The Canonization of Ancient Hebrew and Confucian Literature

Recent humanistic scholarship regards canonization as a common anthropological phenomenon. Comparing religious canons gives insight on their various canonization processes and functions. Apparently, concepts commonly applied in biblical studies are anachronistic, reflecting notions of canonicity bro...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Stordalen, Terje 1958- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage 2007
In: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2007, Volume: 32, Issue: 1, Pages: 3-22
Further subjects:B Comparative Religious Studies
B Hebrew Bible
B Confucian classics
B Canonization
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Parallel Edition:Electronic
Description
Summary:Recent humanistic scholarship regards canonization as a common anthropological phenomenon. Comparing religious canons gives insight on their various canonization processes and functions. Apparently, concepts commonly applied in biblical studies are anachronistic, reflecting notions of canonicity brought about by Islamic Scripture as well as by European mass printing technology. Philip Davies in his Scribes and Schools considered ancient Hebrew canonization in its technological, cultural and social framework, and identified the scribal class as a primary focus for the study of biblical canonization. This article argues that there were similarities between the canonization of ancient Hebrew and Confucian literature. The two occurred under comparable technological and cultural conditions. Using implications from Confucian canonization, this essay attempts to evaluate certain models in Scribes and Schools, in particular Davies' view of a `top-down' canonizing process. The Confucian material hints that Hebrew canonization had rather more of a two-way movement of influence.
ISSN:1476-6728
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0309089207083763