The Confucian Commentarial Tradition

In this lecture, Professor Van Norden discusses how vibrant philosophy is done through commentarial traditions. In particular, Van Norden explores how Zhu Xi (1130-1200 CE) uses the metaphysics of Pattern and qi to interpret the classic texts of Confucianism. Previous Lecture: Neo-Confucian Ethics and Metaphysics, Following Lecture: Understanding the Classic of Changes, 0:43 A Common Pattern: Classic, Commentaries, and Modernity 8:35 The Five Classics of the Han Dynasty 10:29 The Four Books of the Later Dynasties 12:11 Sample Classic and Commentary in Chinese and English 15:43 Zhu Xi’s Interpretation of the Great Learning 25:06 Zhu Xi’s Interpretation of the Mengzi 41:38 Two Metaphors for Interpreting Mengzi: Tips or Sprouts? 48:41 Zhu Xi’s Interpretation of the Analects of Confucius 56:33 “Pattern” as Descriptive and Prescriptive 1:05:04 Lecture Overview