Scripture, Canon And Commentary

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In this significant work on Chinese classics and comparative religion, John Henderson explores the history of exegesis to reveal universal mental patterns relevant to intellectual history. He connects the Confucian commentarial tradition with other key exegetical traditions, including the Homeric, Vedanta, rabbinic Judaism, ancient and medieval Christian biblical exegesis, and Qur'anic exegesis. By making these comparisons, he examines shared assumptions across these traditions, such as the belief that classics or scriptures encompass comprehensive knowledge or truth, and analyzes the strategies used to uphold these views. The differences among commentarial traditions stem from varying emphases on these assumptions and strategies. Henderson illustrates that exegetical thought significantly influenced the post-classical and premodern intellectual landscape, with some modes persisting or re-emerging in modern ideologies like Marxism. Written in an engaging style, this work serves as both a challenging interpretation of comparative scriptural traditions and an excellent introduction to the study of Confucian classics. Originally published in 1991, it is now available through the Princeton Legacy Library, which aims to enhance access to important scholarly works published by Princeton University Press since 1905.