4. CONFUCIANISM
• Major system of thought in China
• Developed from the teachings of Confucius and his
disciples:Mencius and Hzun Tzu
• Has influenced the Chinese attitude toward life, set the
patterns of living and standards of social value and
provided the background for Chinese political theories
and institutions.
• Also known as Ruism, Confucianism can be regarded
as a religion, tradition, teaching or an ideology.
6. CONFUCIUS
• Is the Latinized name for Kong-Tzu or K’ung Fu-tzu
• born on September 28, 551 BC during the Zhou dynasty.
• He was born into a middle-class family but after his
father’s death, the family was consigned to poverty.
• Confucius worked in the fields and as a bookkeeper but
later on became a teacher.
• He became an influential philosopher, politician and
educator during a tumultuous period of Chinese history.
7. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
HAN DYNASTY
During the Han Dynasty, emperor Wu Di (reigned 141–
87 B.C.E.) made Confucianism the official state
ideology. During this time, Confucius schools were
established to teach Confucian ethics. Confucianism
existed alongside Buddhism and Taoism for several
centuries as one of the most important Chinese
religions.
8. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
SONG DYNASTY
In the Song Dynasty (960–1279 C.E.) the influence
from Buddhism and Taoism brought about “Neo-
Confucianism,” which combined ideas from all three
religions. However, in the Qing dynasty (1644–1912
C.E.), many scholars looked for a return to the older
ideas of Confucianism, prompting a Confucian revival.
15. FIVE CONSTANTS
People should know their place in life and society.
They should respect people above and below them.
• Father – Child > kindness andobedience
• Husband – Wife > love andloyalty
• Elder – Younger Brother > nobility and respect
• Friend – Friend > humaneness anddeference
• Ruler – Subject > benevolence and sincerity
17. There are two main scriptures that
Confucian people follow. The two
scriptures are the Four Books of
Confucianism and the Five Classics. The
book that is most known and most
followed is the Analects. The Analects are
saying and ideas of Confucius. The
Analects are one of the most studied
books in China.
18. Great Learnings- Uses many themes of Chinese philosophy
and also uses themes of political thinking.
Analects- Confucius saying and ideas.
Book of Mencius- Teachings of Mencius.
Doctrine of the Mean- Demonstrates how using the Golden
Way can help achieve perfect virtue.
Four Books of Confucianism
19. Five Classic
Classic of History (Shu Ching)- A collection of documents and
speeches that were claimed to be written by rulers of the Zhou
period.
Classic of Poetry (Shih Ching)- A collection of 305 poems that
are broken up into 160 folk songs.
Classic of Rites (Li Ching)- Describes prehistoric rites, social
forms, and the court ceremonies.
Classic of Changes (I Ching)- A comparison book that compares
other religion and countries to Confucianism.
Spring and Autumn Annals (Ch’un Ching)- A historical record
of Lu (Place where Confucius was born).
20. SUMMARY
Confucianism is a system of meaning
introduced by Confucius (551–479 bce). It
includes ideology, philosophical thoughts,
ethics and behavioural norms. At the core of
Confucian teaching, as recorded in the
Analects, is a lifelong mission of teaching
and learning, where the goal is to cultivate
virtue (especially benevolence, or ren 仁,
and propriety or li 礼) in both political and
interpersonal life, so as to be in harmony
with the way (dao 道).
21. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Confucianism was a
philosophy; an outline of moral,
social, spiritual and political aspects.
Confucianism teaches the people
during the age of philosopher to
learn how to respect and help each
other in a better way.
22. REFLECTION
The aforementioned Confucianist belief conveys the message that respect for
parents is not only something that should be done in the presence of others, but it is
something that must be embodied in order to be an effective tenet of the human
relationship or relationships between senior and junior members of the family.
The idea behind the passage that we chose to reflect upon is simple. We
understand that children are being trained to know, from an early age, that if one
shows respect to his elders, then he will not need to demand that his elders respect
him as well. The true respect and family relationship is built when the young
generation shows support for his elders, without feeling obligated to do so. It then
becomes important for children to understand that showing respect for their elders,
and not showing them a bad face is the kind of payback that is expected or accorded
to people who have nurtured them since conception and helped them become
contributing members of society.
23. • Britannica (2019) Confucianism. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Confucianism
• Adhikari, S. (2019, August 13). Top 10 Contributions of Confucius. Retrieved from
https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/china-history/contributions-of-confucius/
• Anon, (2019). [online] Available at: https://brainly.ph/question/410994 [Accessed 17 Oct. 2019].
• Berling, J. A. (n.d). Confucianism [blog]. Retrieved from https://asiasociety.org/education/confucianism
• Eighty Six (n.d). The Confucian Education System – Can It Positively Influence U.S. Education? [blog].
Retrieved fromhttps://www.brighthubeducation.com/education-industry/129048-confucianism-can-
change-modern-education/
• Goscha, C. (2017, March 9). What is Confucianism? A short introduction to the Chinese ethical system.
Retrieved from https://www.historytoday.com/history-matters/what-confucianism
• McEnroe, A. M. (2014, April 30). Confucius's Educational Theory. Retrieved from
https://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Confucius.html
26. IDENTIFICATION
1. Confucianism originated in what country?
2. Who is the founder of Confucianism?
3. In what dynasty did Confucianism become the
official state of ideology?
4. Give at least two main virtues taught by
Confucius.
27. 5. What are the two main scriptures that
Confucian people follow?
6. Give at least two books of Confucianism.
7. Give at least one classic of Confucianism.
28. TRUE OR FALSE
1. Confucius was born on September 28, 551 BC,
during the Zhou dynasty.
2. Confucius was born into an upper-class family, but
after hisfather’s death, the family was consigned to
poverty.
3. Confucius worked in the fields and as a bookkeeper,
but later became a doctor.
29. 4. Classic of Poetry (Shih Ching) is a collection of
429 poems that are broken up into 180 folk
songs.
5. Confucianism is a major system of thought in
China.