Joy, Love and Sorrow in Confucius’s Philosophy: An Analysis of Yen Hui
Keywords:
Confucius, Yen Hui, Delight, Love, Sorrow, Vulnerable Feeling of LossAbstract
This paper analyzes the meanings of Yen Hui, Confucius’ favorite disciple. Yen Hui is an exemplar of someone who loves learning and takes delight in a life in condition of extreme poverty which “others would find it unbearable.” This beloved disciple brings boundless joy to Confucius’ because Yen Hui confirms the possibility of a good life filled with joy, even in an environment of adversity.
This paper argues that to confirm the value of joy and love includes the willingness to embrace sorrow or vulnerable feeling of loss. Confucius confirms the value of Yen Hui in his life by expressing “excessive” sorrow over Yen Hui’s untimely death. This confirmation of the value of Yen Hui also confirms the way of leading a “good” life, that is, a life in a community of human-heartedness.
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