Confucianism Flashcards
At one point, Confucius was a
government official
Confucianism’s central project is learning
To be human
Confucius seems most of all to have been a
Eager student and diligent teacher
Li means
“rite” or “sacred ritual”
Neo-Confucianism was largely a response to
challenges from Taoism and Buddhism
How many Confucian texts to this day considered most important?
four
Confucius believed that good government comes about through
the cultivation of the te
A Confucian doctrine summarizing the proper ethical principle for basic human relationships is the
Five Constant Relationships
A name by which Confucius was known
Master K’ung
The collection of Confucius’s sayings
Analects
The person who was revered as the second founder of Confucianism
Mencius
Neo-Confucianism’s most important figure
Chu Hsi
The universal way
Tao
An ideal human being with perfect moral character
Chun-tzu
Doing one’s best to treat others as one would wish to be treated (“goodnes”, “love”)
Jen
Virtue as shown through the power of example
Te
A basic Confucian ethical principle that says not to do to others what you would not want them to do to you (Golden Rule)
Shu
What are the five constant relationships?
1) Love between father and son
2) Duty between ruler and subject
3) Distinction between husband and wife
4) Precedence of older over younger
5) Faith between friends
Describe Mencius’ view of human nature.
All humans were born good and they do evil against their nature.
What are the four most important texts of Confucianism?
1) Book of Mencius
2) Analets
3) Great Learning
4) Doctrine of Mean
