Confucius as he is known in the western world or K'ung Fu Tzu was a Chinese philosopher, political analyst, teacher and founder of

the religion or philosophy known as Confucianism, in the modern world. Like Socrates in the west, Confucius was the pioneer of a
new line of thought in the east. Confucianism, also known as the Ru school in Chinese philosophy, is based on the teachings of
Confucius compiled by his students and named the Lunyu or the Analects. Like Socrates, Confucius's work and teachings were not
appreciated during his lifetime. It was years after his death that people realized the soundness of his thoughts and he got recognition
for his vision.
Confucianism is based on the idea of 'love' and 'compassion' as two prime virtues in life. A society in which individuals place morals
and virtue above everything else will surely prosper. Therefore, Confucius emphasized the importance of rituals or a code of good
conduct for a society. He also emphasized that whatever be the circumstances we find ourselves in, we always have a choice to
choose the right or wrong path.
If each component or individual of a society performs his part efficiently, by choosing the right path, the society will be in harmony.
Confucius pictured the society like a giant wheel with the monarchy, the king, as the axis around which everything spins. Thus, a
hierarchical structure of society is what he conceptualized. He had the belief that a society based on virtue would not require
punishing laws or a penal code as he believed in the goodness of every individual.
Fundamental Principles of Confucianism
These are the principles by which a person should live by, according to Confucius. If a person inculcates these principles, he will be
worthy of being called 'the ideal man' or the 'perfect man'.
Li: Li is the principle of self-restraint and sense of propriety that should be inculcated in a person. A person should always act in a
honorable way and respect his elders, his ancestors, and his family members. He shall not be selfish in his acts. It does not mean that
he should not have personal ambitions and aspirations but he should not achieve them by being unjust to others. It includes
following social etiquette and mannerisms.
Hsiao: Hsiao is love for the immediate family and then society. It's the principle of love of parents for their children and of children
for their parents. If every family is united and happy, the society will prosper.
Yi: Yi is the principle of righteousness. It is upholding what is right above everything else and sacrificing oneself for it, if need be.
Xin: Xin is the principle of honesty in life. Being honest with oneself and being honest with the people around you builds trust and
confidence.
Jen: Jen is the most important of all principles. It means being kind and humane to your fellow beings. Sharing and understanding
each other without being overtly judgmental. Even if a person behaves badly with you, think about the condition he is in and what is
making him behave this way. It is about helping out others.
Chung: The last but not the least important principle, chung is loyalty to one's family and to one's country. It is a quality which binds
a country strongly together.
The Five Relationships
Confucius specifies the five important relationships that an individual is a part of. If he maintains each of those relationships dutifully,
the society will stabilize and prosper automatically.
King to subject
Father to son
Husband to wife
Older brother to younger brother
Friend to friend
If we observe them, each of these relationships is like a chain that binds individuals in a society. The range of these relationships
connect everybody in one single unit. If all these chains are strong, the fabric of a society is strong.
Confucianism is the ethical system of Confucius, emphasizing moral order, the humanity and virtue of China's ancient rulers, and
gentlemanly education. And one large aspect of this system is a plan for right living This plan lays out a structured society based on five
human relationships.
In the first four of these relationships there is a defined superior and inferior, but the superior is always listed first.
Father to Son also known as filial piety
This relationship is by far the core of the five. This relationship is justified by the superior being taking responsibility for the son with their
superior collection of knowledge and wisdom. In this relationship the son must be completely obedient and respectful to his father.
Elder Brother to Younger Brother also know as fraternal piety
The younger brother is to be obedient and respectful to his older brother. The older brother takes much of the same responsibilities as
the father as he strives to teach younger brother in the same ways his father has taught him, while maintaining a good example. The
younger brother must do nothing to bring shame to his family.
Husband to wife also know as matrimonial piety
The wife has the responsibility of not bringing shame to the family similarly to the role of the younger brother. The husband on the other
hand has the duty to honor his wife as he instructs her. The husband must also provide a living for his family.
Emperor to subject also know as civic piety
The Emperor gains his power through heredity and military victory, but can only maintain that power as long as he is fulfilling the Will of
Heaven, bringing prosperity, safety, and cultural excellence to his realm.
The last of the five relationships differs from the first in which it is a mutual relationship as opposed to a relationship between a superior
and a inferior.
Friend to Friend also know as mutual piety
The relationship of friends is a mutual respect, one which one becomes worthy of by being worthy of learning the Classics and showing
the incorporation of Confucian ideals through their thought and actions.

Freezing in a Thin Coat in Obedience to His Stepmother

Min Tzu-chien had lost his mother at a young age. His father remarried and had two more sons with his second wife. She always
dressed her own sons in thickly padded robes. But to her stepson she gave only a thin coat padded with cattails [instead of cotton].
One winter day, when Min Tzu-chien was told to hold the reins of his father's cart, he was shivering so badly that he dropped the reins.
This way his father found out that his wife dressed his oldest son very poorly. In his rage he decided to dismiss his second wife. But
Min Tzu-chien said: "If she stays, one son will be freezing. But if she leaves, all three sons will suffer from the cold." When his
stepmother heard this, she changed her attitude towards Min Tzu-chien.
Allowing Mosquitoes to Feast on His Blood
During the Chin Dynasty (4th-5th Century CE), a boy named Wu Meng (1) was already serving his parents in exemplary filial piety
although he was just eight years old. The family was so poor that they could not even afford a gauze net against the mosquitoes.
Therefore every night in the summer swarms of mosquitoes would come and bite them. Wu Meng let them all feast on his naked
stomach. Even though there were so many, he did not drive them away. He feared that the mosquitoes, having left him, would instead
bite his parents. His heart was truly filled with love for his parents.

Sacrificing His Son for the Sake of His Mother

Kuo Chi, who lived during the Han Dynasty (200 BCE-200 CE) and his family were very poor. He had a three-year-old son. Even
though there was little food, Kou Chi's mother would always give part of her share to her grandson so that he did not suffer hunger.
One day Kuo Chi said to his wife, "We are so poor and needy that we cannot give mother enough to eat, and on top of this our son is
eating part of mother's share. It were better if we buried our son." (2) He started digging a grave. When he had dug a hole of about
three chih (3), he discovered a pot filled with gold and the inscription: "Officials may not take it, people may not steal it."

Wearing Children's Clothes to Amuse His Parents

During the time of the Chou Dynasty (11th-3rd Century BCE), there was a man named Lao Lai-tzu (4) who was by nature extremely
filial. He took care of both his parents and provided for them with the choicest delicacies. After he himself turned seventy, he never
spoke about his age. (5) He often wore clothes striped in five colors and acted like an infant in front of his parents. He would carry a
bowl of water to them, and then stumble on purpose. Lying on the floor he would cry like a little child in order to make his parents
laugh.

Crying in the Bamboo-Grove and Making the Bamboo Sprout

During the era of the Three Kingdoms (3rd Century CE) there lived a man named Meng Sung, also known as [Meng] Chien-wu (6).
He had lost his father during his childhood. When his mother was old and sick she craved fresh bamboo-shoots even though it was
winter. Sung had no idea how he could get them. In desperation, he went into a bamboo grove, clasped a bamboo stem and broke into
tears. His filial devotion moved heaven and earth and they forced the earth to crack open. Numerous shoots of bamboo came out.
Meng Sung carried them home and made them into a soup for his mother. As soon as she had eaten she felt much better.

Cleaning his Mother's Chamberpot

Huang T'ing-chien (7) of the Sung Dynasty, also known as [Huang] Shan-gu, became a member of the Hanlin academy (8) during the
Yuan-Yu reign (1086-1094 CE) (9).
He was by nature extremely filial. Even though he was such an esteemed and famous person, he served his mother with utmost
devotion. Every evening he would personally clean his mother's chamber pot. Not a moment passed without his fulfilling his filial
duties.

Confucianism Beliefs and Teachings

You are here:
Home
Sociology & Philosophy
Confucianism Beliefs and Teachings
Confucius was a contemporary of Lao Tzu, they had similar philosophies (e.g. the importance of harmony and balance)

Confucius mastered the six arts: ritual, music, archery, charioteering, caligraphy and arithmetic
His father died when he was a child, his mother died when Confucius was in his early 20’s.
After this, he became a teacher and built a reputation as a man of virtue (high morals) who cherished Chinese culture
and values.
Confucius was upset by the lack of morality in his province, and encouraged people to take responsibility for their actions
Like Taoism, it is unclear whether Confucianism is a philosophy or a religion
Confucianism teaches that people should live in harmony with the “Way of Heaven” – each individual must act with
virtue and serve as a living example to others
Asks members to develop an alert mind, a healthy body, and a pure soul
Confucians do not believe in, or pray to, gods. Instead, people need to remain grounded, live in the present, and “walk
the path of righteousness for the sake of the way”
People are naturally good. Evil is learned
Hsun Tzu – a later philosopher who wrote 32 essays that clarified the Confucian belief system..
He believed that human nature is inherently evil and easily corrupted unless people were taught otherwise. – Which
view of human nature is right?

BELIEFS
Confucius gave advice that was precise and wise
Encouraged people to act with virtue, with empathy and justice
Confucius took no credit for his wisdom. He said he got it from studying the ancients.
Nature and acting within it’s laws is encouraged (like Taoism)
Self-improvement and learning from the ancestors are encouraged (way of heaven)
Humans have a duty to act as guardians of heaven’s creation

The Five Virtues

Jen – goodwill, empathy, generosity
Yi – rightness, duty as guardians of nature and humanity
Li – right conduct and propriety, demonstrating your inner attitude with your outward expressions
Chih – wisdom
Hsin – faithfulness and trustworthiness
These virtues are a requirement for everyone, especially leaders

The Five Relationships

Father/Son
Ruler/Citizen
Husband/Wife
Older Brother/Younger Brother
Friend/Friend
Each relationship must contain mutual respect and recognition in order for the relationship to work
Each of us has a moral obligation to perform our role to the best of our ability
Ancestor Veneration – honouring and remembering the members of one’s family who have died. Ancestors are not seen
as gods. Instead, remembering is seen as an important act of Hsin (faithfulness)

Milestones and Symbols

Birth
At birth, the spirit of the fetus protects the mother from harm
Mother is given one month of complete rest after the birth
Family members provide for the baby’s needs for the first year

Marriage
At the proposal, details of the individuals’ birth (hour, day, month, year) are checked.
If anything negative happens to the woman’s family during the 3 days after the proposal, the offer is rejected
The families exchange gifts
The wedding day involves a procession to each family’s home, a breakfast and a ceremony
At the ceremony, the bride serves the groom’s parents tea, and they do the same for her

Death
Relatives cry loudly to inform the community of the death
The deceased is placed in a coffin with food and significant objects
The family of the deceased wear clothing of course material
Visitors bring incense and money to the funeral
A willow branch is carried behind the coffin on the way to the cemetery.
Later, the willow branch is placed on an alter in a shrine in the family home to signify the presence of the spirit of the
deceased

Sacred Writings
Vast body of literature (importance of learning)
The Five Classics (Wu Wing) and the Four Books (Si Shu) are considered the most important
The Five Classics pre-date Confucius
Includes the I Ching or “Book of Changes”, a fortune-telling instruction manual

Cultural Impact
Confucianism is influential in Korea and Japan
Suffered persecution during the Chinese Cultural Revolution
About 6 million Confucian in the world, 26, 000 in N. America
Confucian ethics, ideals and wisdom are becoming popular in the Wes