Confucianism

ConfucianismConfucianismConfucianismConfucianism

ConfuciusConfucius

Circa 551- 479 BCECirca 551- 479 BCE K’ung Fu-TzuK’ung Fu-Tzu Born in small state of LuBorn in small state of Lu Humble upbringingHumble upbringing Held a couple of minor Held a couple of minor

public positionspublic positions Junior post at Lu courtJunior post at Lu court

Spent 10 years travelingSpent 10 years traveling

Confucius

AnalectsAnalects

33rdrd century BCE century BCE Confucius’s teachings in the form of Confucius’s teachings in the form of

conversationsconversations Used anecdotes and allusionsUsed anecdotes and allusions Example:Example:

““When the stables were burnt When the stables were burnt down, on returning to from court, down, on returning to from court, Confucius said, ‘Was anyone hurt?’ Confucius said, ‘Was anyone hurt?’ He did not ask about the horses.”He did not ask about the horses.”

Confucian Social Confucian Social PhilosophyPhilosophy

Hierarchy of relationshipsHierarchy of relationships 5 Relationships5 Relationships

Relationships created social Relationships created social expectationsexpectations

Stressed strong family loyalty Stressed strong family loyalty Right conduct according to status one of Right conduct according to status one of

most important considerationsmost important considerations LĭLĭ

““Golden Rule”Golden Rule”

Confucian Political Confucian Political PhilosophyPhilosophy

Men are by nature good and have Men are by nature good and have innate moral senseinnate moral sense

Supported idea of all-powerful EmperorSupported idea of all-powerful Emperor Rule by exampleRule by example ““jun jun chen chen fu fu zi zi”jun jun chen chen fu fu zi zi”

Actuality must correspond with the nameActuality must correspond with the name A lord should lord, a minister should A lord should lord, a minister should

minister, a father should father, and a son minister, a father should father, and a son should son should son

Confucian Political Confucian Political PhilosophyPhilosophy

““If the people be led by laws, and If the people be led by laws, and uniformity among them be sought by uniformity among them be sought by punishment, they will try to escape punishment, they will try to escape punishment and have no sense of punishment and have no sense of shame. If they are led by virtue, and shame. If they are led by virtue, and uniformity sought among them through uniformity sought among them through practice of ritual propriety, they will practice of ritual propriety, they will possess a sense of shame and come to possess a sense of shame and come to you of their own accord.” (you of their own accord.” (AnalectsAnalects))

Imperial ConfucianismImperial Confucianism

Confucianism became the established Confucianism became the established orthodoxy during the Han Dynastyorthodoxy during the Han Dynasty Han Wudi saw education as a mean to Han Wudi saw education as a mean to

strengthen the upper classstrengthen the upper class Lost some of its doctrinal purityLost some of its doctrinal purity

Combined with elements of Legalism Combined with elements of Legalism

125 BCE – Imperial Academy 125 BCE – Imperial Academy founded and the founded and the Five Classics Five Classics become basis of civil service exambecome basis of civil service exam

5 Key Relationships5 Key Relationships

Ruler-ruledRuler-ruled Older bro- younger broOlder bro- younger bro Parent-ChildParent-Child Husband-wifeHusband-wife Friend-friendFriend-friend

TaoismTaoism

Lao Tzu LegendLao Tzu Legend

Born 6Born 6thth century BC century BC Mother carried him in her womb for 72 yearsMother carried him in her womb for 72 years Worked as a archives keeper in the Zhou Worked as a archives keeper in the Zhou

imperial courtimperial court Older contemporary of ConfuciusOlder contemporary of Confucius Retires and leaves home by water buffaloRetires and leaves home by water buffalo At border, guard tells him to write down his At border, guard tells him to write down his

teachingsteachings Writes the Writes the Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching

Lived more than 200 yearsLived more than 200 yearsL

ao-T

zu o

n H

is B

uff

alo

Taoist PhilosophyTaoist Philosophy

Flourished among common peopleFlourished among common people Tao – “the way,” “the path”Tao – “the way,” “the path”

““Tao is the unproduced Producer of all Tao is the unproduced Producer of all that is”that is”

Happiness is achieved by becoming Happiness is achieved by becoming one with the Taoone with the Tao Wu-weiWu-wei

Emphasizes non-dualistic thinkingEmphasizes non-dualistic thinking

Taoism During Tang Taoism During Tang DynastyDynasty

Taoism gained official Taoism gained official statusstatus Emperors claimed to be Emperors claimed to be

descendants of Lao Tzudescendants of Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching added to Tao Te Ching added to

list of classics to be list of classics to be studied for the imperial studied for the imperial examexam

Daoist Shrine

““When the Tao is Lost there is virtueWhen the Tao is Lost there is virtueWhen virtue is lost there is humanenessWhen virtue is lost there is humanenessWhen humaneness is lost there is rightnessWhen humaneness is lost there is rightnessAnd when rightness is lost there is proprietyAnd when rightness is lost there is propriety

Now ‘propriety’ is the external appearance Now ‘propriety’ is the external appearance of loyalty and sincerityof loyalty and sincerity

And the beginning of disorder” (And the beginning of disorder” (Tao Te Tao Te ChingChing))

Neo-ConfucianismNeo-Confucianism

Reform of Confucianism during Song Reform of Confucianism during Song DynastyDynasty

Zhu Xi combined aspects of Taoism and Zhu Xi combined aspects of Taoism and Buddhism with ConfucianismBuddhism with Confucianism Added more metaphysical aspect to Added more metaphysical aspect to

ConfucianismConfucianism Selected Selected Four BooksFour Books as containing the as containing the

essence of Confucianismessence of Confucianism Four Books Four Books eventually became Imperial eventually became Imperial

orthodoxyorthodoxy

Three Vinegar Tasters Scroll Painting

Three Vinegar TastersThree Vinegar Tasters

Works ConsultedWorks ConsultedBary, Theodore. "Confucianism." Bary, Theodore. "Confucianism." The Oxford Dictionary of World The Oxford Dictionary of World

ReligionsReligions. New York: Oxford UP, 1997.. New York: Oxford UP, 1997.Bary, Theodore, Wing-Tsit Chan, and Burton Watson, comps. Bary, Theodore, Wing-Tsit Chan, and Burton Watson, comps.

Sources of Chinese TraditionSources of Chinese Tradition. Vol. 1. New York: Columbia UP, . Vol. 1. New York: Columbia UP, 1960. 1960.

Chung-yuan, Chang. "Taoism." Chung-yuan, Chang. "Taoism." The Oxford Dictionary of World The Oxford Dictionary of World ReligionsReligions. New York: Oxford UP, 1997.. New York: Oxford UP, 1997.

Fairbank, John K., and Merle Goldman. Fairbank, John K., and Merle Goldman. China: a New HistoryChina: a New History. . Cambridge: Belknap P of Havard UP, 1998.Cambridge: Belknap P of Havard UP, 1998.

Noebel, David A. "The Religion of Secular Humanism." Noebel, David A. "The Religion of Secular Humanism." Free Free InquiryInquiry Fall 1996. Fall 1996. QuestiaQuestia. 28 Sept. 2006 . 28 Sept. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=500287105>.<http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=500287105>.

Riegel, Jeffrey. "Confucius." Riegel, Jeffrey. "Confucius." Stanford Encyclopedia of Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyPhilosophy. 5 Sept. 2006. 28 Sept. 2006 . 5 Sept. 2006. 28 Sept. 2006 <http://plato.stanford.edu>. <http://plato.stanford.edu>.

"Taoism." "Taoism." The New Encyclopaedia BritannicaThe New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th ed. 2003.. 15th ed. 2003.Tzu, Lao. Tzu, Lao. Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2005. . New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2005. Weiss, Julian. "The Next Step Forward - the Great Trilogy," Weiss, Julian. "The Next Step Forward - the Great Trilogy,"

World and IWorld and I Mar. 2000: 194, Mar. 2000: 194, QuestiaQuestia, 2 Oct. 2006 , 2 Oct. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002327105>.<http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002327105>.

Image BibliographyImage Bibliography

Confucius. Wikipedia. 1 Oct. 2006 Confucius. Wikipedia. 1 Oct. 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius>.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius>.

Daoist ShrineDaoist Shrine. The British Museum. . The British Museum. The The British MuseumBritish Museum. 2 Oct. 2006 . 2 Oct. 2006 <http://www.bmimages.com/>.<http://www.bmimages.com/>.

Lao-Tzu on His BuffaloLao-Tzu on His Buffalo. . Art.comArt.com. 1 Oct. 2006 . 1 Oct. 2006 <http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/pd--<http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/pd--12065275/spA/LaoTzu_on_His_Buffalo_Follo12065275/spA/LaoTzu_on_His_Buffalo_Followed_by_a_Disciple.htm>. wed_by_a_Disciple.htm>.

Three Vinegar Tasters Scroll PaintingThree Vinegar Tasters Scroll Painting. . Shanghai. Shanghai. EdepotEdepot. 2 Oct. 2006 . 2 Oct. 2006 <http://www.edepot.com/taoism_3-vinegar-<http://www.edepot.com/taoism_3-vinegar-tasters.html>.tasters.html>.