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Confucius

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”. “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”. Confucius. “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.”. “Never hesitate to ask a lesser person.”. “Silence is the true friend that never betrays”.

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Confucius

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  1. “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Confucius “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.” “Never hesitate to ask a lesser person.” “Silence is the true friend that never betrays” “If one learns from others but not does not think, one will be bewildered. If one thinks but does not learn, one will be in peril.” Confucius (551-479 B.C.)

  2. Background • Confucius lived during the Chou Dynasty (1100 B.C. to 256 B.C.). At this time, the land was divided among feudal lords. The moral and social order was in a state of decay. Confucius sought a way to restore the cultural-political order. • He believed that reform would come through educating the leaders in the classics and in his philosophy. • He sought a political position of influence, from which he could implement his principles.

  3. Confucianism and Ethical Code • Confucianism, as its founder taught, is not a religion in the traditional sense. • It is an ethical code. Chinese culture was steeped in the religion of animism, a belief that gods and spirits dwell in natural formations. Along with an animistic world view, there was a belief in ancestor worship. • The spirits of the dead needed to be honored and cared for by the living family members

  4. Outlook • Confucius looked back to the golden age of the Zhou dynasty, when he believed rulers were benevolent and people lived harmoniously in society. • According to Confucius, an individual was born with a moral nature. Evil was the result of bad things to which a person was exposed.

  5. The Ideal Human • Cultured gentleman who knew proper behavior • The gentleman developed the five virtues of humanity: benevolence (jen), righteousness (yi), proper conduct (li), wisdom (zhi), and trustworthiness (xin). • A moral ruler who practiced those virtues would encourage that same development among his people.

  6. Mandate of Heaven • Confucius occasionally mentions the "Mandate of Heaven." He appears to interpret this to mean the natural law or moral order within things. • Men must seek to live within this order. One must be careful not to violate the will of heaven. • Confucius wrote, "He who put himself in the wrong with Heaven has no means of expiation left." (Analects 3:13)

  7. Zhougong The Mandate Of Heaven The Duke of Zhou may also have developed the philosophy of the mandate of heaven, which justified the legitimacy of Zhou rule. The philosophy stated that heaven gave a mandate, or authority to rule, to a worthy ruler. In order to remain worthy and keep that mandate, kings had to be virtuous and have concern for the welfare of the people.

  8. Mandate continued • If, according to Confucius, the emperor lost the mandate of heaven because of disobeying the moral code he should be removed. If a group of people tried to overthrow the emperor and was successful then he had “lost the mandate” but if he survived then he must have not lost it.

  9. ? • What would this have done to the attitude and perhaps the rule of the emperors in China? • What do you know about the first emperor of China and his attitude toward scholars? • For a society to function, what key characteristics would your society have to prosper?

  10. Principles of Confucius’ teachings • Three key principles are emphasized in Confucius' teachings: the principles of Li, Jen, and Chun-Tzu • The term Li has several meanings, often translated as propriety, reverence, courtesy, ritual or the ideal standard of conduct. • It is what Confucius believed to be the ideal standard of religious, moral, and social conduct. • One must express respect for their superiors

  11. The second key concept is the Principle of Jen. It is the fundamental virtue of Confucian teaching. • Jen is the virtue of goodness and benevolence. It is expressed through recognition of value and concern for others, no matter their rank or class. • In the Analects, Confucius summarizes the principle of Jen in this statement, often called The Silver Rule: "Do not do to others what you would not like them to do to you." (Analects 15:23) • Li provides the structure for social interaction. Jen makes it a moral system.

  12. Chun-Tzu • The third important concept is Chun-Tzu, the idea of the true gentleman. • It is the man who lives according to the highest ethical standards. The gentleman displays five virtues: self-respect, generosity, sincerity, persistence, and benevolence. • His relationships are described as the following: as a son, he is always loyal; as a father, he is just and kind; as an official, he is loyal and faithful; as a husband, he is righteous and just; and as a friend, he is faithful and honest.

  13. Relationships • Let us stop here a moment and think. What is your interpretation of how each relationship listed below should treat each other: • Father to Son • Husband to Wife • Older to Young • Ruler to Subject • Friend to Friend One of the basic human needs is the ability to communicate and establish a relationship with another person. Relationships can be very complicated. For example do all people see love the same? Do all societies agree how man should treat women and the other way around?

  14. Relationships • Central to Confucius' teaching are relationships and social roles. There are five great relationships: • Kindness in the father and obedient devotion in the son • Righteous behavior in the husband and obedience in the wife • Humane consideration in elders and deference in juniorsGentility in the eldest brother and humility and respect in the younger • Benevolence in rulers and loyalty of ministers and subjects • Loyalty and sincerity among friends • If these attitudes are practiced there will be harmony among all.

  15. Question?????? • So what do you think of these relationships? • How necessary are they in maintaining a functional and stable society? • How do they relate to what you read about the Chinese family? • Is it similar to the Korean family?

  16. ? • How would these relationships impact the Asian societies of China, Japan and Korea? • What aspects of Asian society still have aspects of the five relationships?

  17. The Analects The single most important Confucian work. In Chinese, it means “conversation.” Focus on practicalities of interpersonal relationships and the relationship of the role of rulers and ministers to the conduct of government.

  18. Sayings from The Analects Knowing what he knows and knowing what he doesn’t know, is characteristics of the person who knows. Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake. The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others. To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.

  19. Stones Engraved with Confucius' Life Stories

  20. Confucius' Tomb

  21. Tea is poured during a Confucian ceremony in front of ancestral tombs in Kyongju, South Korea Religion or Philosophy?

  22. Mencius • 372 - 289 B.C.E. • Disciple of Confucius. • Starts off with the assumption that “people are basically good.” • Emphasis on benevolence • If someone does something bad, education, not punishment, is the answer. • Good people will mend their ways in accordance to their inherent goodness.

  23. A ruler who’s conduct leads to his subjects’ self-seeking behavior should be deposed • “

  24. Social Cohesion is Paramount! The emperor is the example of proper behavior Social relationships are based on “rites” or “rituals.” Even religious rituals are important for SOCIAL, not religious reasons, according to Confucius.

  25. ? • In your opinion what should be the role of government? How should members of a government be decided upon? • What is the “Mandate of Heaven?”

  26. Sources • http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~vsdb/confucius.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~vsdb/photos.html&h=418&w=310&sz=31&hl=en&start=13&tbnid=CkAMwwSIwAXBDM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3DConfucius%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3DGGLJ,GGLJ:2006-34,GGLJ:en%26sa%3DN • http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/confucius.html • S.M. Pojer, Horace Greenly High School • J Spivey KIS • "Confucius." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. 2009. ABC-CLIO. 10 Feb. 2009 http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com • "Zhou Dynasty (Overview)." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. 2009. ABC-CLIO. 10 Feb. 2009 <http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com>.

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