Professor Jeffrey Riegel on Imagining Confucius

RAS WEEKENDER

Saturday 6^th March, 2010 at 4.00pm

T8 Club Lounge, No.8 Xintiandi North Part Lane 181 Taicang Road Shanghai

Address in Chinese: 太仓路181弄,新天地广场北里8号,T8餐厅

PROFESSOR JEFFREY RIEGEL

IMAGINING CONFUCIUS

Confucius (traditional dates 551-479 BCE) lived during the waning years of the Zhou dynasty. He was deeply troubled by the disorder of his age and took it upon himself to teach others about Zhou virtues as well as to instruct them on how to cultivate such virtue in themselves. Confucius’s efforts mark the beginning of the traditional Chinese emphasis on education and the crucial role of self-improvement and self-cultivation in any ethical system. Also significant in his philosophy were the unique emphasis on the positive role played in life and society by erotic desire and other natural emotions as well as Confucius’s rejection of law and punishment as means to bring about a well-ordered state. Some of his followers refined his teachings while philosophers from competing schools of thought rejected Confucian ideas as outmoded and ineffective. The details of Confucius’s life are difficult to grasp. Along with the Han dynasty historian, Sima Qian, it is perhaps best to accept the ancient sources—no matter how uncertain and controversial they may be—and attempt to imagine Confucius.

Professor Jeffrey Riegel is Professor and Head of School of the School of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts, Sydney University. Most of Jeffrey Riegel’s 30-year academic career was spent at the University of California, Berkeley. He retired from the position of Agassiz Professor of Chinese in 2007. He travels frequently to China and has long been committed to helping bring about a greater understanding of China. In his current position he has broadened this commitment by stressing the need for Australians to recognize the importance of learning languages other than English and of gaining deeper familiarity with cultures outside the Anglo-American sphere.

ENTRANCE: RMB 80.00 Members RMB 120.00 Non Members – including one drink (tea/coffee/glass of wine/standard cocktail). RMB 30.00 for members RMB 80.00 (excluding refreshment)

Membership applications and renewals will be available on the afternoon. Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption.

RSVP: to RAS Enquiry desk enquiry@royalasiaticsociety.org.cn