Charlene Tan's text offers a coherent account of Confucius' educational thought and its implications for the modern world. Arguing that Confucius is more than an ancient master who emphasised tradition, rote-learning and teacher-centredness, Tan portrays Confucius as a progressive educator who challenged the social norms of his time and transformed the nature of teaching and learning in China and beyond. Through a textual study of the Analects , this text provides a critical exposition of Confucius' work, particularly with respect to his interpretations of human beings' mission in life, potentials, relationships with one another, and educational process. Further highlighting the contemporary relevance of Confucius' work, the author offers a Confucian framework for 21st century education – one that harmonises modern knowledge and skills with universal values on shared humanity and loving others. Of the three main teachings in Chinese culture, Confucianism has exerted the most profound and lasting influence in China. While Confucianism (a term coined by Westerners) refers to a tradition (Ruism) that predated Confucius, it is most closely associated with Confucius (551-479 BCE), who determined its later development. Confucius' ideas are reflected in his conversations with students, mostly recorded in the Analects. However, this book also brings into discussion those sayings of Confucius that are recorded in other texts, greatly expanding our perspective of the original Confucius. Scholars in the past, unsure about the authenticity of such sayings, have been reluctant to use them in discussing Confucius' view. However, recent archaeological findings have shown that at least some of them are reliable. Confucius: A Guide for the Perplexed is a clear and thorough account of authentic Confucius and his ideas, underscoring his contemporary relevance, not only to Chinese people but also to people in the West "Charlene Tan's text offers a coherent account of Confucius' educational thought and its implications for the modern world. Arguing that Confucius is more than an ancient master who emphasized tradition, rote-learning and teacher-centredness, Tan portrays Confucius as a progressive educator who challenged the social norms of his time and transformed the nature of teaching and learning in China and beyond. Through a textual study of the Analects, this text provides a critical exposition of Confucius' work, particularly with respect to his interpretations of human beings' mission in life, potentials, relationships with one another, and educational process. Further highlighting the contemporary relevance of Confucius' work, the author offers a Confucian framework for 21st century education - one that harmonizes modern knowledge and skills with universal values on shared humanity and loving others."-- Publisher's description "Confucius was indisputably a major thinker in education. Charlene Tan's volume offers a coherent account of Confucius' educational thought. This work is divided into three distinctive parts: 1. Intellectual Biography of Confucius 2. Critical Exposition of Confucius' Work 3. Relevance of Confucius' Work Today."--Bloomsbury Publishing.
