Ethics of Confucius: The Conduct of Life - Hardcover

Miles Menander Dawson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 8130713942 ISBN 13: 9788130713946

Publisher: Cosmo Publications, 2012

Synopsis

The ethical teachings of Confucius, which are almost purely secular, have for more than 2000 years been accepted by a larger number of human beings than those of any other teacher. This, also, not withstanding that the peoples who so receive Confucian morals as their guide are of the most various views concerning religion, i.e., for instance, are Buddhists, Mahommedans, Taoists, Shintoists, etc. No other ethical system, whether of religious origin, or of secular, has ever been acceptable to persons professing religious convictions so diverse. His political maxims have been regarded as fundamental, and knowledge of them, as well as of his ethics, has been insisted upon as a prime essential to political preferment, in a nation which, despite the not infrequent shifting of ruling dynasties, has the unparalleled record of continuing from prehistoric times to the present without a single break. A great step forward in the dissemination of the doctrine in foreign lands is taken in this translation. Lofty as appear the ideals, in the usual translations, they lose the effect on the average reader that the application which Mr. Dawson has now given them must create. Driving home the principles by careful compilation under different headings, the author causes the scheme of ethical conduct to attract and appeal; and the blessings it has bestowed in the vast expanses of China may yet give comfort to many people in many other lands.

About this title

About the Author:

Burton Watson has taught at Columbia, Stanford, and Kyoto Universities and is one of the world's best-known translators of Chinese and Japanese works. His translations include The Tales of the Heike; The Lotus Sutra; the writings of Zhuangzi, Mozi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi; The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry; and Records of the Grand Historian.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cosmo Publications
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 8130713942
• ISBN 13: 9788130713946
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 276