Tags :Ancient Chinese epistemology

君子不重则不威，学则不固。——孔子(jūn zǐ bù zhòng zé bù wēi, xué zé bù gù — Kǒngzǐ) Translation: “Nobles without gravitas lack authority; learning without depth lacks stability.” Explanation: Confucius’ gravitational leadership principle “君子不重则不威(jūn zǐ bù zhòng zé bù wēi), 学则不固(xué zé bù gù)” (Nobles without gravitas lack authority; learning without depth lacks stability) establishes humanity’s earliest weight-bearing pedagogy. The character 重(zhòng)—depicting 人(rén, person) carrying 東(dōng, weighted bundles—visually encodes earned authority through intellectual and ethical burden-bearing. This framework shaped 汉经学(hàn jīng xué) (Han Dynasty Classical Studies), where scholars carried 30kg bamboo scrolls to lectures, embodying 重(zhòng) as both physical and cognitive discipline. Ming Dynasty’s 殿试策问(diàn shì cè wèn) (Palace Exam Debates) required candidates to defend theses against 10-hour intellectual sieges—a 威(wēi) (authority) forged through...

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君子不以言举人，不以人废言。——孔子(jūn zǐ bù yǐ yán jǔ rén, bù yǐ rén fèi yán — Kǒngzǐ) Translation: “Nobles don’t promote based on speech, nor dismiss speech based on person.” Explanation: Confucius’ meritocratic axiom “君子不以言举人(jūn zǐ bù yǐ yán jǔ rén), 不以人废言(bù yǐ rén fèi yán)” (Nobles don’t promote based on speech, nor dismiss speech based on person) establishes humanity’s earliest framework for objective evaluation. The character 举(jǔ)—composed of 舁(yú, collective lifting) and 子(zǐ, child)—visually encodes impartial nurturing: ideas are elevated based on intrinsic worth, not their advocates’ status. This philosophy shaped 科举糊名制(kē jǔ hú míng zhì) (Sealed-Name Imperial Exams), where candidates’ papers were anonymized to prevent bias toward eloquent writers (以言举人(yǐ yán jǔ rén)). Historical applications combated systemic prejudice. Song Dynasty’s 锁院制(suǒ...

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