Wow this is such an inspiration. As a Chinese, I am also learning from the Western civilization, the Greek Roman, Judeo Christian Civilization, Islamic Civilization. It makes me look back at my own cultural background and I feel so warm that people from other cultural backgrounds can reach Chinese civilization at this depth. It’s such an encouragement for me. In the world full of chaos and conflicts, I am in search for peace and beauty in all. Thank you.
I just watched this marvelous discussion and really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing this with us all. I look forward to reading some of the books mentioned.
I found my way here because of a Chinese made video game called Black Myth: Wukong but what I did not know is that I had already been introduced to classical Chinese literatures, the ideas, the philosophy, ideology, logical criticality and social comedy because of the likes of, what I regard as Monkey Magic the TV show, the writings of the great Science Fiction writers suck as Philip K Dick, Issac Asimov, Frank Herbert and Cixin Lui, to name but a few. Thank you very much for this video and conversation of Chinese literature. Slainte mhath to all!
With all the respect to Prof. Minford for his extensive knowledge of classical literature, I would like to make a point that Tao Te Ching was a text tested in the imperial civil service examination during the Tang Dynasty. And Taoism was part of the State Ideology during substantial period of time in the Tang Dynasty. This is not a common knowledge even among most Chinese scholars. I know this because I am a philosopher specialised in Classical Chinese philosophies. 😅😅
I would recommend Roger Ames and David Hall's translation of The Analects and Roger Ames and Henry Rosemont's translation of Dao De Jing. @@franciscomunoz2222
21:30 I hope that he sets him straight - The Chinese have lost the meanings in the symbols used in the I Ching. Like we have lost the meanings in our words. Logos as example, or equanimity, or better yet: faith. Faith: In Greek, Sanskrit, Hebrew... It means trust in the path you follow - not a blind belief... Vicissitudes: the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune are our building blocks: they are who we are, our victories and failures both.
7:00 The Smallness, Like Therese of Lisieux's Little Way... Like the translator I have come to appreciate the classics, East and West: with new eyes. Ones not jaded, but appreciative of what is shared and not what is unique.
Thank you ! Professor Minford. I recently bought the book "The Story of the Stone A Translator's Notebooks" by David Hawkes，but the original handwriting is really not that easy to follow😓
I understand a bit deeper about the starting sentence of dao de jing after a few lectures of philosophy by chinese prof in fudan university(which is a top uni if you know about china). Its on the level of wisdom that western philosopher will instantly realise that this book is onto something very profound. But they cant say that in european language, so they tried to do their best to translate it.
its like yinyang. with Chinese culture as yin and science and technology as yang. all yin no yang, China got bullied . Now xi jinping want China to have a good balance of yinyang to make sure China will no longer be bullied.
