Confusianism

What is Confusianism?

Many of us have heard the biblical phrase, 'Do unto

others as you would have them do unto you.' The
Chinese philosophy of Confucianism puts it this way: 'Do
not do to others what you would have them not
do to you.'
Unlike Christianity, Confucianism is technically not a
religion. But it does share the Christian approach of
loving others. In fact, that is the foundation of the
philosophy. Confucianism is based entirely on
kindness, mutual respect and an appreciation for
character virtues. It is founded on the belief that society
can flourish only when people learn to interact positively
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.
Also know as Kongzi or K'ung
Fuzi meaning "master
kong" was a Chinese
philosopher and politician of the
Spring and Autumn period. The Confucius
philosophy of Confucius, also
known as Confucianism,
(Kong Qui) 
emphasized personal and (551 B.C. to
governmental morality,
correctness of social
479 B.C.)
relationships, justice, kindness,
and sincerity.
born in a small feudal state of Lu
(now Shantung province) in
Qufu.
Confucius
He is often considered as the
first person to devote his whole (Kong Qui) 
life to learning and teaching for (551 B.C. to
the purpose of social
transformation and 479 B.C.)
improvement.
 Kung Fuzi founded
Confusianism. Confucianism
emphasizes the ethical dimension of
the world, it gives primary attention to
human relationship, thus advocating
social values and ideals which should
serve as the foundation of Chinese
society
On the other hand, Confucianism is All about
considered a religion because its ideals
were inspirational, not in the Confusianism
supernatural sense but in the sense of
aiming for excellence in one’s
relationships with others. For
Confucius, what happens in everyday
life should not be trivialized but should
be considered as the realm of moral
and spiritual fulfillment. 
Confucianism may be viewed
both as philosophy and as a
religion. It has become a The foundation of
practical way of life for so Adherents of Confucianism Confucianism is an
many Chinese for a long are called Confucians or appreciation for one's
time and so has been Confucianists.  character and the well-being
intensely embedded in the of others.
structure of Chinese societies
and politics.
Symbols

wo symbols which are important to

Confucianism are the symbols
for scholar (the ru) It contains the
symbol of a person, as well as the
character for need or desire.
The foremost need of people is
nourishment, then education. When
combined, it means “the need of a
human being.” 
water, is one of the five
important elements in Chinese
philosophy, alongside wood,
fire, earth, and metal. Water is
considered as the source of
life, valued for its significance
in the natural world and for
sustaining life.
Confucianism was developed in China by Master Kong in
551-479 BC, who was given the name Confucius by Jesuit
missionaries who were visiting there. However, the
fundamental principles of Confucianism began before his
birth, during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE).
At that time, the ideas of respect and the well-being of
others were prevalent, but there was also an emphasis on
spiritual matters - specifically, the goodness of the divine
and the mandate to rule given to those in power. These
ideas were meant to unite the people, create stability and
prevent rebellion.
Confucius believed his philosophy was also a route toward
a civil society. However, he shifted attention away from
ruling authorities, the divine or one's future after death,
focusing instead on the importance of daily life and human
interactions. This new, refined version of the philosophy
did not completely take root until the next dynasty, the
Han (140-87 BC). It is the Confucianism that many people
Sacred Scriptures: The Confucian
Classics
Book of changes (I-Ching)
 I Ching is a system that has always been used to predict the future.
More importantly, though, is its use as a book of wisdom. Because the
readings it gives are simple, yet elegant, profound, and intuitive, it is
often consulted for its advice and insight into human nature.
Book of History (Shangshu)
Also known as the Book of Documents.It is composed of speeches (or
prose) of royalty and ministers mainly from the Shang and Zhou
dynasties that attributes to condusius by early scholars. It also
consists of chronological accounts of imperial achievements and rules
of government. 
Book of Poetry
Also known as the Book of Songs/Odes/Shijing, is a collection of
three hundred and five songs compiled around 600 B.C.E. which
includes four sections of various themes such as love, courtship,
abandonment and dances. It also includes feast songs or state
chants
Classic of Rites 
Originally the Three Li/Three Rites/San Li, the Classic of Rites is a
compilation of ceremonial rituals, administration, and social
forms of the Zhou Dynasty. It is considered as a complete body
of work which includes the Ceremonials (I-li/Yili), an early
manual of protocol for the nobility, describing such occasions as
marriages and funerals, sacrifices and even archery
competitions.
Analects 
The Analects, or Lunyu (“conversations” or “sayings”), is also
known as the Analects of Confucius. It is a collection of sayings
and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius and
his contemporaries
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/BELIEFS

Confucius is more often celebrated for his

Golden Rule: “Do not do unto others what you
would not have them do unto you.” Found in the
Analects, this saying teaches the ethics of
mutuality and reciprocity. Thus, it requires
people to treat others equal to themselves and
in equally the same manner as they would have
wanted to be treated.
Belief in Tian
“When you have offended against Heaven, there is nowhere
you can turn to in your prayers.” (Analects 3.13) This is one of
the passages in the Analects which shows Kung Fuzi’s idea of
Tian or heaven.
Tian may also refer to that which is beyond human control. He
believed that Tian is analogous with moral order but
dependent upon human intervention to bring its will into
action.
Rectification of Names 
Confucius believed that to return to the ancient Dao, people
must play their assigned roles in society. This was later called
the rectification of names, or Zhengming, The Five
Relationships include: 1) ruler-subject; 2) father-son; 3)
husband-wife; 4) elder and younger brother; and 5) friend and
friend.
helps bring social order for it advocates the idea that every
person has a particular role at a particular time in life, and
Human Nature as Originally Good or Evil
Mengzi and Xunzi (Hsun tzu) are two philosophers who had different
interpretations on the subject of human nature based on the Analects.
For Mencius, renxing or human nature is naturally disposed toward ren,
or virtue of the superior man. Mengzi believed that all human beings
are born with innate goodness which, on one hand, can be cultivated
through proper education and self discipline (li)
The Five Constants
Also known as the Five Classical Virtues, or Wuchang, are the five most
important Confucian ethics .
ren or benevolence can be achieved by returning to li, or the traditional
Chinese rituals. It means following the social hierarchy patterned after
family relationships; yi or righteousness can be achieved by having the
moral disposition to do good, which can only be possible after
recognizing what is right and good. It can also be achieved through the
ability to feel what is the right thing to do; li or propriety can be
achieved by following the guide to human relationships (rectification of
names, doctrine of the mean, The Five Relationships; zhi or
knowledge/wisdom can be achieved by knowing what is right and what
is wrong ; and xin or fidelity can be achieved by keeping one’s word
and being faithful,
Filial Piety as an Important Virtue
For Confucius, family relations provide a model
for social behaviour. Respect for elders. Filial
piety is said to have provided China with a
strong sense of solidarity not only in the Chinese
family, but also in Confucian social organizations
and even among Chinese communities in
different parts of the world.
Ancestor worship is a manifestation of filial
piety, or respect for one’s parents, which is
directed toward older relatives and ancestors.
Way to remember ancestors is to worship them
in their graves.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

Book of Rites:
COMING OF AGE RITES are ceremonies held to signify that a young
person has reached the marriageable age and could join the different
activities of his/her clan as an adult. Two important coming of age rites
among the Chinese are capping and hair pinning ceremonies.
MOURNING RITES often involve intricate practices, which include the
following steps: First, there should be public announcement of grief
through weeping, and the wearing of white funeral clothes by the
family of the deceased
There is also a tradition of exerting effort to recover the deceased,
which is being practiced to avoid false death. They do this by trying to
call or shout over the wandering soul through the person’s clothes, in
case the soul just lost its way back to the body of the person.
MARRIAGE CEREMONIES. marriage is considered as a
central feature of society; through marriage, patience
and love are cultivated to promote the right virtue.
Monogamy is preferred, which means married couples
should be loyal to their partners for the rest of their
lives.
SACRIFICIAL RITUALS are performed regularly by the
descendants of the deceased ancestors. Sacrifices are
often given at festivals.
One such festival is the Qingming Festival celebrated
annually by Chinese all over the world to honor their
dead. Qing Ming means “clear and bright” which
describes the weather on that particular day of the year.
It is observed by visiting the ancestor’s grave to clean
and repair it, and through offertories
DEVELOPMENT OF CONFUCIANISM

Mozi’s Mohism
The school of Mozi was considered as Confucianism’s
primary early competitor. Mozi was believed to have
been born around or soon after the death of Confucius.
His teachings can be found in a work entitled Mozi
which, like the Analects, contains essays and dialogues
compiled by his students. His attacks on Confucianism
can be seen in a more extreme stand on matters
discussed by Confucius.
Mengzi 
Mengzi (Mencius) was more successful than Mozi in
passing on his teachings to later generations.
Mencius lived around 370-290 B.C..E. in an area
near Lu. One was his claim that human nature is
basically good, and this innate goodness can be
further developed through self-cultivation and
education. He also believed that people should
extend their love to those beyond the family circle.
He was also of the opinion that the government was
primarily an application of ethics and argued that
the guiding principle of the government should be
righteousness. For him, the right way to rule was
when a ruler showed himself to be a fully moral
man, for all of his subjects would move toward him. 
Xunzi 
Xunzi was a Chinese philosopher who lived
around 300-237 B.C.E. He became successful as
a politician and teacher, and had an anthology
of essays entitled Xunzi. 
Xunzi’s emphasis on education, rituals,
hierarchy, and strict rule contributed to the
authoritarian pattern in government. His
negative view of human nature together with his
emphasis on authoritarianism were further
developed into a philosophy known as Legalism,
which advocated the idea that strict laws and
retributions are the only means to bring
harmony and security in society.
Xunzi 
Xunzi was a Chinese philosopher who lived
around 300-237 B.C.E. He became successful as
a politician and teacher, and had an anthology
of essays entitled Xunzi. 
Xunzi’s emphasis on education, rituals,
hierarchy, and strict rule contributed to the
authoritarian pattern in government. His
negative view of human nature together with his
emphasis on authoritarianism were further
developed into a philosophy known as Legalism,
which advocated the idea that strict laws and
retributions are the only means to bring
harmony and security in society.
Neo-Confucianism 
Neo-Confucianism refers to the revival of the different
features of Confucian philosophy and political customs
which began in the middle of the 9th century. This
revival of the Confucian tradition was initiated by the
great philosopher Zhu Xi.  
‘Metaphysical Thought,” , advocates of this philosophy
looked for the spiritual legacy of Confucianism itself,
which emphasizes the relationship between the universe
and human reason; of being humane while being
rational. It also emphasizes on the “Li” or propriety,
which refers to the rational principle or law governing
the natural order of things. Neo-Confucianism believes
in the basic pattern of the universe, similar to the Dao in
Daoism and the Dharma in Hinduism
Selected Issues

Female Subordination It is often said that a woman’s

life under Confucianism can be summed up in three
periods, also known as the “Three Obediences:”
obedience to her father while at home; obedience to her
husband when married; and obedience to her son when
widowed. Women, being at the bottom of the Confucian
hierarchy, are expected to display ideal behavior and
accommodation. They are expected to demonstrate
obedience before all other virtues and are not expected
to act as independent beings.
Authoritarianism 
Authoritarianism is another challenge that Confucianism
still faces at present. Confucianism teaches that a father
must be respected at all costs and a son must obey his
father no matter what. This suggests that children must
not question the authority of their parents and simply
accept their subordinate status. When they become
parents, the son will become a father hence that is the
time that he will enjoy a superior status over his son.
Meanwhile, the daughter, when she becomes a mother,
will continue to be in an inferior position, this time to her
husband..
Environmental Ethics
While it is true that Confucianism advocates respect for
the environment, its acceptance of people’s dominance
of nature poses a threat to the issue.
That's all !