Confucian Analects

Reference to God in the book of Confucianism � Analects論語

Book XX Yao Yueh Chapter 1:

  1. T�ang said, "I, the child Li, presume to use a dark-colored victim, and presume to announce to Thee, O most great and sovereign God, that the sinner I dare not pardon, and thy ministers, O God, I do not keep in obscurity.

The examination of them is by thy mind, O God. If, in my person, I commit offenses, they are not to be attributed to you, the people of the myriad regions. If you in the myriad regions commit offenses, these offenses must rest on my person."

- translated by James Legge

Tang (emporer of Shang dynasty) expressed that he only wanted to act/minister in harmony with the mind of sovereign God.

Sacrifice refers to as dark-colored victim.

Announcement to God is made with victim/sacrifice.

The sinner must be punished according to the mind of God.

Ministers are brought to light; made aparent to all.

Personal blame/offenses are not shifted to God.

The mind of God is the reference for all examination.

No people in the sovereign territories may blame God.

The action of God must rest on the people.

We see great reference towards God even by a great leader and emporer of ancient China. And confucius was aware of this. The students of Confucius were brought to this awareness by the studies of Analects. The scholars of the following dynasties were brought to this awareness by the studies of Analects.This was history and scholarship in feudal China.

This is not taught in Hong Kong and modern China. This is not known to students of Shang Tang in our modern age. Reverence to God for life and government is missing. Civilization made an abrupt turn quietly and fundamentally.

The 4 lettered/word compound word: 皇皇后帝 makes a contrast, a separation to Shang Tang who is male. This refers to the holiness attributed to God(皇皇后帝). God is addressed by the emporer皇帝 Shang Tang as Emporer Queen King, King of Kings.

Contrary to believes of modern Chinese, Chinese culture and tradition were not always dominated by Buddhism and Taoism. Tang Dynasty were some 2 thousands years older than Buddhism and Gutama Buddha(5th Century AD). Hinduism could be older than the dynasties of China. But Hinduism is never recorded to have influenced China, Chinese culture or tradition. India(Hindu land) never run over or ruled China.

We need to return to the root of Almighty God and live by His sovereignty, if we are to return to the original Chinese Culture and tradition. – David Lim