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Analysis of Several Passages on Chinese Civilization

I. The first set of lines were written by Hui Shi to Zhuangzi (Ebrey/Chinese 30). After Confucius, there was a great array of new ideas being proposed, which fell into two main categories, Daoist and Legalist. The two main texts of Daoism are the Laozi, also known as The Way, and the Zhuangzi. The Zhuangzi consists mainly of collection of tales, full of parables and fictional encounters, and pure imagination. Both works have abandoned the unnatural and artificial. Both reject social conventions for a surrender to the spontaneity of the universe. They are of interest for the information they provide on the late Zhou, and because they have been popular books with Chinese readers throughout history. The Laozi is more concerned with protecting each personÆs life, while the Zhuangzi is searching for manÆs place in the cosmos to reconcile him with death.

The second passage is from the Mencius and is on Government (Ebrey/Chinese 23). Mencius (ca. 370-300 BC) was a follower of Confucius. The Mencius is a collection of the philosopherÆs conversations, presented in no particular order, but specific points are analyzed at length. Like Confucius, Mencius traveled around giving advice to leaders of various states, and tried to convert them to believing that a rules who controls his people by benevolent government would be one who would unify the realm. He proposed definite financial and political measures for easing tax burdens on the people. He believed in the goodness of human nature.

The third passage is from the Daoist Laozi, discussed with the Zhuangzi above (Ebrey/Chinese 28). The fourth piece is from Confucius on Humanity (Ebrey/Chinese 20). Confucius (551-479 BC) exerted a profound influence on the development of Chinese culture through his philosophical teachings. He traveled from state to state, trying to find a ruler who would listen to him and given him a high office, but in vain. He had a vision of a more p...

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Analysis of Several Passages on Chinese Civilization. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 02:32, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1705887.html