CONFUCIANISM

• Confucianism


  Adherents of Confucianism
• Core teaching of Confucianism

  • How to be a "gentleman"
  • Follow the moral way, consisting of the virtues of love, righteousness, wisdom, propriety, and loyalty
  • Becoming a gentleman promotes harmony in society
• Confucianism


  Gives primary attention to human relationship, thus advocating social values and ideals which should serve as the foundation of Chinese society
• Confucianism is considered a religion because its ideas were inspirational, not in the supernatural sense but in the sense of aiming for excellence in one's relationships with others
• For Confucius, what happens in everyday life should not be trivialized but should be considered as the realm of moral and spiritual fulfillment
• Focus on relationships should be emphasized, for it is often taken for granted that these relationships which we encounter everyday should be the easiest to perfect, but in reality they are the hardest to attain
• Confucius stressed the importance of rituals which would lead them back to the ideal society of their ancestors when there was harmony between heaven and earth
• Confucianism has been categorized together with Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Daoism as one of the world's major religions, and has greatly influenced the East Asian political and spiritual life
• The scholar (ru)


  It contains the symbol of a person, as well as the character for need and desire. The foremost need of people is nourishment, then education. When combined, it means "the need of a human being."
• Water


  Considered as the source of life, valued for its significance in the natural world and for sustaining life
• The proliferation of Chinese Classical Thought happened with the reign of the Zhou Dynasty (China's second historical dynasty)
• During the Zhou Period, technological growth led to trading development, which led to remarkable increase in wealth
• Confucius was born


  September 28 551 B.C.E.
• At the age of 15 Confucius set his heart upon learning, thus love of learning became one of the highest virtues of Confucian ethics
• Confucius served in minor government posts and had already gained a reputation as an all-around scholar
• In his 30s Confucius had already started a brilliant teaching career because of his mastery of the arts of ritual, music, archery, chariot- eering, calligraphy, and arithmetic. He was also familiar with classical tradition, particularly in poetry and history
• Confucius is considered as the first person to devote his whole life in learning and teaching for the purpose of social transformation and improvement
• Confucius held several government positions including as arbiter, assistant minister of public works, and minister of justice in the state of Lu
• For 13 years, Confucius wandered from state to state, trying to put his theories to practice
• At the age of 67, Confucius returned home to teach (where he gained more disciples) and to preserve classic traditions by writing and editing
• Confucius died at the age of 73


  479 B.C.E.
• Confucius left about 3,000 followers, who preserved and put his other teachings into writing
• Book of Changes (I-Ching)


  It is believed to had existed in the time of Confucius and is oldest of the classics. It focuses on the predictions following a type of divination called cleromancy wherein six random numbers are picked and arranged under sixty four hexagrams
• Book of History (Shangshu or Book of Documents)

  It is conventionally attributed to Confucius by his early scholars. It is composed of speeches (or prose) of royalty and ministers mainly from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. It also consists of chronological accounts of imperial achievements and rules of government
• Book of Poetry (Book of Songs/Odes/Shijing)

  A collection of 305 songs compiled around 600 B.C.E. which includes four sections of various themes; love, courtship, abandonment, and dances (also includes feast songs and state chants). It was supposedly compiled by Confucius from an repertory of three thousand, and is considered as the oldest existing compilation of Chinese poetry
• Classic Rites (Three Li/Three Rites/San Li)


  A compilation of ceremonial rituals, administration and social forms of the Zhou Dynasty. A complete body of work which includes the Ceremonials (I-Li/Yili), an early manual protocol for the nobility, describing such as occasions like marriage and funerals, sacrifices and even archery competitions. It also includes the Book of Rites (Li-chi/Liji) which is composed of 49 sections of ritual and government guidelines, as well as essays on education, the rites, music, and philosophy. And the Institutes of Chou (Chou-li/Zhou-Li), which is supposedly an ultimate depiction of government offices in the early Zhou Times
• Analects (Lunyu-conversations or sayings)


  Also known as the Analects of Confucius. It is a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries, traditionally believed to be written by Confucius' followers. It is believed to be written during the Warring States Period (475 B.C.E-221 B.C.E.), and finalized during the middle of the Han Dynasty
• Tian (heaven)


  An all encompassing god. It may also refer to that which is beyond human control. Confucius believed that Tian is analogous with moral order but dependent upon human intervention to bring its will into action
• Rectification of Names


  Confucius believed that to return to the Ancient Dao, people must play their assigned roles in society
• Five relationships

  • father-child
  • ruler-subject
  • husband-wife
  • elder brother-younger brother
  • friend-friend
• A country would be well-governed when all the parties performed their parts aright in these five relationships
• The Five Relationships emphasize the upright sense of hierarchy (e.g seniority of age)
• Mengzi


  Believing that all human beings are born with innate goodness which, on one hand, can be cultivated through proper education and self-discipline (li); or be thrown away through neglect and bad influence
• Xunzi


  Believed that human nature is basically evil but can be improved through self-cultivation
• Five Constants (Five Classical Virtues, or Wuchang)

  • Ren (benevolence)
  • Yi (righteousness)
  • Li (propriety)
  • Zhi (knowledge/wisdom)
  • Xin (fidelity)
• Ren (benevolence)


  Can be achieved by returning to li, or the traditional Chinese rituals. It means following the social hierarchy patterned after family relationships. Ren can also be achieved by extending one's filial love for parents and siblings to fellow human beings. It can also be achieved by avoiding envy or harm
• Yi (righteousness)


  Can be achieved by having the moral disposition to do good, which can only be possible after recognizing what is right and good (what is the right thing to do)
• Li (propriety)


  Considered as the concrete guide to human action and social order, can be achieved by following the guide to human relationships
• Zhi (knowledge/wisdom)


  Can be achieved by knowing what is right and what is wrong, which is innate in people who are basically good according to Mencius
• Xin (fidelity)


  Can be achieved by keeping one's word and being faithful, for Kung Fuzi believed that only people who are faithful can be entrusted with important tasks