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Confucius in History and Tradition: A Historical-critical Analysis of Literacy in the Time of Confucius

Källström, Andreas LU (2023) SPVR01 20231
Chinese Studies
Master's Programme: Language and Linguistics
Abstract
This thesis sets out to answer the question: “Why didn’t Confucius write a book?” It investigates literacy and textual tradition in the time of Confucius based on research on archaeology, historical text sources and textual analyses of samples of preserved text. Throughout the thesis, observations and analyses on the textual tradition is based on the historical critical method, as practiced in the field of biblical scholarship. Through an overview of the sources of literacy in ancient China, beginning in the Shang dynasty 商 ca.
1200 BC., down through the Warring States period (Zhanguo 戰國) ca. 300 BC., archaeology, history and textual analysis is used interrelate the question of literacy in China during the estimated time of Confucius in... (More)
This thesis sets out to answer the question: “Why didn’t Confucius write a book?” It investigates literacy and textual tradition in the time of Confucius based on research on archaeology, historical text sources and textual analyses of samples of preserved text. Throughout the thesis, observations and analyses on the textual tradition is based on the historical critical method, as practiced in the field of biblical scholarship. Through an overview of the sources of literacy in ancient China, beginning in the Shang dynasty 商 ca.
1200 BC., down through the Warring States period (Zhanguo 戰國) ca. 300 BC., archaeology, history and textual analysis is used interrelate the question of literacy in China during the estimated time of Confucius in the late Spring and Autumn period (Chunqiu 春秋) ca. 500 BC. For the textual analysis, books III-IX of the Analects were chosen, representing what is probably the earliest layer of the Analects. Some observations and analysis on the textual tradition of the Analects are also included, based on readings using the historical-critical method.
The research shows that it is unlikely that writing had, in the time of Confucius, moved beyond the exclusive realms of divination and elite society. Since Confucius was not a part of either of these worlds, the conclusion is drawn that Confucius, living in a mostly illiterate society, and moreover, living outside the sphere of the political elite, was most likely not literate. (Less)
Popular Abstract (Chinese)
此篇论文旨在回答这个问题:“孔子为什么不写一本书?” 本文基于考古学研究、历史文本来 源和对保存文本样本的文本分析，研究孔子时代的识字率和文本传统。 本论文参照在圣经学术领 域的实践，基于历史批判方法对文本传统进行观察和分析。 本论文还通过对中国古代识字来源的 概述、战国考古学、历史学和文本分析来估计从商代开始到战国时期中国的识字问题。本文选择 了《论语》第三至第九卷进行文本分析，因为这可能是《论语》最早的几卷。
此外，本论文包括一些对《论语》文本传统的观察和分析，这些观察和分析基于历史批判的方 法。研究表明，在孔子时代，文字不太可能超越占卜和精英社会的专属领域。 因为孔子不属于这 两个领域中的任何一个，所以本文推断孔子生活在一个以文盲为主的社会，且生活在政治精英的 圈子之外。因此，孔子很可能不识字。
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Källström, Andreas LU
supervisor
organization
course
SPVR01 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Confucius, Analects, lunyu, literacy, Spring and Autumn period
language
English
id
9126343
date added to LUP
2023-06-19 11:43:59
date last changed
2023-06-19 11:43:59
@misc{9126343,
  abstract     = {{This thesis sets out to answer the question: “Why didn’t Confucius write a book?” It investigates literacy and textual tradition in the time of Confucius based on research on archaeology, historical text sources and textual analyses of samples of preserved text. Throughout the thesis, observations and analyses on the textual tradition is based on the historical critical method, as practiced in the field of biblical scholarship. Through an overview of the sources of literacy in ancient China, beginning in the Shang dynasty 商 ca.
1200 BC., down through the Warring States period (Zhanguo 戰國) ca. 300 BC., archaeology, history and textual analysis is used interrelate the question of literacy in China during the estimated time of Confucius in the late Spring and Autumn period (Chunqiu 春秋) ca. 500 BC. For the textual analysis, books III-IX of the Analects were chosen, representing what is probably the earliest layer of the Analects. Some observations and analysis on the textual tradition of the Analects are also included, based on readings using the historical-critical method.
The research shows that it is unlikely that writing had, in the time of Confucius, moved beyond the exclusive realms of divination and elite society. Since Confucius was not a part of either of these worlds, the conclusion is drawn that Confucius, living in a mostly illiterate society, and moreover, living outside the sphere of the political elite, was most likely not literate.}},
  author       = {{Källström, Andreas}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Confucius in History and Tradition: A Historical-critical Analysis of Literacy in the Time of Confucius}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}