Summary
William Theodore de Bary argues that Confucianism's liberal humanist ideals have been consistently appropriated to serve conservative regimes, leading to a problematic tension between the ideal of the noble man and the authoritarian sage-king. He challenges Max Weber's view of Confucianism as merely a philosophy of acceptance, instead identifying a prophetic voice within it that speaks for the people's welfare but does not empower the people to act. This dual legacy has manifested institutionally in a two-class structure of rulers and ruled, and more recently, in one-party states dominated by an elite.
The book examines the enduring questions surrounding Confucianism's relevance in modern East and Southeast Asia, where it is viewed either as a symbol of repression or as a humanist ethical system. De Bary draws on early Confucian teachings and historical developments to illustrate the inherent difficulties and troubled experiences Confucian thinkers have had in upholding noble ideals, suggesting that understanding these historical struggles is crucial for grappling with Confucianism today.
Key concepts
- Liberal humanist teaching — The core ethical and philosophical tenets of Confucianism that emphasize human potential and moral development.
- Authoritarian sage-king — A historical distortion of the Confucian ideal where rulers, instead of embodying noble character for the people's welfare, become oppressive figures.
- Prophetic voice — The aspect of Confucianism that criticizes injustice and speaks out for the common good, without necessarily assigning agency to the populace.
- Two-class structure — An institutional outcome of Confucianism characterized by a ruling bureaucratic elite and a populace with no inherent power or responsibility.
- Noble man — The Confucian ideal of a morally cultivated individual who embodies exemplary virtue and acts for the welfare of others.
From the book
Description: "At the time of the Cultural Revolution in China, Confucius was so shadowy a figure in most people's minds that the Gang of Four had to first resurrect him before he could be pilloried and crucified. Since that time, he has continued to haunt the scene. But despite this rejuvenated attention, his status is still unclear." "In Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and other parts of East and Southeast Asia, as well as China, people are asking, "What does Confucianism have to offer today?" For some, Confucius is still the symbol of a reactionary and repressive past. For others, he is the humanist admired by generations of scholars and thinkers, East and West. Much depends on whose Confucianism one is considering, its time and place. In the face of such complications, only a scholar…
"De Bary explains the puzzling role and ambiguous character of Confucianism as a liberal humanist teaching that is often appropriated to serve conservative regimes. He discusses the tension between the ideal of the noble man in Confucius and Mencius and the figure of the exemplary sage-king turned authoritarian in the imperial dynasties. On the basis of evidence from both early Confucian teachings and historical developments, de Bary questions the Weberian characterization of Confucianism as a philosophy of acceptance and accommodation, lacking a critical voice or capability for self-transformation. Instead, he sees Confucianism as involving a prophetic voice, identified with the noble man as spokesman for the people's welfare but assigning no responsibility to the people for acting on…
Description: This text looks at the role and meaning of Confucianism in modern Asia. For some, Confucius is the symbol of a reactionary and repressive past, whilst for others he is a humanist, admired for his ethical system and discipline