READING THE HOLY BOOKS OF CHINA
Keywords:
The Confucian Sage, Analects, Holy BooksAbstract
Part of the uniqueness of Man is his struggle to understand; indefatigably he attempts to master the art of reading. The Book of Nature is the first text to be deciphered. Although all are heirs
to this rich legacy, not all learn to read adequately. Both by extending outwardly and by probing inwardly. Man exerts his energies to discover who he is, where he is, and in what direction he and his world are heading. Man's ability to read this Book depends to a la"ge extent on his talents, his proximate environment, and his dedicated use of these. All men of all cultures share this Book of Nature; some learn: to read it better than others. Yet this Book of Nature is the initial revelation which is the common heritage of all. Characteristic of the human endeavour are efforts to read this Book with understanding, to fathom its deepest meaning.
References
H. H. Rowley, Prophecy and Religion in Ancient China and Israel (London: The Athlone Press, 1956). pp. 25-26.
D.S. Amalorpavadass, Research Seminar On Non-Biblical Scriptures (Bangalore. India: National Biblical, Cathechetical , and Liturgical Centre Press,1974), p. 131.
Chung Yung XXVII: 6. I
Lun Yu XIII: 26.
Mencius 7B: 10.
Ta Hsueh XX: 13
Chung Yung: XX: 18
