用爱默生《论美国学者》观点分析儒家思想(中英双语)

The similarities of Transcendentalism and Confucianism

---Analyze Confucianism with Emerson’s idea from The American Scholar

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a major American poet, philosopher and center of the American Transcendental movement. The idea he expressed in his great work The American Scholar played an integral role in establishing the American scholar and the American spirit of individualism. Also in Chinese Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius and Mencius, two Confucianism philosophers, intended to influence people’s attitude and lives with their thoughts--- Confucianism, which at some extent have a connection with Transcendentalism.

First, both emphasized the importance of human beings. Emerson believed “the world is noting, the man is all.” He regarded men as the main part of society, thus the innovation of society called for human beings’self-improvement and self-reliance. So did confucians. In their opinions, men were equal. The ruler should be benevolent and righteous towards the masses. The essence of transcendentalism was individualism, which meant one must establish a central system which break of the of God. In china, there was no God, confucians thus held that men ought to be ruled by men. In this way, the society may be developed. Emerson once said: “we will walk on our own feet, we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds…. Confucians asserted the identity of human nature, and they thought; “all men are born identical but the circumstance makes them different”. In this aspect, Emerson and confucians were fabulous identical.

Second, these two thoughts all advocated people emancipate their minds. “The scholar is that man who must take up into himself all the ability of the time, all the contributions of the past, all the hopes of the future. He must be a university of knowledge.” Emerson hoped all American scholars do not imitate European culture but form their own ideas. He believed himself inspired by the Divine Soul which also inspired all men, that was to mean, men can improve themselves by communicating with Divine Soul.; He believed “it is for you to know all; it is for you to dare all.” A nd confucians advocated equality between teachers and students and encourage students to form opinion of their own. Obviously, these ideas had a great influence on beings’ education.

Third, they had the similar views on the material lives. Confucians advocated moderation; they maintained that there was no necessary to chase luxury, and moral fidelity should be promoted. Emerson upheld spirit; he believed in miracle, in the perpetual openness of the human mind to new influx of light and power; in stead of pursuing material wealth, men needed depend on themselves to enrich their minds.

On the whole, both transcendentalism and confucianism attached great importance on each country. Transcendentalism pushed the American literature into a flourishing period; confucianism had dominated a feudal society that in essence lasted 2,000 years, and for that reason its influence over history, social structure and the people of China cannot be overlooked.