E.H. Gombrich 'A Little History of the World' 11. The Great Teacher of a Great People'

Summary

In 'A Little History of the World' by E. H. Gombrich, Chapter 11 explores ancient China's unity through a shared script despite linguistic diversity. It introduces Confucius, who emphasized the importance of outward appearances and respect for tradition to foster social harmony. His teachings, focused on familial and societal roles, influenced China's stability. The chapter also mentions Lao Tzu, contrasting his mystical approach to life's great mysteries with Confucius's practical philosophy.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The perception of China as a distant and exotic land was common in the past, with Westerners often imagining it as a fairyland filled with peculiar customs and artful gardens.
• 👲 For over 200 years until 1912, Chinese men were required to wear their hair in a traditional pigtail, which was one of the few things Westerners knew about China through porcelain and other artifacts.
• 🏰 Chinese emperors, who called themselves the 'Son of Heaven,' had ruled China for more than a thousand years, maintaining control over a vast kingdom larger than Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon combined.
• 📜 Chinese writing is unique in that it is a logographic system where characters represent concepts rather than sounds, allowing for understanding across different spoken languages.
• 🌳 The Chinese character for 'tree' is an example of how Chinese characters are pictorial, representing the concept of a tree with a few strokes, and can be understood without knowledge of the spoken language.
• 📚 Confucius, a great Chinese philosopher, emphasized the importance of social harmony, respect for elders, and proper conduct as the foundation for a well-ordered society.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Confucius believed in the inherent goodness of people and the importance of maintaining traditional customs and practices to ensure social stability and personal virtue.
• 🤔 Lao Tzu, another influential Chinese philosopher, advocated for a more passive approach to life, suggesting that by doing nothing and clearing one's mind, one could align with the natural order of the universe, known as the 'Tao'.
• 🏞️ The teachings of Confucius and Lao Tzu represent two very different philosophies on how to live a meaningful life, with Confucius focusing on social order and Lao Tzu on personal enlightenment.
• 🌟 Confucius's teachings had a profound impact on Chinese society, helping to maintain social cohesion and cultural identity across a vast and diverse empire.

Q & A

What was the perception of China in the author's childhood?

In the author's childhood, China was perceived as a distant and exotic land, often imagined as a fairyland with stiff little men wearing long plaits and artful gardens full of humpbacked bridges and tinkling bells.

Why did Chinese men wear their hair in a pigtail?

Chinese men were made to wear their hair in a pigtail for more than 200 years until 1912 as part of a cultural and political practice.

How did the Chinese writing system help maintain unity in ancient China?

The Chinese writing system, which is based on characters representing things rather than phonetic sounds, allowed people from different regions speaking different languages to communicate and understand each other through writing, thus helping to maintain the unity of the vast empire.

What is the significance of Confucius's teachings in Chinese history?

Confucius's teachings emphasized the importance of living peacefully together, respecting elders, and observing customs and traditions. His ideas helped to maintain social order and harmony in ancient China, and his influence extended across Asia.

What did Confucius believe about human nature?

Confucius believed that all people were born honest and good, with inborn sentiments of concern for others and sympathy for the misfortunes of others. He advocated for maintaining these natural virtues through proper behavior and social customs.

How did Confucius view the relationship between a ruler and his subjects?

Confucius believed that a ruler should lead by example, demonstrating fatherly love and justice towards his subjects. He also believed that if a ruler neglected his duties and caused suffering, it was justified for the people to rise up against him.

What was the main difference between Confucius and Lao Tzu's teachings?

Confucius focused on social harmony and proper conduct within society, emphasizing the importance of tradition and social roles. In contrast, Lao Tzu advocated for a more passive approach, suggesting that people should do nothing and become empty of desires to align with the natural order, or 'the Way'.

What is the concept of 'the Way' or 'Tao' as mentioned in the script?

The 'Way' or 'Tao' refers to the great universal law that governs all aspects of nature and existence. Lao Tzu believed that people should align themselves with this law by doing nothing and becoming free of desires, allowing the law to work within them.

Why did Lao Tzu choose to live as a hermit?

Lao Tzu chose to live as a hermit because he was dissatisfied with the way people lived at court and sought a simpler, more aligned existence with the natural order, away from the complexities and distractions of society.

How did the Chinese writing system influence the spread of Chinese culture and thought?

The Chinese writing system allowed for the spread of Chinese culture and thought across Asia, even in regions where Chinese was not spoken. The system's visual nature facilitated understanding and communication, enabling the principles and philosophies of great Chinese thinkers to influence many people.