The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eastern Philosophy by Jay Stevenson

Author:Jay Stevenson [Unknown]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-02-28T23:00:00+00:00

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To these six schools mentioned we can add the school of strategy, epitomized by General Sun Tzu, the author of the Art of War. This work provides advice on how to fight, how to lead soldiers, and how to deal with the enemy. In addition to being an influence on the development of martial arts in China and Japan, it was also studied by many of China’s leaders, including Mao Tse-tung.

Two Left Standing

Of all these schools, the two most important are the Scholars (Confucianism) and Taoism. To the extent that the other schools didn’t disappear entirely, they became largely absorbed by one of these two main philosophies. Thus, although the early Confucians abhorred the attitude of the Legalists, Confucianism became so entrenched that many Legalist-type Confucians emerged—wily and selfish, in contrast to the kinder, more benevolent Confucians.

In fact, Confucianism came to dominate all Chinese political philosophy up until the twentieth century. Throughout the history of dynastic China, Confucian ideals were incorporated into the official imperial system for selecting ministers, who were expected to be well-versed in the ancient classics and prepared to implement policy in the spirit of Confucian leadership.

The major alternative to Confucian philosophy throughout most of China’s history is Taoism, which emphasizes solitude and private contemplation, as opposed to the Confucian ideals of study and active leadership. It has been said that, in dynastic China, everyone was a Confucian during times of public success and a Taoist in times of failure and during retirement. Yet, despite its emphasis on quiet living, the Taoist philosophy has a lot to say about how to act effectively. In fact, it has much in common with the philosophy of Sun Tzu, whose Art of War applies the concept of the Tao to military situations.

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