Chinese Thought Patterns in The Analects

姚芬（云南师范大学外国语学院，云南 昆明 650500）

Abstract：Thought pattern is a habit of thinking in a particular way or making certain assumption, which influences people’s appearances and actions to a large extent.This thesis is going to take The Analects as an example to explore thought patterns in the East -- Chinese harmonious thought pattern.

1.The Definition of Thought Pattern

Thought pattern, also termed “ways of thinking”, first identified by Pribram (1949), vary conditionally within and among cultures.Kluckhohn’s definition that culture is a way of thinking, feeling and believing suggests the close relationship between culture and thinking.In my viewpoint, thinking, among which, holds the most important role.Furthermore, ways of thinking influence whether communications,among diverse cultures, are successful or not, hence how do we define“thought pattern”?

To sum up, thought pattern is a habit of thinking in a particular way or making certain assumption, which greatly affect people’s appearances and actions.It is a psychological deep structure of a person.Eastern and western have obviously different thought patterns which are caused by different reasons.

2.Chinese Harmonious Thought Pattern in The Analects

The Analects, probably compiled by Confucius’ disciples and disciples’ disciples who put their heads together to recollect what the Master had said and done, was originally in the form of wooden or bamboo strips.It is a collection of aphorisms and historical anecdotes embodying the basic values of the Confucian tradition: learning,morality, ritual decorum, and filial piety.Reflecting the model eras of Chinese antiquity, The Analects offers valuable insights into successful governance and the ideal organization of society.

3.Chinese Harmonious Thought Pattern in The Analects

Confucian harmonious thoughts stress individual cultivation and moral characters, the root of everything, which contributes to the harmony between body and mind.It advocates loyalty, mercy, integrity,love and interpersonal relationship harmony.Confucius advocates by moral cultivation, we can internalize external restricted manners into inner and self-conscious moral principles to achieve the state of mercies.

Master You said, “In concluding the rituals, the principle of harmony is the most valuable.This was the most important aspect of the Way of the ancient kings.Everything they did, great or small, was done according to this rule.However, there is a limit to that.When harmony is sought for its own sake and when it is not regulated by rituals, then the principle will not work.”

The Master said, “A man of honor seeks harmony without identity of views; a petty-minded man seeks identity but not true harmony”.There are not so many words, except the up-mentioned ideas, to directly describe harmony in The Analects, but a great deal of contents are full of harmonious thoughts.Confucius stresses that harmony in one’s inner heart is the required quality to be a gentleman.Moreover, harmony in one’s inner heart requires both subjective and objective prerequisites.What is the most important idea is that self-cultivation is a subjective condition to achieve harmony in inner heart.Confucius’ wisdom enables us to take the following items into consideration.

The importance of self-examination.“When you meet a man of virtue, think how you can become his equal; when you meet a man without virtue, examine yourself to think if you are the same.” The importance of self-discipline.“Require much of yourself and little of others, and you will stay away from ill will”; “A man of honor sets demands on himself while a petty-minded man sets demands on others”.The importance of integrity.“How can a person get on if he is not trustworthy? It is just like a cart without a collar-bar or a carriage without a yoke-bar.How can he make it move?” We can also find out some hints in The Analects that in regarded to the objective conditions of inner heart harmony.Firstly, Confucius believes that learning is an essential factor for a noble man to achieve inner heart harmony.

For example, “To love wisdom but not learning may lead to disorientation.To love good faith but not learning may lead you astray.To love forthrightness but not learning may lead to intolerance.To love courage but not learning may lead to insubordination.To love steadfastness but not learning may lead to recklessness.” What is more,Confucius put up with an idea about the impact of gap between richness and poverty on people’s psychological harmony.“To be poor and yet not resentful is difficult, to be rich and yet not arrogant is easy.”Confucius used these ten Chinese words to reveal the truth, which is worthwhile to cultivate ones harmony in inner heart.

4.Conclusion

To sum up, the idea,“Syncretism between Heaven and Man”, is a treasure of the traditional Chinese culture, it embodies a Chinese cultural thought of “true, kind and beautiful”.Harmonious thought pattern, in eastern countries especially China, has penetrated into human being’s heart, since thousands of years ago, Chinese have advocated harmony with human, harmony with nature and harmony within one’s inner heart.