User:Holden Jude

Hi I'm Holden Jude! I use he/him/his pronouns. I really like listening to music, studying psychology, and spending time in nature. My intended major is Psychology and I'm still deciding if I'd like to be a sociology or anthropology minor.

= Confucius and the Analects Project =

Definition
There are several definitions of ritual in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, but one that can directly relate to our discussion of ritual in The Analects would be "a ceremonial act or action". In Confucius and the Analects, ritual is also known as Li. It's referred to simply as a religious practice, but the "attitudes of reverence appropriate to religious ritual are seen as permeating other activities in life", so that word is also frequently used with ritual. "Jing" is the word that translates to "reverence" or "respect". The word "gong" can be translated as "courtesy" or "politeness", and it is also frequently used with ritual in the Analects. Ritual can take place alongside music, archery, charioteering, writing, and mathematics; these are considered to be the six arts acquired by the gentleman. Ritual is usually mentioned alongside music, which were both seen as reflecting the ideal society. The entirety of Book 10 is used as a thorough description of ritual behavior. Master Kong was seen as an expert on the details of ritual.

Master Kong

 * 1) When entering the palace gate, Master Kong would appear serious and walk fast. He'd hold his breath when ascending down the hallway.
 * 2) When coming back down the hallway, he'd seem relieved and more relaxed.
 * 3) When returning to his position, he looked more respectful.
 * 4) When holding the jade tablet, he seemed as if he couldn't cope with it. When holding it at the highest point, he seemed to be bowing. When holding it at the lowest point, he seemed to be making a presentation. His expression was serious and his stance was still.
 * 5) When being presented with ritual gifts, he wore a complaisant expression. At private audiences, he seemed at ease.

Attire
The gentleman doesn't use purple adornments, and does not wear red for informal dress. During hot weather, he wears unlined garment of fine or course material, and only wears it outside to show it off."With a black robe he wears lambskin, with an undyed robe he wears fawn-skin, and with a yellow robe he wears fox fur." His informal coat is long with one short sleeve on the right. He always has sleeping clothes, which are has long as half of his body. Thick furs like from a fox or badger are used when staying at home. When mourning, he wears all his girdle-ornaments. Lambskin garments and black caps are not used for visits of condolence. For court at the beginning of the month, he wears a court dress. When he is purifying himself, he wears a spirit robe made of cotton.

Purification
When purifying himself, he changes his diet. When at home, he even changes where he sits. He doesn't eat fine rice or finely cut meat; if the food isn't properly cut up he also can't eat it. Rice, meat, and fish that have gone bad are also not eaten during a period of purification. He can't eat food that hasn't been cooked properly. He can only eat at the proper times. He can't eat food without the proper sauce. He can't eat more meat than rice, even if there is a lot of meat. There isn't a limit on the amount of wine you can drink. Wine or dried meat can't come from a shop. He can't eat food with a lot of ginger in it. He doesn't keep sacrificial meat over night. When eating, he doesn't talk, nor does he talk when he goes to sleep.

Quotes

 * 1.12 "Master You said: 'In the practice of the rites of harmony is regarded as the most valuable thing, and in the ways of the ancient kings this is regarded as the most beautiful thing. It is the ancient adopted in all matters, both small and great. But sometimes it does not work. If you behave harmoniously because you understand harmony, but do not regulate your conduct with ritual, surely that cannot be made to work"
 * 1.13 "Master You said: 'When good faith is close to righteousness, one's words may be fulfilled. When courtesy is close to the rites, one keeps shame and dishonour at a distance. If in marriage one does not bring loss to one's relatives, one is surely fit to be honoured as head of the clan"
 * 3.4 "Lin Fang asked about the root of ritual. The Master said 'An important question indeed! In ritual it is better to be frugal rather than lavish, but in mourning it is better to be sorrowful rather than unmoved'."
 * 3.15 "When the master entered the grand temple, he asked about every single thing. Someone said: 'Who says that the son of the man from Zou knows the ritual? When he enters the grand temple, he asks about every single thing. When the Master heard this, he said 'This is the ritual'"
 * 12.1 "Yan Hui asked about humaneness. The Master said 'To subdue oneself and return to ritual is to practice humaneness. If someone subdued himself and returned to ritual for a single day, then all under Heaven would ascribe for humaneness to him. For the practice of humaneness dose surely proceed from man himself, or does it proceed from others?' Yan Hui said 'I beg to ask for the details of this'. The Master said: 'Do not look at what is contrary to ritual, do not listen to what is contrary to ritual, do not speak what is contrary to ritual, and make no movement which is contrary to ritual' Yan Hui said 'Although I am not clever, I beg to put this advice into practice."