REDISCOVER
RELIGIONS
CONFUCIANISM
What is Confucianism?
Rather than a religion, Confucianism is more recognizable as a social and ethical philosophy. It is formed around establishing social values, institutions, and transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese society. It recognizes the self, community, nature and Heaven as the four dimensions of humanity
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The self as a creative transformation
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Community as an integral quest for self-realization
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Nature as ideal home for humanity
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Heaven as the source of everything and of the ultimate transformation of oneself
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The two ideals of Confucianism is to produce social leaders and to create a harmonious society. As such, it deeply influenced spiritual and political life in China. Its influences also extended to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
History
During a time of social and political reform in China, commoners who had no bloodline to the emperor were trying to succeed the throne. People were turning away from the practice of succeeding the livelihood of their ancestors. As a traditionalist, Confucius wanted to bring back traditional beliefs, such as the belief in the Tao, because he believed that people were losing their character in the pursuit of reform.
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Confucius came from a noble family and was once known as Kung Chiu. He was born in 551 B.C.E. and was educated. As a teacher, he was known as Kung Fu Tzu or “Great Master Kung”. To his followers, he claimed that he was merely reestablishing the “ideal” from past. He considered himself as a transmitter who consciously tried to retrieve the meaning of the past by reviving seemingly outmoded rituals.
Kung Fu Tze or Confucius
The Analects
His followers compiled his teachings into a book of Analects (Lun Yu), which is one of the four sacred books of Confucianism. The others were The Great Learning (Da Xue), The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhong Yong) and The Mencius (Mengzi).
Beliefs and Tradition
As the beliefs are heavily anchored on transformation of the self, they have an ideal of a perfect human being—the junzi. Although their goal is to create a harmonious society, it is also important to improve oneself.
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There are also five virtues recognized in Confucianism. These are the Ren, Hsiao, Shu and Li.
Ren is understood as benevolence and the thought of being kind.
Hsiao is the ren in the form of caring and respecting others, especially the elderly.
Shu, or reciprocity, can be translated through the Golden Rule by “not doing to others what you do not want to be done unto you.”
Lastly, Li is the proper observation of rituals and decorum.
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In Confucianism, there are five relationships that are put in high regard. The relationship between father and son, elder and younger brother, husband and wife, elders and the young, and the ruler-subject relationship.
Women, in the views of Confucianism, should be domesticated and patient. However, as a wife, they are seen as equals with their husband. As homemakers, they are valued for looking out for the whole family’s well being.
Confucian family