A Study of Chu?n-tzu in The Analects
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Wen, Zi-Lin
Abstract
The focus of this thesis is the statements of chün-tzu (or “gentleman”) in the Analects. As an ideal character in the Analects, chün-tzu has been one of the main issues in the academic world. Based on some previous study conclusions, the meaning of chün-tzu had been changed from a name for lords to a praise of a virtue man; and the Analects, which pull the trigger, has affected later Chinese civilization enormously. However, as my concern about the original meanings of the Analects, the concept of chün-tzu implies both morality and nobility as a result. As a character that should keep progressing towards the Way, the nobility of the Emperor (or “the great lord”), the Dukes (or “the ferdal lords”) and the Counsellors is one of the goals that a chün-tzu should achieve. A moral man without an official position cannot succeed in caring for the common people. To reveal different meanings implied by the concept of chün-tzu, this thesis tries to display the virtues of every vivid character in the Analects. The concept of chün-tzu had been used in a flexible way in the book. A man as shih (or “gentleman of purpose”) who sets his heart on the Way can be called chün-tzu and the sage is the final destination of his progress and learning. Some mistakes are unavoidable for a chün-tzu as shih, but there must be some good virtues. Both the good virtues and mistakes can help reveal the virtues of a chün-tzu from opposite aspects. Confucius’s yearning towards ancient sage-emperors and his own behavior throughout his life can demonstrate the virtues of sages. Finally, my conclusion is that the fullfilling of a chün-tzu requires both morality and official position. This thesis comprises five chapters. The first chapter introduces the main topic, approachs, methods, structure of this thesis and a literature review. The second chapter clarifies some concepts in the Analects and is divided into four sections. The first section clarifies the concept of chün-tzu, which has four meanings in the book: Confucius, the ruler, a virtue man and a moral ruler. Texts of the Analects concerning the second meaning will be analyzed in details, and how a ruler affects the whole society will be discussed as a profound issue in the Analects. The influence of a ruler is considered as the reason why the second meaning of chün-tzu had been emphasized. The second section lays particular stress on the third meaning of chün-tzu. The overlaps between chün-tzu and other concepts referring to the evaluations of different characters will be presented to explain different virtues indicated by the word chün-tzu. Furthermore, two important concepts, Ren and Tao (the Way) will also be analyzed in the third section. Both of the two concepts have three meanings linked with the last three meanings of chün-tzu. The fourth section is a summary. The third and the fourth chapter are the main body of this thesis, which analyzes different vivid charaters in the Analects. The third chapter focuses on twenty-eight Confucian disciples and separates them into five sections: virtuous conduct, speech, government, literature, the undisciplined and the over-scrupulous, and etc. When evaluating his disciples’ virtues, Confucius often mentioned their political abilities, which helps demonstrate the importance of an official position for a chün-tzu. The fourth chapter concentrates on ancient characters and contemporaries except Confucian disciples. Ancient characters contain ancient sage-emperors, virtue ministers and virtue men who abdicated from his leadership. In the second and third section, features of the contemporaries with good virtues and bad virtues will help reveal the proper way that a chün-tzu should behave in. The behaviors of Confucius throughout his lifetime will be mentioned in the fourth section. The final section is a summary. The final chapter is a conclusion of the whole thesis.
Subjects
the Analects
ideal character
chu?n-tzu
shih
sage
Confucian disciples
Type
thesis
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