User:Matteo Rios

Hey my name is Matteo, I'm a sophomore and biology major!

Definition
Throughout reading and interpreting the analects Confucius really presses on not only acquiring knowledge through learning but he also touches on studying being the act of doing the learned knowledge. when trying to construct a clear definition I thought defining Study and Learning separate would aid in articulating the thoughts better. Learning to Confucius was going through with becoming familiar with an act, behavior, or mental process and turning it into something useful and familiar, much like a ritual. Study was to share knowledge acquired, bring it to others, and make ritual out of it.

Analects and breakdown
1.1 The Master said, "To learn and then have occasion to practice what you have learned- is this not satisfying? To have friends arrive from afar- is this not a joy? To be patient even when others do not understand- is this not the mark of the gentleman?"

The message I interpreted from this piece was that its blissful and enjoyable when you can put your knowledge and passions to use. It's great to see friends that you haven't seen and show them your growth and the studies you're involved in. The mark or characteristic of a gentleman is to be patience when explaining knowledge others don't understand, it takes time to digest new knowledge and patience shows higher regal characteristics.

1.3 The Master said, "A clever tongue and fine appearance are rarely signs of Goodness."

Reading this reference I thought that Confucius was quick to judge appearance and mental strength, it seems that maybe during the time period the ability of beautiful people wasn't focused on knowledge. perhaps he is also hinting that perhaps knowledge could be used for evil or selfish intent and beautiful people are known for that.

5.28 The Master said, "In any village of ten households there are surely those who are as dutiful or trustworthy as I am, but there is no one who matches my love for learning."

In this piece Confucius is almost stating he himself in the only one who loves learning to its highest potential, not even a large village for the time period could surmount to his love for learning.

16.13 Ziqin asked Boyu, "Have you acquired any esoteric learning?"

In this reference it's clearly shown how Confucius's followers endorsed complex learning and its importance.

19.6 Zixia said, "Learning broadly and firmly retaining what one has learned, being incisive in one's questioning and able to reflect upon what is near at hand- Goodness is to be found in this."

learning and studying are obviously incredibly important but this excerpt really pushes on self questioning and educational exploration, similar to enlightenment thinking.

19.7 Zixia said, " The various artisans dwell in their workshops in order to perfect their crafts, just as the gentleman learns in order to reach the end of his Way."

just like artisans studying and mastering a practice I also think this piece alludes to Confucius and his following practicing his ways, becoming masters in order to " reach the end of his way" which could possibly be a mental or austral enlightenment.

References from other readings
Socrates often talks about the importance of teachers and teachings(seen in the excerpt page 88 to the left), these messages often coincide and support the views of Confucius. the importance of a pupil, peers, and a teacher are harped upon but also the subject matter of social status is also brought up. Ones status could define them as someone who claims to teach and someone who is views in the light as a teacher. I found this interesting because I didn't see this social complex and structure ideas or issues touched upon in Confucius's analects. Another reference I found important was again from Platos Five Dialogues, but this wasn't important for its textual significance, I instead found in notably important for the diagram. The use of a diagram(seen in excerpt page 76 to the right) is drastically different from Confucius's work but follows the belief of sharing knowledge and applying learned skills, the diagram is used to show and teach spacial and mathematics which was highly conversed about in Europe during the boom of arts and sciences.

Upon reading for other references I followed back to Kisagotami (Template A Version 1) for another perspective in the ancient culture in a similar time period. First dating back to the 5th century CE based on early oral versions, Kisagotami is a story that spreads the teachings Buddhism. In Kisagotami the writers story mentions " "My child, where do you live?" asked the noble merchant. When she told him he inquired if there were suitors for her hand and when he learned there weren't any he then paid all the expenses and gave her in marriage to his son. He gave the four hundred million as a dowry as the piles of charcoal had all turned into silver and gold." , this one of two times learning is mentioned in Kisagotami. When trying to break this down and digest the meaning of learning through their eyes I realized learning in very hands on and in the moment. The mother must go out and physically act out the activity to learn or be in the moment too mentally understand and learn. This related to Confucius's learning being done through acts, services, and mental processes. Another piece I went back to read and reference was the Cherokee's story of the Corn Woman Spirit, in the story the corn woman spirit is captured by the evil spirit hunger and the story encompasses getting her free from hunger. What I took away was not from the story itself but of the story. Cherokee traditions, knowledge, and folklore is all passed down through story and lessons. The leaders and tribe historians had to learn, understand, study, and memorize all their stories. This really stuck with me because Confucius usually involves learning with actually doing the act or reading for the study, but the Cherokee do the opposite. They hunker down and memorize, study and learn from verbal learning rather than a tablet or scroll.

Worldview comparison
Confucius lived in 551BC which had drastically different worldview and norms compared to the 21st century. The culture surrounded equality wasn't at its peak, women were still beneath men. But women learning the ways of Confucius are still seen in the analects, so the importance of knowledge, study, and learning are highly significant to the culture. This is quiet similar to the culture today where in America it is frowned upon to be unintelligent and uneducated, discrimination agains ill educated people occurs frequently which makes me think could the same happened during the time period of Confucius? I don't doubt it did, but this shows the similarities of the time period but the contrast in social/cultural norms between his and our time.