What do you think?
Rate this book
Confucius
Scholar, philosopher and political sage, Confucius lived in the so-called 'Spring and Autumn Period' of the sixth century BC, when China was wracked by warfare between rival feudal states. In response he developed a system of social and political behaviour that he hoped would create harmony and peace throughout the land. His teachings attracted a large number of pupils, yet were largely ignored by the rulers of China's various kingdoms. However in the years after his death his philosophy grew ever more influential, eventually becoming the foundation for Chinese government, education and social structure, as well as being embraced by the rulers of neighbouring Vietnam, Korea and Japan. Beyond its profound effect on the culture and history of East Asia, Confucianism has also exerted a powerful fascination for western thinkers and philosophers. Meher McArthur's accessible and thoughtful biography not only traces the outline of her subject's life, but also examines why Confucius and his teachings are still relevant today.
234 pages, Hardcover
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 17, 2019
دوستانِ گرانقدر، نامِ اصلیِ <کنفوسیوس>، <کونگ چیو> میباشد و در چین دیده به جهان گشود
در کودکی پدرش را از دست داد و مادرش او را به تنهایی بزرگ کرد... زحماتی که این مادر برای فرزندش کشید، سبب شد تا به مقام هایِ بالایی دست یابد و حتی وزیر و مشاورِ امپراتور <لو> شد
او به ترویجِ اصولِ اخلاقی میپرداخت و شاگردانش را بدونِ کتاب، درس می آموخت و شاگردانش سخنانِ وی را یادداشت میکردند
زندگیِ ساده ای داشت، مردمی و آبرومند بود. انسانی خردمند، مظهرِ فروتنی و سادگی در بین دیگران بود.. بنابراین مردم بسیار وی را دوست میداشتند... او علاوه بر این، به موسیقی علاقه داشت و عود مینواخت و شعر و ترانه میسرود، که در این کتاب نیز اشعار و حتی آهنگ هایی که ساخته، آورده شده است
این مردِ خردمند، مراتبِ کمالش را چنین شرح میدهد که: در پانزده سالگی بر پایِ خود استوار شدم، در چهل سالگی از شک و تردید رهایی یافتم، در پنجاه سالگی به نوامیسِ آسمانی پی بردم و حقایقِ جهان بر من معلوم شد، در شصت سالگی گوش به حق و حقیقت سپردم و در هفتاد سالگی به پیروی از ادراکاتِ قلبیِ خویش پرداختم
این فیلسوفِ بزرگ، همیشه از پاسخ دادن به سوالاتِ لاهوتی گریزان بود
یکی از شاگردانش از خدمت و احترام به ارواح از او سوال پرسید، و <کنفوسیوس> پاسخ داد: تو که قادر به خدمت به زندگان نیستی، چگونه میخواهی به ارواحِ آنها خدمت کنی؟
یکی دیگر از شاگردانش دربارهٔ مرگ از او پرسید و <کنفوسیوس> گفت: تو که زندگی و حیات را نمیشناسی چگونه میخواهی و میتوانی مرگ را بشناسی؟
این فیلسوفِ گرامی، هیچگونه اهمیتی به خرافات و موهومات نمیداد و ارتباطی با متافیزیک نداشت
روزی بیخرد و موهوم پرستی مذهبی به او گفت: حداقل آخرِ عمر خوب است که عبادت کنی... <کنفوسیوس> به آن بیخرد پاسخ داد که: زندگیِ من، عبادتِ من است
روزی کنفوسیوس زنی را دید که در کنارِ گوری نشسته و گریه میکند، علتِ گریه اش را جویا شد و زن گفت: پدرِ شوهرم در اینجا به وسیلهٔ ببری کشته شد و حتی شوهر و فرزندم نیز به این سرنوشت دچار شدند و ببر آنها را کشت... کنفوسیوس گفت: پ�� چرا در چنین جایِ خطرناکی مانده ای؟؟ زن گفت: زیرا در این آبادی، حاکمِ عادل و مهربانی وجود دارد و حکومتی نیک برپا کرده است... کنفوسیوس به شاگردانش گفت: به خوبی این را بخاطر بسپارید که حکومتِ ستمکار، از ببر، درنده تر و خطرناک تر است
دو سده پس از مرگِ این اندیشمندِ گرامی، مکتبِ اخلاقیِ او در چین رواج یافت و بی مهری هایی که در گذشته به او و فلسفه اش شده بود به گونه ای جبران گشت.. شاگردِ برجسته اش <منسیوس> یا <منگ کو>، که صد سال پس از وی به دنیا آمد، تلاشهایِ زیادی در ترویجِ فلسفهٔ کنفوسیوس انجام داد، گرچه او بیرون گرا و جمع گرا بود و کنفوسیوس شخصیتی درون گرا داشت
عزیزانم، چه بسیار موجوداتی که نصفِ محبوبیتِ کنفوسیوس را نداشتند و همچون کنفوسیوس بویی از خرد و انسانیت نبرده بودند، ولی ادعای پیغمبری کردند و گفتند از سوی خدا آمده ایم.. ولی این مردِ بزرگ با آنکه همگان وی را قبول داشتند، نه دروغ گفت و نه همچون محمد و موسی و دیگر پیامبرانِ دروغینِ ادیانِ ابراهیمی و سامی از پیروانش سواستفاده کرد.. او فیلسوفی خردمند و آموزگاری مهربان بود که تنها روشِ درست زیستن را به دیگران آموخت... یادش همیشه گرامی باد
---------------------------------------------
امیدوارم این توضیحات در موردِ کنفوسیوس کافی و مفید بوده باشه
<پیروز باشید و ایرانی>
در کودکی پدرش را از دست داد و مادرش او را به تنهایی بزرگ کرد... زحماتی که این مادر برای فرزندش کشید، سبب شد تا به مقام هایِ بالایی دست یابد و حتی وزیر و مشاورِ امپراتور <لو> شد
او به ترویجِ اصولِ اخلاقی میپرداخت و شاگردانش را بدونِ کتاب، درس می آموخت و شاگردانش سخنانِ وی را یادداشت میکردند
زندگیِ ساده ای داشت، مردمی و آبرومند بود. انسانی خردمند، مظهرِ فروتنی و سادگی در بین دیگران بود.. بنابراین مردم بسیار وی را دوست میداشتند... او علاوه بر این، به موسیقی علاقه داشت و عود مینواخت و شعر و ترانه میسرود، که در این کتاب نیز اشعار و حتی آهنگ هایی که ساخته، آورده شده است
این مردِ خردمند، مراتبِ کمالش را چنین شرح میدهد که: در پانزده سالگی بر پایِ خود استوار شدم، در چهل سالگی از شک و تردید رهایی یافتم، در پنجاه سالگی به نوامیسِ آسمانی پی بردم و حقایقِ جهان بر من معلوم شد، در شصت سالگی گوش به حق و حقیقت سپردم و در هفتاد سالگی به پیروی از ادراکاتِ قلبیِ خویش پرداختم
این فیلسوفِ بزرگ، همیشه از پاسخ دادن به سوالاتِ لاهوتی گریزان بود
یکی از شاگردانش از خدمت و احترام به ارواح از او سوال پرسید، و <کنفوسیوس> پاسخ داد: تو که قادر به خدمت به زندگان نیستی، چگونه میخواهی به ارواحِ آنها خدمت کنی؟
یکی دیگر از شاگردانش دربارهٔ مرگ از او پرسید و <کنفوسیوس> گفت: تو که زندگی و حیات را نمیشناسی چگونه میخواهی و میتوانی مرگ را بشناسی؟
این فیلسوفِ گرامی، هیچگونه اهمیتی به خرافات و موهومات نمیداد و ارتباطی با متافیزیک نداشت
روزی بیخرد و موهوم پرستی مذهبی به او گفت: حداقل آخرِ عمر خوب است که عبادت کنی... <کنفوسیوس> به آن بیخرد پاسخ داد که: زندگیِ من، عبادتِ من است
روزی کنفوسیوس زنی را دید که در کنارِ گوری نشسته و گریه میکند، علتِ گریه اش را جویا شد و زن گفت: پدرِ شوهرم در اینجا به وسیلهٔ ببری کشته شد و حتی شوهر و فرزندم نیز به این سرنوشت دچار شدند و ببر آنها را کشت... کنفوسیوس گفت: پ�� چرا در چنین جایِ خطرناکی مانده ای؟؟ زن گفت: زیرا در این آبادی، حاکمِ عادل و مهربانی وجود دارد و حکومتی نیک برپا کرده است... کنفوسیوس به شاگردانش گفت: به خوبی این را بخاطر بسپارید که حکومتِ ستمکار، از ببر، درنده تر و خطرناک تر است
دو سده پس از مرگِ این اندیشمندِ گرامی، مکتبِ اخلاقیِ او در چین رواج یافت و بی مهری هایی که در گذشته به او و فلسفه اش شده بود به گونه ای جبران گشت.. شاگردِ برجسته اش <منسیوس> یا <منگ کو>، که صد سال پس از وی به دنیا آمد، تلاشهایِ زیادی در ترویجِ فلسفهٔ کنفوسیوس انجام داد، گرچه او بیرون گرا و جمع گرا بود و کنفوسیوس شخصیتی درون گرا داشت
عزیزانم، چه بسیار موجوداتی که نصفِ محبوبیتِ کنفوسیوس را نداشتند و همچون کنفوسیوس بویی از خرد و انسانیت نبرده بودند، ولی ادعای پیغمبری کردند و گفتند از سوی خدا آمده ایم.. ولی این مردِ بزرگ با آنکه همگان وی را قبول داشتند، نه دروغ گفت و نه همچون محمد و موسی و دیگر پیامبرانِ دروغینِ ادیانِ ابراهیمی و سامی از پیروانش سواستفاده کرد.. او فیلسوفی خردمند و آموزگاری مهربان بود که تنها روشِ درست زیستن را به دیگران آموخت... یادش همیشه گرامی باد
---------------------------------------------
امیدوارم این توضیحات در موردِ کنفوسیوس کافی و مفید بوده باشه
<پیروز باشید و ایرانی>
February 26, 2019
Scholar, philosopher and political sage, Confucius lived in the Spring and Autumn Period of the Sixth Century BCE, when China was wracked by warfare between rival states. In response, the Master developed a system of moral and political behaviour that he hoped would create harmony and peace throughout the land. His teachings attracted many pupils, but were largely ignored by the rulers of the warring states. As a result, he did not see his philosophical and moral principles applied during his lifetime.
After his death, however, his teachings were kept alive by his followers, and within a few centuries his philosophy was adopted by China’s rulers. It became the foundation for public service, education and social structure in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
The above is the blurb for this well-written, well-researched, comprehensive book on the life of Confucius. While there must have been millions of written words about the Master (including the exam answers and essays composed by hundreds of thousands of scholars EVERY year since the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago), they were usually in Classical Chinese, inaccessible to most people today, including college-educated young people in China. (Classical Chinese or "wen-yen" is the telegraphic style of writing used until the early 1900s when vernacular Chinese became official. Today, of course, no one writes in Classical Chinese except in GCE O level exam answers in Chinese studies!)
What is excellent about McArthur's book is that it brings Confucius to us on a personal, poignant level. He is much like our former schoolteacher, earnest, wise and somewhat idealistic, as he tried but failed to encourage rulers and officials to administer their state according to moral and compassionate principles.
In the last chapter, McArthur writes:
"Confucius returned to Lu [his ancestral home] in the winter of 484 BCE. He had been invited back home by the Duke and Chief Counsellor of Lu, and they had sweetened the invitation with a large financial gift. This must have been a source of considerable satisfaction for Confucius after many years of feeling unappreciated in his home state. The two new rulers, Duke Ai and the Chief Counsellor Ji Kangzi had replaced Duke Ding and Ji Huanzi, who had been the cause of Confucius’ departure from Lu 14 years before, and these younger men no doubt perceived Confucius as a state elder, or guolao, who possessed valuable political wisdom. He had travelled widely throughout the empire and had experienced first-hand the political wrangling of the region, so he had acquired a unique knowledge of political affairs that would be a great benefit to any leader."
So, when he returned to his home state, did the Duke and his ministers listen to him?
"It is possible the various words of advice that Confucius offered may not have sat well with the Duke or his Counsellor. Aside from these few exchanges with the leaders of Lu, Confucius seems to have had very little to do with the men in power after his return, and he was never actually offered an official post in the government. Nor was his counsel heeded on the rare occasion when he was consulted about government issues.
"At one point in 484 BCE, when he was consulted about taxation, his opinion was ignored quite blatantly and, to his great dismay and outrage, the person who ignored it was Ran Qiu, his former student. That year the leaders of the Jisun family were considering imposing a land tax on their tenants, and Ran Qiu was dispatched to ask Confucius for his views on the subject. Confucius, who was passionately opposed to such a tax, knew that the Jisun family would not like his response so he refused to give it in an official capacity to Ran Qiu. Later, however, he privately advised Ran Qiu that the Jisun clan should not tax the people in addition to the grain that they had already produced and given to the government, since it was more than they could afford. He suggested that the Jisun follow the example of the early Zhou kings, who instituted the fengjian system of land distribution, in which land was shared and worked in a way that benefited both the ruler and his subjects."
The politics of the Warring States is similar to what's going on in the world today. If Confucius were alive today, he would be received politely by those in power, given an honorary role and ignored.
So, what happened when the Master realised no one in government wanted his advice, including even his former pupils? Here's McArthur on how Confucius spent his last days:
"Disappointed by the Duke and Chief Counsellor’s lack of interest in his advice and in Ran Qiu’s inability to question his employer’s judgement, Confucius appears to have spent his last years just as he had spent many before, being largely ignored by the men in power who made the big decisions. Just as previously, he seems to have retreated into the realm of education, occupying himself again with teaching, research, writing and editing. More than ever, his reputation as a gentleman of great wisdom and worldly experience drew many young men to him, and he continued to educate them with undying enthusiasm.
"He had declared once while still in Chen state that he wished to return to Lu to help ‘our young men back home to shape their material’, and once back in Lu he posed the optimistic question, ‘How do we know that the generations to come will not be the equal of the present?’ It seems that although he may have given up trying to teach current rulers and administrators how to be virtuous leaders, he still held great hope for the younger generations. If, by teaching them about history, rituals and music, he could show them how to be good moral rulers and administrators, he might succeed in having a positive influence on future governments."
Final word:
I hope these long excerpts have given you a taste of the quality and depth of the book. I consider it a resource book, i.e. a book that you should buy and keep within easy reach for constant reference. Don't waste time doing online search for free material. If you have benefited from what you've found in any book, make a purchase and support the author financially.
For any resource book, an author would have spent years and great effort to research, develop the ideas and eventually produce the findings in an accessible, coherent published format. The cover price we paid for it (say, $20-$40) is peanuts compared with what the author has put into the book.
After his death, however, his teachings were kept alive by his followers, and within a few centuries his philosophy was adopted by China’s rulers. It became the foundation for public service, education and social structure in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
The above is the blurb for this well-written, well-researched, comprehensive book on the life of Confucius. While there must have been millions of written words about the Master (including the exam answers and essays composed by hundreds of thousands of scholars EVERY year since the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago), they were usually in Classical Chinese, inaccessible to most people today, including college-educated young people in China. (Classical Chinese or "wen-yen" is the telegraphic style of writing used until the early 1900s when vernacular Chinese became official. Today, of course, no one writes in Classical Chinese except in GCE O level exam answers in Chinese studies!)
What is excellent about McArthur's book is that it brings Confucius to us on a personal, poignant level. He is much like our former schoolteacher, earnest, wise and somewhat idealistic, as he tried but failed to encourage rulers and officials to administer their state according to moral and compassionate principles.
In the last chapter, McArthur writes:
"Confucius returned to Lu [his ancestral home] in the winter of 484 BCE. He had been invited back home by the Duke and Chief Counsellor of Lu, and they had sweetened the invitation with a large financial gift. This must have been a source of considerable satisfaction for Confucius after many years of feeling unappreciated in his home state. The two new rulers, Duke Ai and the Chief Counsellor Ji Kangzi had replaced Duke Ding and Ji Huanzi, who had been the cause of Confucius’ departure from Lu 14 years before, and these younger men no doubt perceived Confucius as a state elder, or guolao, who possessed valuable political wisdom. He had travelled widely throughout the empire and had experienced first-hand the political wrangling of the region, so he had acquired a unique knowledge of political affairs that would be a great benefit to any leader."
So, when he returned to his home state, did the Duke and his ministers listen to him?
"It is possible the various words of advice that Confucius offered may not have sat well with the Duke or his Counsellor. Aside from these few exchanges with the leaders of Lu, Confucius seems to have had very little to do with the men in power after his return, and he was never actually offered an official post in the government. Nor was his counsel heeded on the rare occasion when he was consulted about government issues.
"At one point in 484 BCE, when he was consulted about taxation, his opinion was ignored quite blatantly and, to his great dismay and outrage, the person who ignored it was Ran Qiu, his former student. That year the leaders of the Jisun family were considering imposing a land tax on their tenants, and Ran Qiu was dispatched to ask Confucius for his views on the subject. Confucius, who was passionately opposed to such a tax, knew that the Jisun family would not like his response so he refused to give it in an official capacity to Ran Qiu. Later, however, he privately advised Ran Qiu that the Jisun clan should not tax the people in addition to the grain that they had already produced and given to the government, since it was more than they could afford. He suggested that the Jisun follow the example of the early Zhou kings, who instituted the fengjian system of land distribution, in which land was shared and worked in a way that benefited both the ruler and his subjects."
The politics of the Warring States is similar to what's going on in the world today. If Confucius were alive today, he would be received politely by those in power, given an honorary role and ignored.
So, what happened when the Master realised no one in government wanted his advice, including even his former pupils? Here's McArthur on how Confucius spent his last days:
"Disappointed by the Duke and Chief Counsellor’s lack of interest in his advice and in Ran Qiu’s inability to question his employer’s judgement, Confucius appears to have spent his last years just as he had spent many before, being largely ignored by the men in power who made the big decisions. Just as previously, he seems to have retreated into the realm of education, occupying himself again with teaching, research, writing and editing. More than ever, his reputation as a gentleman of great wisdom and worldly experience drew many young men to him, and he continued to educate them with undying enthusiasm.
"He had declared once while still in Chen state that he wished to return to Lu to help ‘our young men back home to shape their material’, and once back in Lu he posed the optimistic question, ‘How do we know that the generations to come will not be the equal of the present?’ It seems that although he may have given up trying to teach current rulers and administrators how to be virtuous leaders, he still held great hope for the younger generations. If, by teaching them about history, rituals and music, he could show them how to be good moral rulers and administrators, he might succeed in having a positive influence on future governments."
Final word:
I hope these long excerpts have given you a taste of the quality and depth of the book. I consider it a resource book, i.e. a book that you should buy and keep within easy reach for constant reference. Don't waste time doing online search for free material. If you have benefited from what you've found in any book, make a purchase and support the author financially.
For any resource book, an author would have spent years and great effort to research, develop the ideas and eventually produce the findings in an accessible, coherent published format. The cover price we paid for it (say, $20-$40) is peanuts compared with what the author has put into the book.
June 10, 2012
I, like many people, had heard the name Confucius many times—but didn't really know a great deal about him. I went to my local Barnes & Noble with the aim of finding a good book that would educate me further. Upon looking through the shelves there were surprisingly few books that I could find, and the customer service lady in the store also had trouble locating them. Eventually, I was confronted with a choice of three or four books, including the Analects. I chose this one.
The book is well written and goes into a lot of detail about Confucius' life. Obviously many historical accounts of his lifetime can only be speculated, given he lived around 500 BC. Still, this book manages to portray an excellent narrative that gives the reader more of an idea about who this man was. Someone from a humble background who wandered around provincial China trying to promote virtue among its' rulers. Many of his personal political struggles and observations certainly still hold true today.
Given China's rise in the world, and the influence Confucius has had for a staggering 2,500 years, I can only imagine many more books being written about this mysterious and noble man.
The book is well written and goes into a lot of detail about Confucius' life. Obviously many historical accounts of his lifetime can only be speculated, given he lived around 500 BC. Still, this book manages to portray an excellent narrative that gives the reader more of an idea about who this man was. Someone from a humble background who wandered around provincial China trying to promote virtue among its' rulers. Many of his personal political struggles and observations certainly still hold true today.
Given China's rise in the world, and the influence Confucius has had for a staggering 2,500 years, I can only imagine many more books being written about this mysterious and noble man.
February 26, 2019
-All of east Asia calls him father.
-Spoke in hard truths and worshipped by emperors.
-One of the first espousers/expounders of the Golden Rule.
-Banned by Mao because of his political philosophy.
The Confucian philosophy is one of a select few that survived the passage of time from Ancient China to the modern day. Mostly law-focused, Confucianism emphasizes Li and Ren, or Rites and Humaneness, while promoting the Junzi (morally good person or Gentleman) who acts in harmony with others but does not seek to be like them; whereas the small man seeks to be like others yet does not act in harmony with them.
A critical element of the proper gentleman (the ideal person for Confucius) is the ability to get harmonize with others and observe social customs, especially reciprocity. Laws are ways by which we organize ourselves, keep order, and are important for developing proper character.
One of the more revolutionary concepts in Confucianism is the position that power should only delegated based on a person's character (learning, experience, virtue, and wisdom) instead of their birth. Along with this emphasis on education, the Confucian focus on the family, the group, and society, has had profound effect on the holistic philosophy which pervades the east.
Despite all this, I get the impression that Confucius doesn't explain why one should behave in the way he believes they should. His only resource are tangential anecdotes and references to Chinese literature. It isn't surprising that emperors promoted his teachings of loyalty/duty to the lower classes, especially when many of the justifications relied on quotations from other immense works. Considering that most of the Chinese population couldn't read, let alone memorize the text, it's easy to see why the principles of Confucianism were utilized for over two millenia.
The biography was clear and educational throughout, though the language was often basic and paragraphs were often repeated throughout. Overall quite enjoyable, and has given me an interest in the vast treasure trove of far eastern philosophy. If it's worth nothing more than that, then it's definitely worth the read.
-Spoke in hard truths and worshipped by emperors.
-One of the first espousers/expounders of the Golden Rule.
-Banned by Mao because of his political philosophy.
The Confucian philosophy is one of a select few that survived the passage of time from Ancient China to the modern day. Mostly law-focused, Confucianism emphasizes Li and Ren, or Rites and Humaneness, while promoting the Junzi (morally good person or Gentleman) who acts in harmony with others but does not seek to be like them; whereas the small man seeks to be like others yet does not act in harmony with them.
A critical element of the proper gentleman (the ideal person for Confucius) is the ability to get harmonize with others and observe social customs, especially reciprocity. Laws are ways by which we organize ourselves, keep order, and are important for developing proper character.
One of the more revolutionary concepts in Confucianism is the position that power should only delegated based on a person's character (learning, experience, virtue, and wisdom) instead of their birth. Along with this emphasis on education, the Confucian focus on the family, the group, and society, has had profound effect on the holistic philosophy which pervades the east.
Despite all this, I get the impression that Confucius doesn't explain why one should behave in the way he believes they should. His only resource are tangential anecdotes and references to Chinese literature. It isn't surprising that emperors promoted his teachings of loyalty/duty to the lower classes, especially when many of the justifications relied on quotations from other immense works. Considering that most of the Chinese population couldn't read, let alone memorize the text, it's easy to see why the principles of Confucianism were utilized for over two millenia.
The biography was clear and educational throughout, though the language was often basic and paragraphs were often repeated throughout. Overall quite enjoyable, and has given me an interest in the vast treasure trove of far eastern philosophy. If it's worth nothing more than that, then it's definitely worth the read.
June 20, 2013
Meher McArthur's Confucius is not going to reveal any new earth-shattering details about the ancient sage's life, but it's a fine introduction to his biographical history. McArthur takes the middle road, retelling the story of Confucius as popularly conceptualized today, with footnotes added to let the reader know when certain narratives are disputed by historians (and possible alternative narratives when appropriate). When dealing with the historical facts about a figure that has become more myth than man, this cautious approach works just fine. Those who know little to nothing about Confucius or the philosophy-religion which grew from his teachings will find Confucius an accessible and adequate account, and McArthur lists more in-depth, specialized biographies and histories for the reader who finds a desire to learn more.
December 17, 2013
Excellent biography which explains Confucius's teachings as well as his life story. Indeed, it is honest enough to say when we don't know something and to discuss many of the myths about the man. We also get to know about his students, how his views have been used and abused over the centuries and where his legacy is now.
August 9, 2018
Although the book was informative and honest, it became somewhat repetitive.
October 9, 2020
The master said " Only through study and learning will one find his way" An excellent story on Kongzi, a renowned philosopher yet we know little about him. This book gives a good analysis of the early life of Confucius as well as his time as the "bitter gourd that was rejected". I loved the way the author was able to narrate his history though most of his life is only known through third party experience.
I will recommend someone to read this book before diving into the analects and the other 5 confucian classics.
I will recommend someone to read this book before diving into the analects and the other 5 confucian classics.
June 26, 2017
Confucius has always been a mythical figure and this book accentuate the teaching of Confucius that could be described as rigid. Confuciunism is highly respected but the practice of becoming a noble man may be in the gray zone. Writing about Confucius may not be an easy task especially when the accent and meaning of chinese words may not be reflected well in other language. This is just a history book bored with facts and dates.
April 29, 2023
Very insightful and mind-broadening. If you are interested in eastern philosophy, this book might suit you.
Want to read
June 24, 2016* Top 10 Greatest Leaders of All Time
The Leader: Confucius
A multihyphenate before being a multihyphenate was cool, Chinese teacher-editor-politician-philosopher Confucius didn’t need an army to become legendary – his teachings shaped the soul of China. A leader who rose from humble beginnings, Confucius had a respect for others and an answer to everything: We can all learn a lot from a man who speaks in aphorisms. Learn more about his wise teachings in Meher McArthur’s Confucius: A Throneless King.
The Leader: Confucius
A multihyphenate before being a multihyphenate was cool, Chinese teacher-editor-politician-philosopher Confucius didn’t need an army to become legendary – his teachings shaped the soul of China. A leader who rose from humble beginnings, Confucius had a respect for others and an answer to everything: We can all learn a lot from a man who speaks in aphorisms. Learn more about his wise teachings in Meher McArthur’s Confucius: A Throneless King.
September 16, 2014
This was a very interesting book to actually get to know something about the man called Confucius. However, the author states that there is extremely little written documentation on the man and his teachings other than what was written about him by his students many years after the events.
So, with this in mind, I'm surprised the author was able to create an entire book about Confucius, and it did drag somewhat.
So, with this in mind, I'm surprised the author was able to create an entire book about Confucius, and it did drag somewhat.
Want to read
July 18, 2010KOBOBOOKS
Reviewed by The Guardian
Reviewed by The Guardian
August 10, 2012
currently can't get my head around this at the moment, I will try to read it again at a later date.
July 2, 2013
While this was well written, it really didn't hold my interest. It's hard to write a biography when you basing the information on second, third, fourth, etc... generation information.
February 18, 2016
A biographical introduction to the man and his disciples. A bit dry.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews