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CONFUCIUS and His Teachings
By: Yen Nguyen
Confucius (551-479 BCE), according to Chinese tradition, was a thinker, political figure, educator, and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. His teachings, preserved in the Lunyu or Analects, form the foundation of much of subsequent Chinese speculation on the education and comportment of the ideal man, how such an individual should live his live and interact with others, and the forms of society and government in which he should participate.
Brief Summary of His Life
Confucius was born in 551 BCE, in the state of Lu. From early childhood he showed a great aptitude for study. He made so much progress that at the age of twenty-two he opened a school. His ability and faithful service got him a promotion to the office of minister of justice. Under his administration, the State gained a prosperity and moral order that it had never seen before. But the rival states of Lu preferred common pleasures instead of focusing on the preservation of good government. Confucius tried to bring his state back to the path of duty, but his efforts were in vain. He then resigned his position and left the state. For thirteen years, accompanied by faithful followers, he went from one state to another, seeking a ruler who would listen to his teachings. More than once he came across the risk of being killed by his enemies, but his confidence in his mission kept him going. Finally, he returned to Lu, where he spent the last five years of his life encouraging others to study and practice virtue. He died in the year 479 BCE, at the age of seventy-three.
His Teachings (Confucianism)
In Confucianism the pursuit of virtue is natural and fortunate. But in this pursuit of moral perfection Confucius sought to give others the enthusiastic love of virtue that he felt himself. To make oneself as good as possible was the main business of life. Everything that was conducive to the practice of goodness was to be eagerly sought and made use of. Knowledge was held as an indispensable treasure. The knowledge which he taught to be pursued was not purely scientific learning, but was the study of the sacred texts and the rules of virtue and propriety. Another factor which he stressed was the influence of good example. The heroes and sages of the past and sayings he sought to promote. He did this by insisting on the study of the ancient classics. Many of his recorded sayings are eulogies of these men of virtue. Confucius taught his followers the importance of always welcoming the correction of one’s faults. Also, the daily examination of conscience was enforced. To further aid to the formation of a virtuous character, he valued a certain amount of self-discipline. He recognized the danger, especially in the young, of falling into bad habits, so he insisted on eliminating the urge for unnecessary comforts.
As a foundation for the life of perfect goodness, Confucius insisted mainly on the four virtues of sincerity, benevolence, filial piety, and propriety. Sincerity was a cardinal virtue. It meant more than a mere social relation. Sincerity also meant to be truthful and straightforward in speech, faithful to one’s promises and to be conscientious in the discharge of one’s duties to others. The sincere man in Confucius’s eyes was the man whose conduct was based on the love of virtue, and who sought to observe the rules of right conduct in his heart as well as in outward actions. Showing a kindly regard for the welfare of others and in a readiness to help them in times of need, was also a fundamental element in Confucius’s teaching. These things were viewed as the traits of the good man. The third fundamental virtue in the Confucian system is filial piety. To the Chinese, filial piety prompts sons to love and respect their parents, contribute to their comfort and bring happiness and honor to their name by honorable success in life. Filial piety included the obligation of sons to live after marriage under the same roof with the father and to give him obedience as long as he lived. The will of the parents was declared to be supreme even to the extent that if the son’s wife failed to please them he was obliged to divorce her. If a dutiful son found himself compelled to scold a wayward father he was taught to give the correction with the utmost meekness. The father does not forfeit his right to filial respect, no matter how great his wickedness. Another virtue of primary importance in the Confucian system is "propriety". It embraces the whole aspect of human conduct teaching men to do the right thing. In the rules, ceremony, customs and usages are listed by which Chinese etiquette is regulated. They were distinguished even in Confucius’s day by the three hundred greater, and the three thousand lesser rules of ceremony, all of which had to be carefully learned as a guide to right conduct. To neglect or deviate from them was equivalent to committing a sin.
Confucianism seems to search out or expose the good of people. It tries to stress order and harmony between all things. It explains that all men are extremely similar and it is only our habits and customs that make people different. It speaks of family and how this harmony with the world must start at home, then be carried out into society. By promoting good a person is not only improving their life but those around them, and through cooperation and tolerance for that which you may be opposed to you are making the world a better place. So in short Confucianism seems to be saying that by following the cardinal virtues a person is making their own life more complete and useful while improving the lives of those around them.
Here is a video of a the Ceremony of Sacrifice for Confucius in China (just for your entertainment and for you to get a sense of the importance of Confucius in China):
Confucius (551-479 BCE), according to Chinese tradition, was a thinker, political figure, educator, and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought. His teachings, preserved in the Lunyu or Analects, form the foundation of much of subsequent Chinese speculation on the education and comportment of the ideal man, how such an individual should live his live and interact with others, and the forms of society and government in which he should participate.
Brief Summary of His Life
Confucius was born in 551 BCE, in the state of Lu. From early childhood he showed a great aptitude for study. He made so much progress that at the age of twenty-two he opened a school. His ability and faithful service got him a promotion to the office of minister of justice. Under his administration, the State gained a prosperity and moral order that it had never seen before. But the rival states of Lu preferred common pleasures instead of focusing on the preservation of good government. Confucius tried to bring his state back to the path of duty, but his efforts were in vain. He then resigned his position and left the state. For thirteen years, accompanied by faithful followers, he went from one state to another, seeking a ruler who would listen to his teachings. More than once he came across the risk of being killed by his enemies, but his confidence in his mission kept him going. Finally, he returned to Lu, where he spent the last five years of his life encouraging others to study and practice virtue. He died in the year 479 BCE, at the age of seventy-three.
His Teachings (Confucianism)
In Confucianism the pursuit of virtue is natural and fortunate. But in this pursuit of moral perfection Confucius sought to give others the enthusiastic love of virtue that he felt himself. To make oneself as good as possible was the main business of life. Everything that was conducive to the practice of goodness was to be eagerly sought and made use of. Knowledge was held as an indispensable treasure. The knowledge which he taught to be pursued was not purely scientific learning, but was the study of the sacred texts and the rules of virtue and propriety. Another factor which he stressed was the influence of good example. The heroes and sages of the past and sayings he sought to promote. He did this by insisting on the study of the ancient classics. Many of his recorded sayings are eulogies of these men of virtue. Confucius taught his followers the importance of always welcoming the correction of one’s faults. Also, the daily examination of conscience was enforced. To further aid to the formation of a virtuous character, he valued a certain amount of self-discipline. He recognized the danger, especially in the young, of falling into bad habits, so he insisted on eliminating the urge for unnecessary comforts.
As a foundation for the life of perfect goodness, Confucius insisted mainly on the four virtues of sincerity, benevolence, filial piety, and propriety. Sincerity was a cardinal virtue. It meant more than a mere social relation. Sincerity also meant to be truthful and straightforward in speech, faithful to one’s promises and to be conscientious in the discharge of one’s duties to others. The sincere man in Confucius’s eyes was the man whose conduct was based on the love of virtue, and who sought to observe the rules of right conduct in his heart as well as in outward actions. Showing a kindly regard for the welfare of others and in a readiness to help them in times of need, was also a fundamental element in Confucius’s teaching. These things were viewed as the traits of the good man. The third fundamental virtue in the Confucian system is filial piety. To the Chinese, filial piety prompts sons to love and respect their parents, contribute to their comfort and bring happiness and honor to their name by honorable success in life. Filial piety included the obligation of sons to live after marriage under the same roof with the father and to give him obedience as long as he lived. The will of the parents was declared to be supreme even to the extent that if the son’s wife failed to please them he was obliged to divorce her. If a dutiful son found himself compelled to scold a wayward father he was taught to give the correction with the utmost meekness. The father does not forfeit his right to filial respect, no matter how great his wickedness. Another virtue of primary importance in the Confucian system is "propriety". It embraces the whole aspect of human conduct teaching men to do the right thing. In the rules, ceremony, customs and usages are listed by which Chinese etiquette is regulated. They were distinguished even in Confucius’s day by the three hundred greater, and the three thousand lesser rules of ceremony, all of which had to be carefully learned as a guide to right conduct. To neglect or deviate from them was equivalent to committing a sin.
Confucianism seems to search out or expose the good of people. It tries to stress order and harmony between all things. It explains that all men are extremely similar and it is only our habits and customs that make people different. It speaks of family and how this harmony with the world must start at home, then be carried out into society. By promoting good a person is not only improving their life but those around them, and through cooperation and tolerance for that which you may be opposed to you are making the world a better place. So in short Confucianism seems to be saying that by following the cardinal virtues a person is making their own life more complete and useful while improving the lives of those around them.
Here is a video of a the Ceremony of Sacrifice for Confucius in China (just for your entertainment and for you to get a sense of the importance of Confucius in China):
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