The Chinese Classic of Family Reverence : A Philosophical Translation of the Xiaojing

Few if any philosophical schools have championed family values as persistently as the early Confucians, and a great deal can be learned by attending to what they had to say on the subject. In the Confucian tradition, human morality and the personal realization it inspires are grounded in the cultivation of family feeling. One may even go so far as to say that, for China, family reverence was a necessary condition for developing any of the other human qualities of excellence. On the basis of the present translation of the Xiaojing (Classic of Family Reverence) and supplemental passages found in other early philosophical writings, Professors Rosemont and Ames articulate a specifically Confucian conception of "role ethics" that, in its emphasis on a relational conception of the person, is markedly different from most early and contemporary dominant Western moral theories. This Confucian role ethics takes as its inspiration the perceived necessity of family feeling as the entry point in the development of moral competence and as a guide to the religious life as well. In the lengthy introduction, two senior scholars offer their perspective on the historical, philosophical, and religious dimensions of the Xiaojing. Together with this introduction, a lexicon of key terms presents a context for the Xiaojing and provides guidelines for interpreting the text historically in China as well as suggesting its contemporary significance for all societies. The inclusion of the Chinese text adds yet another dimension to this important study. The Chinese Classic of Family Reverence is sure to appeal to specialists of comparative and Chinese philosophy and to all readers interested in the enduring importance of the family. 1. Why Study This Text? -- 2. Historical And Textual Background -- 2.1 Synopsis Of The Work -- 2.2 Confucius -- 2.3 Master Zeng -- 2.4 The Text And Its Historical Context -- 3. Philosophical And Religious Background -- 3.1 Xiao In Classical Confucianism -- 3.2 The Socio-political Dimensions Of Xiao -- 3.3 The Ethical Dimensions Of Xiao -- 3.4 Xiao And Human-centered Religiousness -- 4. The Chinese Lexicon Of Key Philosophical Terms -- 5. The Classic Of Family Reverence (xiaojing) -- 5.1 Setting The Theme And Illuminating Its Meaning -- 5.2 The Emperor As Son Of Tian -- 5.3 The Hereditary Lords -- 5.4 The Ministers And High Officials -- 5.5 The Lower Officials -- 5.6 The Common People -- 5.7 The Three Powers And Resources -- 5.8 Governing Through Family Reverence -- 5.9 Sagely Governing -- 5.10 A Narrative Of Family Reverence In Practice -- 5.11 The Five Punishments -- 5.12 Elaborating Upon The Vital Way -- 5.13 Elaborating Upon Consummate Character -- 5.14 Elaborating Upon Raising One's Name High For Posterity -- 5.15 On Remonstrance -- 5.16 Resonance -- 5.17 Serving One's Lord -- 5.18 Mourning For Parents -- 6. Notes To The Classic Of Family Reverence Henry Rosemont, Jr., And Roger T. Ames. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.