The Ancient World (HUM 124 - UNC Asheville)/ Confucius People

Definition of People (in Confucius): It is quite difficult to define people, because the basic definition is a group of humans, but I believe that in the Analects there could be a deeper meaning to the word 'people'. In the Analects there is one clear thing: Confucius sees himself as all and mighty. He believes that he is better than everyone. For this I think that people can be defined as those who are below Confucius, or those that Confucius believes is below him.

Women

The Analects is originally in Chinese but then translated to English. Chinese is a gender neutral language but when converted to to English is becomes masculine. Looking at this through a feminist point of view it comes off very sexist. First of all there has yet to be many significant passages about them. When there finally is something said the toxic misogyny is brought up. In the Analects book 17 has a lot to do with 'gentlemen' and towards the end women are brought up. The quote reads, "Only women and small men seem difficult to look after. If you keep them close, they become insubordinate; but if you keep them at a distance, they become resentful." (73) This also has to do with the small men topic since it is grouped with women, but it just shows that women are compared tot the small men. This is ranking women less than a man, and generalizing all women into one category: manipulative. Looking at this through a feminist lens it is clear why the translated version is all masculine. He is clearly sexist and this point where he ranks women lower and generalizes them just proves that point.\

Epictetus

To start the teachings are not meant for women, because of course in this time women have no respect. One thing that relates to Confucius is the translation of text, due to the relation of gender. This text though, can be taken a few different ways, mostly depending on the time period. This text can be taken and used to reinforce power between genders or the complete opposite: women taking power for themselves. This was not taken from one specific section of the text, this was more of a broad idea.

Line 40 is also an amazing example of the horrible way women were treated.

Classes of People

It has become apparent that Confucius despises the poor. In my opinion the way the Chinese government and ranking is set up should have something to do with that. The government is set up that the kings have almost all the power. There is a more important point though, Confucius was born poor. He climbed his way to the top by becoming apart of the middle class. I believe that because he came from the poor and experienced that he resents them. He thought that social order was due to how a person perceived and understood the world, for this I think that this plays to why he hated the poor.