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Confucianism in ancient China
The influence of confucianism upon the Chinese people
Confucianism in ancient China
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With the deep influence of Confucianism, Chinese regards family very different from the western world. The filial piety is the most fundamental virtue in Confucianism. Growing up, Chinese learns the traditional confucian values in schools and in homes. Chinese respects Confucianism and follows all the rules in Confucianism. Failing to be filial will bring a huge shame to the family. Even more, the Chinese society and government mandatory force adult children to follow the filial piety. Family is the most important unit in the Chinese society. Chinese lives with the whole family; the three-generational cohabitation is the most ideal family pattern in the Chinese society. The grown-up children support and respect their old parents. Children
Chinese parenting is competent at times but there are other times where it is more suitable to follow other forms of parenting such as the Western style.These findings have important consequences for the broader domain of parent-child relationships. Whether it is Chinese parenting or Western parenting the relationship between family members is crucial. According to Amy Chua, Chinese parenting is more effective in helping the child attain a better future through the parents’ interests, while Western parenting style reflects mainly the interests of the child.
I will first begin by summarizing the plot of Family by Pa Chin and the plot of Some Prefer Nettles by Junichiro Tanizaki and summarizing the characters as I go along. I will then explain how the two authors constructed their characters on modernity and tradition and conclude this paper by explaining the themes of the novels and how I would compare the two novels.
In traditional China, people had a strong sense of repayment (ˆó´ð). People who do not have this ability to repay others who have helped them before are usually being looked down on. The sense of repayment is perhaps a product of a good friendship or love. And the boundary of love here in this case, is not only about the love between couples but all different kinds of love also, for instance, the love between family members. Therefore, repayment is in fact tied in with the theme of filial piety. People¡¯s devotion to and their respect for their parents or elders are actually a form of repayment.
The impediments are mainly caused by the educational goals that result in the creation of fear of parents teaching their children more about Chinese traditions than the formal education. The fatherhood aspect gets passed from the father to the son, which translate to rites of passage from one generation to the next generation. A sad story associated with the fatherhood tradition is a drunkard and a drug-addict father seeking forgiveness from his sons to get acceptance back to the family. “The father had been excommunicated from the family and had to undergo therapy sessions to bring back his sanity (Shwalb et al. 162).” The opposite should have happened, and the sons had to seek father 's forgiveness and integrate him back to the family. The sons were not ready, but the aspect of father seeking forgiveness created a sense of togetherness and the importance of family values. “The fatherhood tradition is valuable and meaningful to the family since the lack of a father figure may lead to family disintegration (Lamb 235).”
According to Confucian philosophy, a family that is run well demonstrates that the state is also governed well. Confucianism philosophy was upheld, demonstrating a patriarchal society with a great emphasis on societal class and rigid gender lines, traditions and customs with a heavy emphasis on male heirs to continue the legacy of a family. Comparing Li Ang’s novel, The Butcher’s Wife and Zhang Yimou’s movie, Raise the Red Lantern, Confucian philosophy is clearly represented and shown and the leading female characters battle the oppression forced upon them due to their inability to support themselves. Because Confucian philosophy implies women and daughters are treated as objects instead of human beings, daughters are raised as objects to barter and are never given the chance to learn to gain independence. Without independence, women are forced to depend on their fathers and or their husbands without a choice in whatever matter. Men in a patriarchal society victimize women and oppression of women is largely affected by the socio-economic structure of a male-dominated society. Some say, in order for women to become liberated in a male dominated society, they must gain economic stability. In my opinion, due to the socio-economic settings of many of the works we have read, the female characters do not necessarily need the financial stability to receive their freedom; these women utilize their own mind and bodies to gain power and liberation. The oppression of women can be better explained using Jean-Paul Sartre’s theory of existentialism and Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialist feminism theory.
Filial Piety, a term many Americans may not be familiar with, however the Asian culture is not only aware of, but filial piety is ingrained into Chinese culture. Filial Piety is considered to be the virtue of all virtues. This virtue is the endearing way to respect, remain loyal, care for and treat your parents. With one third of the Chinese culture being elderly, this value, filial piety, has an impact on their culture, especially as these elders near the end of life phase. The article written by Cary Stacy Smith and Li-Chung Hung PD explain different philosophies of the Chinese culture including this obligation and how it is deeply rooted with religious traditions. A question many researchers are asking; as the younger generation becomes more Americanized, will this tradition continue?
Notice of the history of China. This country has improved quickly and every time. And continued prosperity. It's well known that this country is top in the world, and a superpower. With a heritage of practical ideas. The successor to practice for a long time. And keep to be available. By instilling good values and fact to society. It is a tradition, too such as worship the ancestor. Practice and rite ; afterward, look as the same thing. Model in society such as Vikrom Kromaditis a Thai-Chinese famous businessman and writer. He supports to help each other to earn equal, essentially his family. He has brought relatives came to help manage the company together. The gratitude strengthens the family for society and good life. This is a very good thing. We need to practice before society becomes a society of selfishness. Confucius’s teachings advocated ridding society of selfish behaviors. His model of society depended on well educated men who could act with ethical awareness. I agree with his the concept that society. For example, A Confucian saying “if I am walking with two other people, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the best point of the one and imitate them, and the worst point of the other and correct them in myself. ”And “Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.” As an example of the Confucian ideas of value to society. And can applied appropriately. Willing to "respect" the rights of others. I respect you, you respect me. Not only you, not only me but also make it for our life or world. Harmony is important in several reason, basically society, is will be happy together, society will be truly happy. Focus on five relationships are happy together. Family chooses be strong family is happy, society happy, country happy, and the world happy. There are no ethics without religion. As you sow, so you reap. And I believe that if you associate
Not only is he resolute in its importance, but he also extends his claim to mention that it is the chief facet of character as he notes that “Being good as a son and obedient as a young man is, perhaps the root of a man’s character” (Confucius, 59). Moreover, when Meng Yi Tzu asks about being filial, the Master answers, “Never fail to comply” (Confucius, 63). Confucius makes it very clear that the basis of an ideal man’s character is the fulfillment of his duty to his family as he doesn’t weigh any other particular feature higher than he does with filial piety. Once it is established that the duty to the family is the most quintessential element of his ideal society, he further elaborates on what it consists of. According to Confucius, the true essence of filial piety is beyond the life of the family. In order to judge whether a man has fulfilled his duties, Confucius adds the qualification that one must “Observe what a man has in mind to do when his father is living and then observe what he does when his father is dead. If, for three years, he makes no changes to his father’s ways, he can be said to be a good son” (Confucius, 61). In addition to adhering to the father’s ways after his passing, the son is required to “Conduct the funeral of (his) parents with meticulous care and let not sacrifices to your remote ancestors be forgotten” (Confucius, 60). There is a distinct level of familial
Confucianism is a moral and religious system of China. Its origins go back to the Analects, the sayings attributed to Confucius, and to ancient writings, including that of Mencius. Confucius was born a mandarin under the name Kongzi. It was developed around 550 B.C. In its earliest form Confucianism was primarily a system of ethical concepts for the control of society. It saw man as a social creature that is bound to his fellow men by jen, or “humanity.” Jen is expressed through the five relationships—sovereign and subject, parent and child, elder and younger brother, husband and wife, and friend and friend. Of these, the filial relation is most important.
Confucius considered family ties to be the backbone of functioning societies. To continue the path of becoming an exemplary person (junzi) a person family is to model how they are and should be interacting with their communities. A family model is the basis of Chinese communities. In a family the father is at the top thus making the boys of the family most important and the main focus of the parents. That’s made clear when the master states “As a younger brother and son, be filial piety (xiao) at home and deferential (di) in the community; be cautious in what you say and then make good on your word (xin).
Philip J. Ivanhoe. Confucian moral self cultivation. New York : P. Lang, vol. 3, 1993.
Analects, a compilation of Confucius’ teachings, is greatly recognized as a work of utmost importance and influence in the Chinese culture. The book conveys Confucius’ beliefs on a wide variety of topics, including propriety, education, family relations, and government in efforts to enhance social order.
As Confucius' philosophy still remains in the heart of many Chinese people, his images of
Confucianism emphasizes the value of collective group harmony, respect for authority, as well as embracing importance of family, clan and friendship. The basic beliefs are based upon five different relationships: 1) ruler and subject, 2) husband and wife, 3) parents and children, 4) brothers and sisters and 5) friend and friends. Genealogy and social backgrounds are Important and it determines how people treated in society. Age, position in the company, education, and marital status all determine one’s ‘rank’ in society.
For many centuries, Confucianism has been widely revered by the Chinese for its emphasis on morality. Confucius, who lived from 551 to 479 BCE, is different to most philosophers in that he showed no interest questioning his existence, the possibility of a God, or the reality that he seemed to live in; instead he focused on the human relations side of philosophy as it was his belief that people should “give (themselves) earnestly to the duties due to men … (and) keep aloof from (spiritual beings)” (Confucius 195). By negating the metaphysical side of philosophy, he was able to devote himself to mold his disciples into ideal gentleman who were morally righteous, and were able to benefit society. He believed in the importance of individuals who knew their roles in an well-structured society, that was a feudal system. In his opinion, the ideal gentleman should be obedient to his elders, have humanness and be morally righteous. Through his teachings, he was able to reform an entire country; the Chinese found Confucianism to embody practices of humaneness that they could apply in their daily lives through his religion.