Skip to content

A Year with Confucius

Theme: reflection

2 reflections tagged with "reflection"

← All themes
Day 14
reflectionself-examinationcharacter

Daily Self-Examination

Zengzi, a devoted disciple of Confucius, describes a practice of daily self-examination: whether he has been faithful on behalf of others, trustworthy with friends, and diligent in practicing what he was taught. This early model of structured reflection is central in the Confucian tradition.

Day 103
silencespacereflection

Silence as Space

This extraordinary passage shows Confucius pointing beyond words altogether. When challenged by Zigong—his most eloquent student—Confucius invokes Heaven itself, which teaches through the turning of seasons and the growing of all things without uttering a word. The implication is revolutionary: the deepest truths are transmitted not through speech but through living presence and natural example.