Confucius : A Throneless King

by MCARTHUR,MEHER

• ISBN13: 9781605981178
• ISBN10: 1605981176
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-02-17
• Publisher: MICROCASM

Summary

Confucius is one of the most important figures in Chinese history,whose philosophies have shaped world culture. Often overlookedoutside his native country, Confucius himself was a fascinatingfigure. A contemporary of Buddha, Confucius was outspokenand uncompromising man who revolutionized Chinese societynearly 2,500 years ago, when the country was merely a looseweb of feudal provinces. No small feat for the illegitimate son ofa retired soldier and a teenage concubine, who once received aprophecy from the local fortune-teller that she would give birth toa 'œthroneless king.' Perhaps because of these humble beginnings, Confucius had apassionate belief in respect for others and this belief underpinnedhis life and teachings. He advised the emperors and kings of hisday, gaining their respect and undying enmity along the way. hewas equally proud of both achievements, saying that if the evilpeople of the world liked him, he was doing something wrong.Confucius established many ideas that are taken for granted today, from respecting one's parents to the Golden Rule, to virtuebeing its own reward. his theories became the foundation of oneof the world's first civil services and established social structuresthroughout Asia that still exist today.

Author Biography

Meher McArthur is an art historian and the former curator of East Asian Art at the Pacific Asian Museum in California. She is the author of Reading Buddist Art: An Illustrated Guide to Buddhist Signs and Symbols, The Arts of Asia: Materials, Techniques, Styles, and Confucius: A Throneless King. She lives in Pasadena, CA.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
Introduction: China's Great Sage	p. 1
The Bitter Gourd That Is Not Eaten	p. 27
China at the Time of Confucius	p. 33
Early Life and Family	p. 47
Early Career and Teachings	p. 65
Return to Lu	p. 85
Confucius' Followers	p. 107
The Wandering Years	p. 123
The Final Years	p. 145
Conclusion: The Legacy of Confucius and His Teachings	p. 161
Notes	p. 195
Select Bibliography	p. 221
Index	p. 225
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