CONFUCIANISM
Sometimes viewed as a philosophy, sometimes as a religion, Confucianism is perhaps best understood as an all-encompassing humanism that is compatible with other forms of religion.
Confucianism has deeply influenced spiritual and political life in China; its influence has also extended to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. East Asians may profess themselves to be Shintoists, Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims, or Christians - but seldom do they cease to be Confucians.
Confucianism is predominately practiced in China, Asia, and in some areas in North America. The Confucius teachings and principles were founded around 500 BC, in China. The teachings and principles play a major role in the Chinese culture today. The teachings put a big emphasis on the importance of achieving Harmony.
In Confucianism, social harmony is the ultimate goal of every follower. This means that everyone must know their place in the social order. Relationships among different groups of people, is key in Confucianism. The five cardinal relations include: Ruler and subject; father and son; husband and wife, elder and younger brother, friend to friend. These bonds are categorized in ways that show respect and obedience from one group to the next. It is greatly emphasized that family is the center of everything and comes before the individual person.
There are five virtues taught in Confucianism:
-The first virtue is Ren, which is humaneness; Humaneness can be defined as the
quality of compassion for others, which can include both people and animals. Three of the key
concepts of Ren are love, mercy, and humanity.
-The second virtue is Yi. Yi means honesty and righteousness.
-The third virtue is Li, which means propriety and correct behavior.
-The fourth virtue is Zhi, which stands for wisdom or knowledge.
-The fifth virtue is Xin, which stands for fidelity and sincerity.
These five virtues teach the followers of Confucianism the basic ideas about how a person should behave.
Confucianism, the way of life propagated by Confucius in the 6th–5th century bce and followed by the Chinese people for more than two millennia. Although transformed over time, it is still the substance of learning, the source of values, and the social code of the Chinese. Its influence has also extended to other countries, particularly Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Although often grouped with the major historical religions, Confucianism differs from them by not being an organized religion.
Confucius addressed himself to the issue of learning to be human. In so doing he attempted to redefine and revitalize the institutions that for centuries had been vital to political stability and social order: the family, the school, the local community, the state, and the kingdom. Confucius did not accept the status quo, which held that wealth and power spoke the loudest. He felt that virtue (de), both as a personal quality and as a requirement for leadership, was essential for individual dignity, communal solidarity, and political order.
The Lunyu (Analects), the most-revered sacred scripture in the Confucian tradition, was probably compiled by the succeeding generations of Confucius’s disciples. Based primarily on the Master’s sayings, preserved in both oral and written transmissions, it captures the Confucian spirit.
One of Confucius’s most-significant personal descriptions is the short autobiographical account of his spiritual development found in the Analects:
“At 15 I set my heart on learning; at 30 I firmly took my stand; at 40 I had no delusions; at 50 I knew the mandate of heaven; at 60 my ear was attuned; at 70 I followed my heart’s desire without overstepping the boundaries.” (2:4).
What he demanded of his students was the willingness to learn: “I do not enlighten anyone who is not eager to learn, nor encourage anyone who is not anxious to put his ideas into words” (7:8).
The community that Confucius created was a scholarly fellowship of like-minded men of different ages and different backgrounds from different states. They were attracted to Confucius because they shared his vision and to varying degrees took part in his mission to bring moral order to an increasingly fragmented world. That mission was difficult and even dangerous. Confucius himself suffered from joblessness, homelessness, starvation, and occasionally life-threatening violence.
The ethical principles in Confucianism are the most important beliefs. Other than these principles, there are not any specific practices that Confucianism followers must abide by. The Confucianism followers fill these practices with practices from other religions like the Chinese religion, Taoism, and Buddhism. In Confucianism, the acts of everyday life can be considered practices/rituals.
Sometimes viewed as a philosophy, sometimes as a religion, Confucianism is perhaps best understood as an all-encompassing humanism that is compatible with other forms of religion.
Confucianism has deeply influenced spiritual and political life in China; its influence has also extended to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. East Asians may profess themselves to be Shintoists, Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims, or Christians - but seldom do they cease to be Confucians.
Confucianism is predominately practiced in China, Asia, and in some areas in North America. The Confucius teachings and principles were founded around 500 BC, in China. The teachings and principles play a major role in the Chinese culture today. The teachings put a big emphasis on the importance of achieving Harmony.
In Confucianism, social harmony is the ultimate goal of every follower. This means that everyone must know their place in the social order. Relationships among different groups of people, is key in Confucianism. The five cardinal relations include: Ruler and subject; father and son; husband and wife, elder and younger brother, friend to friend. These bonds are categorized in ways that show respect and obedience from one group to the next. It is greatly emphasized that family is the center of everything and comes before the individual person.
There are five virtues taught in Confucianism:
-The first virtue is Ren, which is humaneness; Humaneness can be defined as the
quality of compassion for others, which can include both people and animals. Three of the key
concepts of Ren are love, mercy, and humanity.
-The second virtue is Yi. Yi means honesty and righteousness.
-The third virtue is Li, which means propriety and correct behavior.
-The fourth virtue is Zhi, which stands for wisdom or knowledge.
-The fifth virtue is Xin, which stands for fidelity and sincerity.
These five virtues teach the followers of Confucianism the basic ideas about how a person should behave.
Confucianism, the way of life propagated by Confucius in the 6th–5th century bce and followed by the Chinese people for more than two millennia. Although transformed over time, it is still the substance of learning, the source of values, and the social code of the Chinese. Its influence has also extended to other countries, particularly Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Although often grouped with the major historical religions, Confucianism differs from them by not being an organized religion.
Confucius addressed himself to the issue of learning to be human. In so doing he attempted to redefine and revitalize the institutions that for centuries had been vital to political stability and social order: the family, the school, the local community, the state, and the kingdom. Confucius did not accept the status quo, which held that wealth and power spoke the loudest. He felt that virtue (de), both as a personal quality and as a requirement for leadership, was essential for individual dignity, communal solidarity, and political order.
The Lunyu (Analects), the most-revered sacred scripture in the Confucian tradition, was probably compiled by the succeeding generations of Confucius’s disciples. Based primarily on the Master’s sayings, preserved in both oral and written transmissions, it captures the Confucian spirit.
One of Confucius’s most-significant personal descriptions is the short autobiographical account of his spiritual development found in the Analects:
“At 15 I set my heart on learning; at 30 I firmly took my stand; at 40 I had no delusions; at 50 I knew the mandate of heaven; at 60 my ear was attuned; at 70 I followed my heart’s desire without overstepping the boundaries.” (2:4).
What he demanded of his students was the willingness to learn: “I do not enlighten anyone who is not eager to learn, nor encourage anyone who is not anxious to put his ideas into words” (7:8).
The community that Confucius created was a scholarly fellowship of like-minded men of different ages and different backgrounds from different states. They were attracted to Confucius because they shared his vision and to varying degrees took part in his mission to bring moral order to an increasingly fragmented world. That mission was difficult and even dangerous. Confucius himself suffered from joblessness, homelessness, starvation, and occasionally life-threatening violence.
The ethical principles in Confucianism are the most important beliefs. Other than these principles, there are not any specific practices that Confucianism followers must abide by. The Confucianism followers fill these practices with practices from other religions like the Chinese religion, Taoism, and Buddhism. In Confucianism, the acts of everyday life can be considered practices/rituals.