Confucius’s philosophical teachings about government and society discussed in the Analects revolve around morality and how a ruler and his people should act in order to stabilize society. Confucius looked to the past to discuss the problems of the present by modeling his teachings from the former Zhou empire. Confucius sought to bring back the Zhou traditions in order to better society. By linking moral behaviors to social roles and hierarchies, he emphasized that the stability of the government and society was directly correlated to the relationship between the ruler and the people. With the title “Son of Heaven,” the ruler was expected to act morally towards his subjects and treat them with love and concern (“Introduction to Confucian Thought”, 2009). This idea is directly related to the concept of ren, which discusses the well-being of others as the moral drive of society. He extended this idea into social harmony, being first and foremost embedded in the family. Confucius believed that the virtue of filial piety was the foundation for not just family life but also had implication for the ruler-subject bond (“Mencius and his development of Confucian teachings”, n.d.). Similarly, Mencius centered his teachings on this idea by stressing that the well-being of the family directly corresponded to the well-being of the state. Most importantly however, Confucius also discussed the importance of the ruler ruling over the people with virtue, which was achieved through ritual
during the Zhou Dynasty, China was experiencing a great deal of political turmoil. A major part of this era was called the Period of the Warring States. It was a time when there were numerous wars that occurred due to the conflict that existed between seven states. (Watkins, 2013) These warring states were the Han, Wu, Zhao, Chu, Qi, Yan and Jin. According to Jerry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler of the book Traditions and Encounters, “This period forced some people to reflect on the nature of society, and the roles of humans beings within society.” The authors continued saying that it forced others to “identify principles that would restore political and social order.” (Bentley & Ziegler, 2011) The principles of Confucianism were established and followed in order to help the citizens of China to live and govern their communities more efficiently. Through Confucianism, Confucius helped legitimize China’s rule and bring about order in the mist of turmoil. The effects of Confucius’ principles are still seen and felt today in many aspects of modern day Chinese society. Veritably, there were points throughout Chinese history where Confucianism affected almost every aspect of life in China. Confucius has impacted the development of Chinese thought and culture in various ways from education to politics, to familial relationships.
Han China (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.), and Imperial Rome (31 B.C.E. – 476 C.E.), were powerful and influential civilizations whose fall had an everlasting impact on society. The inability to protect borders and corrupt officials led to the fall of Han China and Imperial Rome. Unlike the Han, Christianity tore Rome apart while Confucianism united China.
Confucianism had a positive impact on China because it increased social stability. Confucianism is a philosophy which focused on everyday problems and the relationships between people. It’s main goal was to restore peace, harmony and social order. Confucius is the creator of Confucianism believed that societies like China had lost touch traditions and morals so he made the concept “filial piety” which stressed “respect for ones parents, elders, and ancestors… bring a good name to ones parents and ancestors… he believed that if everyone respected, their family, was obedient, and worked hard to bring honor to their families name”. (Document 1).
While the last section pointed out the positives aspects of Confucianism there were also negative aspects of it as well. One can say in early Confucianism, personal freedom and individuality were none existent. Early Confucianism focused mainly on solidarity, community, and importance of hierarchy. Even before the Qing dynasty which took place from 1644 to 1912 Confucianism was used as a tool to keep the lower class of China in line. However, it was during Qing dynasty radical change occurred in china which eventually led to the criticism of Confucianism.
Confucianism is a time enduring philosophy that has stood up to invading clans, war, resentment, enforcement and infringement of new philosophies, and eventually, revival. For almost 80 years, up until the late 1970’s, Confucianism and its ideas and values have been all but wiped away from China. Though effort was made to remove Confucianism for good from China by the Communist leader Mao Zedong in 1949, the ideas and values were so deeply embedded into peoples mind and the culture that even suppression could not keep it out of the culture and practices. The main factor that has brought Confucianism back into the limelight in China and other East Asian countries is the recent
Confucianism had been the guiding ideology among various social classes especially for people of central plain origin, and imposed profound influences on numerous aspects of Chinese lifeways ranging from ruling methodology to family operation, formulating the distinct characteristics of Chinese economic and political system. Prominent principles of Chinese statecraft stemmed from traditional Classics which advocated self-sufficiency and limited commercial activities, and pushed to form a relatively closed market system. The statecraft of late imperial China aimed to achieve “the Confucian good life”, referring to each member in the society living in accordance with Confucian values. In particular, people should conduct exchange of good for
One of the most influential people during classical China was Confucius and his belief system of Confucianism. There are many reasons why Confucianism rose among the other belief systems to become one of the superior and most widespread in classical China. First and most obviously, Confucianism made its success with the birth of Confucius in 551 BCE who is the author and creator of all the content in Confucianism. More seriously now, knowing the fact that Confucius and Confucianism was created during the Zhou dynasty the reasons for Confucianism at that time seemed mandatory. During the Zhou dynasty, the Chinese government was incredibly weak due to the numerous betrayals and the instability of the alliance system created by the Zhou leaders.
Confucius is one of the first Chinese thinkers who addressed the conflict of political and social order. he was a strong willed man who often did not get along with others. He never realized his ambition to become a powerful minister. Confucius attracted numerous disciples who aspired to political careers. His thought was fundamentally moral, ethical, and political in character. He had his disciples study works of poetry and history made during the Zhou dynasty. He examined the book of Songs, book of History, the Book of Rites, and other works with his students. Literary works of the Zhou dynasty became the core texts of the traditional Chinese education because of Confucius’s influence. There were specific Confucian values indluding ren, li, and xiao. Individuals with ren were courteous, respectful, loyal, and diligent. He said ren is much needed for government
Confucian culture, also known as Confucianism, was founded by Confucius during the Spring and Autumn Period, which was developed gradually after the Han Dynasty with benevolence as the core. Since the Han Dynasty, Confucianism was the official ideology and the basis of mainstream ideology in the vast majority of historical periods of China, and it also influenced many southeast Asian countries in history. After a variety of shocks, Confucianism was still the core values of China's social public, and represented the Chinese culture and national tradition in the world (Littlejohn, 2010). In the contemporary society, the Confucian culture in China increasingly spread, at the
The Chinese “Middle Age” is considered a period in Chinese society where literature and thought reached a pivotal level. Also Religious ideologies such as Daoism and Buddhism made inroads into China from India. These Ideologies would eventually be at conflict with Confucianism which is a belief system that combines religion and philosophy with influences from the Zhou Dynasty. Overall Confucianism centers on ritual, social roles, and efficient action. Because “Middle Age” China was a time of innovation, and the diffusion of ideas and religious beliefs.
Confucius created the doctrine that 300 years after his death became a permanent impulse of social life in China, established rules of behaviour not only in the state, but also the family as a social unit.1
Seeing how Confucius lived in a war-torn society he was very anxious in developing or improving the government and society. The Master however, was convinced that the main problem with the government and society was the lack of virtue. Good officials were a key part for having a good government, but in order to become a “good official” you would have had to master the Five Virtues. Confucius envisioned to govern by virtue. Virtue enables the ruler to control and protect his state by relying on loyal representatives, without troubling himself. The Master said: “If you govern the people legalistically and control them by punishment, they will avoid crime, but have no personal sense of shame. If you govern them by means of virtue and control them with propriety, they will gain their own sense of shame, and thus correct themselves” (2:3, Analects). Confucius also stated that, “He who governs by means of his virtue is, to use an analogy, like the pole-star: it remains in its place while all the lesser starts do homage to it.” He also believed that strong family values and relationships played a major role in a secure society, and also by giving respect to the ancestors. When asked about the principles to a good government, Confucius replied by saying “Good government consists in the ruler being a ruler, the minister being a minister, the father being a father, and the son being a
Confucius was ancient china’s first great thinker and teacher. Confucius had taught all men with a talent for governing should take a part in government.Confucius believed people needed to have a sense of officiality.Duty meant that a person should put the needs of their family and community first. To Confucius, the best way to behave was similar to an idea known as the Golden Rule which is : “Do unto others as you would have others do onto you. Confucius urged people to “measure the feelings of others by one’s own,’’ for’’ within the four seas all men are brothers.” Each person owed a duty to another person. And the parents owed their children love, and their children owed their parents honor. ( Spielvogel 288-289) The great thinker and teacher was confucius, the ancient china.
For ages, Confucianism, as the ritual standard throughout the history of Ancient China, has an enormous impact on the development of Chinese cultural and Chinese society in numerous ways. Admittedly, the philosophy of Confucian was adopted by many emperors and helped them to create a stable and structured society. However, Confucian studiers kept women subservient to men, which they claimed that women were a part of their male’s counterparts or asset rather than an individual. Confucian’s doctrines contributed a lot to the moral codes that should be complied by women, especially in Song dynasty, which the introduce of Neo-Confucianism brought some changes to women’s position in this specific dynasty. The marriage of women and their
One of the most famous people in ancient China was a wise philosopher named Confucius (circa