Intro To Confucianism

Introduction to World Religions and
Beliefs System
Confucianism
List down at least three
relationships you are involved
in right now and identify the
power relations in these
relationships by stating if you
are a subordinate, superior,
or equal position in each
relationship. Explain the pros
and cons of the said
relationships.
Confucianism
ESSENTIAL
UNDERSTANDING:
The core teaching of
Confucianism is how to be a
“gentleman.” To be a
gentleman, according to
Confucianism, a person should
follow the moral way,
consisting of the virtues of
love, righteousness, wisdom,
propriety, and loyalty.
Becoming a gentleman
promotes harmony in society.
oDescribe the five basic relationships (king to subject,
father to son, husband to wife, elder brother to younger
brother and friend to friend)
oGive examples of acts showing filial piety in the family,
community and society
o Explain:The core teaching of Confucianism is
to be a “gentleman” by following the moral way
consisting of the virtues of love, righteousness,
wisdom, propriety and loyalty in order to
promote harmony in society.
o Present a character sketch of a person who
personifies the Confucian virtues
Zhou dynasty (1046-256
Warring States (475-221 BCE)
BCE)
- An era in ancient China characterized by
warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military - The longest dynasty in China.
reforms and consolidations Ended because during the warring
states period
Confucius Dao
- Also known as Kong Qui or Kung - (The Way) a Chinese philosophy
Fu-Tzu - refers to the moral order that permeates
- A Chinese philosopher, great the universe or the force behind the
teacher and a political figure. natural order.
• In the midst of chaotic periods in China,
namely the Spring and Autumn period as well
as the several
schools of thought were born.
• Four of the most influential schools of
thought which flourished in China during this
period were
, and .
Is a
Religion or a Philosophy?
…
• Those who argue that Confucianism is a
philosophy assert that when Kung Fuzi
founded Confucianism, he never meant to
establish a new religion. he merely wanted
to interpret and revive the ancient religion
of Zhou dynasty.
• Since 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.
• Since 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.
…
• considered a religion because its ideals
were inspirational, not in the 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.
• Focus on relationships should be
emphasized, for it is often taken for
granted that these relationships which we
encounter everyday should be the easiest
to perfect, but in reality they are the
hardest to attain.
• Confucius stressed the importance of
rituals which would lead them back to the
ideal society of their ancestors when there
was harmony between heaven and earth.
Symbols
• The scholar, as represented by the Chinese symbol
above (the ru), is an important symbol in
Confucianism. 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. The figure below is the Chinese
symbol for water.
Western Zhou dynasty was the first half of the
Zhou dynasty of ancient China. The dynasty
was successful for about seventy-five years
and then slowly lost power.
Western Zhou Eastern Zhou
(1122-770 B.C.E.) (770-221 B.C.E.).
Spring and Autumn period (722-

481 B.C.E.)
Warring States period (403-221
B.C.E.).
It was during the period of
Eastern Zhou, a period of great
economic growth, social change,
and political development that
philosophies would emerge and
the Classics would be written.
The struggle for
technological growth led Their political
supremacy among these
to trading development, stability was
vassal states
which led to a
characterized the enhanced by military
remarkable increase in
Warring States period in development.
wealth.
Chinese history.
Alongside technological and China was faced with a

Iron became economic growth was the dilemma: the failure of
common in China in development of stronger political
units, which led to the emergence
old authority made it
the fifth century of four vassal states that necessary for new
B.C.E. competed against each other for guiding values to
political supremacy.
restore social order.
growth of production this became a threat to Incidentally, interest

coincided with a rapid the nobility, which led was focused
growth in trade, and, as them to propagate a
a consequence, a new theory that society is primarily on society
class of wealthy composed of four (4) and not on the
merchants emerged. classes in this order individual.
the Qin dynasty would emerge as
the victor and would establish
the first empire of China in the
3rd century B.C.E. The name
China would come from the
Ch’in, the first to create an
imperial Chinese identity.
THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS
• Confucius is the Latinized version of Kongzi and the honorific

Kong Fuzi both meaning “Master Kong.”
• He was born on September 28 on 551 B.C.E. Hence, it is
considered a day of celebration in East Asia—an official holiday
in Taiwan (Teacher’s Day), and a day of cultural celebration in
mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
• born in a small feudal state of Lu (now Shantung province) in
Qufu.
• His personal name was Qiu and his family name was Kong.
• His first teacher was his mother, and at the age of 15 he set his
heart upon learning, thus love of learning became one of the
highest virtues in Confucian ethics.
• He married at the age of 19 and had a son at the age of 20.

At this point in his life he had already served in minor
government posts and had already gained a reputation as
an all-around scholar.
• When he was in his 30s he had already started a brilliant
teaching career because of his mastery of the arts of ritual,
music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and arithmetic.
• He was also familiar with classical tradition, particularly in
poetry and history. He is often considered as the first person
to devote his whole life to learning and teaching for the
purpose of social transformation and improvement.
• He held several government positions including as arbiter,

assistant minister of public works, and minister of justice in the
state of Lu.
• Frustrated that his ideals and policies were brushed off by his
superiors, he soon left Lu. For 13 years, he wandered from
state to state, trying to put his theories to practice.
• At 67, he returned home to teach (where he gained more
disciples) and to preserve his classical traditions by writing and
editing.
• He died in 479 B.C.E at the age of 73 and he left around 3,000
followers who preserved and put his other teachings to writing.
Assignment: Answer the following questions.
1. What are the sacred scriptures in Confucianism
2. How does Zhengming help bring social order?
3. How did Confucianism try to find solutions to the social problems
prevalent at the time it was formulated?
Reference: pages 183-194

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What are some of the major events and philosophies that emerged during the Warring States period in China?

How did Confucius spend his life and what were his main teachings?

Introduction to World Religions and

Spring and Autumn period (722-

Alongside technological and China was faced with a

growth of production this became a threat to Incidentally, interest

• Confucius is the Latinized version of Kongzi and the honorific

• He married at the age of 19 and had a son at the age of 20.

• He held several government positions including as arbiter,

Reference: pages 183-194

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