/lit/ - Literature

>Li is therefore both a set of constraints and a practice that ensures the order of things, so that the perfection of the individual will lead to the perfection of the state. Dao is immanent, but one can only know it through self-reflection and through the practice of Li. (In the Analects, during a dialogue between Confucius and the Prince of Wei Ling, the latter asks about the art of war. Confucius replies that he knows only about Li, and nothing about war; and leaves the following day.) But what is this order that Li seeks to ensure? A simplistic reading might claim that it is an order socially constructed in favor of the governing class. This is not entirely incorrect, sinci Confucius emphasises that Qi and Ming (‘name’) have to be properly placed so as to maintain order. In Zuo Zhuai (400 BC), it is said that a commandant, Yi Xu, rescued the king of the Wei country Sun Huanzi during the war, in order to avoid his being arrested. Sun wanted to give Yi Xu cities! as a token of his gratitude. Yi Xu refused, but requested ‘to be allowed to be received like a state prince at court, with musical instruments, and to be dressed with the saddle-girt! and bridle-trappings of a prince'. Confucius lamented the granting of this request, saying ‘Alas! It would have been better to give him many cities. It is only peculiar articles of use, and names, which cannot be granted to another [than those to whom they belong];— to these a ruler has particularly to attend’. As Confucius explained, this is not purely a matter of formality: his reasoning is that Qian Ming ensure that those who bear Ming and Qi should behave properly:

>It is by [the right use of] names that he secures the confidence [of the people]: it is by that confidence that he preserves the articles; it is in those articles that the ceremonial distinctions of rank are hidden: those ceremonial distinctions are essential to the practice of righteousness; it is righteousness which con tributes to the advantage [of the State]; and it is that advantage which secures the quiet of the people. Attention to these things is the condition of [good] government.

'li' is one the trickier terms in confucian thought, but the deep-dive into chinese philosophy is imho really rewarding. pic rel is good for dealing with this concept specifically, but it can be a little much if you haven't read any of this stuff before. AC Graham's 'Disputers of the Tao' is a classic, as are many others. if anyone is interested, i can go back through my old PC later and have a look for some other titles that i thought were good.

but any such list would have fingarette's Confucius: The Secular as Sacred near the top of it. and hey, look, a PDF:

http://faculty.smcm.edu/jwschroeder/Asian_Religions_2015/textdownloads_files/Confucius%20chp1%262.pdf