Eric Lampe
January 25th, 2007
CONFUCIANISM
Confucius
Born in 551 BC, Confucius was a
teacher, a scholar, and a small political figure. He would comment on Chinese
literature and had philosophies on how to achieve social harmony. After his
death in 479 BC, his pupils put together a composition of his sayings known as
the “Analects.” Confucianism developed from his teachings and sayings. For a
long time Confucianism was the state religion of
Confucianism is a very complex system of moral, political, social, and religious teachings. Men should virtuous but also gentlemen and learned. Worship is centered on offerings to the dead. Confucianism is based also on ancient Chinese traditions not just the teachings of Confucius.
Key virtues in
Confucianism
- This is what makes us human. It says that we should put the dignity of human life as the one thing that should drive all human action. Man can achieve Jen which is also the belief that man can be perfected.
Chun Tzu -(choon dzuh): the ideal man; the superior man; gentle person in the most significant sense.
- The perfect man is complete and needs nothing more. He is intelligent enough that he can face anything and not fear it. Also personal relationships must take precedent to everything else and you must be at other people’s disposal.
Li -(lee): principle of gain, benefit, order, propriety; concrete guide to human action.
-This was a guide to social order and also it was a guide as to how to deal with relationships. Li consist of two parts.
1) Human relationships
A)Reification of Names
B) The Doctrine of the Mean
- find a balance between two opposite extremes
1) Parent is to be loving, a child
obedient.
2)An elder sibling is to be gentle, and younger siblings respectful.
3)Husbands are to be good and fair, and wives understanding.
4)Older friends are to be considerate, younger friends reverential.
5)Rulers should be benevolent, and subjects loyal.
2) Social Order
-Conform society to the concept of Jen
Te -(day): power by which men are ruled; the power of moral example
-government is good if it can be honest, keep the people happy, stay economically strong and support a military
Wen- respect for the arts in improving a person and society
-Confucius saw the great things that happened when nations cultivated their arts.
Confucianism’s
views on…
Honesty: Highly stressed on an individual basis but also in a political sense; a government is said to be honest and support its people.
Poor: It is the core practice of Confucianism, to put others in front of yourself and thus the poor are supposed to be supported.
Sexuality: To be lustful is bad but the relationship between husband and wife is so important it is on the Five Key Relationship list.
Alcohol: Alcohol can be enjoyable however it is not appropriate to let it take over and over-indulge.
Material Goods: Material goods are fine until they take over your life. Material goods should also be shared with the poor.
The Human Condition: The belief in Chih (chee) demonstrates this. Chih is the belief that virtue is obtained through the knowledge of right and wrong and that all men are born good.
Cause of our problems: In Confucianism the origin of evil comes can be explained by
1) External circumstances (nature, need to survive, etc)
2) Society and Culture not acting right
3) Lack of knowledge
Answer to Human Condition: The belief that we can perfect ourselves and maintain a state of Jen.
Sources
library.thinkquest.orgphilosophy.lander.edu
who2.com/ask/confucius
www.csuchico.edu
www.1000ventures.com
Religions of the World by John A. Hardon S.J. The Newman Press. Westminster, Maryland. 1965; p142-176