Aguelo, Jaimee Coleen S.

AB Philosophy 2-1

Chinese Philosophy

Written Report in Chinese Philosophy—

Confucius

I. Short Biography of Confucius (K'ung Fu Tzû= added to names of most

philosophers during the Chou period, Master K’ung)

According to Shi Chi (Historical Records) he was born in 551 B.C (during the Chou

dynasty) in the state of Lu—where the Chou culture is in abundance or flourishing.

Ancestry of Royal house of Sung—relative of Shang or Yin dynasty. Although

grew up as a poor boy.

Gradually and eventually attained highest position in 501 B.C as PRIME

MINISTER OF LU, but out of negligence of the Lu ruler he resigned and set out on

a 13-year wandering with many of his disciples.

Confucius died in 479 B.C

II. Position of Confucius in Chinese History

He is noted as the first to universalize teaching or education through the--

Six Disciplines

—the basis of Confucian learning; Confucius brought it down to the common people ‘’

In learning, there should be no class distinction’’; the aim of Confucius in teaching

was to nurture a person so that he might become someone who would be useful to his

state, rather than to produce a scholar belonging to any one philosophic school--Shih

(Book of Odes) talks about aims; Shu (Book of History) events; Li (Rites) directs

conduct; Yüeh (Music) harmony; I (Book of Changes) principles of Yin and Yang;

C’hun Ch’iu (Spring and Autumn Annals) distinctions and duties.

Did Confucius authored/wrote or edited the Six Disciplines?

No. He neither wrote nor edited the Six Disciplines because prior to Confucius only

the nobility studied the Six Classics . According to Confucius, he is '' A transmitter

and not a creator, a believer in and lover of antiquity'' (Analects, VII, 1). He was a

transmitter of the Chou culture.

How important were traditions and rituals to Confucius?

Confucius was a conservative on this part. When a son's parent dies, he should

mourn 3 years because he had been dependent on his parents until he's 3 years old.

He wanted to retain the Chou culture by teaching the Six Disciplines.

Did Confucius intend to create a sectarian school?

No. As said in A History of Chinese Philosophy by Dr. Fung Yu-Lan, '' His aim in

teaching was to nurture and develop a person so that he might become someone

who would be useful to his state, rather than to produce a scholar belonging to

any one philosophic schools.'' The reason why there became a distinction or how

followers of Confucius came to be labelled as Confucianists is because of the

different schools that arise after Confucius and distincted their doctrines from

Confucian teaching.

Righteousness (Yi) and Human-heartedness (Jen)

This refers to the confucian virtue which means a person does an act due to the

''oughtness of the situation''. That an individual does certain actions for their own

sake and not expecting any reward or profit from such.

III. Attitude of Confucius toward Traditional Institutions and Beliefs

Reasons he focused on Chou Dynasty

- he was a native of Lu, where the Chou culture is abundant.

- Chou had the advantage of surveying two preceding dynasties

He wanted to eternalize the achievements of King Wen and Duke of Chou.

Towards the traditional beliefs he was a conservative. Having views in Heaven

(T'ien)

- for Confucius, is purposeful Supreme Being or 'ruling Heaven'

- Also believed in Fate or Will (ming)

Toward spirits, he had a skeptical attitude

- ''To fulfill the duty to humanity, while respecting the spirits, we must keep away from

them, and with this it may be called wisdom.''

IV. The Rectification of Names

This is the ethical theory of Confucius which plays an important part for his vision of

social order.

This is achieved through the teachings and learning of the Six Disciplines.

'' Do not do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you.''

--This is fulfilling one's duties to another person and to his society and not usurping

a different position

'' Let the ruler be ruler, the minister a minister; let the father be father and son be

son.''

-- If you are a leader/superior, act like it and so your subjects obey.