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A brief introduction to Confucianism
A brief introduction to Confucianism
A short history of confucianism
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Mencius (Mengzi) and Xunzi were two great early architects of Confucianism. Confucianism is the term used to describe the group of religious traditions that are based on the teachings of Confucius (also known as Kong Qui or K’ung Fu-tzu), a Chinese intellectual who was born in approximately 551 BCE. Little is known of Confucius’ early life. According to Records of the Historian, written by Ssu-ma Chi’en, he was born into a royal family of the Chou Dynasty. Other accounts describe him as being born into poverty. What is undisputed about Confucius’ life is that he lived during a time of ideological crisis in China. As a young man, he lived as an aesthetic and studied ancient ceremonial rites and imperial institutions. When he eventually returned For Mengzi, man’s nature is good because he received it from heaven at birth. He believed heaven (Tian) to be made up of an all-encompassing ethical power, therefore, it is inevitable that man’s nature would be innately good. For Xunzi, heaven embodies no ethical principle and is merely a name for the functioning activities of the universe. Therefore, morality is man-made and has no metaphysical explanation. Further, he believed these activities were imitating nature and almost mechanical. Xunzi said human nature is evil or uncivilized and its goodness derives from conscious activity. So is it possible for humans to create higher values of civilization? In the essay “A Discussion of Ritual,” Xunzi answers this question and explains the concept at the foundation of his entire philosophy. He writes that man differs from other creatures in one important respect – he has instinctual motivations and possesses an intelligence that enables him to form cooperative social organizations. The Li or the order, rites, rules of decorum established the “Way” of Confucianism, which is the governing morals of the people. The Li are the basics out of which Xunzi builds the ideal
Where will America be in a few thousand years; will we retain our current culture or continue to grow, thrive, and adapt to our surroundings? While these are important questions for our country’s future, many of the answers can already be found in one of the oldest civilizations on the planet, China. Chinese culture has been formed and reformed many times throughout its expansive history, and with changes in rule and structure, there have also been changes in philosophy and culture. Confucius emerged as a prominent figure in Chinese philosophy and managed to grow in popularity through time with his famous teachings, including those in his Analects. The philosophies of Daoism emerged later through many writings including the prominent Daodejing, written by philosopher Laozi. Although Confucius’ Analects and Laozi’s the Daodejing have both influenced Chinese culture, their primary goals for society differ in many ways.
...ut more importantly Mencius' core conception that human nature is also aware of its actions, and considers the well-being of others and that people are morally obligated to do so is also key to attaining our full potential. This conception of human nature and proper order together is what has shaped East Asian political and social thought for centuries. It is credited with creating an East Asia that is economically robust, and socially coherent and once again will be the center of human society in the decades to come. And contrary to popular Western belief, East Asian political thought does appreciate the necessity of the individual in defining society. In fact the only way to attain our human nature is to healthily self-cultivate ourselves morally and materially so we can reach our highest potential and in that way be a valued and contributing member to society.
Confucianism is a philosophy and way of life formed in China by Confucius, an early Chinese philosopher. It began as a simple concept with ideals of personal virtue, simple filial piety, and basic gender distinctions and social inequalities. But, over time with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism it began to transform into a way of life that was degrading towards women with certain hostilities towards rivaling religions. In its early period, from around 500 B.C.E to the Common Era, Confucianism changed in that it became the leading belief system and a major part of Chinese tradition. From the transition into the Common Era to the end of the Classical time period, Confucianism was altered because of a loss of popularity following the collapse of the Han dynasty and the corruption in the governing political system. In its ending period, the post-classical era, Confucianism underwent perhaps its biggest adjustments with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism. The ideas and virtues presented in the “rebirth of Confucian philosophies” of intolerance of foreign religions and extreme filial piety...
Confucius was one of the first men to have different ideas on how rulers should go about their ruling of people during the Zhou Dynasty. “Its career as a prominent tradition in China began with its adoption by the Han dynasty, and virtually every East Asian regime of the past thousand years or more has endorsed Confucianism as its official ideology.” Confucius believed that rulers should rule in a manner that is beneficial to the people being governed and in a way that is morally right and traditionally acceptable (for the time). Confucius spent most of his time with a group of followers, in search of a ruler who would follow his teaching and take his advice. (web.cn.edu)(patheos.org 1)
Confucius was born in 551 BC, in what was then the fudal state of Lu, now included in the modern providence of Shang-tsung. His parents were not wealthy but still belonged to the “superior” class because his father was a warrior. Confucius was still a boy when his father died. From childhood the showed a great aptitude for study. In order to support himself and his mother, he had to labor in his early years as a hired servant for a noble family. His ability and faithful service earned him a promotion to the office of minister of justice. Under his administration the state attained to a degree of prosperity and moral order the people haven’t seen before. After he resigned he was accompanied by faithful disciples and went about from one state to another seeking a ruler who would agree to put his political doctrine into practice.
Confucianism started off as a one man show, trying to make a difference in politics and in general, teaching people about morals and good human conduct. As history progressed, through changes of dynasties and different emperors, many new and different feelings about Confucianism emerged. But Confucius never changed what he believed in, no matter how many times his beliefs were rejected. He fought for what he new was right, and in the end didn’t achieve what he wanted to. But to everyone else, he was a brave man, a man who never gave up and a man whose legend is worth remembering.
The teachings according to Confucius refer to Confucianism. Confucianism is the multifarious classification of ethical, collective, political and pious philosophy developed by Confucius and the old Chinese practices (Bertrand, 1999). Confucianism aim is actually making an individual honorable but also making such an individual the character of learning and of proper manners. The ideal and faultless man has to combine the characters of a saint, an intellectual and gentleman. Confucianism is a religious conviction whose adulation is focused on offerings to the dead. The idea of responsibility is extensive beyond the precincts of morals and holds close to the minutiae of daily living.
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.
Confucianism is a religious philosophy formed by the Chinese philosopher Kung-fu-Tsu. This philosophy came out of need during the warring states period of Chinese history. K'ung-fu-Tsu was a teacher at the hundred schools. His prime concern was the improvement of society. Confucianism has no gods, and the only written history of this religion is in the Analects, a collection of his responses to his disciple's questions. K'ung-fu-Tsu believed that the improvement of society was the responsibility of the ruler and that the quality of government depended on the ruler's moral character. This new way meant concern for others and adherance to the golden rule. Confucianism has had a greater and longer lasting influence on China than that of any other religious philosophy.
Confucianism is currently known as being one of the most famous practices of religion, dating all the way back to 551 B.C.E. Confucius was the founder who followed the Chinese people for more than two millennia. Confucius also had political views about education, and how they reflected his teachings during present modern day. These religious aspects of culture showed value and meaning to Asia and around the world. Due to modern Chinese society, Confucianism had a strong and positive impact during the past and present, due to the substances of learning and education, the source of values and political powers, and the social code of the Chinese that relates with other forms of religion.
The concept of Confucianism has contributed immensely in the forming of Chinese character, behaviour and the way to live, with its main purpose being to achieve harmony which is considered the greatest social value. Confucianism firmly highlights the impression of mercy, social order and fulfilment of responsibilities. The effects of Confucianism had impacted both China and Japan to the extent that the changes are still noticeable to this day.
The literary works by Confucius, who was a teacher, politician, philosopher, and a social reformer helped developing Confucianism, often regarded as a religion. Confucianism is often believed as a system of social and ethical philosophy. When Confucius was born, the Chinese central government had lost power and there were numerous warring states. The violence, social instability, and cruel governance were some of the reasons why Confucius chose to be a teacher and a social reformer. His influence is greatly felt in China, Japan, and other parts of the world. His teachings were accepted as state dogma. The books he edited, namely the books of Changes, Poetry, History, and Rites, and the one he compiled, the Spring and Autumn are used as study material in both private and public schools in China. These subjects were also studied for civil service examination (Wu-Chi). His
Confucius is described, by Sima Qian and other sources, as having endured a poverty-stricken and humiliating youth and been forced, upon reaching manhood, to undertake such petty jobs as accounting and caring for livestock. Confucius surname Kong (which means literally an utterance of thankfulness when prayers have been answered), his tabooed given name Qiu, and his social name Zhongni, all appear connected to the miraculous circumstances of his birth. We do not know how Confucius himself was educated, but tradition has it that he studied ritual with the Daoist Master Lao Dan, music with Chang Hong, and the lute with Music-master Xiang. At the age of fifty, when Duke Ding of Lu was on the throne, Confucius' talents were recognized and he was appointed Minister of Public Works and then Minister of Crime. But Confucius apparently offended members of the Lu nobility who were with Duke Ding for power and he was subsequently forced to leave office and go into exile. In any case, by most traditional accounts, Confucius returned to Lu in 484 BCE and spent the remainder of his life teaching,...
...society: a "balance between nature and human kind"; a way of behaving with kindness, charity, honesty, and faithfulness. Confucius also thought that in order to solve society's problems, you must first start with yourself. These virtues are as important today as they were twenty-five hundred years ago when Confucius discussed them with his disciple. Whether seen as a religion or a philosophy, Confucianism still keeps its moral strength.
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.