In the Book of Ode 《诗经》, Confucius claimed that “The former
kings are not forgotten because of the great virtue they owned when they led
their states. Jefferson drew from the
example of Prince Wei in his determination to create a prosperous republican
state and preserve his personal legacy. Jefferson believed that a leader should
be prepared for meeting demanding, public spirited and morally attuned task. He
also believed his own political, moral, and personal values were important to
American history. He collected documents, books, newspapers, and other
materials so that later historians could reconstruct an accurate representation
of his role in The American Revolution.
From the content of the Chinese poem, it is reasonable to
say that Jefferson’s inclusion of this specific Chinese poem reveals his
admiration of Confucian ideals and his aim to make himself a leader like Prince
Wei, which Confucius recommended.
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