Confucius from the Heart: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World [Hardcover]

 

 

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Confucius from the Heart: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World, Yu Dan

This short volume is a delightful book to read. It has been excellently designed, illustrated and printed, and is therefore a pleasure to hold to and read. The work expounds a simple, and therefore immediately comprehensible, exposition of the principles, which define Confucian philosophy and practice. In this system of thought, which has been described as ethico-religious, action essentially takes precedence over words: `Confucius's strength is forever the strength of action, and not the strength of words.'

Following a short introduction the author traces and explains the development of Confucian thought and practice through six chapters with the following headings, The Way of Heaven and Earth, the Way of Heart and Soul, The Way of the World, The Way of Friendship, The Way of Ambition and The Way of Being. The school of philosophy, which this book so eloquently expounds, initially seems to emphasise the contemplative life, over the active life, although it is certainly the latter which Confucius actually advocates. The Confucian mode of thought essentially advocates a way of life - an active life primarily intended for the ancient world - which places cardinal importance on the continuous expression of the virtues: humaneness or benevolence, loyalty, filial piety, good faith or trustworthiness, rightness, reciprocity, deference, courage...

The book is primarily intended for the untutored reader: the reader who is unfamiliar with philosophical concepts. Those who fall into this category will undoubtedly derive significant benefit from careful study of its content. The text contains numerous anecdotes, which serve to illuminate the essential content of Confucian thought, which has a distinctive Aristotelian flavour, in its expression of the virtues and its search for excellence.

My favourite anecdote concerns a group of porcupines who live in a cave and during winter huddle together in order to keep warm. If they become too close, then they prick each other, and if they remain too far apart, then they fail to keep warm. This fable advises us that we should maintain an optimum space between our ourselves and our familiars, to ensure that we do not become excessively intimate with them or limit their privacy. Because undue intimacy, even between our immediate familiars, can lead to friction, and can therefore be disrespectful of their privacy and integrity. Each individual requires a private 'space' which, if infringed, causes tension and disharmony, and is therefore inimical to the maintenance of sound relationships with others. The lessons of this book need to be studied and understood, within the modern world, and it is therefore worthy of careful consideration on that score alone.

The strength and clarity of this book is to be found in the manner in which it interprets the ancient wisdom of the Sage, and then relates that interpretation to modern existence. The book was primarily intended for Chinese readers, but has since been translated into elegant English. Some of the ideas expressed in this book may not immediately appeal to modern Western sensibilities and sentiments. Its content, which is essentially idealistic in character, identifies obvious tensions between the ancient, Confucian ethos and the realism, which motivates the modern Western way of life and thought: a way of life and thought which places emphasis on pluralism, secularism and individualism. However, this volume and the philosophy which it expounds has much to tell us that is of contemporary relevance and will appeal to the reader who has, perhaps, become disenchanted with our way of life, and who is unfamiliar with Eastern philosophical thought in general, and Confucian philosophy in particular. The text is exceptionally clear and elegantly expresses Confucian philosophy and practice for the benefit of those who are new to the subject. It constitutes a simple introduction and guide to the Analects for the reader who has not encountered the subject before. I can certainly recommend this book as an elementary, but comprehensive, guide to the philosophical thought of Confucius and the modes of action that derive from it. Stuart Hopkins

Nobody doubts that the Analects of Confucius are a masterpiece of Eastern philosophy. Having read the original mans works, then this, is it fair to say that the author brings a fair rendering of 2500 year old philosophy into the 21st century?
Not really. Something is definatley lost in translation. Small gobbets of anodyne text which bear little relationship to the taut lucidity of the original Analects. Certainly the work is uplifting and easy to read, perhaps going some way to explain how it has already sold over 10 million copies in its native China. My advice; read the original for insight read this for a quick uplift.

What Yu Dan has produced here is not a book telling the reader what Confucius taught, rather a self-help book based loosely on Confucius's teachings. It is an excellent translation, but as with many Chinese to English translations, it works far better in Chinese, where the concepts are less alien.

This book is far too anecdotal for my taste, and many of her stories are unsubstantiated and don't seem to exist anywhere other than in this book, which is suspicious. Yu Dan has certainly managed to reawaken an interest in Confucius in China, for which she is to be applauded, but scholars of Confucius will bury their head in their hands when they read her interpretation of his teachings. What is obvious is that Yu Dan is a skilled media operator, not a scholar.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Confucius from the Heart: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World
This little book has changed my life, changed the way I look and see people, how we all effect each other in this crazy world we live in. Read more

Published 11 months ago by John Aigi Hurn

1.0 out of 5 stars For tea parties only...
China's book market is inundated with freewheeling "interpretations" of Confucius like this one, most of which, thankfully, will stay inside the country and will be trucked off to... Read more

Published 14 months ago by Q. Dake

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading
If you are basically a nice person who needs a little advice and non-religious faith in order to face up to life in the modern world, this book is essential reading. Read more

Published 15 months ago by dveloper

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read and inspiring!
This is an excellent, thought provoking book, which I really enjoyed reading.
Definately a good buy, if you enjoy self development...

Published 22 months ago by Ms. N. V. Gallagher

3.0 out of 5 stars Older wisdom

Certainly gives some insight into Confucian philosophy, it's not meant to be a philosophy textbook so the populist tone and writing style don't really matter as long as... Read more

Published 23 months ago by Tim Coupe

5.0 out of 5 stars What can the West learn from China? - This book is a first pointer.
If we say that Western civilisation began from ancient Greece and that ancient Greece began from the first Olympics in 776 BC, then perhaps it is fair for us to say that Beijing's... Read more

Published on 11 May 2009 by Cheryl

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