Confucianism
Introduction
It is a complex religious, ethical and philosophical doctrine that was developed in the 6 th century B.C. by Confucius.
Confucianism is a Chinese way of thought which teaches that you should be loyal to your family , friends and rulers and treat the others as you would like to be treated.It represents the first large synthesis of the Chinese religious spirituality.
Confucius (Kong Fu Tzi – 551-479 B.C.)
Confucius (Kong Fu Tzi – 551-479 B.C.) was a Chinese philosopher and religious reformer. He came from a noble family. His education and career allowed him the assimilation of the traditions of the Chinese culture and civilisation. Confucius was an itinerant teacher who travelled all over the huge territory of Ancient China in the ‘search’for wisdom.
His writings include:
- 1.‘The Book of Songs ’
- 2.‘The Book of Changes’
- 3.‘The Book of Edicts’
- 4.‘Rituals Memories’
- 5.‘The Book of Music’
- 6.‘Spring – The Autumn of Lu Country’
About Confucianism
The Confucianist doctrine is an interesting mixture of archaic Chinese traditions,
moral , philosophical and religious principles .
The main coordinates of this doctrine are:
-tradition and ethical and political rules represent the basic of the Confucianist learning
- loyalty to the social ceremony
- the observance of custones, morals and manners, the sacrifices that clearly set the hierarchies in a well-structured society
- the worship of the Chinese emperor as The Son of the Sky
All this underline the syncretism between the worship of ancestors and that of
nature.
The Confucianist doctrine links the Macrocosm (the Universe), governed by the God of the Sky (Tian) to the Microcosm.(society and man ), the two universes that spin round the ideas of norm, order , rule.
Absolute education is in the centre of the Confucianist doctrine , a method through which the ordinary individual become a perfect man (anybody can become a perfect person , no matter of his/her origin , if he/ she respects unconditionally the discipline and the norms) . In Confucius’ opinion, nobility can be attained through education , not through birth. Nobility is characterized by wisdom, kindness and courage
The ethical code
Confucius developed an ethical code based on the following principles:
The quotes
‘ I am a transmitter and not an initiator… I love the past and I search it wisely’
( Confucius)
‘ The Sky started Power which is in me ‘; ‘to rule through virtue means to be like the Polar Star’
( Confucius)
The Confucianist tradition relates that when Confucius was asked about death and what happens after death , he answered : ‘You still don’t know life, how can you know about death ? ’