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Tao Of Pooh Analysis

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Before we had started reading The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff we were given a MACC objective, MACC standing for Massachusetts Common Core. The objective was to read The Tao of Pooh to determine the main precepts and tenets of Buddhism. The Tao of Pooh is about the author attempting to explain Buddhism to Pooh, who at first seems to be an unmotivated and lazy bear and throughout the story uses examples from Pooh’s adventures with his friends to explain the principles of Taoism. As the author describes the principles he uses, effective presentation, rhetoric strategies and style. All of these add to the beauty, power and persuasiveness of the text. Based on the text, the author’s presentation and style are the most powerful tools that the author uses to explain Taoism. Redundantly, this also goes along with the MACC objective. As the story goes on his writing style tends to repeat itself going from a very serious explanation, …show more content…

As it is simply stated in the foreword as the author says “That was when I began to get an idea: to write a book that explained the principles of Taoism” (xii). The author’s purpose is seen throughout the story in the first chapter where he explains some key points about Taoism, by using relatable examples. The example that he uses in chapter one is a scene where he uses three Chinese philosophers, Lao Tse, Confucius and Buddha. Where each of them taste a bit of vinegar. While Confucius and Buddha are disgusted, Lao Tse has a smile on his face. The explanation for this it that Confucius possesses a sour view on life. While Buddha, Had a very bitter life. Both of them had a face of disgust. While Lao Tse has a smile on his face. Lao Tse believed that Harmony could be found by anyone at any time. Going back to the scenario Lao Tse was smiling because he was able to find peace with his situation despite tasting the incredibly bitter

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The approach he uses that moves between Spanish, French, and several Native perspectives leads to repetition which could have been minimized in my opinion. The book's strength is its loyalty to the oral history of indigenous peoples of their own history. Native tribal historians, writers, and elders often shape the sound of the narrative.

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In the novel Whale Talk, Taoism plays an integral part of the plot from the very beginning. The protagonist of the novel, The Tao Jones, is named by his biological mother after the Taoist book Tao Te Ching. When he enters school, he is often bullied because of his strange name. To avoid being bullied and embarrassed by his classmates, he begins calling himself T.J., his initials. It is very clear that his name is an indicator of what his personality is going to be.

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The main sources that the author relies on are the merchant manuals, for they were likeminded and resembled Confucius philosophy. The author uses these manuals, which “were imbued to some extent with the desire to teach Confucian morality,” to support his main argument. The foremost purpose of these merchant manuals in late imperial China was “to help people achieve success and attain wealth through commerce.”

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The author’s style is a mixture of the opinions of the characters and straight information. The character’s points and views are a major part of the book. The language used is native and does not stand in the way of the story, it helps it flow as the story goes on. Her style makes the information entertaining and enjoyable to

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In The Tao of Pooh Hoff uses a unique writing style to explain the basics of Taoism, an Eastern philosophy, to Westerners. He takes A.A. Milne’s characters created for Winnie the Pooh, and uses them and their personalities as examples of the different kinds of people in this world. Written in essay form, the book includes dialogue between Hoff and the characters, making it much easier and more enjoyable to read. Hoff explains the principle ideas, starting with the un-carved block, or P’u. He goes on to describe it as everything in its simplest form, and the idea that we should strive to be that.

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The Tao Te Ching is said to have been a political text as it criticized the government and leaders during the Warring States period. It also serves as a guide for leaders to follow. It says that leaders should not be obtrusive and forceful; they should respect, trust, and work with the people, keeping their best interest in mind. It also advocates for peace instead of war and violence. Knowing this background information can help the reader to better understand some of the reasons why the Tao Te Ching was written and who its intended audience was.

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The third example “Husband and wife were originally birds in the same forest. When destiny determines each flies away” (p.36), Mei is saying Saoqiao is heartbroken and regretful, and even tried to commit suicide after her divorce. These three example conclude Menglong’s languages is hackneyed and low in literary because it quotes a set phrase dismissive of the true emotion between Xingge and Sanqiao. Feng Menglong’s content and method of his edification are different from traditional morality and Neo-Confucian ethics, but I’m still thinking, “The pearl Shirt Reecountered” is an interesting chapter to read because it is different from other books.

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When writing a novel, authors encounter many obstacles; proving a point to the reader, keeping the reader intrigued, and showing the reader both sides of a conflict. Although the majority of authors are able to convey their important messages, using techniques that keep the reader interested, Benjamin Hoff, unfortunately, was unsuccessful to do so. In my opinion, Hoff was able to display the principles of Taoism in The Tao of Pooh thoroughly by using multiple examples of the ideas he is trying to prove; however, the way he introduces and explains topics throughout the novel is not concise and does not flow, thus creating a disconnect between the reader and the text. Hoff successfully explains Taoist principles and ideas in his novel in three

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This was shown by Zong Mi who was a scholar who supported Buddhism but when the Tang dynasty took control he started calling Confucianism equal to Buddhism to make sure that he would stay in favor of the emperor. In conclusion, Scholars don’t

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Confucius, Aristotle, and Lao-Tzu—all incredibly influential thinkers—did not always agree on how one ought to live; where Aristotle believed that thought or study led to virtue, Lao-Tzu placed focus on inaction, and Confucius taught that rituals paved the way to the best life. A few ideas, however, tie Confucius closer to Aristotle than to Lao-Tzu. Because Aristotle also placed importance on names, emphasized the need to find a mean of behavior, and believed that rulers should most critically be moral, Confucius would have preferred Aristotle to Lao-Tzu. Names—Aristotle utilizes them, even though he recognizes the difference between what exists in reality and the form represented by its name, while Lao-Tzu, on the other hand, maintains that names only serve to put limits on the named, and, in fact run the risk of creating opposites. According to Lao-Tzu, “Recognize beauty and ugliness is born.

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Although both Confucius and Mencius have a lot in common with regards to governance, the two do have varying opinions on certain matters such as the legitimacy when rulers are overthrown, and the relationship between the ruler and his people. In precedence to coming up with policies and administrative measures, one has to first consider the issue of human nature as it plays an essential role in the development of a state 's political system. In the Confucian philosophy, the belief is that goodness is innate in humans and that everyone shares this same trait [子曰：“性相近也，习相远也。”] (Analects, 17.2). Mencius further elaborated on this doctrine by stating that it is mankind’s natural tendency to be kind to others, just as water would naturally flow downwards (Mencius, 6A2).

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Each and every character in Yu Hua’s To Live is a catalyst through which the author explores human nature. The novel itself follows the life of Fugui, whose narrative is framed by pre-communist, Maoist, and post-communist China. Though he chronicles a long period of time, Yu Hua effectively uses characterization to present and prove his claims on human nature. Throughout Fugui’s journey, each character he encounters reflects on an aspect of humanity, through an event or group of people. For example, Long Er symbolizes the death of feudalism, while Fengxia symbolizes the Chinese people under a fascist, nationalist government.

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However, after Tzu death, Confucianism was crowned the new philosopher of china. As the newly appointed philosopher, he denies all of Tzu opposing views about mankind, but agrees to Mencius another famous Confucian after Confucius himself optimistic theories. Notwithstanding, Tzu was the first philosopher to develop Confucius observation that holds a general truth, for example “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it” into a system of complete thought that become today one of the significant development of the Chinese philosophy. In contrast, he disagrees with the Confucius ideology of human nature, but accepted his analysis on the importance of education that changed a lot of people throughout the Chinese history to commit their lives relating to serious academic learning. Tzu uses figurative words as a main form of procedure to back up his arguments.

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His approach seemed more objective since it was his intention to follow the will of heaven and regardless of the consequences, a person needed to do what was noble, right, good, and true. Although Confucius and Aristotle had many things in common, I believe the biggest difference is that Aristotle had a more pragmatic approach. Since being happy was the greatest virtue according to his ethical philosophy, it seems to be a much more subjective and relative approach, placing emphasis on the external (choosing and learning to be good – outside-in approach), whereas Confucius’s seemed to focus on the internal (inside-out approach), which was ultimately more beneficial to others because it manifested itself as living out the golden rule. So long as it is grounded in truth, in treating those how one would like to be treated, a kind of peace that surpasses all understanding becomes prominent – resulting in the arts of genuine and authentic

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By following these theories, it is clear that both are in direct conflict with one another. In regard to the nature of man, this is obvious, with Confucius writing on inherent goodness and Han Feizi writing and agreeing on the opposite. This leads to some interesting situations, particularly for the societies which would aim to adopt each philosophy. However, both did agree that order was necessary and through the state order can be achieved. Confucius thought emphasized this in The Doctrine of Learning by stating that “the ancients who wished to manifest their clear character to the world would first bring order to their states” (Chan p. 86).

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