Confucianism

The sanjiao are the three (san) philosophies or religions (jiao)

– Confucianism
– Daoism
– Buddhism

Chinese religions are marked by inclusive commitment to right action more than right belief

–Reconciliation of differences between belief systems
–Exclusive truths tend not to be claimed
–Adopted some common terms/concepts such as Dao

Basic ideas informing all Chinese religions

1) All are humanistic – primary concern is with people rather
than gods or spirits.

2) Emphasis on ethics – how to live a good life; construct a
good family and society.

3) All believe in perfectibility of humans – how to become a
better person.

4) All emphasize harmony – there is a pattern for all things;
humans are responsible for maintaining or restoring this
pattern.

3 leading classical philosophers:

• Kongzi

• Mencius

• Xunzi

who were ru? (Kongzi)

The ru were mediators not only between humans, but especially between Heaven, Earth and Humans. (Someone who is able to appease and calm others by their moral behavior.)

The Six Arts:

Rites; Music; Archery; Chariotry; Calligraphy & Mathematics

Those who excelled in these six arts were thought to have reached the state of…

perfection, a perfect gentleman (junzi)

Confucius transmitted the Five Classics (originating in Zhou
dynasty, c. 1040–256 BCE, but systematized during the Han
period beginning in 202 BCE):

– Book of Changes
– Documents or Book of History
– Odes or Book of Poetry
– Records or Book of Rites
– Spring and Autumn Annals

Analects (Lunyu = Selected Saying): regarded as an
important source of Confucius’ teachings

– Contains recollected conversations between Confucius and
his disciples
– Probably compiled over a period of time at least a century
after Confucius’ death
– Seen as most reliable source about Confucius
– Will eventually become most read and studied text.

Ideology of the Five Classics informed Chinese government,
conduct within families, and individual moral and spiritual transformation

The content ranges from descriptions of deities, ghosts and spirits,
and the rites performed for them; to philosophical explanations of
the natural principles underlying these rites

Confucian exemplars (junzi = “gentleman”) aim to understand…

how to encourage, contribute to, and maintain peace, prosperity, and socio- political harmony; who is committed to the development of: De

De

signifies a moral power derived from virtuous, ethical behavior

Li

religious rites or rituals but also the rules of social etiquette and everyday courtesy; most utilized in the five fundamental relationship:

Patterns of hierarchical relationships between “seniors” and “juniors”(systematized 5)

Father/son; Elder brother/younger brother; husband/wife; ruler/subject;
elder/junior

Each relationship based on reciprocity – what is owed the other

Ren

encompasses virtues of respect, liberality, trustworthiness, earnestness, and kindness

Ren (continued)

– The most effective way to cultivate ren was through careful
observance of the rites
– Confucius emphasized the practice of filial piety or devotion,
which inclines people towards obedience towards all their
superiors
– Each person must fulfill his or her own duties; otherwise,
there will be chaos
– Loyalty and reciprocity are the highest values

Divination and the pantheon of spirits “Sage-kings” took on…

shamanic roles of intermediaries with the spirits that were believed to hold the real power over the land they ruled

“god” was associated with

earthly ruler

“heaven”

was an impartial cosmic being or force which cared for people and gave them a wise ruler

“Son of Heaven”

Emperors assumed title

Mandate of Heaven

justifies shift in power from Shang to Zhou

• Moral character became the primary determinant of the
right to rule

• How to encourage a king to rule ethically became a
central concern for Confucians

Humanization:

The Transition from Shang to Zhao:

– Thinkers aimed to understand the impersonal processes which
regulated the world in order to model human behavior and society
on them
– 64 hexagrams which are the basis of the divination text of the Classic
of Changes (I Ching), are believed to capture the metaphysical
structure, transformations, and “Way” of the universe (see image
next slide)

Rites: Performance and Principles

– Complementary sacrificial roles of the king and queen at ancestral
temple representing the imperial family as well as the altars of the
land and grain representing the people and the state

– Rituals described in the Record of Rites evolved over time
• Gradual shift from beliefs in the supernatural efficacy of the rituals to values
of discipline, education, and moral development may be reflected in
teachings attributed to Confucius

Temple of Heaven

Used during Confucian revival (Ming dynasty)

Emperor would make sacrifice for good harvest on winter solstice.

“Border sacrifice”

Mencius

The second most prominent classical
thinker is Meng Ke (Latinized as
Mencius), who lived more than a
century after Confucius, in violent
period of the fourth century BCE

The book Mencius is a collection of
conversations between Mencius and his
disciples, his opponents in debate, and
the rulers of the various feudal states

Mencius believed that

human nature was essentially good,
but that the common people needed supervision and
discipline, so as not to degenerate to the level of animals
driven only by material needs and desires

• He drew on the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to argue
that rebellion is justified when the ruler is corrupt, and the
people are suffering

• His belief in the ability of the mature heart-mind to arrive at
sound conclusions allowed Mencius to reject the notion that
filial piety demanded blind obedience

• Emphasized nourishing the “vital force” (qi or chi) of the heart-
mind through constant practice of integrity and right action to
achieve cosmic oneness and harmony

Xunzi

likely witnessed the bloody conquest of the last feudal states by the first emperor, Qin, at the end of the Warring States period

Xunzi believed that

Human nature was evil and goodness was
the result of conscious activity

• Education and ritual were essential to the maintenance of
the hierarchy required for a society to function in an
orderly fashion
– It is through the performance of rites (li jiao) that people come to
perceive the differences between the eminent and the humble,
elder and younger, etc., and thus recognize and accept their
“rightful” place in the hierarchy

Confucianism in Contemporary China

There has been a revival/promotion of Confucianism for the past
40+ years by the Chinese government.
Why?
Government seeks to promote social, ecological, and political
harmony.
Why?
Government is worried about perceived decline in morality and an
increase in resistance to authority.

Confucius: Career

Various government jobs in early life and as a bookkeeper
and a caretaker of sheep and horses.

Appointed as mayor of a small town, later Minister of Crime.
Eventually resigned and went into exile due to failure to
implement moral government.

Spent next 20 years traveling to various courts hoping to find
support to implement his ideas. Failed in this effort.

Confucian Ideology

Ideology of the Five Classics informed Chinese government,
conduct within families, and individual moral and spiritual
transformation

– The content ranges from descriptions of deities, ghosts and spirits,
and the rites performed for them; to philosophical explanations of
the natural principles underlying these rites