Aim: to what extent does Confucianism attempt to bring order to society?
Confucianism
Where?
Founder
• When?
• Whom?
• Confucius
• (K’ung-fu-tzu)
• (551-479 BCE)
Was there a founder?
Confucianism
• His teachings were later refined and spread by Mencius (Meng Tzu).Ironically Mencius is probably more responsible for the spread of Confucianism than… Confucius.
Background to Confucianism
• Dynastic warfare and division broke out in the Zhou Dynasty (+/- 1000 BCE – 256 BCE) starting in 771 BCE and lasting until 221 BCE.
• China was ravaged by chaos and disorder during a time period known as the Warring States.
• How could one establish order in society?• By utilizing a moral philosophy by which people could live their lives.
•One that stressed order
Five Relationships• Husband and wife
• Parent and child (Filial Piety)
• Elder and younger brother, or generally of elders and youngsters
• Ruler and Minister or subject
• Friend and friend.
Taken from The Analects
• How might the Five Relationships help
establish order in society?
Texts• The Analects (a
total of twenty books): The thoughts and sayings of Confucius, including conversations between the master and his pupils.
• The Five Classics (books) collected after Confucius’ death during the Zhou Dynasty and considered to be great examples of Confucian thinking.
• Why would such a philosophy make sense during a time of political anarchy and why might political rulers (Emperors etc.) really like this philosophy?
• The answer isn’t going to fly in from the right. Think!
FIN