21 hours agoAnalects 1.16: Knowing Others (知人)Do not worry about others not knowing you, worry about not knowing others. – Kongzi said 不患人之不己知， 患不知人也。 Comment After the phrase “do not worry about others not knowing you,” the philosophy of individualism would respond “just know yourself.” However, if turned inward, you get alienation; if turned outward, “instead know…Knowing Others2 min readKnowing Others2 min read
1 day agoAnalects 1.6: Conduct, Then Arts (行後文)A youth enters home, then affectionate and obedient, exits home, then respectful to elders, careful and truthful, broadly loving the people, and close with the benevolent. As for activities, when there is spare strength, then use it to study the arts. - Kongzi said 弟子入則孝， 出則弟， 謹而信， 汎愛眾， 而親仁。 行有餘力，…Literature And Art4 min readLiterature And Art4 min read
5 days agoAnalects 1.5: Governing the Great State (道千乘之國)The way of a thousand-chariot state: be respectful in affairs and trustworthy, use frugality and love the people, employ people by means of the seasons. – Kongzi said 道千乘之國： 敬事而信， 節用而愛人， 使民以時。 Comment Kongzi presents five intentions that serve as the beginnings of governance rather than their ends, which are specific…Governance4 min readGovernance4 min read
6 days agoAnalects: Introduction by Chengzi & Zhu XiChapter One Introduction by Zhu Xi Learning, Chapter One: This is the first chapter of the book, and its content focuses on the fundamental principles, which serve as the gateway to the way, the foundation of accumulating virtue, and the primary task for students. There are a total of sixteen verses. — Zhu Xi 學而第一: 此為書之首篇，故所記多務本之意，乃入道之門、積德之基、學者之先務也。凡十六章。 Analects Introduction by Chengzi …Analects2 min readAnalects2 min read
Mar 20Analects 1.14: Learning the Way (就有道)Noble man eats, there is not a seeking of fulfillment, dwells, there is not a seeking of comfort, quick in work affairs and careful in speech, approaches an attained way and is rectified by this. May say fond of learning, indeed. – Kongzi said 君子食無求飽， 居無求安， 敏於事而慎於言， 就有道而正焉， 可謂好學也已。 Comment In…The Way4 min readThe Way4 min read
Mar 19AI Alignment and the Essence of CivilizationsRegarding the “AI alignment” discussions, we can pause and simply understand how things really work. Human tribalism serves the purpose of exploring all paths, with successful ones spreading to other tribes. For example, over the past 300 years, Western industrialism advanced full speed ahead in a totalitarian manner. Native Americans…Ai Alignment2 min readAi Alignment2 min read
Mar 19Analects 1.13: Keep Disgrace Far (遠辱)Trustworthiness is close to rightness; words may be acted on. Respectfulness is close to ritual; keep far shame and disgrace. As a result of not losing your relatives, also can you follow your lineage. — Youzi said 信近於義，言可復也； 恭近於禮，遠恥辱也； 因不失其親，亦可宗也。 Comment This is about keeping disgrace far, with typical Analects pragmatism. …Disgrace3 min readDisgrace3 min read
Mar 16Analects 1.12: Propriety & Harmony (禮而和)Propriety’s usefulness: harmony makes it valuable. The former kings’ way: this is beautiful, small and great follow it. There is that which is not working, to know harmony and harmonize; without using propriety to join it, still, it cannot work. – Youzi said 禮之用，和為貴。 先王之道斯為美，小大由之。 有所不行， 知和而和， 不以禮節之， 亦不可行也。 Comment The…Social Harmony5 min readSocial Harmony5 min read
Mar 7The Discussions of Ru SchoolThe Lúnyǔ (論語), known as the Analects in English, is a collection of internal “discussions” (論) “spoken” (語) at Ru school. The teacher and students engage in conversations on a wide range of topics, from character development to government. …The Analects3 min readThe Analects3 min read
Mar 6Analects 1.11: Generational Transmission (孝)Father alive, observe the son’s will; father finished, observe the son’s actions. Three years without a change from father’s way, may call affectionate and trustingly obedient indeed. – Kongzi said 父在，觀其志； 父沒，觀其行。 三年無改於父之道， 可謂孝矣。 Comment The elder’s way was functional — it produced a surviving son — so how can the…Filial Piety3 min readFilial Piety3 min read
