Chinese Religions Final Vocab list (Confucianism)

K’ung Fu-Tzu (Confucius)

• Master Kung

• “China’s first teacher”

• born in the 6th century BCE

• the founder of confucianism

  • a way of life based on high ethical and social standards and a belief in social harmony and order

• he highly valued learning, which he believed led to virtue

• he believed in social hierarchy (specifically the 5 constant relationships) in which the higher people must earn the respect of the lower people and guide them

analects

a collection of sayings and dialogues of Confucius recorded by his disciples after his death

• teaches about morality, proper behavior, respect and good gov.

• shaped Chinese education, politics, and family virtues for over 2000 years and is still studied in schools and universities

ancestor worship

traditional rituals honoring the dead, important in Chinese popular religion

• Food, wine, incense, candles, and flowers are offered on altars to one’s deceased ancestors

• Confucius says that one must worship one’s ancestors in the traditional way as part of xiao

• a person’s soul survives as long as it is fed by these offerings. if neglected, the soul can become a haunting ghost or demon. a properly fed soul can become a kindly spirit or god, sending blessings and good luck to descendants.

• Some Taoist tests discourage making food and drink offering to the dead

Chun-tzu (junzi)

Literal meaning: gentleman

a noble, virtuous, educated and morally upright person

• The goal of Confucianism is to become a junzi

• a junzi’s most important attribute is jen: benevolence

• a junzi practices the 8 virtues and cultivates wen

• Rulers and government officials are expected to behave as junzis

Five Constant Relationships `

The key relationships in society that maintain order and harmony

Hierarchical relationships of mutual respect and responsibilities: the higher person guides the lower person

Establishes ethical conduct and social harmony

confucians believe that if each person fulfills their role properly then society will function smoothly

The 5:

1. Ruler and Subject

2. father and son

3. husband and wife

4. older and younger sibling

5. older and younger friend

xiao

means: “filial piety”

the virtue of respect, obedience, and care for one’s parents and ancestors

• showing respect and devotion to one’s parents and ancestors

• Maintains family and social order, reflecting the Confucian ideal of living in harmony

• preserves ancestral traditions and heritage

• expresses gratitude for the sacrifices parents make

• after parents and ancestors die, they are venerated (ancestor worship)

wen

means “Cultural arts”

the cultivation of cultural and artistic refinement, an essential element of being a junzi (“gentleman”)

• includes caligraphy, painting, poetry, literature, dance, opera

• wen complements wu (action), meaning military power

  • a wise and gentlemanly society cultivates both art and power

Ren (jen)

“benevolence”

Core Confucian virtue of kindness and compassion

• The primary virtue of Confucianism, which must be central to every junzi

• Confucius believed everyone can develop ren

• an ongoing, lifelong process of gradual self-improvement and moral development

• The Chinese characters that make up the word indicate that is refers to how 2 people should treat each other