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Quick Facts
Beliefs / Ritual and Worship / Holidays / Cooperation
Founder	K’ung-Fu-Tzu, (Latinized form of MASTER K'UNG), Confucius (551-479 BC) - Latinized Confucian, a WESTERN term, non meaningful in Chinese; not considered the founder, but the "transmitter" as he recognized himself
Date Founded	6th to 5th century BCE, in China
Number of Followers	5-6 million
Major Countries	China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam
Sacred Texts	The Lun-yü (Analects) The most revered sacred scripture in the Confucian tradition Compiled by the second generation of Confucius' disciples. Based primarily on the Master's sayings, preserved in both oral and written transmissions, Captures the Confucian spirit in the same way that the Platonic dialogues embody Socratic teachings. Confucian Canon Achieved its present form in the Sung dynasty under the direction of Chu Hsi (1130-1200). Consists of the Five Classics and the Four Books. Five Classics Shu Ching (Classic of History) - collection of documents and speeches dating from the Later Han Dynasty (23-220 CE) Shih Ching (Classic of Odes) - collection of 300 poems and songs from the early Chou Dynasty (1027-402 BC) I Ching (Classic of Changes) - collection of texts on divination based on a set of 64 hexagrams that reflect the relationship between Yin and Yang in nature and society Ch'un Ching (Spring and Autumn Annals) - extracts from the history of the state of Lu 722-484, said to be compiled by Confucius Li Ching (Classic of Rites) - consists of three books on the Li (Rites of Propriety) Four Books *Lun Yu* - Analects of Confucius *Chung Yung* - Doctrine of the Mean *Ta Hsueh* - Great Learning *Meng Tzu* - Mencius "Confucianism" and "Confucius." Encyclopedia Britannica (Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service, 2005). "Confucian canon," "Confucian State Cult," and "Confucius." John R. Hinnels, ed., The Penguin Dictionary of Religions, 2nd ed. (Penguin Books, 1997).
Beliefs	Centers around self-development. Followers believe that as everyone becomes better people, society as a whole will benefit. Confucius taught values of love, justice, kindness and generosity among many others. Serve your enemies in a just way Heaven is a positive and personal force in the universe
Ritual and Worship	There are no specific rituals in Confucianism Follow ancient Chinese tradition, Taoism, Buddishm, or any religion a Confucian practices birth T'ai-shen (spirit of the fetus) protects the expectant woman and deals harshly with anyone who harasses the mother to be Special procedure is used when disposing the placenta Mother follows a special diet and is allowed rest for a month after delivery Mother's family of origin supplies all the items required by the baby on the first, fourth and twelfth month anniversary of the birth maturity Special celebration relating to group meals marriage Performed in six stages Proposal - the couple exchange the eight characters Engagement - the wedding day is chosen and the bride anounces it through invitations Dowry- is carried to the groom's home and the bride-price is then sent to the bride by the groom's parents Procession-The groom takes the bride to his home Marriage and Reception- The couple recites their vows and toast each other with wine Morning after- The bride serves breakfast to the groom's parents, who then reciprocate Death Relatives cry out aloud to inform the neighbors Family starts mourning Corpse is washed and placed in a coffin Mourners bring incense and money to offset the cost of the funeral Food and significant objects of the deceased are placed into the coffin A Buddhist or Taoist priest (or even a Christian minister) performs the burial ritual Friends and family follow the coffin to the cemetery, along with a willow branch which symbolizes the soul of the person who has died The Branch is carried back to the family altar where it is used to "install" the spirit of the deceased Liturgies are performed on the 7th, 9th, 49th day after the burial and on the first and third anniversaries of the death
Holidays	Death of Confucius- October 1st

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