The Way of Water and Sprouts of Virtue

SUNY series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture

by Sarah Allan

Explicates early Chinese thought and explores the relationship between language and thought.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

181 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5.0

TIGHTLY ARGUED PREPOSITION REGARDING BASE METAPHOR STATUS OF WATER AND PLANTS IN CHINESE PHILOSOPHY BEGINNING WITH CONFUCIOUS. WELL WRITTEN AND NOT AS OBSCURELY ACADEMIC AS OTHER BOOKS OF HERS I HAVE READ. STIIL DRIFTS PERIODICALLY TO SUBTLE INTERPRETATIONS OF CHINESE PICTOGRAPH CHARACTERS. WELL ORGANIZED AND SUCCEEDS IN MAKING HER CASE.

[Quentin Kinnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love you water! Don't be 'like' water, be water.

[David McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book argues that the Chinese were highly influenced by observations of plant growth and water movement and employed them as metaphors in articulating the earliest and primary texts of their major indigenous thought traditions (Daoism, Confucianism, Laozi, etc.)

It's interesting to think that the process of thinking itself has an effect on the thoughts being produced - and this book provides a really cool (and very accessible) example of this phenomenon.

[Shengzhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting thesis of water and plant life as 'root metaphors' of early Confucianism and Daoism (and by extension later philosophies based on them). Not only are these two concepts 'literary metaphors' with which we can think of some philosophical concepts, but 'root metaphors' in that they pervade the entire systems of thought and render them coherent. A useful way for acquiring understanding of Chinese philosophy.

[Nathanial · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little repetitive, but packed with interesting bits for those who like the evolution of Chinese language and thought.