I just finished it a minute ago, so I'll need some time to mull it over and come up with a fully-formed opinion. My initial thoughts are positive- I really like the richness and complexity of the story, and how it continually doubles back on itself and tells itself again, refining as it goes.
I'm struck by how much diversity he envisions in the world- I tend to see culture becoming more homogeneous, and I think it's wonderfully optimistic that people maintain their distinctness in this future.
The ancients who wished to demonstrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things... From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.
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