Confucianism

By: Audrey, Lindsey, Ah'Shaiyah, Kat, and Vedika

Created by Confucius or Kong Qiu Since the second-century B.C.E., Confucianism

has strongly influenced Chinese political, and ultimately social and intellectual, behaviors.

The height of Confucianism was during the Han dynasty.

History

•After Confucius left Lu he wandered for 12 years teaching his philosophies in the hope that it would be put to use somewhere, Never happened and Confucius returned in 68 B.C.ERefused to do political jobsAttracted ample scholars who he spread his teaching to.died in 479 B.C.E, but after his death Confucianism became more popular in China Spread by Confucius's followers, such as Mengzi• Confucianism spread throughout Chinese culture, and was especially popular during the Zhou dynasty due to political chaos. used as a way to enforce the values of propriety, morals, and etiquette

Origin and diffusion of Confucianism

Those who follow Confucianism believe that once

one has invested in their filial responsibility ,virtues, and justice that these aspects will transfer to their duty (or place) in the most important components of society

Family, community, and government. Confucianism's followers also held the pursuit of knowledge as a high priority. Ren (benevolence), li (ritual norms), zhong (loyalty

to one's true nature), shu (reciprocity), and xiao (filial piety). Together these constitute de (virtue).

Basic beliefs

followers abide by many behavior rules: being considerate to others, respect for

ancestors, finding harmony and balance in all things, avoiding extremes in behavior and emotion.

Filial Piety is important Confucius taught five basic virtues: kindness, righteousness, sobriety, wisdom, and

trustworthiness. Jen: Principle taught by Confucius, well-being

depends directly on the well-being of others.

How is Confucianism practiced by it's followers?

The Analects- Books written around

the time of Confucius and his students, contains the sayings and philosophy of Confucius.

The 5 Classics contain, The Book of Change, the Book of Poetry, The Book of History, the Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Four Books contain, the Analects, the Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, and the Book of Mencius.

Major Texts And literature

Confucianism is a philosophy that advises its

followers on how to live their lives and has no direct affiliation with any deities.

Confucius, its founder, however did encourage the worship of the many gods prominent in his time.

The Gods

Ancestor worship- The oldest and

most enduring Confucian ritual practice.

The ritualized commemoration of, communication with, and sacrifice to one's deceased relations.

Kongzi was a strong advocate for ritual. He believed that participating in a ritual united people and strengthened the human community.

Rituals and holidays

Patriarchal Confucians in general began to

gradually teach that a virtuous woman was supposed to follow the lead of the males in her family.

One of the five relationships was husband to wife.

Role of Women

Began moral teachings around 519BC

to a minister's son 517 BC accompanied/fled with Prince

of Lu to neighboring state 500BC appointed as the minister of

justice of Lu state at 51 years old Disliked the Prince of Lu's

irresponsibility and left Confucianism was spread by word of

mouth and by raising children in the virtues and having it be passed

Missionary and Outreach

Most influential Chinese

religion Often competes with

Buddhism and Daoism

Major contacts with other religions

Differences: more of a system of philosophy than a religion No deity Opposite of DaoismSimilarities:Patriarchal

Comparing and contrasting Confucianism

"Library." Rites and Ceremonies. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept.

2014. "Confucian Documents." Confucian Documents. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Sept. 2014. Cleary, Thomas F. The Essential Confucius: The Heart of

Confucius' Teachings in Authentic I Ching Order : A Compendium of Ethical Wisdom. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1992. Print.

Bulliet, Richard W. The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History. 5th Ed., Student ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

Bibliography