ConfucianisConfucianismmKnowing Your PlaceKnowing Your Place

China’s Feudal AgeChina’s Feudal Age China was divided China was divided

into many warring into many warring kingdoms - No unity, kingdoms - No unity, anarchy reigned.anarchy reigned.

K’ung Fu-tzu (551-K’ung Fu-tzu (551-471 BC) worked for 471 BC) worked for city-state of Lu.city-state of Lu.Wondered why Wondered why

things were things were bad???bad???

Did he exist? Was he created as a foil to Christian evangelism? Name means “Master Teacher” and ideas predate his existence. Depictions show in wrong clothing

The Master Finds His The Master Finds His AnswerAnswer Looked into distant Looked into distant

past to a time of orderpast to a time of order King Wu Wang & the King Wu Wang & the

Duke of ZhouDuke of ZhouThe Duke knew his The Duke knew his

place & accepted it.place & accepted it. Chaos in present b/c Chaos in present b/c

people acted outside of people acted outside of social statussocial statusCONFUCIUS

Develops “Confucianism” Develops “Confucianism” for PEACE & STABILITYfor PEACE & STABILITY

Rigid Social hierarchy Rigid Social hierarchy based on social based on social relationships and relationships and mutual obligations mutual obligations

5 Key Relationships5 Key Relationships1) Emperor to subject 1) Emperor to subject

2) father to son 2) father to son 3) husband to wife 3) husband to wife 4) older to younger brother 4) older to younger brother 5) friend to friend 5) friend to friend

““Face”, the Glue of the Face”, the Glue of the SystemSystem

You must appear to You must appear to be that which you are.be that which you are. If not, you have If not, you have

broken the broken the relationship and no relationship and no obligations exist.obligations exist.

Don’t humiliate others Don’t humiliate others as that makes them as that makes them “lose face”“lose face” Face in China in Business

The Emperor’s Role The Emperor’s Role Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven

Emperor rules because Emperor rules because god chose him to be god chose him to be born asborn as

If he loses face, If he loses face, citizens don’t have to citizens don’t have to treat him as treat him as emperor…emperor…REVOLUTION!!!REVOLUTION!!!

A Man’s First A Man’s First Responsibility is in Responsibility is in

Service to the EmperorService to the Emperor Chun-tzuChun-tzu = educated = educated

upper class. Work to upper class. Work to support & maintain the support & maintain the systemsystem

Law of Avoidance Law of Avoidance = b/c = b/c of 5 Key Relationship’s of 5 Key Relationship’s emphasis on family, chun-emphasis on family, chun-tzu must work away from tzu must work away from home to avoid nepotism home to avoid nepotism

What of What of Women???Women??? NO authority outside home. But NO authority outside home. But

as chun-tzu worked elsewhere, as chun-tzu worked elsewhere, women ran the homewomen ran the home

AND FOOTBINDING???AND FOOTBINDING??? Used to set upper class Used to set upper class

women apart to show classwomen apart to show classONE OF THE

LAST WOMEN WITH BOUND

FEET

Modern Beauty RitualsModern Beauty Ritualswho are we to judge???who are we to judge???

The Analects of ConfuciusThe Analects of Confucius Confucian “Bible”Confucian “Bible”

Book of Book of Quotations from Quotations from ConfuciusConfucius

Tells how to live in Tells how to live in the middle and to the middle and to avoid excess in avoid excess in any form.any form.

Along Comes Chu HsiAlong Comes Chu Hsi Retooled Chinese Retooled Chinese

philosophy by philosophy by adding in Buddhist adding in Buddhist elements = NEO-elements = NEO-CONFUCIANISMCONFUCIANISM Now a religionNow a religion

Supreme Ultimate Supreme Ultimate (god) = the force(god) = the force Li and ChiLi and Chi

Confucian SocietyConfucian Society 1) Farmers1) Farmers were at the were at the

top (produce food to top (produce food to maintain order). Then maintain order). Then 2) 2) PolicePolice (provide the (provide the order) then 3) order) then 3) ArtisansArtisans (make tools for top two). (make tools for top two).

4) Merchants4) Merchants on bottom on bottom (opposite Europe, reason (opposite Europe, reason for relative decline)for relative decline)

Confucianism in our Confucianism in our worldworld Authority more important Authority more important

than rightsthan rights Education importantEducation important Peace and order essentialPeace and order essential Use of military means Use of military means

balance has been lostbalance has been lost

Teaching Confucius todayTeaching Confucius today