Tao Te Ching
Fayan 法言, Exemplary Figures or Model Sayings
By Yang Xiong
Fayan 法言, Exemplary Figures or Model Sayings (c. 9 CE) by Yang Xiong
Dialogs, aphorisms, and words of wisdom written in a style modeled on Confucius’ Analects. A long series of questions and answers, it discusses politics, literature, philosophy, ethics, and many other topics with a Confucian point of view. It encourages a process of self-cultivation that goes beyond imitation and only understanding the words of wisdom rather than the sense. To break the golden chains of belief and dogmatism, Yang Xiong uses paradox, non-sequiturs, and ambiguities. He broke from the main literary style of his time that mainly eulogized leaders and tried to bring meaningfulness to the people so that “farmers do not cease their harrowing, nor weavers leave their looms.”
Quotes from Fayan 法言, Exemplary Figures or Model Sayings
“After a long period of disuse, the spark of life dries up and vision collapses—a person can only feel their way around like a blind person using a staff.”
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“Cultivating ourselves is like a bow, straightening our thoughts like arrow.”
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“If our deeds don’t influence others, we should look into ourselves and cultivate a greater goodness.”
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“If someone admires the great but does not emulate them, they are anything but great.”
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“One may rely on strategy and deception to impress but these can hardly compare with an impression made without these.”
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“Politicians and generals who treat people like animals to be driven and sacrificed are the ultimate expression of man’s inhumanity to man.”
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“Speech is the heart’s sounds and writing it’s images but ‘Speech cannot fully express what is in the heart, nor can writing fully express speech’ — only sages understand the true meanings.”
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“Why rely on forms and titles? These are like games, stunts and tricks—entertaining but unimportant and meaningless.”
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