The Wisdom of Confucius, with critical and biographical sketches by Epiphanius Wilson, A.M ( PDF).
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| The Wisdom of Confucius |
Alongside these texts, Wilson provides biographical and critical sketches that explain Confucius’s life, his disciples, and the enduring influence of his ethical system — emphasizing virtues such as benevolence (ren), righteousness (yi), propriety (li), and wisdom (zhi).
The book serves as both a moral guide and a historical introduction to Chinese philosophy, written in accessible English prose for Western readers of the early twentieth century.
🧠Key Themes
- Moral cultivation: The path to virtue through self‑discipline and learning.
- Social harmony: How ethical behavior sustains family and state.
- The superior man (junzi): Confucius’s ideal of moral excellence.
- Education and reflection: Knowledge as the foundation of wisdom.
👤 About Epiphanius Wilson
Epiphanius Wilson (1845–1916) was an American scholar, translator, and editor known for his anthologies of world literature and philosophy. His works aimed to make classical texts — from Greek ethics to Chinese wisdom — accessible to English‑speaking audiences. In The Wisdom of Confucius, Wilson combines translation with commentary, offering Western readers a respectful and insightful interpretation of Confucian thought.
Some contents
Introduction .
BOOK
I.
. Good Government—Filial Piety—The Superior Mad
. Abuse of Proprieties in Ceremonial and Music .
. Social Virtue—Superior and Inferior Man. .
. A Disciple and the Golden Hales Miccelianents
. More Characteristics—Wisdom—Philanthropy .
. Characteristics of Confucius—An Incident
. Sayings of Tsang—Sentences of the Master
. His Favorite Disciple’s Opinion of Him
. Confucius in Private and Official Life .
. Comparative Worth of His Disciples : .
. The Master’s Answers—Philanthropy—Friendships
. Answers on the Art of Governing—Consistency .
. Good and Bad Government—Miscellaneous Say-
Introduction
Book I. King es of Liang.
Parte 1: ;
On Learning—Miscellaneous Sayings .
ings
; Practical Wisdom—Reciprocity tl the Rule of Life .
. Against Intestine Strife—Good and Bad Friend-
