Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa ›› 2015, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (4): 89-93.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki./000-5560.2015.04.013

• Educational History(教育史) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Curriculum Design Based on Child and Adult: Analysis of the Textbooks of the Analects of Confucius

CHEN Xiang-Long   

  1. Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
  • Online:2015-12-20 Published:2016-01-26
  • Contact: CHEN Xiang-Long
  • About author:CHEN Xiang-Long

Abstract: From the Classics to Confucian Classics textbook and to the modern textbook, the Analects of Confucius has developed in accordance with the characteristics of traditional education. In the pre-Qin period, the Analects of Confuciuswas mainly taught in the Confucian school in the form of the “words and deeds”. During the Han Dynasty, Five Classic education sprung up, and the Analects of Confucius was adopted as a supplementary course of the Five Classics education, mainly for boys. During the Song Dynasty, “the Analects of Confucius” became a required course in the Four Books education. The imperial examination attached great importance tothe Analects of Confucius, which became an important part of adults learning. The Republic of China witnessed the abolition of Confucian Classics reading in primary and secondary schools, hence the Analects of Confucius developed away from boys’ learning and was introduced as subject matters. In the inheriting process of the Analects of Confucius, a curriculum designed suitable for either boys or adults was gradually constructed, which reflects the evolution of the traditional school curriculum and textbooks.