History of Confucius

o Was born in 551 B.C.

o Lost his father at an early age and was raised by his mother.

o Was a master of the six arts of :o Ritual

o Music

o Archery

o Charioteering

o Calligraphy

o Arithmetic

o Was believed to be a teacher when he was in his twenties or thirties.

o Was loyal to the king so he was alienated from the power holders of the time.

History of Confucius

o The kings inner circle was uninterested in his policies

so at age 56 he left the country.

o He exiled himself for about 12 years and during that

time he was accompanied by an expanding group of

students.

o At the age of 67 he moved back to preserve his

cherished ways of writing and editing.

o Confucius died in the year 479 B.C. at age 73.

• Ethical system provides direction for personal behavior

• Practiced mostly in China – about 6.3 million followers

• Based on the teachings of Chinese scholar Confucius

• Confucius (551–479 BC)- teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher

• Born at a time of crisis and violence in China

• Hoped his beliefs and teachings would restore order to society

CONFUCIANISM

• Philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality - correctness of social relationships -justice and sincerity

• Confucius's principles - based on common Chinese tradition and belief

• Believed in: strong family loyalty - ancestor worship -respect of elders by their children and of husbands by their wives

• His principle "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself", an early version of the Golden Rule

CONFUCIUS

• Confucius believed order, harmony, good government could be restored if society were organized around the:

FIVE KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• 1. RULER - SUBJECT

• 2. FATHER - SON

• 3. HUSBAND - WIFE

• 4. OLDER BROTHER – YOUNGER BROTHER

• 5. FRIEND - FRIEND

FIVE KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Except for FRIENDSHIPS – none of the relationships were EQUAL

• OLDER superior to YOUNGER

• MEN superior to WOMEN

{Were not supposed to take

advantage of position but serve as a

guide or role model}

FIVE KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• FILIAL PIETY is respect for one's parents and ancestors:

*to be good and take care of parents

*show love, respect, courtesy and support

*display sorrow for their sickness and death

• Filial Piety emphasized in Confucianism because devotion to one's parents was associated with one's devotion to the state; it also meant honoring their parents’ memories after death

FILIAL PIETY

Confucianism

reinforced by the civil examination system

“keju”: civil examinationfrom 605 to 1905Determines what position people will be in the work force

• ANALECTS: the collection of writings, sayings and ideas of Confucius

ANALECTS

The Five Constant Virtues

o Ren- Virtue of benevolence, charity and humanity.

o Yi- Honesty, uprightness.

o Zhong- Doing ones best.

o Shu- Consideration of others.

o Li- Good manners, politeness, ceremony, or worship.

INDIA1. Brahmin

CHINA1. Scholar-Gentry

2. Kshatriyas 2. Peasants

3. Vaishyas

4. Shudras

3. Artisans

4. Merchants

Untouchables Soldiers

Imperial Nobility

Domestic Slaves

Legalism

Han Fei

• 280? - 233 B.C.E.

• Han Fe Zi.

• Lived during thelate Warring Statesperiod.

• Legalism becamethe politicalphilosophy of theQin [Ch’in] Dynasty.

Legalist Principles

1. Human nature is naturally selfish.

2. Intellectualism and literacy isdiscouraged.

3. Law is the supreme authority andreplaces morality.

4. The ruler must rule with a strong,

punishing hand.

5. War is the means of strengtheninga ruler’s power.

Legalism

Authoritarian- One who favors the principle that individuals should obey a powerful authority rather than exercise individual freedom.

The ruler, therefore, “cracks his whip” on the backs of his subjects!

• Shinto is the traditional religion of Japan

• About 4 Million people practice Shinto

• Shinto – based on respect for forces of nature and ancestor worship

• Shinto is sometimes seen more as a way of life rather than a religion by the Japanese due to its long historical and cultural significance

SHINTO

• KAMI – divine spirits in NATURE - KAMI thought to control powerful forces of nature

• KAMI are worshipped in the religion of Shinto - they are elements in nature, animals, as well as spirits of the deceased

• Many Kami are considered the ancient ancestors of entire clans, and some ancestors became Kami upon their death if they were able to embody the values and virtues of Kami in life {Traditionally great or charismatic leaders like the Emperor could be kami}

• In Shinto - Kami are not separate from nature, but are of nature, possessing positive and negative, good and evil characteristics

KAMI

• Believers respected the Kami and tried to win their favor through prayer and offerings. The shared beliefs of the followers of Shinto eventually helped unite all of Japan.

KAMI

• Buddhism was introduced to japan from Korea in the 6th Century

• Some Buddhist rituals became Shinto rituals and some Shinto traditions were practiced in Buddhist temples.

• Most “life" events are handled by Shinto and “death" or "afterlife" events are handled by Buddhism

{*Example: it is typical in Japan to celebrate a birth at a Shinto shrine while funeral arrangements are generally dictated by Buddhist tradition}

SHINTO-BUDDHISM