Confucianism

Confucius, Master Kong

Kǒng Fūzǐ, or K'ung-fu-tzu

Confucianism does not really begin with Confucius, nor was Confucius the founder of Confucianism in the same way that Buddha was the founder of Buddhism.

Rather, Confucius considered himself a transmitter who tried to retrieve the meaning of the past by breathing vitality into seemingly outmoded rituals.

Although Confucius occupies a hallowed place in Chinese tradition, little is verifiable about his life.

The best source available is The Analects, the collection of his sayings made by his followers.

Long after his death much biographical detail on his life surfaced, but most of this material is of questionable historical value.

Confucianism is a religion of optimistic humanism, and it has had a monumental impact upon the life, social structure and political philosophy of China.

The founding of the religion goes back to one man, known as Confucius, born a half-millennium before Christ.

Confucianism is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that influenced the culture and history of East Asia.

It might be considered a state religion of some East Asian countries, because of state promotion of Confucian philosophies.

The primary countries and cultures influenced by Confucianism include mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Singapore.

There are approximately 1.5 billion people who follow Confucian ideals.

The basic idea in Confucianism is that all human beings are:

1. Able to learn

2. Able to improve

3. Able to achieve perfection

Through personal and communal endeavour especially including self-cultivation and self-creation.

A core concept in Confucianism is the cultivation of virtue and the development of moral perfection.

Confucianism holds that one should give up one's life, if necessary, either passively or actively, for the sake of upholding the cardinal moral values of ren ( 仁 ) and yi ( 义 or 義 )

Ren is the Confucian idea of a good feeling produced by virtuous human experiences when behaving properly, especially toward others.

Ren can be considered the inward expression of Confucian ideals.

Yi literally means justice or righteousness; which is an important concept in Confucianism.

It is the moral disposition to do good.

Consisting of five elements:

Wuchang 五常

Ren 仁 , Humanity

Yi 義 , Righteousness

Li 禮 , Ritual

Zhi 智 , Knowledge

Xin 信 , Integrity

Classical Sizi 四字The classical Sizi has four elements:

Zhong 忠 , Loyalty

Xiao 孝 , Filial piety

Jie 節 , Continency

Yi 義 , Righteousness

Section II

Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

When anger rises, think of the consequences.

Sayings of Confucius

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

What you do not wish done to yourself, do not do to others.

Study as if you were never to master it; as if in fear of losing it.

In education there should be no class distinction.

If there be righteousness in the heart,

there will be beauty in the character.

If there be beauty in the character,

there will be harmony in the home.

If there be harmony in the home,

there will be order in the nation.

If there be order in the nation,

there will be peace in the world.

End Section 1