LESSON 11 Confucianism.pdf

Introduction to World Religions

3. Analyze the brief history, core
teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of
Confucianism.
Objectives

4. INTRODUCTION
▪Confucianismisoftencharacterizedas
asystem ofsocialandethical
philosophyratherthanareligion.In
fact,Confucianismbuiltonanancient
religiousfoundationtoestablishthe
socialvalues, institutions,and
transcendent idealsoftraditional
Chinesesociety.

5. HISTORY
▪Confucius,alsoknownasKongziorMasterKong,wasbornonSeptember
28,551B.C.E.inthestateofLuinpresent-dayShantungprovince,China.
▪Hecamefromanoblefamilythathadlostmuchofitswealth.
▪Confuciusvaluedlearningfromayoungageandbecamearenowned
scholarandteacher.
▪Heheldgovernment positionsbutleftduetofrustrationwithhisideas
beingignored.
▪For13years,hetraveledandtriedtoputhistheoriesintopractice.Atthe
ageof67,hereturnedhometoteachandpreserveclassicaltraditions.
▪Confuciusdiedattheageof73,leavingbehindnumerousfollowers.His
teachingswerelaterwrittendownbyhissuccessor,Mencius.
▪ConfuciuslivedduringaturbulenttimeinChinesehistorycalledthe
WarringStatesperiod.HisideashadalastingimpactonChinaandthe
region,andhisteachingscontinuetobedebatedanddiscussedtothis
day.

7. SACRED SCRIPTURES
▪TheFiveClassicsareagroupofbooksconsideredfundamental
textsofearlyConfucianism.
1.BookofChanges(I-Ching)-oldestoftheClassics.Itrevolves
aroundmakingpredictionsusingaformofdivinationcalled
cleromancy.
2.BookofHistory(Shangshu)-itcomposed ofspeechesofroyalty
andministersfromShangandZhoudynasties.
3.BookofPoetry(Shijing)-itisacollectionof305songs
4.ClassicofRites(SanLi)-compilationofceremonial rituals,
administration,andsocialformsoftheZhouDynasty.
5.Analects(Lunyu)-collectionofsayingsandideasattributedto
Confucius.ItisbelievedtohavebeenwrittenbyConfucius’
followers.

8. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
▪Confuciusiswell-knownforhisGoldenRule,whichis
foundintheAnalectsandpromotestreatingothersaswe
wouldliketobetreated(Donotdountootherswhatyou
donotwantotherstodountoyou).Thisruleemphasizes
mutualrespectandreciprocity.
▪OthersignificantConfucian teachings includethe
conceptsofTian(heaven),humannature,rectificationof
names,thefiveconstants,filialpiety,andancestor
worship.
▪Theseideashighlighttheimportanceofunderstanding
ourplaceintheworld,fulfillingsocialroles,honoring
familyandancestors,andupholdingmoralprinciples.

9. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
RECTIFICATION OF NAMES
▪Confuciusemphasizedtheimportanceofplayingassigned
rolesinsociety,whichhecalledtherectificationof
names.ThisconceptincludedtheFiveRelationships:
1.ruler-subject
2.father-son
3.husband-wife
4.elder-youngerbrother
5.friend-friend.
▪These relationshipscarriedshared andreciprocal
responsibilities,promotingsocialorderandharmony.

10. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
THE FIVE CONSTANTS
▪TheFiveConstants,alsoknownastheFive
Classical Virtues,arecrucialethical
principlesinConfucianism.They are
benevolence, righteousness, propriety,
knowledge/wisdom ,and fidelity.These
virtuesguidehuman actionsandsocial
order,emphasizingtheimportanceoffamilial
relationships,moraldisposition,following
normsandrituals,understandingrightfrom
wrong,andbeingtrustworthy.

11. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
FILIAL PIETY
▪Filialpiety,therespectandobediencetowards
parentsandancestors,isasignificantvirtuein
Confucianism.Itservesasamodelforsocial
behaviorandfosterssolidaritywithinfamiliesand
communities.Ancestorworshipisamanifestation
offilialpiety,whereritualsandofferingsare
performed toremember andhonordeceased
ancestors.This practice symbolizes the
connectionbetweenthelivingandthelovedones
whohavepassedaway.

12. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
FILIAL PIETY
▪AccordingtoChinesecosmology,humanspossess
twosouls:anintellectualsoulthatbecomes a
spiritafterdeathandanearthlysoulthatbecomes
aghost.Ancestorworshipacknowledges the
beliefthatthesoulsofancestorscontinuetoexist
andshouldberevered.Itinvolvesrituals
performed atancestraltabletsandgraves,
symbolizingtheunionbetweenthelivingandthe
deceased.

13. WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
▪TheBookofRitescontainstheritualsfollowedby
theChinesepeopleforalongtime.Itincludesthe
"FourRites,"whichareimportantceremonies
markingdifferentstagesofaperson'slife:coming
ofage,marriage,mourning,andsacrificialrituals.
Althoughmanyoftheseritualsarenolonger
practiced,theydemonstratethereligiousaspects
ofConfucianism.

14. WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
▪ComingofAgeRitesareheldwhenayoungpersonreaches
marriageableage,includingcappingformalesandhairpinning
forfemales.
▪MourningRitesinvolvevariouspracticestohonorthedeceased,
suchaspublicgrieving,wearingwhitefuneralclothes,offering
symbolicgoods,andperformingritualstopacifythespirit.
▪MarriageCeremoniesaresignificanteventsdecidedbyparents,
emphasizing loyaltyandmonogamy, withritualsrangingfrom
proposaltoweddingcelebrations.
▪SacrificialRitualsareregularlyperformedbydescendants to
honortheirancestors,oftenduringfestivalsliketheQingming
Festival,involvingvisitingandcleaninggraves,offeringfood,
fruit,wine,andotheritems.

15. SELECTED ISSUES
FEMALE SUBORDINATION
▪Women'slivesunderConfucianismcanbesummarizedas
threeobedience:tofather,husband,andson.
▪Women areexpectedtodisplayidealbehaviorand
obedience,withoutindependence.
▪Malesupremacy isemphasized inthehusband-wife
relationship.
▪Preferenceformalechildrenleadstogenderinequality,
dowrysystem,andcasesoffemaleinfanticide.

16. SELECTED ISSUES
AUTHORITARIANISM
▪Confucianismreinforceshierarchicalsystemsanddeferencetosuperiors.
▪Confucianismhasbeencriticizedontheissueoffather-sonrelationship,
especiallyontheaspectofallowingthebadbehaviorofafatherand
requiringthesontoacceptitwhenthisoccurs.Afterall,Confucianism
teachesthatafathermustberespectedatallcostsandasonmustobey
hisfathernomatterwhat.Thissuggeststhatchildrenmustnotquestion
theauthorityoftheirparentsandsimplyaccepttheirsubordinatestatus.
Whentheybecomeparents,thesonwillbecomeafatherhencethatisthe
timethathewillenjoyasuperiorstatusoverhisson.Meanwhile,the
daughter,whenshebecomesamother,willcontinuetobeinaninferior
position,thistimetoherhusband.

17. SELECTED ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
▪Confucianism advocates respect forthe
environmentbutalsoacceptshumandominance.
▪Socialdutiesareprioritizedoverenvironmental
protection.