By: Mandy Olson, Brian McCandless and

Manuel StoecklDecember 2011, Pre-

AP World History

Who: Confucius (Kong Fu Zi)

When: 6th–5th century B.C.E.

Where: Northwest China

Philosophy, not religion

Natural order to society

Teaches moral conduct, relationships, loyalty

5 Principles

◦ Benevolence

◦ Righteousness

◦ Propriety

◦ Wisdom

◦ Trust

5 Relationships

◦ Ruler to subject

◦ Father to son

◦ Husband to wife

◦ Older to younger

brother

◦ Friend to friend

Filial Piety◦ One should respect

elders Jen

◦ Demonstrate human kindness

Li◦ Proper etiquette and

perfect virtue

5

Confucius/ Kong Fu Zi (551- 479 BCE)◦ Main founder ◦ Advised rulers◦ Gathered followers and taught in Lu

Mencius (372 – 289 BCE)◦ Spread ideas ◦ Interpreted Confucius’s

teachings◦ Added that all humans share innate goodness

The Four Books◦ Analects

Dialogue between Confucius and followers

◦ Doctrine of Mean Elaborates on central ideas

◦ Great Learning Teaches virtue and goodness

◦ Book of Mencius Dialogue between Mencius and

followers

The Five Classics

◦ Book of Songs Poems and songs

◦ The Classic of History Documents and speeches

◦ The Classic of Rites Description of ceremonies

◦ The Book of Changes Divination system

◦ The Spring and Autumn Annals Historical record of Lu

8

No specific symbol

source of life in Chinese philosophy

harmony in life and relationships

yin-yang: balance between opposing

forces

No specific practices ◦ Filled by

practices of other religions

Considered social rules to be rituals◦ Common courtesies, accepted standards of

behavior

Subordinate to men

Uncomplaining obedience to husband

Not allowed to remarry

Have to follow others

Main rule is to produce a son

Eastern philosophy

Impacted East Asia: Japan, Korea, Vietnam

6 million practice Confucianism alone

350 million practice Confucianism along

with another religion

Shapes the political and personal life of East Asia

Social standard for Chinese Society

Provides personal morals

Scholars provided advice to Emperors

14

551 B.C.E.

~Confucius is born

522 B.C.E.

~Starts his own school

484 B.C.E.~Confucius

begins focusing on

his teachings

479 B.C.E. ~Confucius

dies

15

372 - 289 B.C.E.

~Mencius is born and

spreads ideas

221 - 206 B.C.E.

~Destruction of

philosophy

206 - 220 B.C.E~Civil Service Examination

includes Confucianism

500 C.E.~Introduced

to Japan

Bulliet, Richard W., et al. The Earth and Its Peoples. 4th ed. N.p.: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008. Print.

“Confucianism.” Imperial Tours. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.imperialtours.net/ confucianism.htm>.

“Confucianism.” ReligionFacts. N.p., 2010. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.religionfacts.com/ a-z-religion-index/ confucianism.htm>.

“Confucianism.” TravelChinaGuide.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.travelchinaguide.com/ intro/ religion/ confucianism/>.

“The Four Books and Five Classics.” Cultural China. N.p., 2010. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://history.cultural-china.com/ en/ 173History4610.html>.

Oxtoby, Willard G. World Religions, Eastern Traditions. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Robinson, B. A. “Confucianism.” Religious Tolerance. N.p., 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2011.

<http://www.religioustolerance.org/ confuciu.htm>. “Timeline of Confucianism in China, Korea, and Japan.” Timeline Events Handout.

N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://www.mitchellteachers.net/ confucius/ timeline/ TimelineEventsHandout.pdf>.

Sen, Suchismita. "Confucian Ideas." World Religions. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec.      2011. <http://worldreligions.psu.edu/world_religions12.htm>.

The Great Learning. N.p., 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. <http://classics.mit.edu/      Confucius/learning.html>.

"The Four Books and The Five Classics." China Info Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 7      Dec. 2011.