Product Description
The essence of Tai Chi Chuan lies in the rich philosophy of ancient China. While most Tai Chi practitioners are aware of the value that studying Chinese philosophy can bring to their practice, it is often difficult to pick out those texts that are most relevant to Tai Chi and connected to its development. The Philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan presents, for the first time, a concise overview of the Chinese martial and spiritual philosophies that drive this ancient tradition.

Authors Freya and Martin Boedicker, who teach Tai Chi throughout Europe and South Africa, present freshly translated excerpts from such popular and widely studied works as the Tao Te Ching, the I Ching, and The Art of War, as well as writings by philosophers and strategists such as Zhuangzi and Wuzi. Each chapter of this concise volume focuses on a single work or philosopher, and includes a short history of each one as well as a description of their relevance to Tai Chi. An extensive glossary of important Chinese terms rounds out the book. The Philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan offers readers a direct connection with the concepts that form the foundation of Tai Chi, inspiring a deeper understanding of the art and its applications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Nice Idea - Needs Fleshing Out
Registered Instructor - Tai Chi Union of Great Britain (TCUGB)
Instructor - Northern Wu Taiji Quan Global Alliance

I really liked the authors' idea of offering "a direct connection with the concepts that form the foundation of Tai Chi, inspiring a deeper understanding of the art and its applications".

The "Philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan" (PTCC) covers twelve texts beginning with the I Ching. Also featured are Taoist (Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi, Lie Zi, Nei Ye & Huainanzi), Confucian (Analects, Da Xue & Zhong Yong) and Military works (Sun Zi, Wu Zi & Sun Bin).

A notable omission, given its influence on Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) and the art's own Classics, is the Tai Chi Diagram Explanation of Zhou Dun Yi.

The authors give their view about the influence of each text on the practice of TCC. The influences cited are typically general in nature, explanations are brief, and there is little specific application.

Classical Chinese philosophical works are not easy to understand. Commentaries are often provided to minimise misunderstandings as, per the TCC classics, "being off by a hair's breadth is to miss by a thousand miles". PTCC has no commentaries. Readers must make their own connections, as best they can, between TCC and the excerpts.

I admire the German authors for translating from Chinese into English. I hope thattheir book stimulates some positive discussions. Some chapters/things that caught my eye:

Zhuang Zi. The authors describe "non-acting (wuwei)" as an important concept that means "neither too much nor too little action". This changes to "not to interfere with or act against naturalness" in the glossary.

Other commentators place most emphasis on the nature, rather than the amount, of action e.g. "going with the flow". In martial terms others have expressed wuwei as "rolling with the punches". Blending with, rather than resisting, an opponent's action is wuwei.

Wu Zi. The authors say that "those who learn TCC practice an old Chinese martial art. Nevertheless, most students of TCC view the use of violence skeptically. This skepticism can also be found in the texts of the strategists of old China".

My dictionary defines scepticism as "an attitude of doubt especially associated with implied criticism."I do wonder if "pragmatic" is perhaps a more appropriate description for the attitude of the strategists towards violence.

Given that TCC is a martial art it's no surprise that there are many accounts of famous TCC masters visiting varying degrees of violence upon challengers, assailants, would be assassins, assorted lowlifes & even their own students. Some even seemed to enjoy it and didn't need too much prompting either.

We (civilian, emotionally mature) TCC students understand the limitations of violence in conflict resolution. We aim to avoid using it. But we recognise when violence is necessary. At which point our training allows us (hopefully!) to apply a proportionate and lawful level of violence effectively. This is nothing to be doubtful or critical about.

Da Xue. The authors write that "one can imagine that many masters of TCC saw their art not only as a collection of self-defence techniques or health exercises but also as a form of self-cultivation. This also explains the great importance of the solo forms, which many students of TCC consider to be the substance of their art".
It's probably a lost-in-translation moment, but given the sophisticated, coherent, strategies and tactics described in TCC literature I doubt that any TCC Masters viewed their martial art as a "collection of self-defence techniques".

That many people who practice solo forms consider them to be "the substance of their art" is, however, well known. There are many forms: some fast; some slow; some overtly martial; some less so. We can practice the same form in many different ways too. Many people have fun and get many benefits from practicing form and only form. But can we really say that we're practicing the martial art of TCC if the solo form is "the" substance of our art?

The authors noted that the I Ching structured the world in pairs of opposites and that this has a fundamental influence on TCC. Civilian and Military are such a pair.TCC Master Tung Ying Chieh used these terms to describe the practice of TCC as follows:

"The civil aspect of Taijiquan is the Body (the Form). The military aspect is the Application.Training in the civil aspect is learning about yourself. The military aspect is needed for confrontation. If one learns the civil aspect and ignores the military aspect, it is the body with no function. If the military aspect is not based on the civil aspect, it is a tree with no root."

The authors stated that the Da Xue addresses "peaceful and respectful dealings with each other". The partner work (military) aspect of TCC allow us to develop such dealings very directly.And it complements the hand form/solo exercises to give a more complete art.

In conclusion I found this book to be an interesting read and a recommended buy. The basic premise was a nice idea but it needs to be explored in more detail to make this a great book. I would welcome the authors revisiting this subject in the future and fleshing out the relationships between the classic texts and TCC.

Great addition to Taijiquan theory studies
For all taijiquan enthusiasts who have read the taiji classics and wished to know more about the vast background of Chinese philosophy which lies behind them, this book is for you!It consists of carefully-chosen excerpts from those works of Chinese philosophy which have the most direct bearing on the development of taijiquan.The authors have done a great job of selecting, translating, and commenting on these passages, giving in effect a brief history of Chinese philosophy in less than 100 pages.Those of us without the background or time to investigate the immense body of material represented here can be thankful that the authors have done the work for us.Highly recommended for any taijiquan student who is interested in the ways of thinking that led to this great art.

Aj tai chi journey waiting for all of us
It has been a real pleasure to read this book. If one wants to do more than copy a lot of movements without any meaning one needs to know "the reason behind". This means not only the more or less hidden applications, but the philosophy that supports them, the core ideas that provide the strategy of Tai Chi and allow the practitioner to know what is right and what is wrong. In this field it is very easy to get lost. A lot of big words and flurry concepts: dao, de, full and empty .... Why not skip all this and concentrate in the practice? A big mistake! Theory without practice is not going to improve our health or our martial ability. But practice without theory is blind. We need to know that some Chinese philosophers believed that the weak overcomes the strong, and that this principle is embodied in Tai Chi. Chinese strategists thought about the art of deception. So if the enemy is strong we must evade him, but if he is holding back, we must look arrogant. And we could continue ... I had a Tai Chi Master who used to say that Tai Chi was created by intelligent people who were getting older and could not trust any longer in brute force. So, from the beginning the tai chi practitioner (and especially complete beginners) must know what they are doing, the specific quality of what they are doing. This is what they can learn in this book, some quite easy to understand Chinese texts that present "abstract concepts"; but (and this is the magic of Tai Chi) concepts that can be felt, can be embodied in movements of the solo form or in the interaction with a partner. In this sense I would recommend strongly the reading of this book, and then ...to put it into practice. A wonderful Tai chi journey is waiting for all of us.

T'ai Chi
G'Day,
I feel this is good reading for most but it be better for a person that has been in the art form for a while.

Cheers Joseph

different views
This book is you the one you have tor read when you think (like I thought before I read the book) that Tai Chi is only based on the Taoistic tradition. A well chosen selection of texts convinces the reader of the coherence between the different Chinese thinking systems. Tai Chi Chuan has a broad heritage, an inspiring idea.



... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent overview of Confucius' life and philosophy
Clements brings the 2,500 year-old philosopher, teacher, and statesman to life. He also provides maps and timelines to put it into perspective and make visualization easier. It's a short, easy, and enjoyable read spliced with words of wisdom from the Analects. In essence we are all here to do certain jobs and should do them to the best of our abilities and not disrupt the social order. He was very enlightened for his time in that he felt jobs should be obtained by merit and not birth. He came up with the idea of imperial exams to make accession fair. Perhaps it would be expecting too much for a philosopher who lived 2,500 years ago but, his idea of equality and a level playing field didn't extend to women. This is left out of the book. It's a well documented biography and the writing is good.

Clear, Concise, Confucius
Jonathan Clements once more takes a complex topic - in this case, the life of a monumental individual - and boils it down to a fast paced, lean read.

This biography of one of the world's most well-known and near-deified philosophers of all time is clean, concise - and yet gives more than just facts and dates. It actually feels like you have some insight into the man behind all the profound sayings and ideas which have been attributed to him. Anyone who's interested in more than just the fortune cookie Confucius will find this a fascinating read.

Anyone studiying Asian history or philosophy should be required to read this biography before starting their studies on Confucius. It's clear he was a master of common sense and that's worth reading and learning on any level. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Insightful with some flaws
This book offers a unique perspective on the Confucian vision. As someone who has studied Confucius and Confucianism in Chinese for more than ten years, I believe that Fingarette has revealed an important aspect of the original vision of Confucius even the book has some flaws. (That is why I have only awarded it four stars.) He is as careful with the text as he can be without being an Orientalist and without expertise in classical Chinese language. This is commendable.

Fingarette's main argument is that rituals (li) played a central role in Confucius's thinking not only because of their social significance but also because of their religious or spiritual significance. In fact, Fingarette goes on to argue that the social significance derives from the religious significance. I generally agree that this is indeed one of Confucius's most important teachings, and that it is under-appreciated or misinterpreted in modern scholarship. I also agree with Fingarette's view that Confucius saw human civilization as a perfect embodiment of the Way if it is united under the central symbol of holy ceremony.

As Fingarette neatly points out, modern Western thought has gravitated towards a utilitarian view of responsibility, which is in stark contrast to Confucius's view of responsibility as personal commitment. Fingarette, to his credit, avoids framing the discussion around individual and society. For Confucius, the ethical life is largely a problem of personal commitment (or will) rather than a problem of decision. It is a pity that Fingarette did not develop the of committed self-cultivation further. I would recommend Confucian Moral Cultivation by P J Ivanhoe for readers interested in this important theme.

Now some of the flaws:
- Fingarette takes J L Austin's notion performative utterance too far.
- Fingarette stubbornly resists the inward dimension of certain important concepts such as ren (jen).
- Chapter 4 is weak due to his inadequate understanding of Chinese history.

Nonetheless, Fingarette's book is refreshing despite its flaws because it helps the reader to cut through modern bias and appreciate the original Confucius. It is not an introductory book on Confucius ad Confucianism, but certainly not a book that a serious student of Confucius or Confucianism can ignore.

A thoughtful book worth reading
I very much enjoyed the originality of this book. I don't agree with the author's major premise regarding the interpretation of one of the analects, but I found the originality refreshing. This should not be your first book on Confucius.But once you are comfortable in having some understanding of his teachings, at least enough understanding to recognize when Fingarette departs from orthodox interpretations, then you will greatly enjoy this book.I think it is a "must read" for serious students! If you are interested in a practical view of Confucianism, I recommend the book by Robert Canright: "Achieve Lasting Happiness, Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Life."

Problematic but still essential reading.
This book is essential reading for anyone seriously interested in Confucius, Confucianism, or early Chinese thought in general.It is quite convincing on some points, but also very problematic on others.

Fingarette was a mainstream Western philosopher, who said that when he first read Confucius, he found him to be a "prosaic and parochial moralizer."However, he eventually became convinced that Confucius had "an imaginative vision of man equal in its grandeur" to any that he knew.

Fingarette is at his best explaining the importance of ritual in Confucianism.Most of us nowadays think of rituals as useless affectations.However, Fingarette shows that Confucius regarded rituals (from handshaking to funerals) as an important part of being human.It is when we participate in such ritual activities that we are most distinctively human.In addition, ritual has the power to enable humans to work together without the need for coercion.Perhaps if we in the West can recover the feeling for the importance of shared, sacred rituals, we can help give more unity to our chaotic society.

Fingarette was also deeply influenced by Western behaviorism, and this leads to some of the less plausible aspects of his book.He wishes to deny that there is any "internal" dimension to Confucius' thought.If what Fingarette wishes to claim is that Confucius did not think of human psychology the way that, say, Augustine or Descartes did, then he is quite correct.(But then who is Fingarette arguing with?No serious interpreter I know of has read Confucius as a Cartesian.)However, Fingarette sometimes seems to want to claim that emotions and attitudes are, for Confucius, perfectly public states.I think that this is to project Western behaviorism onto Confucius (and behaviorism itself derives what limited plausibility it has from being a reaction to more extreme forms of Cartesianism).

Warts and all, this is still a classic book on Confucius after almost twenty years.If you want to learn more about Confucius, H.G. Creel's _Confucius and the Chinese Way_ is worth reading.For broader surveys of Confucianism, you might read Philip J. Ivanhoe's _Confucian Moral Self Cultivation_, or the anthology he and I co-edited, _Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy_.

Flawed by misunderstanding
While thought provoking, Fingarette often misses the nuances of meaning in the text of the _Analects_, which limits the accuracy of his understanding.Further, Fingarette underestimates the difficulties inherent in dealing with a text which clearly is the work of many hands over a longer period oftime, not a treatise in the western sense.This book is worth reading, butmust be approached with great skepticism.

One of the best sources for understanding Confucius
As an undergraduate and graduate student I have read this book a total of at least five times. Each time, I am impressed by how clearly Fingarette clarifies the important fundamentals of Confucianism that we often forgetin our attempt to exoticize this central Chinese philosopher. A short, easyto read book, it ranks with Waley's "Three Ways of Thought in AncientChina" as one of the first important texts to read to understandChinese philosophy. ... Read more

Product Description
A part of JaspersÂ’s planned universal history of philosophy, focusing on the four paradigmatic individuals who have exerted a historical influence of incomparable scope and depth. Edited by Hannah Arendt; Index. Translated by Ralph Manheim.Amazon.com Review
Arguably the four most influential individuals in humanhistory, Socrates, the Buddha, Confucius and Jesus have cast shadowson history that are nearly inescapable even today. Who were they, whatwere their doctrines, and what was their influence? These are some ofthe questions that the 20th-century philosopher Karl Jaspers exploresin this short excerpt from his larger volume, GreatPhilosophers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent introduction to world-historical figures of interest
Karl Jaspers was a somewhat unusual and enigmatic thinker.While being an excellent philosopher, he strongly distanced himself from the dominant philosophical schools of his time, both the continental and the analytical and positivist movements which dominated academic discourse.This was somewhat unfortunate and relegated Jaspers to being a lonely and marginalised figure, yet Jaspers published many works which are of enduring interest.

Of these are his four volumes on the history of philosopy and studies of great philosophers.In this volume Jaspers looks at Jesus, the Buddha, Socrates and Confucius as 'paradigmatic' figures who unleashed new visions which changed the world forever.Jaspers also adopts a somewhat unusual hermeneutical approach to these philosophers, taking the facts of scientific history not as starting points which constrain what can be said about these philsophers, but assessing their thought instead from Jasper's own existentialist framework.It is hard sometimes not to see Jaspers reading his own philosophy and philosophical viewpoint into that of these past philosophers, an approach closer to that of Nietzsche and Kierkegaard than that favoured by modern historians of philosophy.

Even so, Jasper's analysis of these philosopher-sages is fascinating and repays careful study.

There's scholarship and there's scholarship
The previous reviewer, in reminding us of recent scholarship on Jesus and the Gospel tradition, raises several pertinent considerations.Jaspers' book generally reflects the more modern scholarship that has focused increasingly on certain parallel sayings in Matthew and Luke as "Q Gospel" remnants and on the earliest Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts of the earliest extant Gospel, Mark.Yet recent similarly focused studies on the other three paradigmatic figures covered here don't seem reflected in Jaspers' book to the same extent.Personally, I am not as disturbed as the previous reviewer may be by applying modern scholarship to the Gospels.Rather, what I miss is the same strictness applied to the other three written traditions.Confucius, for example, is eventually described as having held high office only when we get to relatively late texts in the Confucian tradition.Yet Jaspers accepts this description of him without question.In fact, if, as Jaspers does by inference in his Jesus chapter, we are to set some of what we read in the Gospel of John aside, then oughtn't we set aside similar texts describing Confucius as having had conspicuous political success?If the "Q Gospel" passages in Matthew/Luke and the earliest manuscript tradition for Mark are to be highlighted as delineations of the "historical Jesus", then only Chapters 3 through 9 of the Analects of Confucius, generally regarded as the earliest stratum of Confucian text, should be the primary basis for the kind of modern philosophical scrutiny Jaspers purports to offer.Jaspers' Confucius chapter does not confine itself to the kind of wandering, almost homeless, figure found in these seven earliest chapters.To be consistent, shouldn't it?While it's useful for Jaspers, at the outset of his Buddha chapter, to single out the Digha-Nikaya collection as the earliest stratum of Buddha sermons, the rest of the Buddha chapter goes well beyond the Digha-Nikaya collection, even flirting occasionally with Buddha traditions lying outside the Pali tradition, let alone the Digha-Nikaya collection!There's nothing inherently wrong with this, but it becomes inconsistent in the light of Jaspers' tacit adoption of certain tenets of modern historical criticism in his Jesus chapter.(To do Jaspers justice, he never explicitly offers quite the detailed textual background on the Gospel tradition that I attempt here.)What, IMO, might prove a more creditable effort -- since I would agree that these four figures indeed emerge as the most strongly verified human beings in history to live an essentially blameless life oriented toward an entirely self-made, and therefore inherently courageous, ethic -- would be a survey based exclusively on those fifteen or so sermons in the Digha-Nikaya regarded by modern scholars as the earliest for Buddha, on Chapters 3 through 9 of the Analects for Confucius, on the earliest, least "spun", Plato dialogues, such as the Charmides, the Hippias Minor, the Euthyphro, the Apology and the Crito, for Socrates, and on the Vaticanus/Sinaiticus Mark tradition plus the "Q" passages in Matthew/Luke for Jesus.It is unfortunate that Jaspers' book, with all its modern trappings (not in itself a bad thing, IMO), fails to do this rigorously.Hence, my three-star rating.Jaspers should be given credit, though, for a worthwhile start at the important task of evaluating perhaps the four finest human beings ever to walk this earth.

Interesting idea, but is it trustworthy scholarship?
Karl Jaspers has undertaken an interesting study in the little book.He looks at the teachings of four men who have had the most far-reaching impact on our world.He claims that the greatness of their influence is measured in centuries as well as globally.The four great men he chose for this book are, as the title suggests, Socrates, Buddha, Confucius and Jesus.He entertained the thought of including Mohammed but chose not to.He explains that Mohammed "might be comparable in historical importance but not in individual depth (p. 87)."One other interesting insight comes from Jaspers on the same page.We have no writings from any of the four themselves - what we do have comes from their disciples after they died.

So much for the interesting, now for the question of trustworthiness.

Jaspers examined the biblical accounts of Jesus through the lens of higher criticism.In other words, Jaspers did not deal with the biblical text itself when he studied Jesus, he dealt with the text after sifting through what others thought was truly the teaching of Jesus.The reason this poses a problem is important to all readers, not merely to Christians.If he did not take the teachings of Jesus (as recorded by his disciples) at face value, did he take the teachings of Socrates, Buddha and Confucius (as recorded by their disciples) at face value?Is the reader really getting Socrates, Buddha, Confucius and Jesus, or is the reader getting Karl Jaspers?Knowing the aspects of Jesus' teachings that have been ignored in this study, and their importance to understanding Jesus' view of himself and the world around him, makes me wonder what we may have lost, in this study, from the other three great men included here.

This book is a very interesting idea.But, is it trustworthy scholarship?Not in my humble opinion.However, those who do not wish to sift through the original writings will inevitably want to read Jasper's abridgement of those writings.This may be to the readers' benefit, or to their detriment.

Made a big impression on me!
Aside from being an intelligently written book, I gave this book 5 stars because it made a big impression on me.Jaspers explanation of Confucius made the strength of Confucious's teaching clear.Now I'm very interested in Confucious and am reading more books about him. In that respect, this slim volume changed my life: It brought Confucious to life.What's more, by explaining Confucius's feelings about Taoism, this slim book did more to explain classic Taoism than the 2 books on the Tao I've already read.

Be aware that this book is due to the editing of Hannah Arendt. This means that Jaspers did not put this book out and say "Ta Da, the 4 Greatest!"No, Jaspers wrote a 2 volume book on the great philosophers due to his post War interest in increasing tolerance among men (per the Encyclopedia Britanica). This book does not appear to have any noticable Existentialist influence.

Finally, if you are a fundamentalist Christian, be warned that it is clear from his writing that Jaspers does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, nor does he believe the Bible is free of error. He is not disrespectful of Jesus nor of Christianity, but do not think that because Jesus is in this book that the book is strongly pro-Jesus.

Well Written
This book is a joy to read.Jaspers has a real talent for breaking down complex thoughts into detailed, easy to read format.Jaspers presents a broad overview that should be attractive to newcomers.More advanced readers will appreciate his style and his refreshing perspective. ... Read more

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This In a Nutshell guide examines the history, functions and traditions associated with the most dominant architectural structure on city skylines - cathedrals. Located at the heart of cities, cathedrals have traditionally been a spiritual and communal touchstone at the centre of municipal life. This comprehensive overview makes use of examples of cathedrals from around the world to illustrate the evolution of different styles of cathedral, from the Roman basilica to the soaring gothic, and the religious significance of these changes. ... Read more

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This book analyzes the oldest Chinese ideographs (word pictures carved in bronze and bone) to reveal that ancient Chinese history includes biblical events from creation to the flood. It presents the fact that the ancient Chinese worshiped the Triune God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

fair and fit
good book, a long wait, over a week, constant remiders about puting in a review,with busness concluded no further contact is desired

Books
This book is a great addition to the first volume. Together they provide an enlightening journey into another critical evidence of the authenticity of Genesis 1-11. Good work.

Wrong character being translated.
In the first page, the word for "Shangdi/Shangti" isn't what it's supposed to be in ancient characters. Shang means up or above, but the character being used is its opposite, xia and the second character is something even I, as a Chinese, can't interpret. So, the so-called "Shangdi/Shangti" is actually "Xia something" from the first page of the book. "Xia" means "under, below, etc..." Here by "something", I meant I wasn't able to interpret the second character used, which was supposedly "ti/di", meaning Emperor.
It's a shame that people who don't know Chinese are trying to profit from the language that they don't have any knowledge of. Actually the Chinesefirst used "di" for the Jade Emperor from Chinese mythology since ancient times. But the Jade Emperor ISN'T God!

Well Worth Considering, more than just coincidence
The author discusses the significance of the mysterious Border Sacrifice which had been carried on by the Chinese Emperor from time immemorial until the Imperial system was overthrown in 1911.In this sacrifice, an unblemished bull is given to the God of Heaven, ShangDi (Highest King).Confucious knew about this ritual but did not understand it.He realized that whoever did understand the meaning behind this would be able to govern the world.In the recitations of the Border Sacrifice, the Emperor acknowledges ShangDi as the Creator.The author matches what is reported in the Hebrew Bible with what is written in the ancient Shu Jing and the Border Sacrifice recitations.

Looking for more clues, the authors turn to the earliest Chinese language pictograms.Those that were written on oracle bones, seal script, bronzeware.It turns out that evidence exists that the pictograms were pieced together by the occurances in Genesis.The creation of man is depicted, as is the Fall, and early sacrificial worship near the Garden gates.Since this study is so detailed it is easy to get lost in it if you do not have a good working knowledge of Chinese (which I do not).

However just look at a few of them and be amazed.The word for righteousness is the character for lamb on top of the character for me.This is so, even in modern (traditional) Chinese.It cannot be a coincidence that a lamb covering me is righteousness.It is because God has revealed to us that the Lamb of God taketh away the sins of the world.And to apply that salvation to yourself is to take cover under the righteousness of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ).

For a shorter summary and more examples of what is covered in this book, search for answers in genesis chinese and you'll get a hit for an article telling about the original unknown God of China. Another good book is Eternity in Their Hearts, which tells about how knowledge of God and the events in Genesis were known to various people groups throughout the world.And indeed, when Paul visited Athens he found an altar to the unknown god, which he made known to them in that day.

"Neither Koreans nor Japanese Solved"
That is what I should add to the title if you may.
It has been my life long admiration and curiosity what each of the Chinese characters has consisted of. So when I found this book which a friend of mine showed me first, I was delighted. My curiosity of language in general started when I was introduced to semantics in Japanese. Although I do not believe that there is a spirit in words, I do think they almost do have spirit. If you read this book you will understand what I mean. I am certainly not a linguist but certainly can say something obvious. That is the totally different explanation of or approach to the origin of the parts of Kanji has been taught in Kanji dictionaries in Japan at least (and I am almost certain that regular Chinese dictionaries have the same tendency since Japanese scholars base on them). So, one side must be wrong. If you believe what you read in John 1:1 ~ 13, you'll naturally incline to what this author is about to say. Amazingly painstaking scholarly work there is which you cannot easily see anywhere else especially in the area the book is about. It was my eye opening experience itself which gave me deeper insight not only on the origins of Chinese language but also the origin of the world and the human being. A casual eye cannot see what the book explains as it reads Chinese characters. However, the non-ordinary thinkers such as you may, in turn have a heart warming experience as they plod through this work. There is one useful feature at the end, which is a character reference table you may enjoy.
"Is there a risk of obtaining and reading this book?" you may ask. The only risk I can think of is that you might end up with referring frequently to and reading further the Bible. And, if you may, you will be more curious about your own (non-Chinese) language and the Author of our human language HIMSELF. ... Read more

Product Description
Part of the Traditional Chinese Culture series, this book is an illustrated adaptation of Confucius thoughts. Collected and popularized by the immensely popular Chinese illustrator Tsai Chih Chung, the book includes the life of Confucius and his analects for the reader of today, bringing to life the spirit and philosophy of Confucius through cartoon panels with a text that is irreverently humorous yet replete with wisdom. It is a great and easy tool to learn Chinese classics. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

No fault with the original text, just the translation.
In contrast with some of the free translations found online, this book's translation was somewhat odd. Certain Chinese words cannot be translated into English, or have different meanings depending on how you read it. Thus certain sentences could be translated differently. The free online translations acknowledged this problem and provided explanations to why such a word or a sentence was translated; this is missing in this book. As an example, the book uses the phrase "the nobler type of a man", while other translations refer to the concept of "nobler" as the "Tao". The other translations provide justifications for the translation, while this book does not.

I would have also loved a discussion of the text and how they would be interpreted in different situations.

The book lacks a proper introduction. First there is no detailed explanation on who Confucius was, what he became, and what contributed to the writing of the Analects. Similarly, there is no explanation on China, and how Confucius's work contributes in today's Chinese society. The book even fails to explain what credentials the translator has, and what sets this book apart from the thousand other translations of the Analects.

PRETTY GOOD BOOK
THE ANALECTS IS A GOOD BOOK FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO UNDERSTAND CONFUCIAN PHILOSOPHY.THE TRANSLATION IS CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE, EASY TO READ, BUT IT DOESNT EXPLAIN WHAT EACH ANALECT MEANS AND BEGGINERS ON THE SUBJECT COULD MISUNDERSTAND THE MEANINGS. GREAT REFERENCE BOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNOW CONFUCIANISM OR A LITTLE OF CHINESE HISTORY.

Inspiring read
This should be required reading for everyone by adulthood.It gives you a unique perspective which no educated person should be without.

The brilliance of humility.
If, when you think of "eastern philosophy," yourheart goes pitter-patter for esoteric revelations from AscendedMasters, stories of Jesus practicing magic in Tibet as a youngster, oreven the mind-expanding wit of Zhuang Zi, you may find Confuciusboringly prosaic.His wisdom lies in a different direction, and ismore subtle.The Analects is like a bowl of Chinese dumplings, or attheir most flavorful dim sum, that you pick out one at a time andlearn the taste and value of.Few of his sayings are brilliant, butrather the kind of mundane and kindly profundity that the war-wearyChina of the late Zhou found so filling.In modern China, too, I havefound that Confucius is very popular, probably more popular than thewitty Lao Zi.

Confucius said his teachings were connected by asingle thread.While a disciple gave a slightly different solution,the thread I suggest you follow through this otherwise ratherdisjointed collection of teachings and observations is humility.Bythat I don't mean self-abnegation or loss of individuality in thecollective, but an ability to see clearly in all directions -- above,towards superiors (ultimately God), below, compassion for the needy,within, ("To know what you know, and know what you don't know,this is knowledge") and without, to take an interest in the worldaround you.(Confucius became China's "first teacher"because he himself was "eager to learn.") To me, this kindof integrated humility is the starting point for any worthwhilephilosophy of life.

The Analects can also be of value to peopleinterested in the critical study of the New Testament, by the way.This book greatly resembles the Gospels in terms of genre.Bothconsist of sayings and actions of a teacher who traveled with a bandof disciples, as recorded by the early community of followers.Fewscholars doubt the historical character of the Analects, whilecontroversy about the Gospels makes headlines on a regular basis.Itis interesting to me that the same internal arguments scholars likeCreel and Lau use to prove the Analects, apply even more strongly tothe Gospels.If you do read the two sets of documents together, youmight try the further experiment of comparing Confucius' ideal person,sage or "Savior" as Confucian scholar Chen Jingpan describeshim, to the central character of the Gospels.Remember that Menciussaid a sage would appear once every 500 years, and Confucius lived in500 B.C. As a Christian I respect Confucius not only as a great moralteacher, but also sometimes think he might have been a kind ofprophet.

Five stars for Confucius; one lost in translation.Soothill seems accurate, as far as I can tell, and the price is right,but his language is a bit archaic at times.Also, be sure to get aversion with notes.

Author, True Son of Heaven: How Jesus Fulfillsthe Chinese Culture ...

Fabulous book at a fabulous price
This book contains the essential antiquities of ancient learning that fostered the development of the philosophies in the west in a clear, easy to read format.

I was amply impressed by the organization andtranslation, and doubly impressed by the fantastic price. I would highlyrecommend for anyone just curious about philosophy, or for anyone doingscholarly research on this subject. 5 stars ... Read more

Product Description
The Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, and Muhammad each founded a system of thought which in its own way has shaped the lives and thinking of countless generations across the world. This unique volume presents four self-contained studies of the founders of the world's greatest religious traditions. Originally written for the Past Masters series, these authoritative studies provide a unique guide to some of the most influential ideas in human history. Each of the contributors explores the distinctive features of the particular religious tradition and reveals why it has had such a profound and lasting influence on the way people think today.Founders of Faith provides new insights into the different ways in which men and women in both the East and West have sought to make sense of some of the most intractable problems of human existence. ... Read more

Product Description
A deluxe paperback edition: Thomas Cleary's brilliant translation of the sayings of Confucius presented in the order of the 64 classic I Ching hexagrams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Essential Wisdom
I've always been a fan of Confucius and his profound proverbs which is what led me to pick up The Essential Confucius the other day from a z shop seller. I got it for an excellent price but would not have been disappointed had I paid much more for it. The book's organization was acceptable. Its pages are brief and accessible. Any work though which allows readers to peruse his priceless aphorisms is a treasure. Sometimes I am astounded by the fact that the words of a man who lived 2500 years ago can so aptly describe our present day. His perspicacity illustrates just how timeless human nature really is. Confucius, who thought China was the world, suffers no cultural limitations and travels gloriously. Indeed, his observations remain pertinent for all peoples.

Not just fortune cookie wisdom...
In his book on 'The Essential Tao', Thomas Cleary presented a wonderful picture of one of the dominant strands of Asian wisdom, one that has intrigued and fascinated people in the West in the past few generations. Cleary is one of the foremost scholars of ancient Chinese and Japanese. Mostly likely, if you have read a copy of ancient Chinese classic 'The Art of War' (a text widely popular, from historians and military strategists to corporate raiders and managers), it has been one of Cleary's translations.

Following the success of the book on the Tao, Cleary turned to another pillar of ancient Chinese thought, and developed this further volume in the 'Essentials' series, The Essential Confucius, the heart of Confucius' teachings in authentic I Ching order.

Confucius is a confusing character to classify. He does not fit the characterisation of the typical religious leader. He certainly did not mean to found a religion. Confucius was an educator, a social critic, a politician, and philosopher.

'"The Analects of Confucius" are a basic source for a wide range of advice on human affairs--from governing nations and managing enterprises to dealing with society and getting along with others.'

Confucius is much more than the author of fortune-cookie proverbs. In this work, Cleary has set forth the sayings of Confucius in the order of the sixty-four classic I Ching hexagrams. Many of these sayings are reduced (and likewise dismissed) as fortune-cookie sayings; however, taken together with the commentaries of Confucius, these give profound insight into the human condition. The I Ching, or literally, Book of Change, is a book which Confucius studied and promoted. Thus, to use it as a guide to Confucius' own writings is appropriate and authentic.

Confucius tried to stimulate people into original thinking, into independent thinking. It is ironic that so many times in history that original thinking has been suppressed in favour of Confucian purity -- a perennial danger in any religion.

An example of Cleary's technique is in order:

Book of Change

Good people examine themselves and cultivate virtue

- Confucius said, 'Study as though you will not reach, as if you may lose it.' (8:17)

- Confucius said, 'The virtue of balanced normalcy is consummate, it seems, but it has been scarce among the people for a long time.' (6:29)

Cleary presents the I Ching, the setting of Confucius proverb, and then various commentaries upon it. Through the sixty-four sayings and commentaries, one gets a sense of exegesis similar in character to Mishnah and Talmud as well as various Christian commentators.

Confucius above all believed in the responsibility of the learned to the ignorant, the powerful to the weak, and the wealthy for the poor. Each individual is entrusted with potential to serve the greater good of all, not just himself or herself. These are words that are worthy hearing and elevating, and not dismissing as after-dinner quips.

May your reading be truly enlightened in the virtues of humanity, justice, courtesy and wisdom.

What was he thinking?
Presents the Analects "in authentic I Ching order," an absurddecision which just means that any given passage is practically impossibleto find. (In fact, a number of passages are left out, and at least one isincluded twice.) Contemporary language, occasionally clumsy and rarelylively. Pinyin romanization. ... Read more

Product Description
Entire text of the Analects of Confucius in large, readable characters, and beneath this Legge’s full translation, which has been accepted and the definitive, standard English version.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Confucian Analects, The Great Learning & The Doctrine of the Mean
Wonderful version of a classic book on the subject, withg original Chinese text with translation and commentary.The print is clear and very readable.I sometimes believe that if it weren't for Dover editions of older books I'd have nothing to read, no source for these wonderful titles.

Confucius with the best commentary and translation.
The only problem is that the text may be hard to follow smoothly since small amounts of translation are possible on each second page due to the commentary and original characters.
But the translation is the best, and the commentary is superb.
I highly recommend it!

Confucian Analects, The Great Learning & the Doctrine of the Mean
Has Chinese Language, Chinese Classics,complete dictionary of all the Chinese Characters, tremendous help in learning chinese and thoughts of K'ung (Confucious). A true collectible for me.

Excellent for Classical Chinese students
I purchased this book in an effort to begin learning Classical Chinese and to gain a greater understanding of the Analects.Not only is Legge's translation accurate and concise, but extremely faithful to the original text.Lexicon in the back is easy to use, even for a beginner.Thecombination of original Chinese text and English translation on each page is a wonderful help and makes parsing through a dense classical work much easier, as the constructions become more transparent.Highly recommended in every way!

Readable but dated and very scholarly for general reader
This collection of these three texts of Confucius translated by James Legge were my first introduction to the writings and philosophy of Confucius. When I was in the bookstore, I decided to pick this book out of the others because like,Evans-Wentz original translations of Tibetan Buddhist text, I prefer to pick the book with the most information and research put in to it. I also trusted James Legge because he went to China and studied with Confucius scholars. I have not read any other translation of Confucius so I must judge this translation on its own. Since it was translated around 1893, you can tell in the language. Yes, it can be pretty dry at times but after looking up a lot of words in the dictionary and getting more deep into Confucius' thought, I thought I understood the text well. You should read a few pages though before you buy this book because I am sure a lot of people would hate it. Which leads me to the next cautionary, this book is VERY scholarly and dense. I could barely even follow the notes at the bottom of the text. They mostly have to do with the treatment of the translation of Chinese characters. Also unless you have an extensive background of Chinese history and the Confucian tradition, the introduction are hard to follow because they expect you know the background information already. Another thing, which isn't James Legge's fault, I would love to see is some information discussing the cultural revolution's reaction to the Confucian tradition and how it is slowly coming back.

I would warn everyone to check out this book in a library or bookstore before buying it to see how it meets their needs. I found it very useful, even though a lot of it was over my head. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

2500 Years Of Humanism In Less Than 200 Pages
What is humanism?I am sure that twenty experts would give twenty different answers.And, in fact, it seems contrary to the spirit of humanism to insist on a single, dogmatic definition.

What this fine anthology does, however, is provide a broad context for understanding humanism's place in the realms of philosophy and religion (with a definitive Western focus).By collecting brief excerpts from writings dating back to Confuscious, the editors succeed in conveying that elements of humanism are almost as ancient as the many religious traditions with which it often finds itself in conflict.

But much more than that, the anthology also captures many of the core propositions that most self-described humanists would agree with.A few of the recurring themes in this anthology:
- Humans are responsible for improving the human condition
- Science and scientific method have proven the best means for understanding the world around us
- Supernatural religion is not required to live ethical, meaningful lives ("the good life")

If I have one criticism, it would be that many of the excerpts tend to focus on (and attack) what humanism is not (i.e., supernatural religion, especially of the organized variety) rather than what it is (or can be). But this may have more to do with the historical development of humanism as a philsophy (belief system?) than any specific editorial bent.Also, the last update to the anthology was over thirteen years ago, and I believe that it would benefit from a revised third edition.

good collection of short paragraphs
This book collects many thought-provoking quotes and will serve as a good primer on humanist thought. I wished that the quotes had been better-contexualized-- but it's generally a good book that I would recommend.

Update of a fascinating source book of Humanist Thinking
I was fortunate to meet Margaret Knight in Aberdeen in the late 1960s where she kindly gave me a signed copy of her original anthology. The present publication includes writings by outhors from the ban-the-bomb era of the 60s when traditional moral and religious values began to be questioned (as exemplified by Margaret's BBC programmes "Morals without Religion)up to the present day. Thus we have here a compendium of Humanist Thinking from ancient to contemporary times which may be used as a source book or read as a stimulating review of the development of Humanist ideas.

A Continuous Line
This anthology stands alone as a thoughtful and thorough retrospective ofhumanist writings throughout history.It provides an intellectual ancestryfor humanists of today, many of whom will have been unaware of the long anddistinguished line of great thinkers in every age who reached the sameconclusions on the greatest questions we can contemplate.

The best-knownhumanists are present, including Bertrand Russell, Voltaire, and the rest,but one of the great accomplishments of this volume is the"outing" of humanists whose views on religion have been quietlyburied or ignored by the historical record as it reaches most of us ---including such prominent figures as Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain.

Afascinating read, reflecting solid scholarship and what must have beenexhaustive research. ... Read more

Product Description
Colector's Edition Bound in Genuine Leather. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Boston, Beacon Press in 1898 in 212 pages; Subjects: Philosophy, Chinese; Philosophy / General; Philosophy / Eastern; Religion / Confucianism; ... Read more

Product Description
Chinese archaeologists digging in central China in 1977 unexpectedly uncovered two of the earliest and most extensive surviving groups of musical instruments in the entire ancient world, dating from nearly 2500 years ago. Since these percussion, string, and wind instruments were in near-pristine condition-some still playable, others inscribed with musicological information-they provided hitherto unimagined possibilities for the study of music and the history of musical instruments in ancient China.

Presented here are the insights of six specialists who describe these instruments' sophisticated tuning systems, techniques of manufacture, and inscriptions revealing their musical and non-musical significance in ancient Chinese society. It has become apparent that different types of music coexisted in Bronze Age China (2000-500 B.C.) for state rituals as well as for private entertainment. The authors place this evidence in the context of recent archaeological discoveries and reassess it in light of classical history and the literature on Chinese music. The three main families of instruments are also examined in detail in individual chapters.

Lovers of art and music, as well as enthusiasts of archaeology, musicology, and cultural history, will find this a compelling and readable presentation of the latest research and ideas on one of the world's oldest and most profound artistic expressions.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fascinating glimpses into another time
Imagine that the chief executive of a major record company died of a heart attack. His staff strangle all the members of the in-house orchestra, say the Vienna Philharmonic, chief conductor to the fore, laying them carefully in performance layout in an underground concert hall. The executive himself is placed with attendants (also strangled) in a fully-equipped recording room to one side. Next to each player was his (or, occasionally, her) instrument on which the murderer had first inscribed its tuning. Beside the bodies were illustrations of the musicians in performance, though sadly no scores. Then a roof was put up and the whole tomb encased in earth for a little over two-thousand four-hundred years.
This scenario may sound fantastic, it may even sound curiously tempting to some. It is also exactly what happened in central China. In the Winter of 1977 a unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was called in to level a small hill, such that a factory could be built near the town of Suizhou, which lies to the north of the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province. Breaking into a hitherto unknown burial pit of obvious antiquity, the soldiers quickly called in the archaeologists. The discovery that followed was the most remarkable in Chinese musical history to date, and one unparalleled among any of the other ancient cultures, whether in Asia, Africa, Europe or the Americas.
Laid out according to the model of a classical Chinese palace, the stone-lined tomb contained everything the Bronze Age despot would need for a successful, upwardly mobile after-life: an ornately lacquered wooden double coffin to shield both his bones and his dignity; several thousand weapons, pieces of armour and bronze chariot fittings; the bodies of twenty-one women (each strangled-presumably to keep her body pure) and a dog (method of death sadly unrecorded); and, best of all, a full set of ritual musical instruments, including a sixty-five-piece ensemble of studded bronze bells and thirty-two tuned chime stones. Inscriptions on the bronze implements identified the tomb's incumbent as Marquis Yi of Zeng, a minor and long-defunct state in central China. They also recorded that the bell set was presented to Marquis Yi by his powerful neighbour the King of Chu in the King's fifty-sixth year (i.e. 433 B.C.).
Superbly well-preserved in the central "ceremonial courtyard" of the subterranean palace, each bell produced two distinct pitches, depending on where it was struck. The set as a whole had a range of over five octaves, much of it fully chromatic in semitones. Drums, stringed instruments and wind instruments, as well as the above-mentioned lithophones, completed the ensemble. Some of the instruments or other ritual materials found in the tomb bore scenes depicting the making of music. The bells themselves were decorated with both the names of their two pitches in absolute terms and the identification of these in terms of relative pitch, a duplication that means we can today measure both their respective pitches and establish the tonal systems within which the set as a whole was played. The inclusion of five sets of beaters even gives a fairly strong hint as to how many musicians were required to perform the bells.
Discovered at the very beginning of the period of reconstruction following the Cultural Revolution, these instruments, most especially the bell set, have already attracted major attention in China. Recordings of a replica ensemble are available at many tourist sites across the country (though sadly the music chosen is less interesting). By the mid-1990s, enterprising Hubei peasants had taken to buying replica bells from Shanghai's Jiaotong University. These bells are then buried in the paddy fields for a year or two to age them and then sold on to unsuspecting foreign tourists, who are warned not to tell Chinese Customs-antiquities not being legally exportable). Whatever the moral issues of this exchange, the bells are extremely good-looking objects, and they deserve to be better known overseas.
Music in the Age of Confucius (or, actually, a century or so later) is exactly the book to carry out this process. Drawing together the widely scattered fruits of twenty years of research, it talks the reader through the various unprecedented discoveries, and was published on the occasion of the exhibition of instruments from the tomb of Marquis Yi at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington in 2000. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, many of them in colour, it is expertly written by a team of contributors who have kept in mind the intelligent, lay public likely to attend the exhibition. Five chapters examine, in turn, music at the time of Marquis Yi, percussion instruments, strings, winds and the importance of the instruments for our understanding of Chinese music history as a whole. In each case, the material from Marquis Yi's tomb is used as the focal point in a review of discoveries from other sites and references in the surviving literature and relics of the period. Supporting material in the book includes a chronology, map, glossary of characters, reference list, scale diagrams of instruments and an index. This adds up to a fascinating and engaging read, eminently open to the reader new to Chinese music. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Cleary presents the core teachings of the great Chinesephilosopher, educator, and social critic in a convenient, easy-to-readformat. Sayings from Confucius's Analects, orcollection of aphorisms, are arranged in small groups by topicfollowing his commentaries on the I Ching, or Bookof Changes, the most profound of the Chinese classics. Theseremarks, which were incorporated into the I Ching itself,afford, as Cleary says, "the most convenient lens through whichto view the ideas of Confucius systematically." This elegantorganization makes it simple for the reader to consult the great sagereadily on the wide variety of subjects with which he wasconcerned--including morality, etiquette, diplomacy, and socialresponsibility. Cleary's translation captures all the simplicity anddirectness of Confucius's eminently practical approach to life:"Be dutiful at home, brotherly in public; be discreet andtrustworthy, love all people, and draw near to humanity. If you haveextra energy as you do that, then study literature." Theintroduction provides solid philosophical and historical background,and notes on each of the 64 sections provide further insight into thesubtleties of Confucian wisdom. --Uma Kukathas ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not just fortune cookie wisdom...
In his book on 'The Essential Tao', Thomas Cleary presented a wonderful picture of one of the dominant strands of Asian wisdom, one that has intrigued and fascinated people in the West in the past few generations. Cleary is one of the foremost scholars of ancient Chinese and Japanese. Mostly likely, if you have read a copy of ancient Chinese classic 'The Art of War' (a text widely popular, from historians and military strategists to corporate raiders and managers), it has been one of Cleary's translations.

Following the success of the book on the Tao, Cleary turned to another pillar of ancient Chinese thought, and developed this further volume in the 'Essentials' series, The Essential Confucius, the heart of Confucius' teachings in authentic I Ching order.

Confucius is a confusing character to classify. He does not fit the characterisation of the typical religious leader. He certainly did not mean to found a religion. Confucius was an educator, a social critic, a politician, and philosopher.

'"The Analects of Confucius" are a basic source for a wide range of advice on human affairs--from governing nations and managing enterprises to dealing with society and getting along with others.'

Confucius is much more than the author of fortune-cookie proverbs. In this work, Cleary has set forth the sayings of Confucius in the order of the sixty-four classic I Ching hexagrams. Many of these sayings are reduced (and likewise dismissed) as fortune-cookie sayings; however, taken together with the commentaries of Confucius, these give profound insight into the human condition. The I Ching, or literally, Book of Change, is a book which Confucius studied and promoted. Thus, to use it as a guide to Confucius' own writings is appropriate and authentic.

Confucius tried to stimulate people into original thinking, into independent thinking. It is ironic that so many times in history that original thinking has been suppressed in favour of Confucian purity -- a perennial danger in any religion.

An example of Cleary's technique is in order:

Book of Change

Good people examine themselves and cultivate virtue

- Confucius said, 'Study as though you will not reach, as if you may lose it.' (8:17)

- Confucius said, 'The virtue of balanced normalcy is consummate, it seems, but it has been scarce among the people for a long time.' (6:29)

Cleary presents the I Ching, the setting of Confucius proverb, and then various commentaries upon it. Through the sixty-four sayings and commentaries, one gets a sense of exegesis similar in character to Mishnah and Talmud as well as various Christian commentators.

Confucius above all believed in the responsibility of the learned to the ignorant, the powerful to the weak, and the wealthy for the poor. Each individual is entrusted with potential to serve the greater good of all, not just himself or herself. These are words that are worthy hearing and elevating, and not dismissing as after-dinner quips.

May your reading be truly enlightened in the virtues of humanity, justice, courtesy and wisdom.

Find another book withe analects of Confuscius
This book does not have the complete set of analects, and what's worse; the author selected analects that seem to match the 64 trograms of the I ching.

As an example.

On page 86; the author lists trigram #36

Then on page 87 lists the following analects 6:11, 14:32, 1:16, 2:17, 8:1, and 15:29.

I would suggest that you leave this book alone, and buy a book with the full analects.

The Timeless wisdom of Confucius
Few ancient philosophical teachings are powerful enough to escape obsoleteness and retain the power that they had when they were first taught. Confuciusicianism's didactic philosophy is one of these true classics. The timeless quality of its teachings is made accessible for the English reader in the book The Essential Confucius arranged and translated by Thomas Cleary. Cleary has arranged by topic, Confucian aphorisms from the Book of Change and Confucius's Analects to enhance the readers understanding of Confucius's philosophy as a whole. Through Cleary's lucid translations and his skillful weaving of the two different texts of Confuciusianism the reader is able to heuristically grasp that the purpose and means by which Confucius wished to ameliorate society.
The book consists of sayings from the Book of Change that are complimented by the dialogues from Confucius's from the Analects. Although these two works are from different authors, Confucius's Analects was heavily influenced by The Book of Change and these two works meld together in Cleary's fluid arrangement. Thomas Cleary assists the reader in the understanding of the main elements of Confucianism by providing notes in the back of the book and a short writing explaining the historical context of the two works in the introduction.

Nice start, but vastly understated...
I found 'Essential Confucious' to be insightful, but grossly incomplete. I was surprised to see how little content was amassed by Cleary. The Analects are a rich source of insight, and this book simply does not do it justice. Some of the passages chosen I would not have put forth either, considering the nature of the book's purpose. A lot of space is wasted, which could have contained many more of Confucious' truths.

On the other hand, I do think that this is an excellent place to begin your Confucian search. If you just need a little prod or poke of his truths, then this is a nice, concise handbook. Nothing, however, can be substituted for the full Analects.

How to be a human being
This is an amazing book. It's terse and every sentence is a jewel. Readingthis, one sees why Confucius is regarded a sage. He understands humannature so well. Why don't we teach Confucianism in school? Our leaderswould benefit greatly from reading this book. Here's a nice quote from theman, "When you see wise people, think of becoming equal to them. Whenyou see unwise people, reflect inwardly on yourself." ... Read more

Product Description
A Japanese pearl magnate, an Arabian oil sheik and an American media mogul find their destinies intertwined with the descendants of Confucius in this adventure story of loyalty and treachery, generosity and greed, deception and love.Narrated by Kong Wan Yi, descendant of the great sage Confucius and jade carver of her generation, Confucius Jade reveals the origins of a fantastic jade carving of Shou-Xing Lao, Chinese God of Longevity and tells how the carving, with its mystical properties, guides the Kong family to a high-stakes bidding war among three billionaires, each of whom jealously covets the priceless jade for its promise of long life and redemption. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Confucius Jade
Kong Wan Yi was born in 1936 in Burma, where Fan Shi and Chen Wu Xia adopted her, when her parents died on the trip. Cousin Deng Huai completed the small family who soon began to prosper in this new land. Fan Shi was a scholar whobegan teaching wherever he was and the family soon was well respected.
Here's magic and mystery. The story crosses the Pacific between China and America and is suspenseful, and ends with wonderful prospects for a more peace-filled world.

Book Provided Free for review By author Marketing Experts, Inc.

A great read
I loved this book!The historical context, the characters, the use of words wonderfully describing a scene, and the incentive to keep turning the pages to learn what happens next.
I'd love to see more books from this author.It was great.

Wisdom, Longevity, Beauty Will Lead Us to Many Places and Many People
"The phenomena affected each of us differently. For myself, I saw the center of the reflected half turning liquid, a green so vivid and intense that it burned into my memory. It appeared to boil, as if the lovely green syrup would spill from its bowl."


CONFUCIUS JADE by Frederick Fisher is rich in beauty and excitement. I traveled around snowy mountain ledges which seemed to reach the bottomless pit of the earth with a fine Chinese family who traveled from Burma to China. While reading the book I delighted in learning about people different from myself.. In a way I felt as though someone had a Divine Hand in my reading this book. On a second reading, I began to remember my childhood. When I was a little girl, I had an uncle and aunt who were missionaries in Borneo. Through letters mimeographed for each household we strived to picture this unknown and dangerous land so far away from our home in Philadelphia.

In due time I would see my uncle's photographs in a Life magazine. Sadly, after many deaths, many moves the magazine disappeared. Almost daily I yearn to have that magazine back in my hands for my children and grandchildren. Since my uncle did not make his letters creative only practical, I missed the wonderful way he could have painted China with words. Of course, my uncle and aunt did not have time. They were teaching the basics of life to groups of people. They were sent to Borneo by their Baptist church. Perhap, this is Frederick Fisher's legacy to paint this beautiful unknown world for us. This book, CONFUCIUS JADE is beyond whatever thoughts or mind paintings I might have experienced about China by reading books, looking at documentaries and movies. This book is as rich as a holiday fruitcake.

The Kong family are destined to carve jade. I would say it is in their genes. When Mei Hui brings home two heavy pieces of wood or driftwood there is a question of what is lying hidden in these pieces. The answer is Shou-Xing Lao, the Chinese God of Longevity.The way Frederick Johnson describes the intricate work of two people back to back on handcrafted benches with mirrors on all sides begin and do succeed at carving an image of The Chinese God of Longevity. One figure is the reflection of the other figure.

I found myself falling in love with the symbolismcarried by or following Shou-Xing Lao. There is a spotted deer, a large juicy peach and a staff in the Chinese God's hand. Carefully, gently, these two carved figures will make it all the way to San Francisco. The two family members carry the figures in red, white and blue bags with a lot of packing around the figures to keep the fragile cargo safe.

In San Francisco, the family decides with care how and to whom to sell these figures. What will they do with the money? A Sheikh is chosen, an Emperor of the Pearls is chosen and a newspaper baron who has as his goal to own all the newspapers put out by small presses around the world.These men are not millionaires. These men are billionaires. The money from the figures will create a sure and lasting plan involving Confucius, the author of the Five Virtues.

This book made me think of my childhood. I remembered my wonderful uncle and aunt who would, before returning to the states, adopt two Chinese children, a girl and a boy. I also thought about living a life of worth. Good thoughts tend to grow and grip tightly on to our hearts expanding from one person to three people to half a dozen. A good heart never remains frozen. Confucius' Five Tenets expand and push forth like the seed of a peach tree or a Redwood tree. I can't say enough about this book. Frederick Fisher has to be a great man with a good heart and nowhe has published a book filled with beauty and love and adventure.Frederick Fisher, Confucius jade

Deserves A 10 In My Opinion!
Forgive the pun, but in my opinion, Confucius Jade by Frederick Fisher is a magnificent literary Gem! It is also a suspenseful drama!Fisher writes with extensive knowledge and experience of both the Orient and gemstones and has successfully integrated both into a memorable, meaningful novel! Easily a 10 in a 1-5 ranking in my opinion!

Centering on the Family Kong, Kong Wan Yi is the narrator for the majority of the book. Indeed the story begins right before her birth as part of the family find it necessary to leave their home. First, let me clarify that the above has been anglicized--the family's well-known ancestor is K'ung Fu-tze who lived twenty-five hundred years ago.

We all still know and quote him as...Confucius:

The Master said, To fail to speak to a man who is capable of benefiting, is to let a man go to waste. To speak to a man who is incapable of benefiting is to let one's words go to waste. A wise man lets neither man nor words go to waste. (p. 48)

Kong Wan Yi was born in 1936 in Burma, where Fan Shi and Chen Wu Xia adopted her, when her parents died on the trip. Cousin Deng Huai completed the small family who soon began to prosper in this new land. Fan Shi was a scholar who automatically began teaching wherever he was and the family soon was well respected.

Perhaps it was fate that Wan Yi and Deng Huai fell in love and were allowed to marry, after reviewing the family connections. Whether Mei Hua was born as she was due to that marriage, it was irrelevant. She was a much-loved beautiful flower that would never mature past the age of 7, yet it was Mei Hua who, perhaps, played the most important role--she found the pretty rock that was too heavy for her small arms to carry back home for her collection.

But it was to both Wan Yi and Mei Hua that He came--Shou Xing Lao, the Immortal God of Longevity came to show them how the pretty rock was to be used. Destiny was now in control of the Kong Family's future...

Finally, it was to Fan Shi that the final vision appeared--a university bearing the name of K'ung Fu-tze was to be built at Qufu, birthplace of Confucius.

The adventure begins as three men--a Japanese pearl magnate, an Arabian oil sheik and an American media mogul--are selected to bid to purchase the Jade twins of Shou Xing Lao.Ah, yes, there is so much in this book that only highlights can be included! And, indeed the beautiful cover of the book reveals the creations that came from those pretty rocks. And the asking price was a minimum of $1Billion. But, here, too, destiny was in charge--Shou Xing Lao would decide where and with whom they would ultimately live. Each of the men were quite willing to pay for longevity; their families were not!

Rich in cultural and historical background, plan to keep this one for your personal library. Perhaps, long life may come to us who read this wonderful book, Confucius Jade by Frederick Fisher... If not, we have definitely succeeded in being visited by Fu Xing, God of Happiness!


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G. A. Bixler

An Adventure in a modern context: So what did become of the ancestors of Confucius?
I love a novel with an historical context.F. Fisher knows his subject. He's obviously travelled widely in Asia.....has a wonderful historical sense and a great imagination. My favorite chapters were with a Chinese family on a journey of escape into Burma at the end of WWII and the creation of a Jade statue around which the adventure revolves. There's magic and mystery. The story criss-crosses the Pacific between China and America as fast as a Jetplane. Suspenseful, and ends with wonderful prospects for a more peace-filled world. ... Read more

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