A Christian Approach to Chinese Classical Education

you do not when you do not, that is knowledge.’” 35 In fact, the more we learn, the more we recognize just how ignorant we truly are. As the Record of Rites says, “When he learns, one knows his own deficiencies.” 36 Humility also exposes us to a greater abundance of knowledge because the proud man refuses to learn from anyone he considers inferior to himself. Sometimes Christians fall into this trap when confronted with scholarship written by non-Christians. We do not want to admit that a non-Christian might actually have something valuable to teach us, so we refuse to study it and remain ignorant. Our pride prevents us from growing in knowledge. But Confucius reminds us that a true junzi “loves learning and is not ashamed to ask and learn of his inferiors.”37

Having acquired a proper frame of mind, students can then begin their studies. Chinese classical education promotes three kinds of self-cultivation—moral, intellectual, and physical, but it prioritizes moral cultivation:

A young man should be filial within his home and respectful of elders when outside, should be careful and trustworthy, broadly caring of people at large, and should cleave to ren . If he has energy left over, he may study wen . 38

35 “子曰：‘由！诲女知之乎？知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。’ ” Confucius, Lunyu 论语 [Analects] 2.17, trans. D. C. Lau.

36 “ 学然后知不足 ” Xue 学记 [Record of Learning] in Liji 礼记 [Record of Rites] 36.3, trans. James Legge.

37 “ 敏而好学，不耻下问 ” Confucius, Lunyu 论语 [Analects] 5.15.62, author’s translation.

Christians should retain this emphasis, but in praising the Confucian pursuit of moral virtue, Christians must be careful to avoid moralism and legalism. We must stress that God himself is our ultimate aim, that we pursue virtue as a means of glorifying Him, and that we live up to His moral law only by resting in His grace through Christ. Nevertheless, God does call us to live upright lives. The pursuit of moral virtue is an honorable thing, and the specific virtues that Confucianism promotes are worthy of our admiration and pursuit.

As for intellectual cultivation, Christian schools should promote critical thinking as vigorously as Confucius. “There may be those who act without knowing why. I do not do so.” 39 “Learning without thought is labor lost.”40 This is entirely in keeping with the teaching of Scripture. “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps (Prv. 14:15).” “Test everything; hold fast what is good (1 Thess. 5:21).” The Doctrine of the Mean helpfully summarizes the most effective method of study: “Study it broadly. Question it meticulously. Reflect on it carefully. Distinguish it clearly. Prac-

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弟子入则孝，出则弟，谨而信，泛爱众，而亲仁。行有馀力，则 以学文。 ” Confucius, Lunyu 论语 [Analects] 1.6.7, trans. Robert Eno. I’ve slightly altered Eno’s translation, substituting “cleave to ren ” for “cleave to those who are ren .” I’m in agreement with Legge here that Confucius is speaking about cleaving to a specific virtue rather than a certain kind of person. I’ve also substituted “ wen ” for “the refinements of culture” so as not to confine the word to only one of many possible definitions. Wen can also refer to literature, culture, and the institution of rites and music.

39 “ 盖有不知而作之者，我无是也。 ” Ibid., 7.28.94, trans. James Legge.

40 “ 学而不思则罔 ” Ibid., 2.15.20.