Confucius

What is the life span of Confucius

551-479 BCE

What was Confucius famous for

First philosopher in the Chinese tradition and perhaps its single most influential figure for his emphasis on ethical self cultivation w/in context of family and society

After Confucius death was there any scriptures he passed on

 No surviving writings; rather, after his death students collected his sayings -- “The Analects”[論語 Lunyu] ;

What are the thinkers that were inspired by Confucius

• Mencius : Human Nature is Good.

• Xunzi : Human Nature is Bad

• Dong Zhongshu : Cosmological Synthesis.

• Zhu Xi : Neo-Confucianism

• Wang Yangming : School of Mind

What was Confucius considerd as

is the ethical philosophy of Chinese culture, which heavily influenced Buddhism in China and Japan

how was Confucism used in socicety

A religion whose institutions were the very government itself and the educational academies that trained people for participation in it

What does the religion focus on

A religion whose practices were focused on integrating the search for personal fulfillment within one’s social roles and obligations – a person is made entirely of social relations -- there is no “individual” in Confucianism. This vision gives what scholars call “human becomings” rather than human beings.

What is Confucian thoughts

• ren 仁: benevolence / empathy

• li 禮/礼 : ritual propriety / roles, responsibilities, manners, propriety

• yi 義 : right / righteousness

• xin 信 : trustworthy

• cheng 成: being sincere

• xiao  孝: ·       being filial /filial piety

• zhong 忠: ·       fidelity, royalty (to empathy)

What are the seven books of The “Mencius”

They are the seven chapters in the book

The titles of these books are primarily derived from the names of the people Mencius was conversing with in the opening passages of each book, though some are named after the first key phrase.

What concept does Mencius introduce

• The first Confucian thinker to explicitly discuss the concept of XING (性) “human nature” – ethics and human nature;

• “Human nature is inherently good” (性善説).

 

what are the principle to Mencius

o   All human beings are born with the germs, the tendencies to develop the ethical qualities of empathy (ren 仁), adherence to ritual forms (li 禮/礼), a sense of right and wrong (yi 義), and the wisdom (zhi智) to learn how to become virtuous (Virtue, de 德) -- “Four Limbs” (SIDUAN四端).

o   Though challenged directly by Xunzi荀子(“The Goodness of Human Nature vs The Evil of Human Nature”) less than a century later, Mencius’ ideas eventually won out and became the dominant interpretation of Confucianism, especially during the Neo Confucian revival of the 12th-15th centuries.

What is Mencius’ Theory of Government

Writing during the chaotic Warring States period, he argued that the legitimacy of a government is not found in military strength, but in its moral character and its ability to provide for the welfare of its people.

What are the core of Mencius theory of government

* Just as human beings are motivated by empathy and compassion, so should governments be.

*The ruler should be an exemplar to his people and should be motivated by a heart/mind that cannot bear to see the suffering of others.

*Rulers must nourish and care for the people.

*Rulers must teach the people.

*Rulers should decrease taxes.

*Rulers should end warfare.

*The ruler and the people should rejoice in each others’ happiness because they share a common bond of joy and sorrow.

*In ruling, the approval of the people is paramount.

*If rulers fail in these duties they can be justly overthrown by the people who will be assisted by the Mandate of Heaven.