Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Observance of Forms: An Aesthetic Analysis of Analects 6.25

  • Published:
Dao Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This essay analyzes how the zhengming 正名 theory of Confucius is linked to the problem of “observances of form” in light of the methodology of Confucian aesthetics. This essay argues that the “name-shape” combination in the zhengming paradigm is ultimately connected with the “name-role” combination. The “name-shape” paradigm continuously maintains and strengthens the “name-role” paradigm. However, the “name-shape” paradigm itself ultimately becomes more meaningful than the “name-role” paradigm. This is because the aesthetic structure that appears peculiar in the Analects constitutes the “name-shape” paradigm. In this aesthetic structure, what is ultimately important is “form.”

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alt, Wayne. 2005. “Ritual and the Social Construction of Sacred Artifacts: An Analysis of Analects 6.25.” Philosophy East & West 55. 3: 461-469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ames, Roger T. and Henry Rosemont Jr., trans. 1998. The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation. New York: Ballantine Publishing Group of Random House.

  • Brooks, E. Bruce, and Taeko Brooks. 1998. The Original Analects: Sayings of Confucius and His Successors. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, Shude 程樹德. 2006. Collected Commentaries of the Analects 論語集釋. Beijing 北京: Zhonghua Shuju 中華書局.

  • Dawson, Raymond, trans. 1993. Confucius: The Analects. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

  • Duan, Shu’an 段書安, ed. 2006. The Complete Works of Chinese Bronze 中國靑銅器全集. Vols. 1, 2, 4, 5. Beijing 北京: Wenwu Chubanshe 文物出版社.

  • Duan, Zhenmei 段振美, ed. 2004. The Essential Cultural Relics of Anyang 安陽文物精華. Beijing 北京: Wenwu Chubanshe 文物出版社.

  • Foucault, Michel. 1995. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Trans. by Alan Sheridan. New York: Vintage Books.

  • Hahm, Chaibong. 2001. “Confucian Rituals and the Technology of the Self: A Foucaultian Interpretation.” Philosophy East & West 51. 3: 315-324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, David L., and Roger T. Ames. 1987. Thinking Through Confucius. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Handan Shi Wenwu Yanjiusuo 邯鄲市文物硏究所 (Institute of Cultural Relics in Handan City), ed. 2005. The Essential Cultural Relics of Handan 邯鄲文物精華. Beijing 北京: Wenwu Chubanshe 文物出版社.

  • He, Yan 何晏 (?-249). 2003. Collected Expositions of the Analects 論語集解. In Commentaries on the Thirteen Classics 十三經注疏. Beijing 北京: Zhonghua Shuju 中華書局.

  • Lau, D.C. trans. 1979. The Analects. London: Penguin Books.

  • Legge, James, trans. 1935a. The Chun Tsew with the Tso Chuen. In The Chinese Classics. Vol. 5. Shanghai 上海: Oxford University Press.

  • _____. 1935b. The Confucian Analects. In The Chinese Classics, Vol. 1. Shanghai 上海: Oxford University Press.

  • Ma, Chengyuan 馬承源. 2002. A Study of the Chinese Bronze 中國靑銅器硏究. Shanghai 上海: Shanghai Guji Chubanshe 上海古籍出版社.

  • Mao, Qiling 毛奇齡 (1623-1716). 1983. Textual Research on the Analects 論語稽求篇. Vol. 3. In Sikuquanshu 四庫全書. Vol. 210. Taibei 臺北: Taiwan Shangwuyinshuguan 臺灣商務印書館.

  • Mei, Ninghua 梅寧華, ed. 2002. The Great Anthology of Essential Cultural Relics of Beijing 北京文物精粹大系. Beijing 北京: Beijing Chubanshe 北京出版社.

  • Qiu, Guangming 丘光明. 1996. The Weights & Measures of the Ancient China 中國古代度量衡. Beijing 北京: Shangwuyinshuguan 商務印書館.

  • Sima, Qian 司馬遷. 1977. Records of History 史記. Taibei 臺北: Dashen Shuju 大森書局.

  • Slingerland, Edward Gilman, trans. 2001. The Analects. In Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. Edited by Philip J. Ivanhoe and Bryan W. Van Norden. New York and London: Seven Bridges Press.

  • Waley, Arthur. 1938. The Analects of Confucius. London: George Allen and Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilde, Oscar. 1930. Intentions. New York: Albert & Charles Boni.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, Gongquan 蕭公權. 1979. A History of Chinese Political Thought. Trans. by Frederick W. Mote. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

  • Xing, Bing 邢昺 (932-1010). 2003. Commentaries to the Analects 論語注疏. In Commentaries to the Thirteen Classics 十三經注疏. Beijing 北京: Zhonghua Shuju 中華書局.

  • Xu, Tianjin 徐天進. ed. 2002. The History of Bronze in Zhu Dynasty 吉金鑄國史. Beijing 北京: Wenwu Chubanshe 文物出版社.

  • Yang, Shen 楊愼. 1936. A Sequel to the Corrective Notes 丹鉛續錄. Shanghai 上海: Shangwu Yinshuguan 商務印書館.

  • Yue, Hongbin 岳洪彬. 2006. Research on Bronze Ware in Yin Ruins 殷墟靑銅禮器硏究. Beijing 北京: Zhongguo Shehuikexue Chubanshe 中國社會科學出版社.

  • Zhang, Guangzhi 張光直. 1983. Art, Myth, and Ritual. Cambridge & London: Harvard University Press.

  • Zhu, Fenghan 朱鳳瀚. 1995. The Ancient Chinese Bronze 古代中國靑銅器. Tianjin 天津: Nankai Daxue Chubanshe 南開大學出版社.

  • Zhu, Xi 朱熹. 1998. Collected Commentaries on the Analects 論語集註. In Collected Commenataries on the Four Books 四書章句集註. Shanghai 上海: Shanghai Shudian 上海書店.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academy of East Asian Studies (HK) at SungKyunKwan Universsity, 53 Myeongnyun-dong 3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-745, Korea

    Tae-seung Lim

Authors
  1. Tae-seung Lim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tae-seung Lim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lim, Ts. Observance of Forms: An Aesthetic Analysis of Analects 6.25. Dao 11, 147–162 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11712-012-9267-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11712-012-9267-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation