Books I'm reading

These days I'm reading two books. One is Xunzi, the other is a book about Mongol titled "遊牧民から見た世界史(Yuubokumin kara mita Nihon-shi", the tittle means "The world history from point of view of nomads".



Every time I read Confucian books, I admire Confucianists. Also, I remember what our principals said. They must be learn from Confucianists and other adults. I can find many words for education in Xunzi's book. I think Xunzi is a must-read book for Japanese even if they like it or hate it. I don't mean people should follow Xunzi. I mean people should read it to think what we have to do in this society.



Xunzi said Human nature is putrid, we need to posteriori learn, and acquired learning make us better.". Although I think real human nature is good and also bad, I agree with him. Obviously we must learn or we cannot help learning. So called innate nature is very important but learning is more important, I think.



Some people say Confucianism is an old thought. Yes, I think so. But I think the core of what the y taught is common through the history. Even if Xunzi assumes feudalism, it is an essential truth that there is a pecking order in our society. If people disorderly act, society will collapse.



Xunzi said "人の生まれつきは固より小人なり、師なく法なければ即ち唯利を見るのみ。". It means "Human nature without virtue. If there is no teacher, no rule, people will be driven by self-interest.".



"礼(rei)" is the basic concept of Confucianism. "礼" means "norms(rule) in society". So, we can regard that all society in the world has "礼(Rei)" in the broadest sense of the word. Why we have Rei? We can learn and think about it by reading Xunzi.



Xunzi said "義を先にして利を後にする者には栄えあり、利を先にして義を後にする者には辱あり。". It means "One makes moral act a priority will bloom. To makes gain a priority and to postpone moral act will bring opprobrium on you.". It is a right-on suggestion.



I found a sentence in Xunzi that "斬いながら斉しく、枉りながら順に、不同にして一なる、夫れ是れを人倫と謂う、". It means "Distinction with equality, inflection in sequence. It is the moral cosmos(order). (My dictionary translated 人倫 to Humanity. But I don't think it means humanity.)



I found something common in Zen buddhism and also confirmed Zen buddhism is Chinese one. Hmm, there are many findings in the book. But I have to rush. I'll write about the book again.



Well, as to "遊牧民から見た世界史(The world history from point of view of nomads. )", this is a quite interesting book. It reminds me a buddhist philosophy that "Every where is the center.".



We tend to vision Egypt, China, Mesopotamia and etc, when we hear "Civilization". Those are city, they are settled people, settled agriculture. We tend to regard grassy plain as routes between a city and other cities. However, if they were not there, how our world is now? The world center is where they lived by some way. They, nomads, played a important role for the world. I think "nomad" has landloper like meaning, but Mongolian's life is very systematic.



Well, I also bought a book titled "生物と無生物のあいだ(Between animate beings and inanimate beings)". I look forward to read it.



Well, I want to sleep.



It is a photo of Omogo.



Have a nice day.