Confucius and Confucianism

Confucius 551BCE-479BCE estimated Lived during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese History. Was a teacher, editor, politician and philosopher

Core Belief Human beings are teachable, improvable, and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor especially through self-cultivation and self-creation. Confucianism is humanistic and non-theistic, and does not involve belief in the supernatural or in a personal god.

Six Texts of Confucius Classic Poetry Book of Documents Book of Rites-Laws Book of Music Classic of Change Spring and Autumn Annals-Year by Year review of the land

Five Constants of Confucian Ethics Humaneness-Ren Justice-Yi Etiquette-Li Knowledge-Zhi Integrity-Xin

Four Virtues(Sizi) Loyalty-Zhong Filial Piety-Xiao Continency-Jie Righteousness-Yi

Gender Roles Confucians taught that a virtuous woman was suppose to uphold “three subordinations”-be subordinate to her father before marriage, to her husband after marriage, and to her son after her husband died. Chaste widows were revered as heroes during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2009, women were finally allowed to be classified as descendants of Confucius.