Explicit and Implicit Aspects of Confucian Education

This essay provides a philosophical reflection on key elements of pre-modern Confucian learning. The topic is developed by presenting essential elements across the spectrum from explicit, linguistically expressible knowledge to symbolic aspects, as well as the philosophical problem of ineffable knowing. The investigation begins with the general conception of humanity underlying mainstream Confucian learning. Building on this, the more explicit content and explicable subjects or branches of classical Confucian learning are mapped out. This becomes the foundation for reflecting on a more symbolic, second layer of Confucian pedagogy, which leads to the core level of Confucian learning and the problem of ineffability. The present chapter references important classical passages and some ideas of Wang Yangming.