An Introduction to Confucianism

by Xinzhong Yao

• ISBN13: 9780521644303
• ISBN10: 0521644305
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-02-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Taking into account the long history and wide range of Confucian Studies, this book introduces Confucianism - initiated in China by Confucius (551 BC-479 BC) - primarily as a philosophical and religious tradition. It pays attention to Confucianism in both the West and the East, focussing on the tradition's doctrines, schools, rituals, sacred places and terminology, but also stressing the adaptations, transformations and new thinking taking place in modern times. Xinzhong Yao presents Confucianism as a tradition with many dimensions and as an ancient tradition with contemporary appeal. This gives the reader a richer and clearer view of how Confucianism functioned in the past and of what it means in the present. A Chinese scholar based in the West, he draws together the many strands of Confucianism in a style accessible to students, teachers, and general readers interested in one of the world's major religious traditions.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	viii
Preface	xi
Confucianism in history: chronological table	xiv
Introduction: Confucian studies East and West	1	(3)
Stages of the Confucian evolution	4	(6)
Methodological focuses	10	(2)
Structure and contents	12	(2)
Translation and transliteration	14	(2)
Confucianism, Confucius and Confucian classics	16	(52)
`Confucianism' and ru	16	(14)
Ru and the ru tradition	17	(4)
Confucius	21	(5)
Confucianism as a `family' (jia)	26	(2)
Confucianism as a cult (jiao)	28	(1)
Confucianism as a form of learning (xue)	29	(1)
Ethics, politics and religion in the Confucian tradition	30	(17)
An ethical system?	32	(2)
An official orthodoxy?	34	(4)
A religious tradition?	38	(9)
Confucian classics	47	(21)
Ancient records and the classics	49	(3)
Confucius and the Confucian classics	52	(2)
Confucian classics in history	54	(2)
The Thirteen Classics	56	(1)
The Five Classics	57	(6)
The Four Books	63	(5)
Evolution and transformation -- a historical perspective	68	(71)
Confucianism and three options	68	(3)
Mengzi and his development of idealistic Confucianism	71	(5)
Xunzi: a Great Confucian synthesiser	76	(5)
The victory of Confucianism and its syncretism	81	(2)
Dong Zhongshu and the establishment of Han Confucianism	83	(3)
Classical Learning: controversies and debates	86	(3)
The Confucian dimension of `Mysterious Learning'	89	(7)
The emergence of Neo-Confucianism	96	(2)
Five masters of early Neo-Confucianism	98	(7)
Zhu Xi and his systematic Confucianism	105	(4)
The Idealistic School: Lu Jiuyuan and Wang Shouren	109	(6)
Korea: the second home for Confucianism	115	(10)
Japanese Confucianism: transfiguration and application	125	(14)
The Way of Confucianism	139	(51)
The Way of Heaven	141	(12)
Heaven and the Confucian Ultimate	142	(5)
Heaven and moral principles	147	(2)
Heaven as Nature or Natural Law	149	(4)
The Way of Humans	153	(16)
Morality as transcendence	155	(5)
Good and evil	160	(5)
Sacred kingship and humane government	165	(4)
The Way of Harmony	169	(21)
Harmony: the concept and the theme	170	(4)
Oneness of Heaven and Humans	174	(1)
Humans and Nature	175	(3)
Social conflicts and their solutions	178	(12)
Ritual and religious practice	190	(55)
Confucianism: a tradition of ritual	191	(18)
Ritual and sacrifice	191	(5)
Sacrifice to Heaven	196	(3)
Sacrifice to ancestors and filial piety	199	(5)
The cult of Confucius	204	(5)
Learning and spiritual cultivation	209	(14)
Learning as a spiritual path	209	(7)
Spiritual cultivation	216	(7)
Confucianism and other religious traditions	223	(22)
The unity of three doctrines	224	(5)
Confucianism and Daoism	229	(4)
Mutual transformation between Confucianism and Buddhism	233	(4)
Confucianism and Christianity	237	(8)
Confucianism and its modern relevance	245	(42)
Confucianism: survival and renovation	246	(15)
Stepping into the modern age	247	(4)
The rise of modern Confucianism	251	(4)
Unfolding of the Confucian project	255	(6)
The themes of modern Confucian studies	261	(12)
Confucianism and the fate of China	263	(3)
Confucianism and western culture	266	(4)
Confucianism and modernisation	270	(3)
Confucianism and its modern relevance	273	(14)
The revival of Confucian values	274	(5)
An ethic of responsibility	279	(1)
A comprehensive understanding of education	280	(4)
A humanistic meaning of life	284	(3)
Select bibliography	287	(22)
Transliteration table	309	(21)
Index	330