Thanks for the Post. Hope this doesn't seem too facile a response to the problem you set us, and I'm certainly no expert in Chinese philosophy, but if we're going to venture assertions about the deep structure of the Chinese psyche, doesn't the scepticism of Wan Zhang suggest the basic Taoist principle that the very idea of sincerity carries with it a provocation to be insincere?
That strikes me as correct. Taoism though has some major branches. Closest to your idea would I think be Zhuang Zi in his tale of Robber Chi.
But I have always thought the Wan Zhang story shows the the deep structure of the Chinese psyche is pretty much the same as my own: in other words there's a universal BS meter.
Thank you, Daev. I wonder how that story would even hold ancient water. It makes me think of Analects 14-31 子曰：“不逆诈，不亿不信，抑亦先觉者，是贤乎！
Translation would be something like Confucius said "Don not respond prematurely, anticipating trickery. Do not judge too quickly before someone is finished speaking. , do not get caught up in subjectivity and have disbelief. Restrain yourself yet be able to perceive the truth and falseness of matters early on. This is what is is to be a sage!" Don't see anything deep in the Chinese psyche here, seems reasonable though difficult to achieve.
That said, Confucius did say that if you parents commit a crime, you are morally obliged to cover up for them. Wonder if that applies to evil half-brothers.
Ye Gong said to Confucius "In our area we have a man called Upright Gong [maybe better 'Straight-Shooter'?] His father stole a sheep yet the son bore witness against his father." Confucius said, "Where I come from, the upright are not like this. A father covers up for his son and a son covers up for his father. That is what being upright means."
Thanks for the Post. Hope this doesn't seem too facile a response to the problem you set us, and I'm certainly no expert in Chinese philosophy, but if we're going to venture assertions about the deep structure of the Chinese psyche, doesn't the scepticism of Wan Zhang suggest the basic Taoist principle that the very idea of sincerity carries with it a provocation to be insincere?
That strikes me as correct. Taoism though has some major branches. Closest to your idea would I think be Zhuang Zi in his tale of Robber Chi.
But I have always thought the Wan Zhang story shows the the deep structure of the Chinese psyche is pretty much the same as my own: in other words there's a universal BS meter.
A much more satisfying answer!
Thanks for the post! What is the Chinese name for Bewitched Books? I would love to visit the store.
I'm unable to disclose private info, sorry.
Thank you, Daev. I wonder how that story would even hold ancient water. It makes me think of Analects 14-31 子曰：“不逆诈，不亿不信，抑亦先觉者，是贤乎！
Translation would be something like Confucius said "Don not respond prematurely, anticipating trickery. Do not judge too quickly before someone is finished speaking. , do not get caught up in subjectivity and have disbelief. Restrain yourself yet be able to perceive the truth and falseness of matters early on. This is what is is to be a sage!" Don't see anything deep in the Chinese psyche here, seems reasonable though difficult to achieve.
That said, Confucius did say that if you parents commit a crime, you are morally obliged to cover up for them. Wonder if that applies to evil half-brothers.
Analects 13-18 叶公语孔子曰：“吾党有直躬者，其父攘羊，而子证之。”孔子曰：“吾党之直者异于是。父为子隐，子为父隐，直在其中矣。”
Ye Gong said to Confucius "In our area we have a man called Upright Gong [maybe better 'Straight-Shooter'?] His father stole a sheep yet the son bore witness against his father." Confucius said, "Where I come from, the upright are not like this. A father covers up for his son and a son covers up for his father. That is what being upright means."