Confucianism

Haley Daniel Catherine Meyer

Merrill KingAP World History 3rd period

Beliefs of Confucianism

• Not an actual religion but a belief system• Did not have a god, followed the teachings of Confucius • Did not believe in any type of afterlife or resurrection

Beliefs of Confucianism

• Believed the God of Heaven appointed rulers• Believed each person had a role

in life and should know their place• Parallel between the family and

the state• Men were inherently good

Practice of Confucianism

• No specific rules or practices• Followed certain ethical principles–Filial Piety–Education–Benevolence –Nonviolence–Loyalty– Justice

Rituals• Li- proper way to behave in certain

situations–Ex. Bowing before an elder, taking shoes off before entering a house

• Marriage, birth, coming of age, death

• Teacher’s day- ceremony to honor Confucius

• Made sacrifices to “Heaven”

Role of Women

• Had no real power of control• Were taught how to manage a house, etiquette, humility and self-discipline • Main duty to was have children, particularly boys

Major Texts

• The Analects were sayings of Confucius written down by his followers

• Ex.– "Anyone learning without thought is

lost; anyone thinking but not learning is in peril." (on education)– "Have no friends not equal to

yourself.”

Missionary Work

• Groups of masters and disciples studied together and set out to change the ideas and behavior of society during Warring States period• Missionaries worked to

convert people to follow Confucianism

Diffusion of Confucianism

• Originated in China• Spread to Japan and Korea

*See map

Contacts with Other Religions

• Buddhism spread into China near the end of the Han Dynasty (c. 220 CE) and later spread to Japan• Buddhism ultimately takes over as most powerful religion in China

Quotations of Confucianism

• “To be able to under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnest and kindness.” –Confucius

• “When we see a man of contrary character, we should turn inward and examine ourselves.” -Confucius

Bibliography

http://eawc.evansville.edu/anthology/analects.htmhttp://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/

world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/confucius.html

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Confucius/

http://www.load-islam.com/artical_det.php?artical_id=353&section=indepth&subsection=Belief

Bibliography

http://staff.washington.edu/jcmills/SLIS/500time.html

Illustrated Dictionary of Religions, Philip Wilkinson pg. 68

http://www.indiana.edu/~e232/Time1.html

http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/confucianism.htm

Google Images: Confucianism and Han Dynasty