Jottings from the Granite Studio

According to tradition (and the tourist office in Qufu, Shandong) today is Confucius’ 2557th birthday. The big guy has taken a few knocks in the last 150 years or so, but his staying power is just impressive. Just this past month, Confucius has been a symbol of cross-straits unity, a means of promoting a harmonious and obedient PRC society, used to bolster the morale of teachers, and even as an odd symbol of girl-power.

As a scholar, Confucius described himself as somebody who, “in the pursuit of knowledge forgot about food, in the joy of learning forgot his sorrows, and who was unaware that old age would soon be upon him.” In his own autobiography, the briefest memoir in world history, he says:

“At 15, I set my heart on learning. At 30, I stood firm. At 40, I had no doubts. At 50, I could hear the will of Heaven. At 60, I was ready to listen. At 70, I could follow my heart’s desires without transgressing that which is right.”

It’s tough to know what Confucius might have thought of life in 2006. During his own time, he played a role not unknown in modern society–underemployed political consultant filling his down time with teaching gigs to pay the bills. Perhaps if he were around today he might once again travel the world and offer advice to leaders on how to rule their countries well. I have a feeling that 21st century rulers would have even less patience for Confucius than did the Kings of 5th century China. The Confucian emphasis on benevolence towards the people and a rule based on moral example, ritual, and virtue bored his employers who would have preferred to simply enact laws and then cut the heads off of those who disobeyed. Seeing the problems facing China today, Confucius would probably have been as worried about the corruption of power in our time just as he was in his own:

The Duke Ai asked, “What should be done in order to secure the submission of the people.?”
Confucius replied, “Advance the upright and set aside the crooked and the people will submit. Advance the crooked and set aside the upright and the people will not submit.”

You can venerate the Man best when you ignore those inconvenient bits like what he said and how he lived. (WWCD?) Rule by virtue: it seems like such a quaint concept. If people just do what is best, not just for themselves, but also thinking of others and of society, then that society will prosper.

It’s no wonder he was always being fired. Who likes a nag?
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Top right picture: Ming woodblock print of Confucius at work