ABSTRACT
Confucianism as described by Cheng would not be employed by an American Indian. It is possible, however, that problems with translation play some part in making the languages diverge from what is otherwise a remarkable congruence. The fact that American Indians tend to tribalize the imperative of finding one's way to be 'fully human' into finding one's way to be 'fully Choctaw' or 'fully Dine' may be something of a practical strength. Since American Indians recognize such an imperative for each tribe, most differences between nations do not arouse consternation but rather interest and respect. The appeal to the notion of 'self-love' as the beginning of an explanation of people's responsibilities as humans towards the rest of existence is not one that would come naturally to a Native American. The complexities of Confucianism are many, and its close study might well take a lifetime.
