Confucianism

Question 1

History

Answer 1

Ancient china (middle kingdom - everything outside of it is little significance)
developed in isolation (wall of china)
Animistic backgrounds (come out of tribalism, localized nature of spirits (symbol of dragon - good, protector, life giver, river)
- Divination and oracle bones (go up high to reach spirits)
- balance of nature (yin and gang)
- tien: ‘the will of heaven’ (high god, divine mind beyond universe, benevolent to humans, harmony/wellbeing)
- spirits of ancestors
- universe of unity: the tao: ‘way of nature’ (everything aligns, connects to tien)

Question 2

Balance of nature

Answer 2

I Ching or Yin/Yang symbol
Yang: light, bright, male, strong, day, life, spring, assertive, symbol of dragon, rough, restless
Yin: dark, weak, female, night, death, autumn, recessive, symbol of tiger, passive, smooth, soft

Question 3

2-fold development (history)

Answer 3

Chia - leads to Jen
- great schools of thought, philosophy, teachers, writers, intelligence
- how one relates to others in the society in philosophy
Chiao - leads to Li
- practice, devotion, action, meditation, ritual, practioner

Question 4

Confucius (history)

Answer 4

Early life
- contemporary of Buddha
- Kong (family name) Fu zi (doctor)
- father a soldier (died when young)
- childhood in poverty
- people should be advanced by talents and ability
- worked as shepherd, clerk (administrative)
Bureaucratic work
- government
ascends up to advisor b/c of good work, but ideas/strategies was not heard (quits job)
- begins to travel and tutors/teaches young men who are becoming government workers (nobility)
Teaches sons of nobility
Writings
- the analects and book of changes
- students wrote it
- analects (proverbs) came from Confucius
- includes diagrams (64 cycles of universe, states of being) - each cycle gets worse from the previous, connected in pairs of equal things

Question 5

Confucianism institutionalized (history)

Answer 5

after death of Confucius
became main religions of china
governmental power

Question 6

Later masters (history)

Answer 6

Mencius
- developed Confucius thought (human thought should allow forces to guide you)
- artigian - if you want to cultivate good in people, do natural state, can turn people to be bad with external forces
- heaven like moral force in universe, not person
Hsun-tzu
- heaven is universe itself, consciousness (not person or moral force)
- both confucious and mencius are still good
- school of thought now instead of religion

Question 7

Confucianism belief - optimistic humanism

Answer 7

look to the past and to tradition for inspiration (what made past special?)
advocates for highest aspirations of human spirit. When you see something good in someone, try and be like that. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weakness
- to think and not to study is dangerous. To study and not to think is a waste.

Question 8

Confucianism belief - seeking social harmony

Answer 8

Contra Social Anarchy
- returning to social harmony of earlier times will be achieved only by following a strict code of conduct based on high moral ideals
- going back to traditional way (importance of tradition and respect) - etiquette is important

Question 9

Confucianism belief - creation of an ordered society

Answer 9

a. respect authority
b. seek good of others
c. build and support a strong central government
d. practice ritual etiquette behaviours (what separates humans from animals)

Question 10

Confucianism practice - Li

Answer 10

external: correct ritual action
- the correct manner of overt social behaviours, which ideally expresses one’s inner intention
- do it and then feel (right thing to do)
TOP 5 RELATIONSHIPS
1. father-son: parent - offspring
- male dimension of family
- hsaio: filial piety (family honour)
- parent: kind; child: honour, respect and obey parent, obedience
- this relationship never goes away
2. Older-younger bother/sibling
- older: gently
- younger: humility
3. Husband-Wife
- husband: righteous (no adultery), do not keep money away from wife, provider
- wife - obediant
4. Elder-Junior
- elder: consideration to younger
- Junior: deferential (let them go first) to elder
5. Ruler-Subject
- ruler: benevolent (anticipate and provide need in advance)
- subject: loyalty

• do not shame family
  -eldest is the leader
• elder is important

Question 11

Confucianism practices - Jen

Answer 11

Internal (“chia”): “Perfect Harmony”
- social goodwill, love, benevolence to others; it is the supreme virtue that represents the finest of human qualities
- good relationship between 2 people (Jen comes after Li)
Chan-tzu = perfect (hu)man
- observes official and ancestral rites
- honors parents
- fulfills ethical obligations
- works for the good of society
- righteousness to be essential in everything, humility

Golden rule