Written Assignment, 5 Responses: Main Virtues of Confucianism

Confucius believed that society should be organized through five basic relations; the relation between a ruler and a subject, the relation between a father and a son, the relation between a husband and a wife, the relation between an older brother and a younger brother, and finally friend between a friend.

Confucianism does not promote the worship of any particular deity, but instead focuses more on a human’s behavior, especially pertaining to the importance of social relationships. The five basic relationships were created in order to establish that people of lower stature should respect and obey people of higher stature. Also that people of a higher status should set a good example for their subjects to follow. This was primarily set in effect to maintain social order, political stability, and harmony. The five key relationships are husband and wife, ruler and subject, father and son, sibling and younger sibling, and friend and friend. This key Confucian principle impacted both Japan and Korea in different ways. In Korea, Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism placed a high value on social relationships, especially regarding one’s family. This is

It is relevant because it acts as a bridge between philosophical and religious Daoism. It also provides examples of the shared cultural beliefs and practices of Confucians and Daoists from the Zhou era. In addition, Like the ideal Confucian ruler, the Daoist ruler possesses a virtue-power that is capable of influencing lesser persons. In sum, I believe that Confucianism is much more practical for the average practitioner due to its focus on family. In addition, two key aspects of Confucianism are the importance of filial piety or devotion and humaneness which is reflected in two characteristics. These characteristics are loyalty and empathetic understanding or

Confucianism is one of the main influential ideologies on the Chinese culture. The founder of this religion is Confucius; he was a Chinese teacher. He taught traditional disciplines at that time, and believed that he could change the order of the Chinese society. He has different principals in life. First, Li: “It is the medium within which to talk about the entire body of the mores, or more precisely, have the authentic tradition and reasonable conversations of society” . In other words, li is the social rituals between people and they are divided into different categorized relationships like father and son, filial piety, between brothers, husband and wife; Ruler and subjects, and between friends. The Second principal was Jen, which is humaneness; it describes the inner personality of a person and that people should practice respect to one another. Li and Jen are values that complete each other to create the superior man, according to the Confucius. Also, Confucius believed in the spirits but keeping them at a distance. There are Five Classics and the Four Books are regarded as a reference for Confucianism.

A common theme in Chinese society that people exist through is that people are defined by their relationship with others. Their behavior is determined by particular moments in their lives. This basis of “different treatment” was also seen in the teaching of Confucius, which had five essential relationships within which one must sustain in his role requirements. These are father and son, ruler and minister, husband and wife, elder and younger, and brother and friends. Prevalence of these relationships is given to the father and son followed by the ruler and minister. When all parties honor their requirements in the social relationship, social order is sustained.

Confucianism is not a religion but rather a philosophy, and it became the guiding religion of China in 121 CE. The ideas of Confucianism come from one man named Confucius, he believed that he knew how to bring peace to ancient China. Confucius created moral structure for social life and politics that everyone should follow. Confucianism is based on tradition and not the teachings of one ruling god. There are five basic relationships where the followers must understand their role of being superior or inferior. The Four Books and Five Classic are both books on Confucianism written before 300 BCE. They show the common value of belief systems in Confucianism. Basic beliefs are that if relationships were based on kindness and harmony there would

In The Republic, by Plato, Justice is a very common theme. The different characters in the book have different opinions as to what Justice actually is. Many different people can perceive Justice in many different ways. In The Republic, there are many examples of this from people such as: Cephalus and Polemarchus. Cephalus and Polemarchus, even though they are father and son, have very different views on the meaning of justice.

Many religions base their beliefs off of the relationships created between oneself and a higher or spiritual being in which the relationship that is shared is the most important one in life. But according to Confucius, the most important relationships are those within the family or that create a family dynamic; these are known as the “Five Great Relationships.” These relationships also correspond directly with the Confucian Virtues of ren/jen, li, xiao/hsiao, and shu. They are not only applicable to the Confucian religion and culture, but I think they may fit well into twenty-first century American culture due to their strict focus of family.

These practices, which Confucius describes traditionally, contain very conservative and moral ideologies. All three practices stress the importance of honorable values such as peaceful, equal influences, respect and concern for others, and self-respect. Confucius branches out to expand his meanings of the three practices, but the main traditional concepts remain the same. Finicality involves placing great importance on the care one has of their family members, and treating non-family members as if they were part of their family. Confucius found this practice extremely important in civilization, and believed that if everyone were "filial and friendly toward one's brother”, it would have its effect on the government and influence it in a positive way. Finicality, according to Confucius was a very important key to a collaborated government. As Confucius wrote "A young man is to be filial within his family and respectful outside it. He is to be serious and faithful, abundant in his love for living beings and intimate with those who are

The Confucian beliefs are seen by the world as a type of relationship with between the individual, their family and state. This makes it difficult to see Confucianism as anything more than a way of life. Similar to Buddhists, Confucianism focuses on the individual and their relationships with the world around them. The relationships that are considered the Five Basic Relationships are the parent and child, husband and wife, elder and younger brother, friend and friend, and ruler and subject. Confucianism places superiority on these relationships. The belief is that when one fulfills their part in the relationship they will obtain balance and harmony within. Confucius believed when individuals live a virtuous life it will result in a prosperous

The purpose behind this replacement of leadership, as described by Confucius and Mencius, was a means to restore peace, order, and harmony. In addition, these five relationships—including between Ruler and Subject—were seen in co-existence. The break-down of the Ruler-Subject relationship could be seen across all the relationships prescribed.

In truth, filial piety, humaneness and reciprocity are three main ideas, which plays very important role in Confucianism. To begin with, Confucius is a famous philosopher who gave advices to the rulers and individuals on their behaviors. Worth to mention, Confucius’s teachings were complied in the Analects after his death. Moreover, Filial Piety means respect for one's parents, and most people is familiar with that idea in Confucianism. From what I learnt in China, filial is the starting point of virtue. In addition, I think filial piety is necessary in a family, and the children should show the respect to their parents. Another importance virtue is reciprocity, which means one should reply what another person has provided. Furthermore, reciprocity

But it was believed that de could be cultivated and established in positive way. For the moral self- cultivation, Confucius worked out for inclusive programme. Confucius moral philosophy and his teaching gave the China a new directions of civilization and stability. According Confucius human being are social in nature, one is bound with family, community and society. And it has different roles and responsibility in social scenario. In Confucianism there are five cardinal relationship between Ruler and subject, Father and son, Husband and wife, Elder brother and younger brother, Friend and friend. Every relation has a duty of care and responsibilities. Confucius harmony based on two virtues namely “Ren” and “Li”, Ren translated as benevolence and goodness while Li is ritual propriety. Ren is about the development of relationship between individual and community. Li is a virtue that must be cultivated to make one fully participant in

“That good rule is not by unchallenged ideology or by repression of those who disagree.”

As Confucius said, “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.” How can one affect the others? What will be lost if one element is missing? In Confucianism, there are the five constants (Ren, Yi, Zhi, Xin, and Li), each correlates with others; however, the main focus is the practice of Ren and Filial Piety, which can transform us into Jun Zi. Confucius suggests that all practices are related to each other, and missing any elements will fail to become a Jun Zi (the ultimate goal). The practice of Ren promotes the how we should treat each other with love, however, unlike Mohism, Confucianism believe there should not be universal love, we should love based on who they are. Furthermore, filial piety, the love toward parents and family, remarks the importance of Ren and the theme of Confucianism. Li, the practice of caring for others, concludes the significant to become a Jun Zi. Even though there is no explicit definition for love in general, combining all three practices will certainly demonstrates an all-around love, which is the trait of Jun Zi. Furthermore, the importance of filial piety contributes how traditional Chinese view relationship and marriage, which still exist in some families. The love and care that Confucianism introduce are arguably the most general and ambiguous, which are the two different kinds of love: either toward elderly or strangers. The love towards elderly is as known