The Useless Tree

Current Affairs

  • Mencius in the News, Again (Even if Unnamed, Again)

       This headline jumped out at me today: "Is Do Unto Others Written Into Our Genes?"  And I immediately thought: Mencius would say "Yes!"     The article centers on the research of social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, especially his book,… Continue reading

  • Tiger Woods, Confucian Gentleman

        The golf great does the right Confucian thing: ATLANTA (AP) — Tiger Woods is skipping the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda, saying Wednesday he wanted the longest break of his career to spend time with his… Continue reading

  • Confucian Facebook Friends

         So, a couple of weeks ago I took the plunge and set up a Facebook profile.  I am gradually learning the ins and outs of cyber-social networking.  It’s interesting, but hardly breathtaking.  I have connected – or "friended"… Continue reading

  • Confucian Death Penalty

         Confucius was generally against the death penalty.  One of the clearest statements of his aversion to capital punishment comes in The Analects, 12.19:    Asking Confucius about governing, Lord Chi K’ang said: "What if I secure those who… Continue reading

  • Serve the People

         We hear a lot about "serve the people" in the PRC.  The official Mao-inspired slogan is not as popular now as it was years ago, but the official persona of Wen Jiabao symbolizes it: he is presented as… Continue reading

  • A Confucian Commentary on the Bush Administration

          A pleasant late-summer morning.  In my office, looking out on fields and trees, reading The Analects and making notes on which passages might fit into this or that chapter of the book I am writing.  And this jumps… Continue reading

  • It’s Not Just Their Physical Health

         Here’s what the China Daily reports (hat tip, CDT): The high-living, high-pressure lifestyles of China’s wealthy are catching up with their health, according to a  recent survey that shows many are paying a high cost for their affluence.… Continue reading

  • Still Yet More on Yu Dan

        A piece in today’s NYT reminds us of the popularity of Yu Dan’s take on The Analects.  Not much value-added here, however.  Yu has been something of celebrity for over a year now.  I have blogged about her… Continue reading

  • Confucians Against The Great Wall

        I saw this story today (hat tip, CDT): The Great Wall of China, built to withstand raiding hordes from the steppes, is now in peril from a far more insidious threat: sandstorms generated by desertification in the country’s… Continue reading

  • Mencius in a Beijing Courtroom

         There was something about this story, related by Roland (scroll down to "Beijing Courtroom Drama), that stuck with me from yesterday.  It is a sad tale of human pain and desperation: In April 2005, the 6-year-old son of… Continue reading