Confucius (2309 words) Essay Example For Students

Confucius (2309 words) Essay ConfuciusThe history of Chinese civilization spans thousands of years and encompassescountless ideas, beliefs, and societal and political doctrines. However, from amodern standpoint one distinct perspective prevails above the rest in the mannerand degree it has influenced the development of China. For the previous 2,000years the teachings of Confucius, and the systems of thought and behavior thathave evolved from them, have had significant effects on Chinese thought,government institutions, literature and social customs. Confucianism has serveda primary role as a social and moral philosophy and as practiced by many,especially in the educated upper classes, Confucianism had definite religiousdimensions. The teachings of Confucius served to unite a developing society,binding together various aspects of civilization and culture into one coherentbody that functions under common values and attitudes. Confucius sought a typeof all encompassing unity for the world and for his people; his wi sdom wasintended to serve as guide. In the Analects, a compendium of Confucianteachings, Confucius said, Be of unwavering good faith and love learning. Besteadfast unto death in pursuit of the good Way. Do not enter a state which isin peril, nor reside in one in which the people have rebelled. When the Wayprevails in the world, then show yourself. When it does not, then hide. When theWay prevails in your own state, to be poor and obscure is a disgrace; but whenthe Way does not prevail in your own state, to be rich and honored is adisgrace. (Analects 4.5) This lesson serves well as a paradigm for Confucianthought; it shows the direction that Confucius aspired toward, and the propermethods for the journey. Before endeavoring to understand Confucianism and itsconnection with China, it is necessary to develop and understanding of China inthe pre-Confucius era, in which this philosophy evolved. The most ancientevidence of Chinese religious and social civilization dates back to the Shangd ynasty, circa 1500 B.C.E. In this early agricultural society, there is evidenceof some of the basic fundamentals of most Chinese religious thought; thepursuit, establishment, maintenance and enjoyment of harmony in the earthlyworld. During the Zhou dynasty (1122 771 B.C.E.), the path initiated by theShang was sustained and expanded upon. The Zhou quest for harmony and order ledto the development of some extremely crucial concepts that would directly effectthe development of Confucianism. It was in this era that the notion of Tian, theforce that can be best understood as heaven, first came to light. This later ledto the conception of the idea of the Mandate of Heaven (Tian-ming) from whichrulers derived all power and sense of legitimacy, due to the accordance of theirbehaviors with the norms of morality and ritual correctness. In connection withthis, the relatively stable feudal society of Zhou era was responsible for theemergence of the tao. This principal made cosmic order and har mony possible; thetao can be thought of as the road or path from which come perfect unity, harmonyand order. This idea played a critical role in the development of Confucianismand dramatically affected the course of Chinese development. In the eighthcentury B.C.E., the Zhou dynasty began to fall apart as barbarous tribes invadedfrom the west. This led to the disintegration of Zhou rule and the creation of anumber of contending smaller states hoping to re-unify China under a newdynasty. This serious breach in the structure of society and the disharmony thatprevailed led to new movements of thought. The sages of this time felt strongaspirations to find solutions to the numerous problems that surrounded them. Itprobably is for this reason that the six-century B.C.E. was characterized bydistinct progress in Chinese thought, and became known as the age of the hundredphilosophers. Foremost in this era, Confucius was born. Kung Fu-tzu was thegiven name of the great moral philosopher and te acher, Confucius is merely aromanized version of this. He is thought to have been born in the principalityof Lu, in what is now Shantung Province, in Northeast China. This is the onlyinformation about Confucius that is known to be unyielding fact; almost all ofthe biographical information on this man is derived from the Life of Confuciusby the historian Szema Chien. Nearly all the data contained in this book isheld to be accurate, being derived from dependable oral traditions. Confucius issaid to have embarked on his quest for knowledge, order and harmony in an effortto dispel the conflict and dissension that existed in his time. Throughout hislife he would seek to bring about a return to the ancient values, through astandardization of rituals, the creation of a system of rationalized feudalismand, most importantly, the establishment of ethical relationships based upon theprincipals of reciprocity and benevolence. Confucius most likely started hiscareer in a very lowly position (alt hough some scholars dispute this) andthrough his intense devotion and perseverance was able to rise to a respectedposition in the civil service. It was at this time that Confucius is thought tohave traveled widely in China, studying ancient rites and ceremonies. Hisdevotion to antiquity was genuine and passionate. Confucius said, I transmitbut do not create. I have been faithful to and loved antiquity (Analects 7.1)Confucius then developed a reputation for overtly criticizing governmentpolicies, arguing that the governments of the time were leading the people awayfrom li, a Confucian inspiration that can best be understood as a amalgamationof the terms ritual, custom, propriety and manners. Because of this Confuciusbegan to devote the preponderance of his labors to teaching and edification. .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 , .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .postImageUrl , .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 , .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269:hover , .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269:visited , .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269:active { border:0!important; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269:active , .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269 .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub3ffe28519ecd272c8f35cb55c5a0269:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Unemployment Essay We will write a custom essay on Confucius (2309 words) specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Confucius is accredited to have said, I silently accumulate knowledge; I studyand do not get bored; I teach others and do not grow weary for these thingscome naturally to me.'(Analects 7.2) Confucius quickly began to develop areputation as a prominent instructor and sage. Even though he had ceased tofunction as a political administrator, his teachings were steeped in politicsand state affairs. In fact, an inordinate number of Confucian pupils achievedgreat success as office seekers. In his last years, Confucius wholeheartedlydevoted himself to editing the classical books of Chinese history now known asthe Wu Jing or Five Classics. In these books Confucius sought to permanentlypreserve the ancient knowledge that he valued so dearly, and it seems to serveas a perfect legacy for this distinguished academic. Confucianism can be mosteasily understood by breaking its complexities into distinct vocabulary, in factConfucius himself was reasonably obsessed with terminology. Li, the principle ofsocial conduct to be observed by the moral personality that assumes the form ofritual and social order, was Confucius answer to the problems of his era. As hesaw the state of affairs, the adamant ritulization of life would facilitate thecreation of a harmonious society. The first step in the Confucian program toestablish the proper order of things, tao, was to reform the government. Confucius approach to this is quite distinct when looking from a western pointof view that favors a democratic and egalitarian ideal. Confucius believed thatdirection must come from the uppermost levels of the state, thus working its waydown to everyone. However Confucius held no value in any type of officialcoercion. Instead he believed that if the leaders were accomplished and virtuous(te), and they lived by li, that the people would correct their behavior bytheir own initiative. In the Analects, Confucius said, Lead the people withlegal measures and regulate them by punishment, and they will avoid wrongdoingbut will have no sense of honor and shame. Lead them with the power of virtuousexample and regulate them by the rules of li, and they will have a sense ofshame and will thus rectify themselves. (Analects 2.3) Confucius sought tocreate an environment in which people would naturally be harmonious and thusvirtuous. He believed that harmony was an unavoidable result of li, because liwas a perfect reflection of cosmic order. From a Confucian perspective, any landthat acted according to li was civilized, and any land that did not was notcivilized. This idea was even expanded to claim that a in populace that did notabide by li, the people were not fully human, in the sense that they had nomeans of realizing the full potential of humanity, called ren. Another importantaspect of Confucianism was an ideal known as chun-tzu, which is contemporarilydefined as superior man or true gentleman. Confucius likely envisioned thisconcept due to his struggles against the resolute privileges of the feudalhereditary aristocracy of his day. Confucius saw many of the aristocracy usingtheir political power to protect their own wealth and status, which he saw as agross distortion of the proper order. The superior man of Confucian thought wasa man honored for individual merit and character, which were derived frommeticulous adherence to the Way of the ancients. The chun-tzu was embo died in aman who was above egotism, a man who thoroughly understood li, and a man of ren,altruistic and humane. Confucian thought continued to flourish and develop inChina, even long after the death of Confucius himself. Around the tenth centurya great revival of Confucianism spread across China, triggered by twophilosopher brothers, Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi. They ignited the spark that wouldlead to Neo-Confucianism with their highly respected commentaries on theConfucian classics. Neo-Confucianism blended the old Confucian way withBuddhism, which had a significant following in China. From old Confucianism itderived an emphasis on moral principals, proper order, rule governed behaviorand harmonious human relationships. But these ideas were filtered through aBuddhist perspective, creating the notion that all thought, ordinary experience,and performance of rituals are based on a single, absolute ultimate reality. .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d , .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .postImageUrl , .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d , .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d:hover , .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d:visited , .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d:active { border:0!important; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d:active , .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4412b49d534358b0d39497db8a86c64d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: History of the olympics EssayThis absolute was called Li, though had a completely different meaning than theoriginal use of this word. In the Neo-Confucian outlook, Li comprises the ideasof reason, principle and order. This was the fundamental principle that governedthe thought of the Neo-Confucian, it became a metaphysical entity to them; Liwas reality itself. Along with this newfound fixation with the absolute,Neo-Confucians also developed a clear definition of the most important Confucianvirtues, called the five moral principals. Ju Xi, a prominent Neo-Confucianphilosopher said, Mans original nature is pure and tranquil. Before it isaroused, the five moral principals of his nature, called humanity,righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faithfulness, are complete. As his physicalform appears, it comes into contact with external tings and is aroused fromwithin. As it is aroused from within, the seven feelings, called pleasure,anger, sorrow, joy, love, hate and desire, ensue. As feelings become strong andincreasingly reckless, his nature becomes damaged. For this reason theenlightened person controls his feelings so that they will be in accord with theMean. He rectifies his mind and nourishes his nature. (Ibid 2.3) According tothis train of thought, emotions are grounded in Li, the absolute, and arestimulated by the activities of everyday life. By nature the emotions, evenanger and hate, are not considered bad. But when the emotions become overstimulated, a disparity may appear between ones inner essential nature and onesouter, conscious life. When this takes place, ones actions will no longer be inaccordance with the Principal and disharmony will pers ist unbridled. In additionto Neo-Confucianisms emphasis on emotional control, the old moral and politicalstance of Confucius was held to be paramount. Respecting the ancient knowledgein the true Confucian manner, Neo-Confucianism continued to emphasize theregulation of public and private lives. Everything was to be kept in its properplace, and ritualized social patterns prevailed. Enacting a firmly regulatedsocial life was inner harmony and the direct experience of the ultimate Li. Confucianism almost exclusively regulated the social and political structure ofChina from the eleventh century through the nineteenth. Much can be ascertainedabout China by studying this phenomenon. Confucianism was always an elitetradition, and it generally did not appeal greatly to the masses. For thisreason, in Confucian ruled China, few attempts were made to root out anddissolve other religious practices and institutions. Although this could havelikely been done without excessive effort, the original Confucian stance ofrule-by-example was strictly adhered to. Thus the Confucian attitude towardDaoist, Buddhist and folk religious practices was one of bemused toleration. Itonly catalyzed into active persecution if one of the groups entered a positionwere it was a threat to political stability. Confucianism held its elatedposition in China through intense promotion of Confucian institutions acting onthe state, village, occupational guild and family level. At the state level,Confucian practices and many groups were strictly adherent to rituals. Theeducated elite, intellectuals and office holders were often devout supporters ofConfucian structure. Twice a year government officials gathered at Confuciantemples to practice determined rituals. These rituals were quite important,serving to show the officials loyalty to the state and their loyalty to theideas of chun-tzu, the superior man. In the Imperial court, there was also anintense devotion to Confucian rituals. The emperor himself played a vital rolein most of these practices, symbolically acting on behalf of the entire Chinesenation. Throughout the entire record of Chinese history as we know it today, fewthings remained constant. Yet because of the extent at which Confucianism wasintegrated into Chinese society, politics and daily life, it stayed invariablefor many hundreds of years. Confucian thought played a dominant role in thegradual development and evolution of a society. Even though dramatic changeshave r eshaped China in the recent history, it seems like many Confucianattitudes and ideas must still influence the way Chinese think and live. Fewfactors could have helped to shape the Chinese character more dramatically. Itis for this reason that I see Confucianism as a valuable tool for developing alucid and precise understanding of China. To understand Confucianism similar tounderstanding the manner in which a river helps to shape a canyon. Confucianismholds many direct contrasts to the majority of western the philosophies that Ihave experienced. Understanding this has helped me bridge the cultural andphilosophical gap between China and the West that has hindered my comprehensionin the past. BibliographyWright, Arthur F. Confucianism and Chinese Civilization. Stanford: StanfordUniversity Press, 1975. ? Dawson, Raymond. Confucius. New York: Hill and Wang,1982. ? Paley, Alan L. Confucius: Ancient Chinese Philosopher. Charlotteville:SamHar Press, 1973.