©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter Six Part 2 Confucianism

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Early China Early China provided fertile ground for the growth of major religions: Daoism (Taoism) Confucianism Mahayana Buddhism All three are nonexclusive, often practiced simultaneously.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Basic Elements of Traditional Indigenous Chinese Beliefs Animism – Belief in spirits Good spirits are responsible for blessings, bringing such gifts as health, wealth, longevity and fertility. Bad spirits cause problems such as accidents and illness. Disturbances in the balance of nature were seen as punishment for human failings or sins. Harmony with nature could be restored through rituals and sacrifice.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Basic Elements of Traditional Indigenous Chinese Beliefs Tian Early belief in a personal, omnipotent God, known as Shang Di, who could be contacted through divination During the Zhou Dynasty this belief was replaced with a belief in Tian. Tian is an impersonal divine force that controls events on earth. Tian is also seen as the cosmic moral principle determining right and wrong

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Basic Elements of Traditional Indigenous Chinese Beliefs Veneration of Ancestors After death, ancestors become powerful spirits to be placated to ensure positive influence on the family. This practice had strong influence on the development of Confucianism.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Basic Elements of Traditional Indigenous Chinese Beliefs Awareness of and emphasis on patterns in nature. Nature is beyond control -- Survival depends on the ability to recognize patterns and work within them. Seasonal cycles Life cycles Cycles of moon, sun and stars Pattern in waves Rhythm of the Dao Strong impact on Daoism

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Basic Elements of Traditional Indigenous Chinese Beliefs Belief in Yin and Yang Opposite but complimentary principles Light and dark, day and night, hot and cold, etc. The list is infinite Not the same as western ideas of the struggle between good and evil A dynamic balance between the two forces is the ideal goal. Neither will triumph over the other, but each contains some of its opposite and will eventually be transformed into its opposite.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Basic Elements of Traditional Indigenous Chinese Beliefs The practice of divination Early practice called for reading lines in bones or tortoise shells to tell the future. Later, the I Ching developed a system of hexagrams for use in divination. Hexagrams are groups of lines that can fall in different patterns. The patterns can be interpreted as an aid for predicting future events.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Dao in Confucianism Belief in Dao provides a connection with Daoism The focus of belief in the Dao provides a contrast with Daoism Focus for Confucianism is the way of social harmony—focus on humanity. Training or education in virtues is necessary. Focus for Daoism is the way of balance in nature—focus on nature. Training or education is not necessary and not really desirable.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Life of Confucius Confucius is the Latin version of his name and title, originally Kong Qiu, then Kong Fuzi (Master Kong) Born to a once-noble family in 551 B.C.E. Time of political instability Father died when he was a child Supported mother until her death in accordance with beliefs about relationships Worked in government while mother was alive, then became a teacher. Married and had a son and daughter. Died in 479 B.C.E.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Confucian Ideals Belief that society can only function properly if virtues are taught and lived. Two ideals Produce excellent individuals as social leaders Can only happen through interaction with others Contributions of others through training and education Fulfillment of obligations to others Create a harmonious society This happens as a direct result of the first ideal Social responsibility is essential and codified in the five great relationships

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Five Great Relationships Relationships define a person. There are five that are the most significant.  Father-son—represents all parent-child relationships  The most important relationship  Functions as a model for all similar relationships.  Obligations of parents o Provide education and moral training o Care for children and provide for needs. o Help in selection of career and marriage partner.  Obligations of children o Be respectful and obedient o Care for parents and provide for them in old age o Honor parents’ memory after death.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Five Great Relationships  Relationships define a person. There are five that are the most significant.  Elder Brother-Younger Brother  Obligations of elder brother to take responsibility to raise younger siblings  Obligation of younger siblings to be compliant.  Husband-Wife  Each is responsible for the care of the other. o Husband is an authoritative protector o Wife is protected homemaker and mother figure. o This can lead to a motherly type relationship between them.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Five Great Relationships  Relationships define a person. There are five that are the most significant.  Elder-Younger or Friend-Friend  All older people are obligated to help fill the needs of younger people.  All younger people are obligated to show respect and be open to advice from older people  Friendship implies strong commitment in Confucian culture.  Ruler-Subject  Based on the Father-Son relationship  Social harmony extends from the home and family to society through all five relationships.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Five Great Virtues Personal excellence comes from the manifestation of five virtues.  Ren (jen)—benevolence  Various translations: sympathy, empathy, kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness  Essence is thinking of the other person  Li—appropriateness, propriety  Essence—self-control and good manners  Shu—reciprocity  Another version of the Golden Rule, often called the Silver Rule

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Five Great Virtues Personal excellence comes from the manifestation of five virtues.  Xiao (hsiao)—family devotion, filial piety  Essence—valuing the entire extended family—past, present and future  Includes veneration of ancestors  Wen-cultivation in the arts  Essence—appreciation of all forms of art  Includes at least an amateur skill in the arts.  Also includes the idea of sincerity

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Other Major Confucian Virtues Duty Loyalty Consensus Moderation Self-sacrifice Thrift Self-control