History of Confucianism

Transcription

1 History of Confucianism From Kǒng Fūzǐ ( 孔夫子 ) to Modern China `Chinese History and Culture

2 Confucianism, Confucius, and Main Works Location Historical Background Confucius Major Works Confucianism, Confucius, and Main Works

3 1. History_ Location/ Origins Spread of Confucianism

4 1. History_ Spread of Confucianism - ( BCE) - Confucius' family and personal name respectively was Kong Qiu ( 孔丘 Kǒng Qiū) - Chinese, he is most often known as Kongzi ( 孔子, literally "Master Kong" - Kong Fuzi ( 孔夫子 Kǒng Fūzǐ, literally "Master Kong" - Author and editor of many of the Chinese classic texts Confucius / Kong Fu Zi

5 1. History_ Mythical Golden Age Mythical Sage Kings Zhou Gong

6 1. History_ Main Works -"Shao-king" (Book of History) - "She-king" (Book of Songs) Known as the odes - "Y-king" (Book of Changes) - "Li-ki" (Book of Rites) - "Ch'un-ts'ew" (Spring and Autumn) - book "Hiao-king" (Book of Filial Piety) "Sze-shuh" (Four Books) "Lun-yu" (Analects) "Book of Mencius" (Meng-tze) "Great Learning" "Doctrine of the Mean". Works of Confucian thought

7 Historical Development and Transformation Mengzi and Xunzi Dong Zhongshu/ Han confucianism Ru/ Confucius Scholars/ Imperial College Historical Development and Transformation

8 2. Historical Development and Transformation Historical Development and Transformation 1094 B.C. The beginning of a transformation A Chinese feudal system of mutual dependence based on blood ties and marriage alliances. The Duke of Zhou (Zhougong)

9 2. Historical Development and Transformation MENCIUS c. 371 c. 289 B.C. SELF-CONTROL (Human nature can be good) Teaching the ruling minority humanegovernment (renzheng) and the kingly way (wangdao)

10 2. Historical Development and Transformation 荀 Xunzi Evil in 子 human nature as humans are inclined to persue the gratification of their passions no matter wright or wrong (c. and 300 the need c. for social 230 constraints. B.C.)

11 2. Historical Development and Transformation Andres Roberto Ochoa Riegner Although transformed over time, Confucianism is still the substance of learning, the source of values, and the social code for the Chinese. A Chinese feudal system of mutual dependence based on blood ties and marriage alliances.

12 The Way of Confucianism Goal and method Education and the Way The scholarly tradition Values and virtues 5 relationships Family Rulership The Way of Confucianism

13 3. The Way of Confucianism_ Goal and method practical ethical philosophy Goal of Confucianism to establish an ordered, harmonious and stable society that is humane and moral Method individual compliance with moral laws in thought and action Source of morals 天 tian Heaven moral laws = natural laws = laws from Heaven Heaven Lake,

14 3. The Way of Confucianism_ Education and the Way What Heaven confers is called nature. Accordance with this nature is called the Way. Cultivating the Way is called education. (Doctrine of the Mean 1:1) Why education? _Everyone has the potential to perfect their moral nature and become human _Moral values must be taught, practiced, cultivated _Ritual = a large body of accumulated wisdom social transformation through selftransformation

15 3. The Way of Confucianism_ The scholarly tradition Scholarly tradition of Shang, Zhou Dynasty Ru = 'scholar', master of rituals and the six arts (Rites, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy, Mathematics) Human nature Mencius tm.edu/wp-c ent/media/m ius.jpghttp:/ w.iep.utm.e wp-content/ ia/xunzi jpg Mencius: humans intrinsically good, but perfectible through education/effort > education is desirable Xunzi: humans intrinsically evil, but perfectible through education/effort > education is necessary Xunzi

16 3. The Way of Confucianism_ Values and virtues transmitted through the Four Books and Five Classics 仁禮義信忠孝... rén lĭ yì xìn zhōng xiào humaneness ritual righteousness integrity loyalty filial piety One who cultivates these virtues to perfection is a jūnzĭ (perfect gentleman) Everyone has the same basic human potential ---> meritocracy the gentleman above the beam : thieves, too, could improve e19c41a66da582f18e057c213dec4.jpg These values are contextual and interdependent

17 3. The Way of Confucianism_ 5 relationships social hierarchy superior to subordinate: ruler husband parent older brother friend ruled wife child younger brother friend duties of universal obligation (Doctrine of the Mean 20:8) duty of acting in accordance with ones roles Filial piety expressed through reverence and obedience %C3%A4t.jpg/260px-Kindespiet%C3%A4t.jpg

18 3. The Way of Confucianism_ Family Family as the fundamental unit of social relationships xiao: Unconditional filial piety (within the bounds of what is right) The Duke of Sheh informed Confucius, saying Among us here there are those who may be styled upright in their conduct. If their father have stolen a sheep, they will bear witness to the fact." Confucius said, "Among us, those who are upright are different from this. The father conceals the misconduct of the son, and the son conceals the misconduct of the father. Uprightness is to be found in this." (Analects 13:18) nn0901/rbiedermann / funny-sheep.jpg

19 3. The Way of Confucianism_ Rulership Mandate of Heaven: harmony, authority If your desire is for good, the people will be good. The moral character of the ruler is the wind; the moral character of those beneath him is the grass. When the wind blows, the grass bends. (Analects 12:19) Trickle-down effect of morality Virtuous leadership is necessary in order to keep the Mandate of Heaven 600x375.jpg

20 Tradition of Rituals the concept ethics the principles of ren, li and yi Tradition of Rituals

21 4. Tradition of Rituals_ the concept The core of Confucianism is humanism. The belief that human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor especially including self-cultivation and self-creation. Confucianism focuses on the cultivation of virtue and maintenance of ethics, the most basic of which are ren, and li. yi, Confucianism in the Modern Age

22 4. Tradition of Rituals_ ethics Rén ( 仁, Humaneness) Yì( 義, Righteousness or Justice) Lǐ ( 禮, Propriety or Etiquette) Confucianism in the Modern Age

23 4. Tradition of Rituals_ ethics Rén ( 仁, Humaneness) Rén relies heavily on the relationships between two people, but at the same time encompasses much more than that. It represents an inner development towards an altruistic goal, while simultaneously realizing that one is never alone, and that everyone has these relationships to fall back on, being a member of a family, the state, and the world. Confucianism in the Modern Age

24 4. Tradition of Rituals_ ethics Rén ( 仁, Humaneness) Yan Hui, Confucius's most outstanding student, once asked his master to describe the rules of Rén and Confucius replied, "One should see nothing improper, hear nothing improper, say nothing improper, do nothing improper." Confucianism in the Modern Age

25 4. Tradition of Rituals_ ethics Yì( 義, Righteousness or Justice) Yi is the upholding of righteousness and the moral disposition to do good. (Right: a painting depicting normal life in a Confucian society) Confucianism in the Modern Age

26 4. Tradition of Rituals_ ethics Lǐ ( 禮, Propriety or Etiquette) Li embodies the entire spectrum of interaction with humans, nature, and even material objects. Confucius includes in his discussions of li such diverse topics as learning, tea drinking, titles, mourning, and governance. Confucianism in the Modern Age

27 4. Tradition of Rituals_ The Principles of Li, Rén, and Yi Rén ( 仁, Humaneness) Yì( 義, Righteousness or Justice) Lǐ ( 禮, Propriety or Etiquette) Li is the outward expression of Confucian ideals, while Rén is the inward expression of those same ideals Confucianism in the Modern Age

28 Confucianism in the Modern Age Modern Confucian Studies Revival of Traditional Values Family Education Confucianism in the Modern Age

29 1. Modern Confucian Studies_ New Assembly of Content Confucianism in the Modern Age

30 2. Revival of Confucian Values Confucianism in the Modern Age

31 3. Case Studies_ Family Confucianism in the Modern Age

32 3. Case Studies_ Education Confucianism in the Modern Age

33 References Books and Journals Aiken, C.F. (1905) Confucianism. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV. New York. Ames, T. (1997). The Analects of Confucius: a Philosophical Translation, Ballantine Bloom, I. et al., (2000). Sources of Chinese Tradition, Columbia: University Press, 2nd edition Britannica, Confucianism. Encyclopedia Britannica. available at: (accessed ) Chang, C.-Y., (1975). A Life of Confucius, Taipei, Hwakang Press Creel, H. G. (1960). Confucius and the Chinese Way. New York: Harper. Crim, K. (1989). The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions, Harper Dragga, S. (2006). Ethical Intercultural Technical Communication: Looking Through The Lens of Confucian Ethics, in: Intercultural Communications: A Reader, 421 Fenggang, Y., Tamney, J., (2012). Confucianism and Spiritual Traditions in Modern China and Beyond, Brill Hopfe L. M. & Woodward M. R. (2012). Religions of the World, Pearson Education Legge, J. (1893), The Doctrine of the Mean, Clarendon Press, available at: (accessed ) Liu, W. C. (1955). Confucius: His life and time. New York, NY: Philosophical Library, Inc. McDevitt, R. (2007), Introduction to Confucius, Confucianism, and The Analects. In: Education about Asia,12/1, available at: Murphey, R. (2001). East Asia: a New History. New York: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers ( ) Schneider, L. & Silverman, A. (1997). Global Sociology: Introducing Five Contemporary Societies, McGraw Hill Wright, A. F. & Twitchett, D. (1962). Confucian Personalities, Stanford: University Press Yao, X. (2000). An Introduction to Confucianism, Cambridge: University Press Yao, X., Weiming, T. (2010). Confucian Studies, Routledge Yum, J.O. (2006), Confucianism and Interpersonal Communication Patterns in East Asia, in: Intercultural Communications: A Reader, 64

34 Electronic Resources All in the Family (or All up in your Business ), (2012) Available from: (accessed ) Confucian Education in Contemporary China, Lam, J., (2010) Available from: Found at: (accessed ) Confucian Ethics: A Comparative Study of Self, Autonomy, and Community, Shun, K., Wong, D.,B., (2004) Available from: (accessed ) Importance of Scholarship Available from: (accessed ) The Modern Significance of Confucianism, Zhou, Y., (2008) Available from: (accessed ) John Makeham, Lost Soul, Confucianism in Contemporary Chinese Academic Discourse, Billioud, S., (2008) Available from: (accessed

35 Pictures Cover: Confucius Confucianism, Confucius, and Main Works: Map1: ( Map2: ( Yellow emperor: ( Zhou King: ( Historical Development and Transformation: Way of Confucianism (Main Ideology): Confucianism as a Ritual Practice: Confucianism as a Ritual Practice: Confucianism in the Modern Age: Politics Religion Philosophy Education: Morality Faithful Man Chinese Family