Universal Questions in Chinese Literature Universal questions can be found around the world. They are in classic English novels, new French movies, and even in ancient Chinese writing. Chinese authors, such as Tao Chien, Confucius, and Lao Tzu, attempt to answer some of these questions through their works. Tao Chien addresses how to live knowing death is imminent through the balanced advice given by the persona Spirit in “Form, Shadow, Spirit,” Confucius discusses how to better oneself through the relationship with an enemy in The Analects, and Lao Tzu focuses on the responsibility of those in power to limit the public knowledge throughout Tao Te Ching. In “Form, Shadow, Spirit” by Tao Chien, one of the three speakers, Spirit, discusses
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Throughout The Analects, he addresses many different types of relationships and how to manage all of them. Most importantly, he shows how to improve one’s own personality through the negative nature of others, “In the presence of a good man, think all the time / how you may learn to equal him. In the presence of a bad man, turn / your gaze within” (The Analects 33-35). In this quote, Confucius compares the presence of two men, the good man symbolizing a friend or ideal, and the bad man representing an enemy. The portion pertaining to the bad man states that when one is with an undesirable person, they should focus not on the negatives of the person they are with, but the unfavorable aspects of themselves. By doing this, Confucius is hoping that the reader will fix their own flaw, instead of picking apart their enemy for their indecencies. This shows that Confucius believes that one should reflect upon oneself, when approached with the negative aspects exemplified by an enemy. Similarly to how Confucius addresses the relationship with an enemy, in Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu discusses the responsibilities of those in power to control the subjects’ knowledge and wisdom. The Tao Te Ching spread the belief that the people in charge should do very little to inspire creative or individual thoughts
Throughout The Analects, he addresses many different types of relationships and how to manage all of them. Most importantly, he shows how to improve one’s own personality through the negative nature of others, “In the presence of a good man, think all the time / how you may learn to equal him. In the presence of a bad man, turn / your gaze within” (The Analects 33-35). In this quote, Confucius compares the presence of two men, the good man symbolizing a friend or ideal, and the bad man representing an enemy. The portion pertaining to the bad man states that when one is with an undesirable person, they should focus not on the negatives of the person they are with, but the unfavorable aspects of themselves. By doing this, Confucius is hoping that the reader will fix their own flaw, instead of picking apart their enemy for their indecencies. This shows that Confucius believes that one should reflect upon oneself, when approached with the negative aspects exemplified by an enemy. Similarly to how Confucius addresses the relationship with an enemy, in Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu discusses the responsibilities of those in power to control the subjects’ knowledge and wisdom. The Tao Te Ching spread the belief that the people in charge should do very little to inspire creative or individual thoughts