MEDIATHEK

For a long time I hesitated writing an Opera about Confucius. Such a mysterious, profound personage; the very life-blood of Chinese culture pumped through his veins, whose spirit was great indeed. Naturally when I went to start writing this a play about him, I couldn’t even put pen to paper as I felt so anxious. When I read “The Confucian Analects” and “The Book of Songs” for a second time I began to discover that Confucius, like all of us, was made of flesh and blood, and that he shared the same feelings that all people have. Confucius was not born a saint, rather it was by means of the ordeals he endured, the fact that through it all he always kept the interests of the people in his heart, that he worked tirelessly to improve his character and mind and that he held steadfastly to his beliefs. There were times of stress and hardship but only by enduring these was he able to reach sainthood. When a country has order, prosperity will follow. Without order we have no choice but to leave. In his own life, Confucius failed as an official as he never received the respect he needed from the kings who employed him. In the end, he spent the very last of his life force painstakingly writing his final works. It has been said that: “Even half of the Analects of Confucius alone could govern a country well.” and that “ “Spring and Autumn”(another great work of Confucius’) inspires fear in the hearts of any corrupt court official.” His works are brilliant ideologically and posses never ending charm. From this standpoint he was a truly successful man! Confucius ideas are gospel truth, great but modesty, rich but gentle. Let’s listen to some of his chant.