The nature of the common expressions in Confucius’ Analects: Some educational implications

• In Event: Roundtable Session 39
  In Roundtable Session: Confucianism, Taoism, and Their Implications for Education

Abstract

Confucius language was powerful and many of its expressions have made their way into modern Chinese language, apparently offering endured and continuous resources to Chinese culture and civilization over the past two thousand years. The present study examined the nature of such linguistic expressions that made them so dear to the Chinese language heritage. A content analysis approach was used. The results showed that 75 most commonly used Confucian expressions offered metaphorical conceptualizations as well as close to life insights as they become part of Chinese culture. We also offer implications for looking at some current educational issues, particularly on how to acknowledge and utilize cultural heritage to better our own educational thinking and practices.

Authors

• Liqing Tao, College of Staten Island - CUNY

• Gaoyin Qian, Lehman College - CUNY