Description
For many years now, an unusual historical phenomenon has been noted: F From roughly 600 to 300 B.c. an extraordinary group of individuals appeared in several cultures around the world, individuals who dealt with the most fundamental and universal issues of life. It is the thinkers of China of this period that concern us here, specifically Confucius, Mencius, and Laozi. These three philosophers have much in common. Many details of their lives are questioned by some scholars-even whether there ever were single individuals by these names or whether the texts attributed to them were actually written by others. They also share other characteristics: their birth and death dates vary greatly depending on certain traditions; the fundamental texts attributed to them were almost certainly not set down by the masters themselves but by disciples; although none of these individuals propounded a religious faith or system, their texts have assumed an almost sacred status in their own cultures and followers have in some instances established religious sects on them; and finally, all three have long enjoyed an honored status in the West, their works continually translated and widely read.
ISBN:9781572152885
