Briefly describe the historical background of the emergence of Confucianism.

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Confucianism II Ren: Humanity / Goodness / Benevolence

仁 Person; People Two

Two men should ideally behave toward each other in mutuality and humanity.

Ren: Humanity / Goodness / Benevolence • Reciprocity and the mutual responsibility of one person for another

“Zhonggong asked about Humanity. Confucius said, “When you go out, treat everyone as if you were welcoming a great guest. Employ people as if you were condutind a great sacrifice. Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you. Then neither in your country nor in your family will there be complaints against you.“

(Analects 12:2)

“The humane man, desiring to be established himself, seeks to establish others; desiring himself to succeed, he helps others to succeed. To judge others by what one knows of oneself is the method of achieving humanity.”

(Analects 6:28)

Ren: Humanity / Goodness / Benevolence • Cultivating and practicing the love and concern for others involved

deprecating oneself. This meant being sure to avoid bringing oneself into favor by flattering or trying to please others.

• “A person with honeyed words and ingratiating gestures is seldom a man of humanity” (Analects 1:3).

• “The individual who is forceful, resolute, simple, and cautious of speech is near to humanity.” (Analects 13: 27).

• Those who have cultivated humanity are “simple in manner and slow of speech” (Analects 13:27).

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Ren: Humanity / Goodness / Benevolence • The devotion to parents and older siblings is the most basic form of

promoting the interests of others before one's own.

“Few of those who are filial sons and respectful brothers will show disrespect to superiors, and there has never been a man who is respectful to superiors and yet creates disorder…..Filial piety and brotherly respect are the root of humanity.” (Analects I:2)

Yi: Uprightness, Righteousness Morally correct action choices, or the moral vision that allows one to make them

• While pursuing one's own self-interest/profit is not necessarily bad, one would be a better, more righteous person, if one's life was based upon following a path designed to enhance the greater good.

• “Riches and honors are the things people desire, but if one obtains them by not following the Way, then one will not be able to hold them.”

(Analects 4: 5)

• “The gentleman understands integrity; the petty person knows about profit”

(Analects 4: 16)

Li: Ritual The proper way of doing things

• The behaviors subject to the category denoted by this term range from • Political protocol to court ceremony • Religious rite to village festival • Daily etiquette to disciplines of personal conduct

"In rites at large, it is always better to be too simple rather than too lavish. In funeral rites, it is more important to have the real sentiment of sorrow than minute attention to observances.“ (Analects 3:4)

Li: Ritual The proper way of doing things

• Ritual represents the forms in which human action are supposed to go on

• People could learn proper relationships and actions through ritual • Following the ritual of ancestor worship

• People continue to be loyal and obedient to their parents even after their parents have passed away.

• Parents continue to teach their own children filial piety

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Yong: courage

• The courage to make own judgments about what action is right in any circumstances

“To see what is right and not to do it, is not courage” (Analects, 17: 24)

"The gentleman holds righteousness to be of highest importance. The gentleman, having courage without righteousness, will be guilty of insubordination; the petty person having courage without righteousness, will commit robbery.“ (Analects, 17: 23)

The Foundations of Confucius’ Ethical System

• The cosmos is a moral order • Human affairs can prosper only when they are in harmony with the

moral order of the world • The primary reason for adhering to the principles of ethical conduct is

for the goodness of the family and of society • Individual’s primary duty was to the family. The duty went beyond the

family to the extended clan, to the village or community, to the state and to the whole human society, uniting it harmoniously with the cosmic order.

Five Basic Relations Confucius sets up five principal relationships in which most people are involved.

• Ruler to subject

• Father to son

• Older brother to younger brother

• Husband to wife

• Friend-Friend

Filial Piety (“Xiao”) (devotion to & reverence for parents & family)

• The institution of the family is the foundation of a well-ordered & civilized society, which is grounded mainly on devotion & reverence for parents

• Filial piety extends to the respect for age (experience & wisdom)

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What should a Filial Child do? • Nourish and respect parents

“When your parents are alive, serve the parents according to the rules of ritual and decorum. When they are deceased, give them a funeral and offer scarifies to them according to the rules o ritual and decorum.”

• Observe and model the parents “When your father is alive observe his intentions. When he is deceased, model yourself on the

memory of his behavior.”

• Remonstrate parents tactfully “ The father will shelter the son and the son will shelter the father. Righteousness lies precisely in

this.” “You can be service to your father and mother by remonstrating with them tactfully. If you

perceive that they don’t wish to follow your advice, then continue to be reverent toward them without offending or disobeying them; work hard and do not murmur against them.”

Filial Piety (“Xiao”)

孝 “An old man”

“son; a young man”

Reciprocal relationship between parents and child

Filial Piety and Ancestor Worship • The word for filial piety “xiao孝” in Chinese is also the same as the

word for mourning.

• The child who acts with piety towards his or her parents is equated with the child who mourns his or her parents through the proper rituals.

Ancestor Worship Two major ways of ancestor worship: • Worshiping ancestral tablets at home

Ancestral Tablet of the Chen Family

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Ancestor Worship Two major ways of ancestor worship: • Tidying up the graves of ancestors, especially the recent ancestors,

and worshiping them • “Tomb Sweeping Day”