Confucianism

by francine cayanan ~ religion 25

1. Confucianism By Francine Cayanan

2. Side Note - Dao (“the Way) “The Way” refers to the moral path taken to achieve harmony that is brought upon by living a virtuous life. 道 (the Way)

3. “Sage-kings” Rulers in ancient China that exemplified the combination of virtue and wisdom that were also judicious leaders. Left to right: Yu; Shun; Yao

4. Sacred Texts ANALECTS: most revered sacred scripture in the Confucianism tradition CONFUCIAN CANON: created the foundation of Confucianism.

5. Confucian Canon Composed of the Four Books ( si shu ) and the Five Classics ( wujing ) The Four Books are traditionally attributed to Confucius, it has been established that he did not write a single word of them; they were written down by his students after his death The Analects are the closest representation of his philosophy Excerpt from the Confucian Canon: “ 【 第一章 】 【 一節 】 子曰、 學而時習之、不亦說乎。 【 二節 】 有朋自遠方來、不亦樂 乎。 【 三節 】 人不知而不慍、不亦君子乎。 CHAPTER I. 1. The Master said, 'Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application? 2. 'Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?' 3. 'Is he not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure though men may take no note of him ?‘ “ (Confucius) (Translation of Confucian classics)

6. Confucian Canon: Four Books

7. Four Books: Great Learning Came from a chapter in the Classic of Rites from the Classics Consists of a short main text attributed to the teachings of Confucius and then ten commentary chapters accredited to one of Confucius' disciples Guide for moral self-cultivation States that the key to moral self-cultivation is learning, or the investigation of things Through learning about things, one comes to understand the principle in all things, which allows them to better comprehend the world Through this moral self-cultivation, one's li (principle) and qi (psychophysical state) are in harmony, leading to consistent moral behavior The message would lead scholars to think of the value of their studies. Excerpt from the Great Learning: 致知在格物。 Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things. 物格而后知至。 When things are investigated, knowledge is extended. 知至而后意誠。 When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere. 意誠而后心正。 When the will is sincere, the mind is correct. 心正而后身脩。 When the mind is correct, the self is cultivated. 身脩而后家齊。 When the self is cultivated, the clan is harmonized. 家齊而后國治。 When the clan is harmonized, the country is well governed. 國治而后天下平。 When the country is well governed, there will be peace throughout the land.

8. Four Books: Analects Collection of Confucius’ teachings and discussions with his students and disciples . I ncludes twenty books, each generally featuring a series of chapters that encompass quotes from Confucius, which were compiled by his disciples after his death. Emphasized learning as well as good governance , virtue , and ritual . One of the most widely read and studied books in China for the last 2,000 years and continues to have a great influence on Chinese and East Asian thought and values. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones .”

9. Four Books: Mencius Collection of conversations Mencius had with Confucius Mencius places a strong emphasis on the responsibility of the emperor to practice good governance  through following the Way Also believes that humans are inherently good Emphasizes the idea that we are all born with righteousness and goodness, but must learn how to nurture and cultivate those traits

10. Four Books: the Doctrine of the Mean The Doctrine of the Mean is attributed to Zisi , Confucious ’ grandson , and deals with how to maintain perfect balance and harmony in one's life F ocuses on following the Way and acting through what is right and natural, but also acknowledges that people often do not act properly So,  people are encouraged to engage in moral self-cultivation to act properly Also emphasizes the fact that good governance relies on the men and that rulers who maintain balance are not only more effective, but also encourage the Way in others Excerpt from the Doctrine: 天 命之謂性。率性之謂道。修道之謂教。 1. What Heaven confers is called “nature.” Accordance with this nature is called the Way. Cultivating the Way is called “education.” 道也者、不可須臾離也、可離非道也。是故君子戒愼乎其所不睹、恐懼乎其所不聞。 That which is called Way cannot be separated from for an instant. What  can  be separated from is not the Way. Therefore the Superior Man is cautious in the place where he is not seen, and apprehensive in the place where he is not heard.

11. Confucian Canon: Five Classics

12. Five Classics: Book of Documents C ompilation of 58 chapters about the events of ancient China T ells the deeds of the early sage-kings Yao and Shun Influential in developing an understanding of a Sage (person of profound wisdom) A lso includes the history of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties (to the right: map of ancient China) Often considered the first recording of the history of ancient China

13. Five Classics: Book of Odes Also known as the also Book of Songs or Book of Poetry 305 poems dealing with a range of issues, including love and marriage, agricultural concerns, daily lives, and war contains different categories of poems, including folk songs and hymns used in sacrifice It is believed that Confucius selected the 305 poems from a much larger collection.

14. Five Classics: Book of Rites D escribed the social norms, governmental organization, and the ritual conduct during the Zhou dynasty Believed to have been compiled by Confucius Became the foundation of many ritual principles that arise in later imperial China States that proper ritual conduct would maintain harmony in the empire, as well as emphasize the importance of piety (image from Book of Rites)

15. Five Classics: Book of Change contains a system of divination, which is centered largely around the principles of yin and yang collection of linear signs to be used as oracles Some practices are still used to this day "Yes" was indicated by a simple unbroken line (___), and "No" by a broken line (_ _). To each of these combinations a third line was then added. In this way the eight trigrams were made. These eight trigrams were seen as images of all that happens in heaven and on earth . They represented certain processes in nature corresponding with the character and a family member that had different meanings

16. Five Classics: Spring and Autumnal Annals Longest of the Five Classics Historical chronicle of the State of Lu appear to have been created specifically for annalistic purposes   A t first thought to be written by Confucius, but modern scholars believe the text was actually written by various chroniclers from the State of Lu (Image of Spring and Autumnal Annals)

17. Confucian Canon and the Salvation Doctrine Rather than any kind of personal salvation, Confucius emphasized the salvation of the social order by encouraging people to respect one another. The entire purpose of his teaching was to change society from one which was chaotic to one which was ordered . Confucian texts universally refer to ancestor worship and commend it as a means of cultivating the virtue of filial piety as well as creating harmonious interactions and relations in society. What happens to human beings after they die is less important to Confucian thinkers than how the living fulfill their obligations to the dead which is shown mainly though the Four Books of the Confucian Canon.

18. Perspectives on Jesus Confucian Does not offer a god or a set of gods  Confucius’s importance to Confucians is that he was in part a ‘divine’ figure. This does not imply he was a god  - he achieved transcendence. Confucius rarely claimed anything for himself. The divine attributes associated with him are ones that have been made out of respect for someone who led a truly virtuous life. Catholic Sees God through Jesus Jesus lived as a man, and died as a man. He may have been the Son of God, but he was still in some way human.  a Christian need not be worried about adhering to the teachings of a man who might be a ‘false prophet’ 

19. Perspectives on Jesus cont. Confucian Confucius taught self-cultivation, the arts, politics and ethics to his disciples Confucius taught an understanding of humanity by the Transcendent Catholic Jesus taught the way to the Kingdom of God Jesus taught an understanding of the Transcendent by humanity

20. Perspectives on Jesus cont. Confucian Confucius did not ever claim he was in some way the Son of  Tian (higher being). Confucius remains a perfect human and teacher, rather than some form of deity Confucius’s being human provides a goal to which theoretically any human being can attain Confucius taught the fulfilment of human potential Catholic the Gospels record Jesus frequently expressing that he was the Son of God Jesus’s existence as the Divine as well as the Man makes him only a goal since we can only try to follow his example Jesus taught to live in accordance with God

21. Perspective on Jesus and Confucius But they were connected in a way that both were men with a mission, one that had been transcendentally appointed for them.