Confucianism and the Five Relationships

Global History and Geography I Name: ___________________

E. Napp Date; ___________________

A Chinese philosopher named K'ung Fu-tzu or Confucius, the Westernized

version, believed that a society could become perfect, if the people who
lived in it exhibited "beautiful conduct." Confucius was born in 551 B.C.
He had a government job which he gave up to devote his life to teaching
people how to behave. Today over five million people, mostly in China and
the Far East, practice Confucianism.

Confucius lived during a time of war and disorder. He believed that his
ideas would restore and maintain social order. Confucius strongly believed
in the importance of inferiors listening to and obeying superiors. He also
maintained that there were five critical relationships in Chinese society. The
Five Relationships were emperor and subject, father and son, husband and
wife, elder brother and younger brother, and friend and friend. In the first
four relationships, there was a superior and an inferior. The superior was
responsible for setting a good example for the inferior and protecting the
inferior. The inferior had to obey the superior. If people did what they were
supposed to do, social order would be restored. Confucius urged people to
follow the traditional ways.

Those who practice Confucianism also believe that the family and family
values are very important. Children are taught to be very respectful of their
parents and are taught to obey their parents. This belief is called filial piety
or a love and respect for one’s parents and ancestors.

Although Confucius did not write any books, his followers collected his
sayings and later published them in the Analects. Confucius also accepted
the Mandate of Heaven. He believed that if the ruler benefited and protected
his subjects, the people would obey the emperor and the emperor would
continue to hold the Mandate of Heaven or right to rule.
Questions:
1- Who was Confucius and when did he live?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2- What are the Five Relationships?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
 3- What responsibilities do superiors and inferiors have?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4- How is order maintained according to Confucius?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
5- What is filial piety and why is it important in Confucianism?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6- Why did Confucius accept the Mandate of Heaven?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7- What are the Analects?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Confucianism had a strong impact on the development of China mainly because this
Philosophy

(1) established a basic structure for military rule

(2) provided a basis for social order
(3) contained the framework for a communist
government
(4) stressed the importance of the individual

Which belief is most closely associated with the philosophy of Confucianism?

(1) nirvana (3) prayer

(2) reincarnation (4) filial piety

According the teachings of Confucius, the key to the successful organization of society is
that
1. the ruler should be chosen democratically
2. the evil in humans must be eliminated
3. ancestor worship should be discontinued
4. individuals should know and do what is expected of them

In traditional Chinese culture, which philosophy had the greatest influence on the
development of social order and political organization?
1. Taoism
 2. Shintoism
3. Confucianism
4. Marxism

The teachings of Confucius encouraged people to

1. put their own interests first
2. reject government authority
3. believe in reincarnation
4. follow a code of moral conduct

The Master said, "A youth, when at home, should behave well toward his parents, and
when abroad, respectfully to his elders. He should be earnest and truthful. He should
overflow in love to all, and cultivate the friendship of the good. When he has time and
opportunity, after doing those things, he should study the polite arts."

The Master said, "With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a
pillow, I still have joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by
unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud."

Zhonggong asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, "When abroad, behave to
everyone as if you were receiving an important guest; treat people as if you were
assisting at a great sacrifice; do not do to others as you would not wish done to yourself.
Thereby you will let no murmuring rise against you in the country, and none in the
family. . . ."

The following excerpt is from the Analects. Summarize Confucius’ teaching in the space
provided:

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

The Master said, "Anyone learning without thought is lost; anyone thinking but not
learning is in peril." The Master said, "Yu, shall I teach you what knowledge is? When
you know a thing, to realize that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to
allow that you do not know it: this is knowledge."
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Word Bank:
Five, Order, Superiors, Inferiors, War, Traditional, Analects, Confucius,
Women, Filial Piety, Mandate of Heaven