Confucianism: Where and How Does This Faith Perspective Originate?

Where & How Does This Faith Perspective Originate?

Confucianism originated in 500 B.C.E. in China, when the social turmoil of the disintegration of the feudal system was occurring. The religion, often considered more of a philosophy than a religion, is similar to Daoism. However, a difference is Confucianism seeks to embrace and create a system of government. Confucius discovered the injustices of society, which led him to create Confucianism, with the underlying principle that humans are nature good, and because people are cruel and inhumane to each other,

Confucius sought humanity for the world.

Founder & Followers:

Confucianism was founded by one individual, Master Kong (Kongfuzi), otherwise known as Confucius. Confucius was born 551 B.C.E., in China, son of a solider and was raised by his mother, and they lived in deplorable poverty. Although, Confucius grew up very poor, he was raised to love art, literature, and music, and in his teens he pursued a career as an accountant. This jobs instantly enabled him to see the injustices of society, especially when heavy taxation was placed on peasants to support the leisure life style the nobility lived. Confucius had two ideals: he wanted to produce excellent individuals who could be social leaders, and wanted to create a harmonious society. Confucius's followers, which there is a total of 77 disciples that accompanied him for thirteen years, during which Confucius traveled from sate to state, and occurring throughout was many of these years, his enemies tried to kill him. Confucius taught his followers the importance of always welcoming the correction one's faults. Today his teachings continue through literature and oral spe...

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...le is further strengthened by the Buddhist tradition that merit is accumulated by doing merciful acts, which leads to a better next life through reincarnation.

Ritual Formation:

Confucius believed that participation in ritual served to unite people and strengthen the human community. The oldest and most enduring Confucian ritual practice is ancestor worship; the ritualized commemoration of, communication with, and sacrifice to one's deceased relations. Confucianism has been a great patron of the Chinese arts, which created the human being, the junzi, revealing that you do not need to be rich, but be a well-rounded individual who loves history, art, poetry, and music. Calligraphy combines many elements of value, like physical beauty, reveals the nature of the individual who created it, and emphasizes the time and effort put into the art.