Presented to: Prof. Liu JiePresented to: Prof. Liu JiePresented by: Nadeem Ahmad Presented by: Nadeem Ahmad

MirzaMirza

Confucius Confucius and His and His Political Political IdeologyIdeology

Famous AsFamous As

One of the most renowned One of the most renowned personality in ancient China, personality in ancient China,

wise philosopher, wise philosopher, great politician,great politician,

intellectual leader,intellectual leader,great thinker, great thinker,

social law maker social law maker and teacher.and teacher.

CONFUCIUS (551– 479 BC) CONFUCIUS (551– 479 BC)

NameName

ChineseChinese: : 孔孔夫夫子子; ; pinyinpinyin: Kǒng Fūzǐ; : Kǒng Fūzǐ; oror K'ung-fu- K'ung-fu-

tzu),tzu), and alsoand also: : K'ung Ch'iu K'ung Ch'iu

literary meaning. "literary meaning. "Master Kung,Master Kung,““Western historians called Western historians called

“Confucius”“Confucius”

It was introduced to Europe It was introduced to Europe by the Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who by the Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who was the first to Latinize the was the first to Latinize the name as "Confucius” and he also name as "Confucius” and he also introduced the Confucius introduced the Confucius ideology called “Confucianism.” ideology called “Confucianism.”

Introduced to EuropeIntroduced to Europe

BiographyBiography

Confucius was born in 551 BC near the city of Qufu, in the Chinese State of Lu (now part of Shandong Province).

Early accounts say that he was born into a poor but noble family that had fallen on hard times.

Shuliang He, was a Shuliang He, was a commander of a district in the commander of a district in the state of Lu. It was believed that state of Lu. It was believed that Confucius's father divorced his Confucius's father divorced his first wife at an advanced age, first wife at an advanced age, because she had borne him nine because she had borne him nine daughters and one disfigured daughters and one disfigured son.son.

His FatherHis Father

At the age of seventy, he At the age of seventy, he then married a fifteen-year-old then married a fifteen-year-old girl from the Yen clan, who gave girl from the Yen clan, who gave birth to Confucius. birth to Confucius.

Unfortunately, he died when Unfortunately, he died when Confucius was of three years and Confucius was of three years and left the family in misery and left the family in misery and poverty.poverty.

Confucius was brought up in Confucius was brought up in poverty by his mother. His social poverty by his mother. His social ascendancy linked him to the ascendancy linked him to the growing class , a class whose status growing class , a class whose status lay between that of the old nobility lay between that of the old nobility and the common people, that and the common people, that comprised men who sought social comprised men who sought social positions on the basis of talents and positions on the basis of talents and skills, rather than heredity. skills, rather than heredity.

Early AgeEarly Age

But Confucius nevertheless But Confucius nevertheless received a fine education and received a fine education and became great philosopher and became great philosopher and

politician. politician.

He married a young girl He married a young girl named Qi Quan (named Qi Quan ( 亓 官亓 官 ) at ) at nineteen and they had their first nineteen and they had their first child Kong Li (child Kong Li ( 孔 鯉孔 鯉 ) when he ) when he was twenty. After this, he had was twenty. After this, he had two daughters. two daughters.

His FamilyHis Family

When he was of 23, his When he was of 23, his mother died in 527 BC, and after mother died in 527 BC, and after a period of mourning he began a period of mourning he began his career as a teacher, usually his career as a teacher, usually traveling about and instructing traveling about and instructing the small body of disciples that the small body of disciples that had gathered around him. had gathered around him.

Career BuildingCareer Building

Confucius is also reported to Confucius is also reported to have worked as a shepherd, have worked as a shepherd, cowherd, clerk and book-keeper. cowherd, clerk and book-keeper. He also worked for the governor He also worked for the governor of his district.of his district.

Confucius was the founder of Confucius was the founder of the school of philosophy known the school of philosophy known as the Ju or Confucianism, which as the Ju or Confucianism, which is still very influential in China. is still very influential in China. Confucius taught in his school for Confucius taught in his school for many years. His theories and many years. His theories and principles were spread principles were spread throughout China by his throughout China by his disciples, and soon many people disciples, and soon many people learned from his wise sayings. learned from his wise sayings.

As TeacherAs Teacher

Confucius with his pupils Confucius with his pupils

In the Zhou dynasty (1027-256 In the Zhou dynasty (1027-256 BC), when feudalism degenerated in BC), when feudalism degenerated in China, Confucius deplored the China, Confucius deplored the contemporary disorder and lack of contemporary disorder and lack of moral standards. moral standards.

He came to believe that the only He came to believe that the only remedy was to convert people to the remedy was to convert people to the principles and precepts of the sages principles and precepts of the sages of antiquity. He therefore lectured to of antiquity. He therefore lectured to his pupils on the ancient classics. his pupils on the ancient classics.

Sooner, His fame as a man of Sooner, His fame as a man of learning and character and his learning and character and his reverence for Chinese ideals and reverence for Chinese ideals and customs vastly spread through customs vastly spread through the state of Lu. He was the state of Lu. He was recognized as a thinker of social recognized as a thinker of social and political matters with deep and political matters with deep ideas and philosophy. ideas and philosophy.

Fame of IdeologyFame of Ideology

His philosophy emphasized His philosophy emphasized personal and governmental personal and governmental morality, correctness of morality, correctness of relationships, justice and relationships, justice and sincerity.sincerity.

These values gained These values gained prominence in China over other prominence in China over other doctrines, such as Legalism or doctrines, such as Legalism or Taoism over the dynasties. Taoism over the dynasties. Confucius' thoughts were Confucius' thoughts were developed into a system of developed into a system of philosophy known as philosophy known as “Confucianism.” “Confucianism.”

Prominence of Prominence of IdeologyIdeology

He taught the great political He taught the great political ideology of the power of ideology of the power of example to rulers and political example to rulers and political bodies. Rulers and politician, he bodies. Rulers and politician, he said, can be great only if they said, can be great only if they themselves lead exemplary lives, themselves lead exemplary lives, and were they willing to be and were they willing to be guided by moral principles, their guided by moral principles, their states would inevitably become states would inevitably become prosperous and happy. prosperous and happy.

Confucius Political IdeologyConfucius Political Ideology

Confucius Political Ideology Confucius Political Ideology provided the political thoughts, provided the political thoughts, philosophy and theories. Those philosophy and theories. Those were golden principles for the were golden principles for the rulers and politicians. He rulers and politicians. He emphasized on truth, honesty emphasized on truth, honesty and fulfillment of promise. and fulfillment of promise. Following were his enlightened, Following were his enlightened, revolutionized and philosophical revolutionized and philosophical ideas of politics. ideas of politics.

It presupposes an autocratic It presupposes an autocratic ruler, exhorted to refrain from ruler, exhorted to refrain from acting inhumanely towards his acting inhumanely towards his subjects. An inhumane ruler runs subjects. An inhumane ruler runs the risk of losing the "Mandate of the risk of losing the "Mandate of Heaven", the right to rule. Such a Heaven", the right to rule. Such a mandateless ruler need not to be mandateless ruler need not to be obeyed. obeyed.

Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven

It is based upon his ethical It is based upon his ethical thought. He argues that the best thought. He argues that the best government is one that rules government is one that rules through "rites" and people's through "rites" and people's natural morality, rather than natural morality, rather than using bribery and force. using bribery and force.

Rule Through RitesRule Through Rites

Rule with MoralityRule with Morality

“Don't do to others what you “Don't do to others what you would not want yourself"; to rule would not want yourself"; to rule by moral example instead of by by moral example instead of by

force and violence. force and violence.

Govern with MandateGovern with Mandate

Confucius thought that a ruler Confucius thought that a ruler who had to resort to force had who had to resort to force had already failed as a ruler. "Your already failed as a ruler. "Your job is to govern, not to kill." job is to govern, not to kill."

Sense of ShameSense of Shame

This "sense of shame" is This "sense of shame" is somewhat an internalization of somewhat an internalization of

duty, where the punishment duty, where the punishment precedes the evil action, instead precedes the evil action, instead of following it in the form of laws of following it in the form of laws

as in Legalism. as in Legalism.

He underlined the need to He underlined the need to give due respect to rulers; this give due respect to rulers; this demanded that the subject must demanded that the subject must give advice to his ruler if the give advice to his ruler if the superior was considered to be superior was considered to be taking the wrong course of taking the wrong course of action in a given situation. action in a given situation.

Relationship between a Relationship between a Subject and his RulerSubject and his Ruler

Confucian concept is that in Confucian concept is that in order to govern others one must order to govern others one must first govern oneself. When first govern oneself. When developed sufficiently, the ruler's developed sufficiently, the ruler's personal virtue spreads personal virtue spreads beneficent influence throughout beneficent influence throughout the state. the state.

Personal VirtuePersonal Virtue

Confucius introduced the Confucius introduced the Imperial examination system, Imperial examination system, started in 165 BC when certain started in 165 BC when certain candidates for public office were candidates for public office were called to the Chinese capital for called to the Chinese capital for examination of their moral examination of their moral excellence by the rulers. This excellence by the rulers. This system allowed anyone who system allowed anyone who passed an examination to passed an examination to become a government officer.become a government officer.

Confucius Imperial ExaminationConfucius Imperial Examination

Confucius praised those Confucius praised those rulers who left their states to rulers who left their states to those apparently most qualified those apparently most qualified rather than to their elder sons. rather than to their elder sons. His achievement was the setting His achievement was the setting up of a school that produced up of a school that produced statesmen with a strong sense of statesmen with a strong sense of state and duty, known as state and duty, known as ““Rújiā.” Rújiā.”

MeritocracyMeritocracy

Since then Confucianism has Since then Confucianism has been used as a kind of "state been used as a kind of "state religion", with authoritarianism, religion", with authoritarianism, legitimism, paternalism, and legitimism, paternalism, and submission to authority used as submission to authority used as political tools to rule China. Most political tools to rule China. Most rulers used a mix of legalism and rulers used a mix of legalism and Confucianism as their ruling Confucianism as their ruling doctrine.doctrine.

State ReligionState Religion

He did not propose that He did not propose that "might makes right", but that a "might makes right", but that a ruler who had exemplary moral ruler who had exemplary moral values should be obeyed values should be obeyed because of his moral rectitude. In because of his moral rectitude. In later ages, however, emphasis later ages, however, emphasis was placed more on the was placed more on the obligations of the ruled to the obligations of the ruled to the ruler, and less on the ruler's ruler, and less on the ruler's obligations to the ruled. obligations to the ruled.

Ruling EthicRuling Ethic

Loyalty was also an extension Loyalty was also an extension of one's duties to family of one's duties to family members and ruler. Loyalty to members and ruler. Loyalty to one's ruler came first, then to one's ruler came first, then to one's family. Loyalty was one's family. Loyalty was considered one of the greater considered one of the greater human virtues. human virtues.

Loyal to RulersLoyal to Rulers

Importance of RitesImportance of Rites

Respectfulness, without the Respectfulness, without the Rites, becomes laborious bustle; Rites, becomes laborious bustle; carefulness, without the Rites, carefulness, without the Rites,

become timidity; become timidity; boldness, without the Rites, boldness, without the Rites, becomes insubordination; becomes insubordination;

straightforwardness, without the straightforwardness, without the Rites, becomes rudeness." Rites, becomes rudeness."

If other powers force a If other powers force a government officer to take the government officer to take the common interest into common interest into consideration, corruption and consideration, corruption and nepotism will arise. As nepotism will arise. As government officer's salary was government officer's salary was often far lower than the often far lower than the minimum required to raise a minimum required to raise a family, Chinese society faced family, Chinese society faced those problems. those problems.

Corruption and Corruption and NepotismNepotism

The Confucian view is that The Confucian view is that political leaders should be the political leaders should be the most talented and public-spirited most talented and public-spirited members of the community, and members of the community, and the process of choosing such the process of choosing such leaders should be meritocratic, leaders should be meritocratic, meaning that there should be meaning that there should be equal opportunity for the best to equal opportunity for the best to rise the top. rise the top.

Equal Rights for AllEqual Rights for All

People’s LuxuryPeople’s Luxury

Good Governess is that where Good Governess is that where subjects are in luxury and others subjects are in luxury and others

would like to be subjected.would like to be subjected.

At the age of 52, he was At the age of 52, he was appointed magistrate of Chung-appointed magistrate of Chung-tu, and the next year minister of tu, and the next year minister of crime of the state of Lu, but until crime of the state of Lu, but until he had no opportunity to put his he had no opportunity to put his theories to a public test. theories to a public test.

Last YearsLast Years

His administration was His administration was successful; reforms were successful; reforms were introduced, justice was fairly introduced, justice was fairly dispensed, and crime was almost dispensed, and crime was almost eliminated from the state.eliminated from the state.

Confucius left his office in Confucius left his office in 496 BC, traveling about china for 496 BC, traveling about china for 13 years and teaching, vainly 13 years and teaching, vainly hoping that some other prince hoping that some other prince would allow him to undertake would allow him to undertake measures of reform. In 484 BC, measures of reform. In 484 BC, at the age of 69, he returned for at the age of 69, he returned for the last time to Lu after a the last time to Lu after a fruitless search for an ideal ruler. fruitless search for an ideal ruler.

Last VisitLast Visit

Confucius was died at the Confucius was died at the age of 72 in his home town in age of 72 in his home town in the state of Lu in 479 BC. He was the state of Lu in 479 BC. He was buried in a grave in the city of buried in a grave in the city of Ch'uFu, Shandong. Today the Ch'uFu, Shandong. Today the site of his final resting place is site of his final resting place is the beautiful K'ung Forest.the beautiful K'ung Forest.

DeathDeath

Confucius TombConfucius Tomb

Yet, when the Confucius died, Yet, when the Confucius died, many people honored all of his many people honored all of his work by building temples in work by building temples in every city in China to honor every city in China to honor Confucius. Since his teachings Confucius. Since his teachings and philosophy was so and philosophy was so advanced, it was the education advanced, it was the education for China for 2,000 years. It is for China for 2,000 years. It is called called Confucianism.Confucianism.

Confucius TempleConfucius Temple

Soon the Confucius' death, Soon the Confucius' death, Qufu, his hometown, became a Qufu, his hometown, became a place of devotion and place of devotion and remembrance. It is still a major remembrance. It is still a major destination for cultural tourism, destination for cultural tourism, and many Chinese people visit and many Chinese people visit his grave and the surrounding his grave and the surrounding temples.temples.

Confucius' philosophical Confucius' philosophical school was first continued by his school was first continued by his direct disciples and by his direct disciples and by his grandson Zisi. Mencius and Xun grandson Zisi. Mencius and Xun Zi are his two great followers, Zi are his two great followers, one on each "side" of his one on each "side" of his philosophy, perhaps simply philosophy, perhaps simply described as optimism and described as optimism and pessimism. They built upon and pessimism. They built upon and expanded his ethico-political expanded his ethico-political system.system.

In China, there are many In China, there are many temples where one can find temples where one can find representations of Buddha, Lao representations of Buddha, Lao Zi and Confucius together. There Zi and Confucius together. There are also many temples dedicated are also many temples dedicated to him which have been used for to him which have been used for Confucianist ceremonies. Confucianist ceremonies.

Confucius TempleConfucius Temple

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