Language: English
Published on: 1996-01
Hardcover
Confucius was a great thinker, educator and statesman of ancient China and founder of the Confucianist school of thought. For over two thousand years since his death, his teachings have exerted a profound and far-reaching influence on Chinese history.
Qu Chunli’s historical novel The Life of Confucius portrays the life of Confucius from his birth till his death and also tells something about his ancestors and offspring up to modern times. Vivid description is given about various aspects of Confucius’ life including his moral principles, teaching career, political activities, and collation of ancient documents. His life of persistent strivings in the face of numerous frustrations and setbacks is set against the background of growing interstate contention in the late Spring and Autumn Period. Confucius was depicted both as a sage of exceptional diligence, great learning and lofty virture and as a flesh-and-blood human being with rich emotions. Some complex thought of the great master. The book also portrays vividly many of Confucius’ disciples and other historical figures.
The book is an integration of historical research and literary creation. Historical documents and folklore are both incorporated into the book to create a true-to-life, historically authentic image of Confucius. Using easy-to-understand language and a smooth, natural plot, the book is an important work that can help readers gain a better understanding of Confucius and traditional Chinese culture.
1.Shuliang He Distinguishes Himself in the Battlefield; Yan Zhengzai Gives Birth to a Long-expected Son
2.The Stepmother Brings Up Her Son; The Grandfather Teaches His Grandson
3.Confucius Is Turned Away by a Powerful Man; He Displays His Talents to the Lord in a Discourse on State Affairs
4.Confucius Becomes Keeper of Granaries and Visits the Peasants; Reappointed to Keeper of Lvestock, He Punishes a Crooked Subordinate
5.Confucius Has His Mother Buried by His Father’s Side; He Travels a Long Distance to Study Music After a Famous Master
6.Confucius Starts to Take on Disciples; Duke Jing of Qi Seeks to Enlist Real Talents into His Service
7.Confucius Visits Lao Zi in the Royal Capital; He Studies Music from Chang Hong While Staying with Lao Zi
8.Helped by Virtuous Ministers, Duke Zhao of Lu Escapes from the Jaws of Death; Receiving Timely Reinforcements, Jisun Yiru Turns Defeat into Victory
9.Gao Zhaozi Treats a Man of Inferior Rank with Respect; Yan Ying Is Jeaslous of Confucius for His Talent
10.Listening to Shao Music, Confucius Forgets the Taste of Meat; Nangong Shi Comprehends His Master’s Message by Reciting a Peom
11.Confucius and His Disciples Climb Mount Tai to Broaden Their Vision; Tracing the Source of the Sishui River They Compare the Past with the Present
12.Jisun Yiru Exhorts His Son for the Sake of the Family; Confucius Explains the Meaning of the Slanting Vessel to His Disciples in the Temple
13.Two Cousins Set a Trap by Giving a Banquet at Pu Garden; The Lu Sovereign Sends an Expedition Against the City of Huan
14.Yang Hu Has a Narrow Escape from Lu to Qi; Duke Jing of Qi Fails to Satisfy the Demand of Duke Ding of Lu
15.Confucius Governs Zhongdu Well by Punishing Profiteers and Eliminating Outdated Customs; The People Build Water Conservancy Projects and Subsequently Enjoy a Bumper Harvest
16.Confucius Becomes Minister of Justice and Resolves a Dispute Between Father and Son; He Recommends Two Disciples to Be Stewards at the Chief Minister’s House
17.Li Chu Seeks a Chance to Humiliate the Lord of Lu; Confucius Trains the Army in Case of Emergency
18.Lu Gains a Diplomatic Victory at the Jiagu Meeting; The Entire State of Qi Mourns Yan Ying’s Death
19.On Shimen Mountain the Disciples Express Their Aspirations; Among Apricot Trees the Master Sings to the Accompaniment of the Zither
20.The Lu Army Gains a Victory by Luring the Enemy Away from His Base; Fighting Against Overwhelming Odds, the Rebel Troops Suffer a Crushing Defeat
21.Confucius Advises the Duke of Lu to Restore the Rites of Zhou; Qi Uses Beautiful Maidens to Disrupt the Lu Court
22.Wallowing in Pleasure, Duke Ding of Lu Neglects State Afffairs; Disappointed with the Fatuous Sovereign, Confucius Leaves His Homeland
23.Confucius and His Disciples Arrive in the State of Wei; The Duke of Wei and His Consort Have an Argument in the Garden
24.The Wanton Consort Has an Affair with a Courtier; A Brave General of Wei Subdues a Rebellion
25.Confucius Is Kept Under Surveillance in Wei; He and His Disciples Are Surrounded at Kuang
26.Confucius and His Disciples Return to Wei; Lady Nan Zi Meets with Confucius
27.Confucius Accompanies the Duke of Wei on an Excursion; The Duke’s Son Attempts to Assassinate His Mother
28.Master and Disciples Discuss State Affairs by the Yellow River; Courtiers of Jin Compete for Control of Its Army
29.Father and Son Fight for the Dukedom of Wei; Confucius and His Disciples Encounter Some Bandits
30.Zi Gong Calls on a Village Woman to Learn a Secret Method; Confucius Tells Duke Min of Chen the Origin of a Strange Arrow
31.Confucius Describes the Attributes of a Benevolent Man; On his Deathbed Jisun Si Thinks of Confucius
32.Duke Min of Chen Hunts Auspicious Animals Despite Confucius’ Objection; A Wu General Is Persuaded by Confucius to Withdraw His Invading Troops
33.Confucius and His Disciples Starve at the Chen-Cai Boundary; The Magistrate of She Is Impressed by Confucius’s Teaching
34.Gao Chai Redresses a Wrong; Confucius Explains the Importance of Rectifying Names
35.Zi Gong Defeats Bo Pi in a Verbal Battle; Confucius Praises Zi Lu for Being a Good Official
36.Confucius Misses His Sick Wife Back in Lu; You Ruo Leads the Lu Army to Defeat Invaders from Wu
37.Zi Gong Successfully Reclaims the Lost Land for Lu; Lady Qiguan Longs in Vain for Her Husband’s Return
38.You Ruo Defeats the Qi Army by Sstrategy; Zi Gong Uses His Eloquence to Convince the Prince of Wu
39.Bao Mu’s Army Is Routed by the Joint Forces of Lu and Wu; Confucius Returns to His Homeland to Meet with Duke Ai of Lu
40.Confucius and His Disciples Discuss Their Political Ideals; Min Shun Declines to Take Office to Preserve His Purity
41.Zi Gong Is Advised to Accept His Appointment to Magistrate of Wenyang; Confucius Dreams of King Jing of Zhou
42.Confucius Talks About Filial Duties; Master and Disciples Plant Junipers in the Courtyard
43.Yan Yan Is Highly Praised for High Performance in Office; Confucius Loses His Son and His Favorite Disciple
44.Gao Chai Tries Cases Justly; Kong Zhong Places Trivialities over Essentials
45.Confucius Finds His Favorite Disciple in Poor Health; Gao Chai Deals with a Difficult Case Involving the Duke’s Consort
46.Mi Buqi Reports to Confucius His Achievements in Office; Yan Hui Dies of Illness in the Prime of Life
47.Confucius Despairs of Realizing His Ideal on Seeing an Auspicious Animal Shot Dead in Lu; Kuai Kui Celebrates the Success of His Southern Expedition with Jubilation
48.Zi Lu Dies a Cruel Death in the State of Wei; On His Deathbed Confucius Finds a Successor for Himself
49.Yan Hui Ranks First Among Confucian Disciples in Virtue; Zi Gong Stays by Confucius’ Grave in Mourning for Six Years
50.Confucius Receives Various Titles from Subsequent Kings and Emperors; The Confucian Descendants Enjoy Honor and Position in Successive Dynasties
