The book is a thoughtful and inspiring presentation of Confucian-ism as arguably the longest and most influential ethical and spiri-tual traditions inhuman history. It is highly readable with many insightful observations.

Through a systematic "gongfu" reading of Confucius, this book shows how Confucius' ideas are different from dogmatized or overly intellectualistic understandings of Confucianism and how the Master s insights can be a rich resource for re-enchanting the world and the contemporary life.

PREFACE

15 CHAPTER I. CONFUCIUS AS A HISTORICAL FIGURE

17 Long Long Ago, There was a Time

21 A Man from a Humble Background

33 The Life Story Continues

46 The Second Epoch

52 New Challenges and the Third Epoch

57 CHAPTER II. CONFUCIUS AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER

58 A Wooden Bell-Clapper

62 Humans are Part of Heaven

69 Mandate and Destiny

78 Immortality and the Meaning of Life

89 Inter-religiosity

99 CHAPTER Ⅲ. CONFUCIUS AS A PHILOSOPHER

100 One Cannot be Fully a Human in Solitude

108 Born to Become a Human

116 What Makes a Vessel Sacred?

129 Naming Means Illuminating

136 Hit the Mark Constantly

141 CHAPIER IV. CONFUCIUS AS A POLITICAL REFORMER

142 Ideal Society——Harmony and Holism

152 Sageliness Within and Kingliness Without

161 Names and Rituals as Political Devices

169 The Freedom of Needing No Choice

175 Uprightness and Justice

183 CHAPTER V. CONFUCIUS AS AN EDUCATOR

185 The Kind of Education

194 Six Arts

207 Learning, Thinking, and Embodiment

215 Method of Education

222 CHAPTER VI. CONFUCIUS AS A PERSON

223 The "ZENG Dian Spirit"

229 Elitist?

236 Sexist?

242 Honesty and Sincerity

247 After All, the Master is a Human

255 CHRONOLOGY

262 BIBLIOGRAPHY

267 INDEX OF QUOTES FROM THE ANALECTS

271 INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS