The Useless Tree

Current Affairs

  • Confucianism v. Taoism in Chinese Popular Culture

        Roland, at ESWN, reminds us again of how debates about popular culture in can reveal significant changes in political – or, at least, potentially political – attitudes.   He posts a translation of a Southern Metropolis Daily piece (original… Continue reading

  • Asia-ization

        So, in my class, Asia and the World, the question arose (OK, I admit it: the idea came to my mind and I worked into my lecture): is the "West" becoming more "Asian"?      A little background:… Continue reading

  • Buddhism and Death

         I must preface this post by saying I do not know all that much about Buddhism.  In recent years, I have been spending time learning what I can about pre-Qin Chinese thought, a historical period well before Buddhism… Continue reading

  • Dangerous Euphemisms

        One thing reading Confucius does to a person is make them aware of language and how it is used to evade responsibility or distract attention away from uncomfortable realities.  Rather like George Orwell, really.     This comes… Continue reading

  • Prison

         Here’s a depressing thing: U.S. Prison Population Sets Record Associated Press Friday, December 1, 2006 A record 7 million people — one in every 32 U.S. adults — were behind bars, on probation or on parole by the… Continue reading

  • Speaking of the Confucian Mind….

        I often worry that the tone of this blog is too critical.  I find myself playing the scold, using Confucianism or Taoism to complain about this or that happening in China or the US.  I do not have… Continue reading

  • Here We Go Again

          Dave, over at Peking Duck, posts about a new book entitled, The Confucian Mind: A Historical and In-Depth Look at Asian Culture and Psyche.  I know it is not fair to criticize the book before you read it,… Continue reading

  • No Justice, No Harmony

        The Chinese Communist Party is still doing wrong by Chen Guangcheng: BEIJING, Nov. 27 — The retrial of a blind legal activist kicked off in eastern Shandong province Monday, but not without some of the same courtroom tumult… Continue reading

  • Why Bush Persists In Failure

        Mencius knows: When you attempt something and fail, always turn back to yourself for the reason.  Rectify yourself, and all beneath Heaven will return home to you. (125)      Bush seems congenitally unable to do this, to… Continue reading

  • Names Matter

        I have hit on this point before but feel compelled to return to it today, especially in light of the flurry of news stories about calling the Iraq crisis a "civil war."  It seems that various media outlets… Continue reading