Jump to content

Yeren (Zhou dynasty)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yeren
Chinese野人
Literal meaningWild People
Country Folk
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinyěrén

The yeren (Chinese: 野人; pinyin: Yé Rén; lit. 'field/rural people') were peasants and commoners under the ancient Zhou dynasty China (11th-3rd centuries BC). Living mostly in underdeveloped rural areas, they were considered uncivil people by the upper class guoren (國人), who regarded themselves as cultured citizens living within the walls of larger urban settlements.

Zilu, one of Confucius's favorite disciples, was considered to be one and the Analects includes a passage giving the yeren primacy over the Zhou in having undergone the influence of "ritual and music".[a][2]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Chinese: 先進於禮樂,野人也。[1]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ "Chapter XI, verse 1". confucius.org.
  2. ^ Eno (2003), p. 30.

Bibliography

[edit]