Key Beliefs Of Confucius

“…The influence of a scholar who died nearly 3,000 years ago is still felt in the boardrooms, bedrooms, and classrooms of nearly a quarter of humanity” (Worrall, “Why is Confucius Still Relevant Today?”). Today, Confucianism is seen as a world famous East Asian philosophical system; an intricate moral, political, social, and some might also say a religious system that has a monumental influence on the history of the Chinese culture. However, being the founder of a school of philosophy was not Confucius’ original intention. It all began in the sixth century B.C. when the established system of the Zhou Court could no longer meet the society’s demands. The tension between the political center and the regional lords caused the authority of the

Confucianism has been a part of Chinese culture for over a thousand years. Many who have studied Confucianism would say that it is not a religion. It is better described as a philosophy or moral code. The philosophy of Confucianism comes mainly from the speeches and writings of Confucius, a great Chinese thinker and educator. He believed that Humanity, Rite, Neutrality, Virtue, Education, and Cultivation were the basis of human behavior. In addition, Confucius felt that this philosophy was the best way for people to behave and interact with others in society.

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

The ancient Chinese introduced three major religious views—Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism—during the “hundred schools” era, but Confucianism was by far the most influential upon the Chinese population. The major belief of Confucianism was that an individual’s affairs would prosper if they acted in accordance with their Dao, which was unique to each person depending on their individual role in life. An individual’s Dao was centered around the concept of duty and the idea of humanity. It was thought that there was a responsibility of all humans to base their own aspirations and interests upon the broader need of their family and/or community. Therefore, each individual would not only prosper themselves, but also prosper the other individuals surrounding them as well, creating a more stable community. It was also thought that each individual should have compassion and empathy towards one another, promoting good behavior from all individuals and fostering tolerance among communities. The concept of duty and idea of humanity brought about by the Confucian beliefs had a powerful influence on not only individuals, but the community as a whole through individual actions, having a great impact upon Chinese society and stabilizing it as a whole.

During the long era of Chinese Dynasties, three School of Thoughts emerged as philosophers spread their knowledge across the empires. Although each of the three philosophers that founded these School of Thoughts were able to alter the ways of the people’s beliefs, one in particular had ideals that over time, were powerful enough to change the ways of the Chinese culture, and eventually the world. Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, focused on spreading his political and ethical views based on how “humans should act in harmony with the universe” ( World History 91), and the effect of this would allow their society to blossom. As word of the practice of Confucianism spread, the Chinese empires began to adapt to new changes that this school of thought taught, and overtime, the government, and lives of the Chinese began to revolve around the Confucian

Confucianism and Daoism were the major belief systems in classical China that shaped their society. These belief systems were not exactly religions;they were created to teach individuals how to live life. Confucianism was introduced by Confucius, also known as Kung Fuzi, around 570 BCE. It focused on reverence for elders, self-humility, and respect for rulers and the people being ruled. During the reign of Wu Ti, he emphasized values of Confucian philosophy and recorded the Confucian doctrine in a book called “The Analects.” “The problems Confucius set out to rectify, notably political disorder, were approached through an emphasis on individual virtuous behavior”(World Civilizations The Global Experience). When the Han Dynasty was first founded, it was heavily influenced by Shi Huangdi, a brutal and strict leader of the Qin Dynasty who ruled people under many rules and regulations. Confucius wanted to terminate that method of ruling and knock some sense into people on how to live life without brutality. Instead of living under hundreds of regulations/laws, Confucius developed a sense of shame that changed the society as a whole. People began to understand morals and values which formulated peace and prosperity. As a result, the “Mandate of Heaven” was passed which stated that the ruler is blessed by Gods and once the ruler becomes too corrupt, the dynasty would collapse. Contrary to Confucianism, legalism indicated that only rules and regulations would create order in a

Confucius lived at a time when China was warring among itself. He was saddened by what he saw happening in China and wanted China to be united and great again. I do not believed Confucius sat out to be one of China’s greatest philosopher. He only wanted to return China to its glory, what he considered to be the golden age of China. Confucius wanted to bring back the upright moral values that the Zhou Dynasty modeled.

Confucianism is regarded as one of the primary religions that have profoundly influenced Chinese beliefs and ideologies. While Kongzi, or Confucius, is the founder of Confucianism, he is not the only philosopher who has contributed to such a significant impact on China. Similarly, the Analects of Confucius is not the single text that represents Confucianism. In fact, during different time periods throughout the history, there are a number of eminent representatives of Confucian thoughts, such as Mengzi and Xunzi. Because Confucianism aims at eliminating chaos and maintaining order in a harmonious society , they all agree that the guidance and education of virtuous Confucian pioneers are of extreme importance to achieve this

Confucius (551-479BC) was a Chinese teacher, politician and philosopher; he has lived and worked during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period (770-481 BC). Confucius father Kong He was an officer in the Lu military. Kong He died when Confucius was three years old and later his mother Yan Zhengzai raised Confucius in poverty. Confucius is the most influential Chinese philosopher, who’s teaching had a great effect and spread out in the Chinese life and culture for well over two thousand years, and has greatly influenced a substantial portion of the world's population.

There are men who would kill to have been taught by Confucius. It is said that he had over 300 students along with about 73 disciples, while God only had 12. Confucius was/is a widely known and respected teacher. His teachings were preserved from a book called the Analects. Inside the Analects are twenty books that were compiled together by his disciples after his death. It originated as individual records kept by Confucius’ disciples of conversations between the master and them. It is one of the most, well known books around. It continues to have a substantial influence on Chinese thoughts and values even in today’s time. The book focuses on various topics like family, filial piety, ritual, the gentleman, humaneness, etc. The topic that

Confucianism, often mistaken as a religion, is a philosophical system that helped shaped society during Ancient China from 551-479 B.C. A Chinese philosopher named Confucius developed the idea in hopes of eliminating China’s problem of disorder in society. The ideology of Confucianism helped Ancient China build a foundation to establish institution and social order. Confucius intent was to create social harmony in society, and in order achieve social harmony; individuals must live by moral examples of superiority. This entailed unequal relationship in human society: the father has power over his son, the husband has power of his wife, the older brother has power over his younger brother, the eldest son has power over his mother, and of course, leaders had power of individuals. With this idea, Confucius believed that this would create equal balance between the importance of families and the importance of state and nation. Juggling between these the importance of families and state had people question whether or not individuals were able to maintain serving the nation and state while fulfilling their family’s obligations. In this paper, I will be researching whether or not Confucianism benefited Ancient China’s society as a whole, or if the idea of Confucianism leads to social destruction rather than social harmony with the help of two articles. In Cui Dahua “A Weakness in Confucianism: Private and Public moral,” and Wellington Koo

(Brodd 257) This ideal model of a man improved an individuals moral conduct while still improving social relationships. help those reach their potential of good moral and social order. Confucis was very optimistic about humans and their potential to be good and do good to others. It was only a matter of acknowledging it on their own where individuals and rulers to cure the corruption of society. In the Articel “Junzi or the Exemplary Man: An Introduction to the Confucian Gentlemen.” Thus established that cultivating oneself also led to the well being of a community and stated “Here, we have to understand that Confucian political philosophy puts great (or even greatest) emphasis on leading by example. When the rulers are just and upright, so shall the common people be; when the rulers are corrupt and without virtue, the same happens in the realm of the common

When looking at the ideas of Confucianism, one must look at the values that he expresses that are essential to human beings in order to become gentleman. Some of these values are present in every society and in every country. Ideas like jen and the Golden Rule are indispensable to life in almost every society on the globe.

Confucius is an educator having over three thousand disciples, a statesman employed not only in his own State but in several other, but most importantly, he is a ritualist who is a firm believer and steadfast advocator of the Way, which has long been discarded by rulers in Confucius time. During his time, the House of Chou had declined, the ancient rites and moral standard were forgotten, but he had been striving to become a “superior person”, a gentleman, in his whole life, and developed a variety of moral philosophies that was cited and organized by his disciples into the book Analects after Confucius’s demise.

Most ancient philosophical ideas developed in the ancient Chinese empires are believed to have their roots from Confucius. Confucianism was a simple way of life propagated by Confucius around the fifth and sixth century BC. Often perceived as a religion and other times as philosophy, it is conceivably best unspoken as a comprehensive humanism that neither slights nor denies heaven. The Chinese populaces have devotedly observed Confucianism for nearly two millennia. It has become an implicit part of their culture. However, there seem to be a cod division among its proponents holding contrasting perspectives and understanding with respect to it. The central focus of this presentation is to address the questions whether Confucianism is a religion or a philosophy or it encompasses both.