CONFUCIANISM

 Confucianism is often characterized as a system of social and ethical philosophy rather than a
religion. In fact, Confucianism built on an ancient religious foundation to establish the social

 values, institutions, and transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese society.
 Confucianism is the body of beliefs and practices or a philosophy that is based on the Chinese
classics and is supported by the authority of Confucius.

Sacred Text

 The Lun-yu (Analects) is the most revered sacred scriptures in the Confucian tradition. It
consists of the Five Classics and the Four Books.
 The Five Classics are:
o Book of Documents
 The Book of Documents is a compilation of 58 chapters detailing the events of
ancient China. The Book of Documents tells the deeds of the early sage-kings
Yao and Shun. These narratives are influential in the development of the
understanding of a sage. The compilation also includes the history of the Xia,
Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The Book of Documents is often considered the first
narrative history of ancient China.
o Book of Odes
 The Book of Odes is also translated as the Book of Songs or Book of Poetry. The
Book of Odes is comprised of 305 poems dealing with a range of issues,
including love and marriage, agricultural concerns, daily lives, and war. The Book
of Odes contains different categories of poems, including folk songs and hymns
used in sacrifice. Kongzi is believed to have selected the 305 poems in this
collection from a much wider collection
o Book of Rites
 The Book of Rites described the social norms, governmental organization, and
the ritual conduct during the Zhou dynasty. Believed to have been compiled by
Kongzi, the Book of Rites is the foundation of many ritual principles that arise in
later imperial China. According to the Book of Rites, proper ritual conduct would
maintain harmony in the empire, as well as emphasize the virtue of piety.
o Book of Changes
 The Book of Changes contains a system of divination, which is centered largely
around the principles of yin and yang. The Book of Changes has also been
translated as I Ching or Classic of Changes. Some of the divination practices are
still used today.
o Spring and Autumn Annals
 As the longest of the Five Classics, the Spring and Autumn Annals is a historical
chronicle of the State of Lu. Unlike the Book of Documents, the Spring and
Autumn Annals appear to have been created specifically for annalistic purposes.
The Spring and Autumn Annals was traditionally understood as being written by
 Confucius, but modern scholars believe the text was actually written by various
chroniclers from the State of Lu.

The Four Books are:

1. Analects of Confucius

2. Great Learning

3. Doctrine of the Mean

4. The Work of Mencius

Analects of Confucius

 Lunyu or Analects is a collection of passages and sayings traditionally attributed

to Confucius and compiled by his followers.
 Considered as the most revered sacred scripture in the Confucian tradition and
is generally acknowledged as the most reliable source of Confucian ideas and
teachings.
 Consists of twenty books which cover the practice of moral virtues particularly
on “humaneness” or ren.

Great Learning

 Considered as the introduction to Confucianism.

 Originally a chapter in the Classic of Rituals which is a collection of texts that describe
the social norms, administration, and ceremonial rites of the Zhou dynasty.
 Consists of a short main text attributed to Confucius and nine commentary chapters by
Zeng Zi, one of his disciple.

Doctrine of the Mean

 Zhongyong or the Doctrine of the Mean is another chapter published in the Classic of
Rituals, and attributed to Confucius’ son, Zisi.
 Composed of 33 chapters and discusses related moral tenets of Confucianism that
encompass both the ruler and follower.

The Work of Mencius

 This book is attributed to Mencius, a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Zisi.

 Record of his travels and audience with the various rulers of the warring states and
military men.

Doctrines

Mandate of Heaven

• The Zhou created the Mandate of Heaven: the idea that there could be only one legitimate ruler
of China at a time, and that this ruler had the blessing of the gods. They used this Mandate to
justify their overthrow of the Shang, and their subsequent rule.
Human Nature as Originally Good or Evil

• Mencius proposed that man’s original nature is good and that man’s original nature becomes
evil when his wishes are not fulfilled.

Rectification of Names

• Confucian doctrine called “rectification of names” implies that naming in not only important to
communicational terms but it also generates meaning and thus shapes relations and structures
in society.

The Moral Way Consisting of Five Cardinal Virtue

1. Benevolence (ren)

2. Righteousness (yi)

3. Propriety (li)

4. Wisdom (zhi)

5. Fidelity (xin)

Filial piety and ancestor worship

• are interconnected as parts of a single concept. Ancestor worship in China was obviously
related to the basic Confucian idea that children are obligated to respect their parents in life and
to remember them after they have died.

Confucianism and it’s God

 Although Confucianism became the official ideology of the Chinese state, it has never existed as
an established religion with a church and priesthood. Chinese scholars honored Confucius as a
great teacher and sage but did not worship him as a personal god. Nor did Confucius himself
ever claim divinity

Issues

1. Gender Inequality
o Confucianism was born and grew up on patriarchal culture. Being a traditionalist who
found inspiration and moral values from traditional culture and values from the past,
Confucius used this ancient patriarchal culture as a basis for addressing social, political,
and moral conflicts of his time.
o Confucianism has been criticized for its resulting hierarchy social structure and gender
inequality
o Women are considered subservient to man and play subordinate roles to them.
2. Authoritarianism
 o This is a form of dictatorial government where the governing authority exercises total
control towards its citizens
o This government type leads to the unequal distribution and oppression of rights
o It is said that Confucianism’s emphasis on obedience to authority lead to
authoritarianism .

Core teachings

I. 5 Relationships

1. A parent is to be loving, a child obedient.

2. An elder sibling is to be gentle, and younger siblings respectful.

3. Husbands are to be good and fair, and wives understanding.

4. Older friends are to be considerate, younger friends reverential.

5. Rulers should be benevolent, and subjects loyal.

II. The most important of these teachings include jen, or “humaneness;” i, or “righteousness;” li,
or “propriety/ritual;” and hsing, or “human nature.” Hsiao, or “filial piety,” is also a vital
concept, one that is central for young people growing up in the Confucian tradition.