Re: China: Mandate of heaven?

> 天道有常，不為堯存，不為桀亡 .... (荀子/天論篇)

pan6pcpc:

> Do you really understand the sentence above ?
> It means "The nature has its own rules,which does not depend on whether
> the emperor is cruel or kind".
> 
> And you maybe know these:
> 子曰:未知生,焉知死?
> 子曰:未能事人,焉能事鬼?
> 子不语怪力乱神。

Just a few points of fact ....

Nature, is not the Chinese notiion of heaven. The former, is
passive and amoral. While the latter is anthropomorphic, and
benevolent.

Dao, is far more comprehensive and encompassing than rule.

A more appropriate translation is: "The Heaven, moves in its
consistent ways and does not entertain favoritism."

As to the quotes from the Con****ian Analects, one must under
-stand that the gentleman from Qufu does not have an body of
work that amounts to a philosophical system.  His followers,
the likes of 荀子, labored hard to give the school of thought
a metaphorical foundation, among other theoretical contribut
-ions. Without which Con****ianism would just be a collection
of inconsistent moral imperatives.

And contradictory ethical dictums ....

Regards,

Albert K. Fung
Casa Tres Palmas, Santa Ynez, California, USA.
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