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confucius kung fu-tzu 551-479 bc

The History of Chinese Philosophy. The Classical Age (6th century BC-2d century AD)Confucianism (Confucius, 551-479 BC)Daoism (Lao Tzu, 6th century BC)Mohism (Mo Tzu, 468-376 BC)The Yin-Yang School (founder unknown)The School of Names (Logic) (Hui Shih, c. 380-305 BC)Legalism (Han Fei Tzu, d. 23 BC)The Medieval Age (2d-10th centuries BC): relations

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confucius kung fu-tzu 551-479 bc

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    1. Confucius (Kung Fu-Tzu)*(551-479 BC) & Confucianism

    3. Topics included in the reading: The Chun-Tzu (the Confucian hero) (1-3) Virtue (jen, ren) (3-5) Propriety (li) (5-7), including filial piety (5-6) & religious propriety (6-7) The Silver Rule (central ethical principle) (7) The importance of studying & learning (7-8) Words & actions (8-9) “Three Things” (9) Government (9-11) The Dao (11-12) Miscellaneous teachings (12-13) Descriptions of Confucius (13-14)

    4. Confucius claimed to derive his teachings from “the Ancients,” whose wisdom is embodied in “The Five Classics” (Wu Jing) The I Jing (“Book of Changes”) The Shu Jing (“Book of History”) The Shih Jing (“Book of Odes” [poetry]) The Li Ji (“Book of Rites”) The Ch’un-ch’iu (“Spring & Autumn Annals”)

    5. The further expression of Confucian philosophy Analects (Lun-Yu) The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong) The Great Learning (Ta-hsueh) The Book of Meng-Tzu

    8. Chronology of Chinese History c. 6000 BC: Prehistory (belief in life after death; bone divination) - legendary Hsia Dynasty (c. 1994-1500 BC) c. 1500-1040 BC: Shang Dynasty (polytheism; spiritism; ancestor veneration; bone & shell divination) 1040-256 BC: Zhou (Chou) Dynasty (feudal era & classical age; rise of Shang-Ti & “Mandate of Heaven;” ancestor veneration & divination practices; continued belief in spiritism; interest in life-prolongation & immortality; 8th-5th centuries BC - period of disorder; emergence of classical Chinese philosophies: Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism, etc.) - Era of Warring States (475-221 BC) 221-207 BC: Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty (“The Burning of the Books” in 213 BC) - Legalism enthroned; Confucianism attacked

    9. Chronology, continued 206 BC-25 AD: Former Han Dynasty (beginnings of official state Confucianism) 25-220 AD: Later Han Dynasty (rise of Chinese Empire; imperial state religion; Confucianism established as the official philosophy of the Chinese state; the coming of Buddhism) 220-280 AD: The Three Kingdoms - Wei (220-266); Shu (221-263); Wu (222-280) (decline of Confucianism; rise of Daoism & Buddhism) 266-316 AD: Jin (Chin) Dynasty 316-589 AD: Era of North- South Division - 16 Northern Kingdoms (301-439); 5 Southern Kingdoms (317-589) (rise of Daoist religion; continued spread of Buddhism) 581-618 AD: Sui Dynasty 618-907 AD: Tang Dynasty (high point for Buddhism & Daoism; 9th century Confucian reaction against Buddhism)

    10. Chronology, continued 907-960 AD: Five Northern Dynasties; Ten Southern Kingdoms 960-1127 AD: Northern Sung (Song) Dynasty 1127-1279 AD: Southern Sung (Song) Dynasty 1264-1368 AD: Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty (established by Kublai Khan) (development of popular religious sects) 1368-1644 AD: Ming Dynasty(Mongols out, Chinese emperors in; Confucianism reestablished; Roman Catholicism arrives)

    11. Chronology, continued 1644-1911 AD: Qing (Ch’ing) (Manchu) Dynasty - peak of Confucian (bureaucratic) authority; increasing influence of the West 1911-1912 AD: Chinese Revolution Republic of China (1912-1949 [mainland]; 1945-present [Taiwan]) People’s Republic of China (Communism) (1949-present)

    12. Major figures in Confucian philosophy Classical Confucianism Confucius (551-479 BC) Mencius (372-289 BC) Xun-zi (Hsun Tzu) (active, 298-238 BC) Han Dynasty Dong Zhong-shu (179-104 BC) Yang Hsiung (53 BC-18 AD) Wang Chong (27-100 AD) Neo-Confucianism Tang Dynasty - Han Yu (767-824 AD) Sung Dynasty - Cheng Hao (1032-1085); Cheng Yi (1033-1108); Zhu Xi (Chu Hsi) (1130-1200) Ming Dynasty - Wang Yang-ming (1473-1529) Ch’ing Dynasty - Tai Chen (1723-1777) 20th century: Hsiung Shih- li (1885-1968); Fung Yu- lan (1895-1990); & others

    13. Central concepts in Confucian thought Dao (“Way”) - the Ultimate; the One; the Absolute; the underlying Power; the Source (see Text, pp. 11-12) Yin/Yang - the dual expression of Dao; neither is superior to the other (see next slide) The Plural World - the universe; Heaven & Earth; an ever-changing expression & blend of Yin & Yang

    14. Yin & Yang

    15. "A basic difference between the Chinese conception of yin and yang and other classical philosophical dualisms…is that whereas most dualisms are forever in conflict, yin and yang always act in harmony, and both are considered to be necessary to maintain the order of the universe." (Bilhartz 262)

    16. Theology Shang-Ti (God), the original ancestor (after the 11th century BC) Heaven (Tian, T’ien) - the divine realm (Human beings who have died live on with Shang-Ti as ancestors (ti) in Heaven.) Continuity & interchange between Heaven (the divine realm) and Earth (the human realm), i.e., between the ancestors & those living on Earth.

    17. Before the arrival of Buddhism in China, it seems that Chinese religions did not contain a well- developed idea of an afterlife. The souls of those who had lived in accord with the “Mandate of Heaven” (will of Shang-Ti) would become ancestors in Heaven; whereas the souls of those who had not followed Heaven’s decree would, after death, continue to live on for a time in a dark underworld area (called “the Yellow Springs”) & then fade away into nothingness. The idea of multiple levels of hell entered Chinese religion through Buddhism, which arrived in China in the 1st century AD. The religious Daoists accepted this idea (but modified it in various ways). Apparently, the Confucianists continued to show little interest in this subject.

    18. Is Hell temporary or permanent? In Buddhism, it is temporary. Confucianism has no clear answer to this question (because the Confucianists refuse to speculate on these matters). What is the Daoist view? (To be continued?)

    19. Anthropology(Human Nature & the Human Predicament) Human nature: naturally & inherently good - need for cultivation via education naturally social & political - development & perfection of human nature within the social & political realm The human predicament: suffering as a result of failure to follow the “Way of the Ancestors” Disharmony & conflict between Heaven & Earth, between the ancestors & us; and between humans here on earth Solution of problem of suffering: reestablish harmony

    20. Confucius’s primary goal: order, harmony, peace, & happiness in this life here on earth

    21. Axiology(Theory of Value) Philosophy of art (aesthetics) - the moral & political purposes of art (especially music) Moral philosophy (ethics) - the center of Confucian philosophy (see next slide) Social & political philosophy (theory of government) - the need for morally & intellectually virtuous rulers & civil servants

    22. Central themes in Confucianethical theory: The Chun-Tzu - the ideal of the Superior (self-actualized, virtuous, perfected) Person (Text, pp. 1-3) The Chun-Tzu is an exemplification of ideal virtue, of Yi, of Ren, of Li, and of Hsiao – see following slides….

    23. Yi - righteousness, just and appropriate conduct According to Confucianists, there is an objective, absolute, and unconditional moral obligation on all of us to work for universal human well-being, the common good, the general welfare (which will include one's own true good): Objective = not subjective; not relative; the obligation is independent of culturally and individually variable states of opinion, preference, feeling, or response. Absolute = it extends throughout the whole sphere of moral obligation and cannot be suspended or overruled by any more basic or ultimate moral principle with a wider range of applicability. Unconditional = this obligation does not depend on the fulfillment or non- fulfillment of any particular set of facts or circumstances which may or may not happen to occur - facts, for example, about our desires, aspirations, or goals in acting one way rather than another.

    24. Li - Propriety (proper conduct) The Rectification of Names (Zheng-ming) (proper use of language) (Text, vv. 8, 9, 10, 11, 109-113, 129, 160) The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhongyong) (Text, vv. 132, 155, 156) The Five Constant Relationships: parent-child husband-wife elder sibling-younger sibling elder friend-younger friend ruler-subject

    25. Filial Piety (Xiao, Hsiao)(devotion to & reverence for parents & family) The institution of the family is the foundation of a well-ordered & civilized society (grounded mainly on respect of children for parents) Respect for age (experience & wisdom)

    26. Religious Propriety proper practice of traditional rites (worship of God, ancestors, Heaven, Earth, spirits; funeral services & sacrifices in honor of parents)

    27. Wen(learning & the arts) The importance of culture in the creation & maintenance of a well-ordered society Studying & learning (Text, pp. 7-8) The arts - especially music (Text, vv. 99)

    28. Confucius’s Political Philosophy Te - the union of power & virtue The characteristics of a good ruler (or civil servant): moral goodness (virtue & propriety) rationality moderation benevolence

    29. Does Confucius have a theory of knowledge (an epistemology)?

    30. The End(for now)

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