I will analyze The Analects written by Confucius. Confucius has a lot of impacts on East Asian’s life. I have noticed The Analects since I was in elementary school. The interpretations of the English version are a little bit different than the Chinese version. Many of East Asian’s life still follows the doctrines of the ideas of Confucius. He is the man who gives general educations to lower rank people while educations are only popularized in high rank people because of hierarchy. Therefore, Chinese believe he is the first teacher of the nation because he generalizes education systems for everyone regardless of their positions.
The most important ideology shapes East Asians’ society is “ritual” because the old saying of Chinese that “Nothing will be accomplished without norms and standards.” “Ritual” is not only a ceremony, but it also means to be polite as well as behaving properly to others. In The Analects Book VII 7.3, “The master said: ‘Failure to cultivate moral power, failure to explore what I have learned, incapacity to stand by what I know to be right, incapacity to reform what is not good – these are my worries’.” If everyone behaves without moral, then the society will be a salvage place. If nobody does good things, then the society will not be a harmony place. If nobody corrects what they have done wrongfully, then the society will not be a developed place. Confucius deeply concerns about the ways of people’s behaviors because he believes that “ritual” makes the world a better place.
Confucius also believes that justice brings happiness. In The Analects book VII 7.16, Confucius points out that “Riches and honors without justice are to me as fleeting clouds”. In the full version of The Analects gives an example, indicates that if a man gains something without a proper way, this is injustice. Although he might be happy for a short period of time, but he will be condemned by his own conscience because he knows it is not correct. On the other hand, in The Analects book VII 7.16, Confucius says “Even though you have only coarse grain for food, water for drink, and your bent arm for a pillow, you may still be happy.” In other words, Confucius believes that if people can satisfy their basic needs, they should not ask for more. Therefore, I anticipate that Confucius tries to say that enough is as good as a feast.
I definitely agree with d.shao about “Many of East Asian’s life still follows the doctrines of the ideas of Confucius.” As I came from one of the East Asian country, our social norms and moral behaviors are based on the books from Confucius.Especially, the Analects are considered as the important book which helped to create the culture. I will say the Analects is more likely an indicator of human life with very deep meaning. It tells you the wisdom as well as what not to do to become a better member of society. Some of the elements are too old generation conservatively to be followed by our generation. Still, This book is the guide line for many of the East Asian country’s social norms.
Even though the Confucianism is not a religion, I believe The Analects has considered like the bible to many of East Asian countries. I want to read the full book once, because episodes are interesting as a story book, but profound.
I agree with your interpretation of the Analects written by Confucius. The ideas presented in these analects seem to be like a guideline of how one should act in society. I also agree with g.nam on Confucius ideas not being a religion to follow but it having that affect on people because people have been living by those doctrines for many many years. I am not Asian but I can relate to the culture coming from an African culture, and Nigerian to be specific. Respect is a very very important value in my culture; Respect for oneself but above all respect for elders. It’s like something that isn’t really talked about explicitly, it’s just there. The way in which we show our respect for elders lies in how we greet them. We greet our elders by prostrating before them. This is a norm for our culture and has been around since the beginning of time. Similarly to how society in an Eastern Asian country will be a salvage place filled with havoc if everyone behaves without moral, societies in Nigeria wouldn’t go as smoothly and flourish the way that it has been if the young did not respect the old. It is only right to respect and show gratitude to those that have paved the way for us.