Confucianism: There and Here, Then and Now World Literature Ms. Cassie Nodine

Who Was Confucius? Chinese scholar, teacher, and statesman Member of the upper class 551-479 B.C. Never wrote anything Students recorded his words Sayings were compiled into The Four Books Most famous collection of quotes is called The Analects (“Confucius”). (Confucius Statue at Qufu)

Teacher and Statesman Taught young men only (admitted all who showed a desire and ability to learn) His home was the school in Qufu (poorer students lived with him) Used small group or one-on-one conversations Required study of morality, literature, rituals, music, archery, calligraphy, mathematics, and charioteering Proposed a series of examinations to place students in careers (Bledsoe). (The Gate Entrance to the Kong Family Residence)

Teachings of Confucius Based on THE THREE BONDS Ruler over the subject Father over the son Husband over the wife If these are followed, the world will be at peace; however, if these are violated, the world will be in chaos (Yan, “Chinese”). (Confucius Teaching)

Sought to teach pupils how to think, not what to think Confucian Ideals Ren: benevolence and kindliness toward others Yi: faithful friendship Li: ritual and propriety Zhi: wisdom Zhang: loyalty Shu: reciprocity Xiao: filial piety (familial places) Ti: brotherly love Xin: sincerity, honesty, and trust (Yan, “History”). Sought to teach pupils how to think, not what to think

(Confucian Education in Contemporary China) Core Values Emphasizes kind and humane governance Moderation in all things, the Middle Way (Yan, “History”) Emphasizes the importance of education Values harmony and unification Opposes distinction of classes Honors family through ancestor worship Encourages the establishment of morality on all levels (Confucian Education in Contemporary China)

Rise and Fall Height of popularity was during the Han Dynasty by Wu Di in 136 B.C.E. Decline came after the fall of the Han led to war and a rebellion against the examination system. Mao banned the philosophy after the Communist take-over in 1949 because it was said to promote the selfish interests of the wealthy, highly educated minority (Lannom). Current favor in China is due to the Communist Party’s revival of the philosophy because it promotes values the party desires for its people: education, family values, hard work, and collective harmony with an acquiescent attitude toward authoritarian rule (Slavicek).

(Analects of Confucius) The Analects, or Lun Yu Followers of Confucius compiled his teachings into The Four Books The Analects is the last of these four. Contains aphorisms, proverbs, maxims, sayings of Confucius Deals with attaining true virtue Emphasizes strengthening relationships to one’s family, neighbors, country, the earth, and heaven (Gard). (Analects of Confucius)

Confucius says… “Wake yourself up with poetry and complete your education with music.” “Teaching is half of learning.” “A youth must be respected. How do you know that his future may not exceed your present?” “Don’t criticize other peoples’ faults; criticize your own.” “A person of true wisdom knows what he knows and knows what he does not know.” “Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you” (Confucius, The Analects).

Works Cited Analects of Confucius. Photograph. Cultural China. 2007. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://history.cultural-china.com/en/173History495.html>. Bledsoe, Helen W. "Confucius: Teacher and Statesman." Calliope 10.2 (1999). Academic Search Premiere. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. Confucius. Confucius: The Analects. Trans. D. C. Lau. Hong Kong: Chinese UP, 1992. Print. "Confucius." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 02 Nov. 2011. <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/>. Confucian Education in Contemporary China. 2008. Photograph. Beijing. Neo-Confucian Schools. CRCC/USC, 2008. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://crcc.usc.edu/initiatives/ncs/>. Confucius Statue at Qufu. 2008. Photograph. Qufu. What Confucius Said. Shunya, Nov. 2008. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://www.shunya.net/Text/Blog/WhatConfuciusSaid.htm>. Confucius Teaching. Qufu. English East Day. 2001. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://english.eastday.com/e/zx/userobject1ai4044949.html>. Gard, Carolyn. "The Analects." Calliope 2.10 (2009). Academic Search Premiere. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. Lannom, Gloria W. "After Confucius." Middle Search Plus. EBSCO, Oct. 1999. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. Slavicek, Louise C. "Confucianism Today." Middle Search Plus. EBSCO, Oct. 1999. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. The Gate Entrance to the Kong Family Residence. 2009. Photograph. Qufu. Hakloot. 2009. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://www.hansdewaele.com/?p=39>. Yan, Wenqiang. "Chinese Buddhism with Chinese Characteristics." Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad. China, Chongqing. 13 July 2011. Lecture. Yan, Wenqiang. "History of Confucianism." Message to the author. 24 Sept. 2011. E-mail.