ConfucianismComparative Religions

The First Teacher

Confucius◦Kung Fu-tzu◦Kung the Master

Born around 551 BCE in the Shantung province

Raised by a single motherBecame a tutor in his early 20sGoal was to hold public office in Chinese

Government

At 50 years old, he began a 13 year journey from state to state spouting his beliefs/wisdom

Faithful disciples followed him on this journey

Eventually was invited to return home.Spent the last five years of his life editing

the Chinese classicsDied in 479 BCE at 73 years old.

Confucius taught using the Socratic method◦Conversed with his students regarding

problems they posed in the conversations◦Cite different readings◦Ask rhetorical questions

He presented himself to his students, not as their leader, but as a fellow learner

Mission of his students◦Revitalize society

His teaching◦Passion for learning made him a zealot◦Humor kept him from being a fanatic

His preferences◦Preferred integrity over power and wealth

May not have held a government office while alive, but has ended up the man who has influenced Chinese gov’t more than anyone else.

The Problem Confucius Faced

Social Anarchy◦Confucius lived during the time in China that is

known as the Period of the Warring States The Chou Dynasty was dead Chivalry was dead

◦To keep society from destroying itself, Confucius knew he needed to reinvent tradition

Two important points of Tradition:◦1. The degree to which tradition can rule a

society is amazing!◦2. Tradition influences society spontaneously.

Confucius’s contemporaries were guided by◦Self-conscious self-interest instead of group-

conscious social expectationsSo, how did he re-invent Tradition?????

Rival Answers

Enlightenment says educate peopleRealists say “hit ‘em to make ‘em behave”Mo Ti, a Chinese philosopher, said “don’t

use force, use LOVE” (a hippie way before his time)

Which would Confucius choose??????

Confucius’s Answer

Confucius chose tradition.◦He longed for the peaceful times of the Chou

Dynasty.◦He began to deliberately use tradition because the

people of his day had lost respect for the courtesies that spontaneous tradition should have been causing.

He met two conditions of re-vitalizing tradition to set the stage for its acceptance◦He made it continuous with the past by tying it with

what was already familiar◦He realized what wasn’t working and needed

changing in the old way

Confucius had to decide how tradition would serve society◦Make moral ideas a part of every aspect of

society Temples, theaters, homes, toys, proverbs, schools,

history, stories, etc.◦He used his anecdotes to fit this pattern.

His students recorded these in the Analects

The Content of Deliberate Tradition

Confucius used five ideals to make tradition deliberate◦1. Jen◦2. Chun Tzu◦3. Li◦4. Te◦5. Wen

Jen◦The ideal relationship between people

Courtesy Unselfishness Empathy

Chun Tzu◦Humanity at its best – Jen has been reached by

everyone

Li◦ The way things should be done

Rectification of Names – social roles should be defined Doctrine of the Mean – nothing in excess Five Constant Relationships

◦ Parent and child◦ Husband and wife◦ Siblings with each other◦ Friends◦ Ruler and subject

Age – age earns respect due to the wisdom older people possess.

◦ Rituals – following the right details of relationships means life is essentially choreographed and works well

Te◦The power of moral example◦Society needs leaders who are respected and

admired, who set the right examples of LiWen

◦The arts of peace Music, poetry painting The sum of culture in its spiritual mode

The Confucian Project

A good man or woman is always trying to become better

A Confucian keeps him/herself active in society – they aren’t reclusive

They recognize that the self is the center of relationships◦ A meeting place where lives intersect◦ Five Constant Relationships has the roles in each relationship

different – does this make one person superior to the other? No, not as long as they know and practice their role properly. Abuse of the relationship occurs when the roles are not honored

The Five Constant Relationships automatically built the Right of Revolution into Confucian-style politics.◦Heaven sees as the people see; heaven wills as

the people willThe Confucian scheme calls for continual

self-examination at all levels of relationships. If all works together well peace is achieved.

Ethics or Religion?

Confucius believed the world was divided into Heaven and Earth◦Ancestors were in Heaven (ti) that was

controlled by the Supreme Ancestor – Shang Ti◦Earth had mortals on it, waiting to move to

Heaven (ti)◦Heaven was more important◦Earth communicated with Heaven via sacrifice

The channel for this communication was called augury

It was important to communicate with ancestors because they knew the past and that helped them guide those on Earth regarding the future.◦Ancestors couldn’t talk, so they sent signs –

weather signs, animal signs, physical signs, etc.Confucius shifted the emphasis from

Heaven to Earth in his teachings.

A hotly debated topic of his day:◦Which should come first earthlings or

ancestors?◦Confucius said earthlings – ancestors are

already dead.This shifted attention away from ancestor

worship to filial piety.◦He did say to continue to revere ancestors “as

if they were present”

Confucius believed there was a power in the universe that made sure “right” was rewarded.◦He called this the Will of Heaven – the first

thing chun tzu will respect.Confucius believed once all was right with

the self, the person would become one with humanity and the universe.

Impact on China

Confucianism founded a class of scholars who would become the ruling elite in China.◦Confucius became the most important figure in

Chinese history◦130 BCE Confucian texts were the basic

discipline to train gov’t officials◦The Han Dynasty made Confucianism China’s

state religion

China combines Confucianism with other things in life◦Confucian in ethics and public life◦Taoist in private life and hygiene◦Buddhist in matters relating to death◦Shamanistic folklore added in

Scholars believe ancestor worship and filial piety have made the family the religion of China

Due to Confucianism and its Doctrine of the Mean, the Chinese today still consider it a shame to have to settle matters in court

Due to Wen, Chinese culture was very strong in the arts – even invaders often assimilated into the Chinese way of life

Growth of many East Asian countries can be attributed to Confucianism – link social technology with scientific technology and get the formula for economic success!