goodness. Confucius definition of