• Title/Summary/Keyword: wise and virtuous man

Search Result 3, Processing Time 0.018 seconds

A Study on the symbols of bamboo icon in bamboo paintings - Focused on 'bamboo' Ti-hua-shi(題畵詩) in 『Sheng-hua-ji(聲畵集)』 (송대 '대나무' 도상의 상징에 대한 고찰 - 『성화집(聲畵集)』의 '대나무' 제화시를 중심으로 -)

  • Seo, Eun-Sook
    • (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
    • /
    • no.35
    • /
    • pp.471-498
    • /
    • 2009
  • The aim of this study is to see how bamboo paintings developed and what is the iconographical meaning of them through bamboo Ti-hua-shi(poems on paintings) found in Sheng-Hua-Ji, a leading compilation of Ti-hua-shi(poems on paintings) of Song Dynasty. Bamboo paintings give shapes in a simpler and more direct way in drawing, which means bamboo paintings reveal concretely more characteristics of Ti-hua-shi (poems on paintings). Bamboo paintings, which flourished during Northern Song Dynasty, often had the image of the dragon, specially a lying dragon or a winding dragon, which suggests a great man in obscurity. Snow-laden bamboos were also a symbol of a great man, very wise man in Confucian tradition. This shows Confucian ideal examples were embodied through bamboo paintings. Another aspect of bamboo paintings is that bamboo paintings were regarded as a means of self-expression, which identified Confucian sadaebu (scholar-officials) who advocated simplicity and austerity in their life. Contrary to professional painters, who added color and decoration to their paintings, Confucian scholars of Song Dynasty reduced color and embellishment in their bamboo paintings in black-and-white to reveal their own identity, focusing on spirituality rather than the image itself. Therefore, drawing and appreciating bamboo paintings were highly respectable pastime among the literati of Song Dynasty. In short, Bamboo paintings in Song Dynasty were not only a Confucian symbol of a wise and virtuous man but also reflected the taste of Song sadaebu class who thought of bamboo as a symbol for moral and cultural responsibility of Confucian society.

A Study on 'Self-Culture' of the Analects of Confucius (『논어(論語)』의 '수양(修養)'에 관한 고찰(考察))

  • Kwon, Kyoung-Ja
    • (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
    • /
    • no.36
    • /
    • pp.57-83
    • /
    • 2009
  • Confucius who lived an era as cosmic being 2500 years ago put an end to confusion of the time and proposed cultivating the self(修養) as a way to live everyone's human life. Confucius recognized that when one satisfies individual' desire and sticks to the self without knowing the self which is comic being, his home and further his nation must get into confusion. What Confucius put an end to the confused world and proposed how to live humanly is self-culture. Confucius considered that when one cultivates himself, he can obtain benevolence(ren(仁)) and be a wise man(君子) who can maintain his nature soundly. What Confucius proposed as a way of self-culture is to acquire by learning timely and practicing and live a practical life by looking back upon himself every minute for self-reflection(省察). Through this, he can be sound to practice benevolence, and finally get used to benevolence and stroll around benevolence. When one acquires benevolence, the key of one mind, actual and social confusion can be solved, from the viewpoint of Confucius. Through this, self-culture is the purposive key word to accomplish benevolence which is a key of Confucius thoughts, and the first step toward benevolence. That is why Confucianism says train myself to be a man of honor and let the others(the people) lead(Sugi Anin(修己安人)). The reason why overall the Analects of Confucius from "Hakyi(學而)" to "Yowal(堯曰)" discusses self-culture is that the self-culture is a basis to manage the world.

A Study on the Ideal Leadership whole person of Confucian philosophy (유가(儒家)의 전인적(全人的) 지도자상(指導者像) 고찰(考察))

  • Kim, Kyeong-Mi
    • (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
    • /
    • no.62
    • /
    • pp.145-176
    • /
    • 2016
  • This paper aims to define the leadership of Gunja (君子, translated into prince, gentleman, or ideal man) based on Confucian Classics which offer the general values and norms of individuals' virtue and social virtuous acts. Thus, humanitarianism is regarded as true value, and the values of a virtuous person who properly practices social human relationships are discussed. The real worth of Gunja image is discussed as a true human image of "self-completion and completion of all things" (成己成物) which involves the convergence of truth, good and beauty where there is a sense of harmony and balance, where there is stern self discipline and self cultivation and where win-win values of human relationships are created. Confucian saint (聖人), wise man (賢人), great man (大人), and gentleman (君子) mean social leaders. They practice human morals, enlighten and beautify society with teachings, and are indicated as equipped with mental and material harmony, good character and competence, and economic power and morality. People today pursue their own personal growth according to their material preferences rather than pure intellectual cultural values, and are engrossed in visually beautiful external unlimited competition. In this digital age, we are supposed to demonstrate our individuality, but many people are obsessed with appearance, go on severe diet, and lose their health beauty, and consequently suffer mental stress. This trend fuels obsession with appearance and the sick practice of valuing appearance. As an alternative method to overcome this phenomenon, we need a leader image with the convergence of truth, good and beauty, which is characterized by internal self cultivation, external professionalism, and handsome and solid character. Confucian thoughts consist in practicing the Way of disciplining oneself for governing others (修己治人). Self discipline involves developing personal virtuous ability for cultivating a virtuous character, and governing others involves interacting to work together in society and to have right human relationships. Thus, leaders should impress not only themselves but also others. Self discipline for governing others means cultivating virtue for oneself and leading others. A true leader has self introspection and establishes himself through self discipline so that he can govern others or reach the realm of settling others where people live together. As all things have a value and a virtue, humans endeavor to cultivate character and virtue by learning and studying for securing their professionalism, reliability, character and ability, so as to create their own brand value. Personal character does not come from a high position, wealth and power. Character is a personal virtue, and is cultivated as immaculate and fresh through self discipline. As such, it well matches with a clean and clear spirit. This offers the ideal leader as the Guja image who has an extremely humane character, as well as being equipped with inherent virtues of intellect, benevolence and courage. Self development can foster virtue and self management through self leadership and self discipline. The leader in the relationship area can practice his virtue through virtuous acts, in other words, even think from another person's perspective. Such leader is mentioned as the principle of measuring square in the Great Learning. In our viewpoint, the beauty of character can breed the seed of virtue through intellect, benevolence and courage, the beauty of win-win can realize the right virtue by showing exemplary acts to others through considerateness, and the beauty of harmony can love and care for others like me through the principle of measuring square, thereby realizing the universal principle of virtue and harmony, which is like my mind. As such, the ideal leader, when his virtue and mind of being considerate of others all blending well, can exercise his ability to the full, can live together and coexist with many people, and can grow again into a triumphant relationship.