The influence of Confucianism to transcendentalism
nanshifeng
AbstractFind out the similarities between Transcendentalism and Confucianism by comparison,we also learn that the ancient Chinese culture contributes a lot to the world's culture.And we,too,advocated the exchanging and communication of different cultures.Learn,improve and perfect!
Key words Confucius Confucianism Heaven Oversoul Self- Reliance Benevolence Virtue
The western societies stimulated their interests in the culture of ancient China since the 16th century,mainly by the wide spread of The Travels of Marco Polo.So in a very long period, the oriental culture,represented by China was regarded sa the diversion for leisure times.Untile the 17th century did the Europeans began to realize the value of China's cultures.However,it is just because of the Europeans that the Americans began to know about it.
The influences of China's culture to American's can be traced to tje very beginning of American literature when it became independent. Although the China's culture came to western earlier,the actural effects produced in the 19th century.
It has greater influences to the Transcendentalists,such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.
"Confucius and Confucianism are the unisputed principal parts in the feudal culture of China."said Wenlan Fan,the famous historian.Therefor,when we talk about the influences of China's culture to the American's,we should firstly talk about the great effects of Confucianism.Confucius's works were translated into several foreign languages in the 17th century.There are some books play important roles in effecting American letters,especiallyEmerson,they are The Works of Confucius, translated by Joshua Matshman, The Chinese Classic Work, Commonly Called the Four Books, by Davaid Collie, The Chinese Classic Works by James Legge.
Emerson and Confucius
Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the most important thinkers in American history. His theories and doctrines produce far-reaching influence to the birth of American literature, also they...