How far today in chase, I wonder
Has gone my hunter of the dragonfly
10th Century Japanese poet
In previous posts, I discussed virtue and morality and their opposites. I’d like to continue by swinging my lens to the east and set the focus on ancient China and Japan. First in the crosshairs is the Chinese philosopher K’ung Ch’iu translated into Latin by the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci and his companion Michele Ruggieri in 1582. Thus we know him as Confucious.
Confucius was the contemporary of Buddha and the Greek philosophers Pythagoras, Xenophanes, and Parmenides. Confucius died in 479 BCE and as a tribute to their master, his students wrote his analects or words of wisdom.
Where the Christian Bible explores the Israelites and later the Gentiles relationship with God and lays down the precepts of righteous living, The teachings of Confucius urge the development of virtue and moral character as a way of creating the conditions for good government and individual character. Sinners and Saints on one side and high moral and low moral character on the other. Probably we could draw some tight similarities between the ancient west and east.
Confucius believed that true wisdom was available to all people who genuinely seek it. The Chinese philosopher was influenced by the even more ancient belief in the Mandate of Heaven from the Tao Te (Tao- the way and Te – virtue or moral character). The analects of Confucius and the Tao Te were both meant to develop moral and virtuous leaders and only such a leader has the right to govern the people.
Once when asked what is wisdom? Confucius replied, “To devote oneself earnestly to one’s duty to humanity.” How far we’ve come in these few 1,545 years. In the wrong direction it may seem. (Note 1.)
In the age of the Samurai of Japan 1185 -1868, the warrior-poets defended the warring provinces against hostile take over and even turned back the Mongol invasion in 1264. They became the highest social class in Japan with the right to do as they pleased with the lives of others.
Their stoic nature and absence of fear belied a deep sense of restraint of the natural and emotional self. They were perhaps the most disciplined warriors on the planet in their day. Inazo Nitobe wrote in his Code of the Samurai, 1905, “Since the very attempt to restrain natural promptings entails suffering,” the Samurai and the people of Japan released their emotional suffering through poetry which is still widely read today.
What were the seven virtues of Bushido, the Samurai code? They were Justice, Courage, Benevolence, Politeness, Truthfulness, Honor, and Loyalty. These are indeed noble virtues for a warrior class or anyone who would dare to be a good citizen of the ancient world or today. (Note 2.)
So why were the Hebrew Israelites always at odds with their laws of purity, right living, and worship of God. Why did the Kingdoms of China fall into ruin through corruption only to fall further from humanity with Chairman Mao? Why were the Samurai disbanded? Why is the largest religion on this angry blue planet, Christianity, an apostasy in the mouths of the disbelievers?
It could be that no culture of civilization, religion, or government in human history has successfully removed our human nature from the forefront of our consciousness. We are ruled by our emotions and obsessions. Self sacrifice for others is not natural, yet the example is plentiful. Righteous government by virtuous people is laughable as an impossibility. We seem to be rotating once again through the death throes of civil unity where emotional urges rule the day.
Through my studies, I finally made peace with the world. I can live a natural life to its logical end and whether the world is virtuous or not will make no difference until wisdom prevails.
Note 1. The Analects of Confucius, Arcturus Publishing Limited, reprint 2024.
Note 2. The Code of the Samurai, Bushido: The Soul of Japan, Inazo Nitobe, 1905, Chartwell Books reprint 2013.
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