CONFUCIANISM

WHAT IS CONFUCIANISM?
Confucianism is the cornerstone of Confucianism, major system of thought in
traditional Chinese culture as well as a China, developed from the teachings of
complete ideological system created Confucius and his disciples, and concerned
by Confucius, based on the traditional with the principles of good conduct, practical
culture of the Xia, Shang and Zhou wisdom, and proper social relationships.
Dynasties. It has dominated a feudal Confucianism has influenced the Chinese
society that in essence has lasted 2000 attitude toward life, set the patterns of living
years and for that reason its influence and standards of social value, and provided the
over the history, social structure and the background for Chinese political theories and
people of China cannot be overlooked. institutions.
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LIFE OF
CONFUCIUS
He has proved to be the greatest
influence over the Chinese character.
Besides being a great educationist,
thinker and unsuccessful politician, he
was first of all an intellect with a noble
morality. He pursued truth, kindness and
perfection throughout his life and his
success and failure were largely due to
his character, which had an everlasting
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impact on Chinese intellect.
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. 5
1.
CHARACTERISTICS
Let’s start with the first set of slides

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“
WHAT YOU DON’T DESIRE
FOR YOURSELF, DON’T DO TO
“
OTHERS TREAT OTHERS AS
.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE

TREATED.
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Characterized as a system of social and ethical philosophy
rather than a religion.
• A rmation of accepted values and norms of behavior in
primary social institutions and basic human relationships.
• Conformity and acceptance of social roles
• Cultivation of conscience and character CHARACTERISTICS

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FIVE CONSTANTS
People should know their place in life
and society. They should respect people
above and below them.
• Father – Child > kindness and
obedience
• Husband – Wife > love and loyalty
• Elder – Younger Brother > nobility
and respect
• Friend – Friend > humaneness and
deference • Ruler – Subject >
benevolence and sincerity 12
IDEAS IN
EDUCATION

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Beliefs
Confucius was primarily known in China for giving moral
advice to the leaders of the country. He wrote deeply, mostly
about individual morality and ethics, and the proper use of
political power by the rulers of the world. There are an
estimated 6.3 million followers of Confucianism worldwide,
mostly located in China and Korea. There is some debate
whether Confucianism is a religion or simply a practice to
better the mind, body and soul.
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 There are six main groups of beliefs in Confucianism,
these include:
• Yi - Righteousness
• Xin - Honesty and Trustworthiness
• Chung - Loyalty to the state, etc.
• Li - includes ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc.
• Hsiao - love within the family, love of parents for
their children, and love of children for their parents
• Jen - benevolence, humanness towards one another
(the most important Confucianism virtue)
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Practices and Rituals

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 The Tai-Shen (spirit of the fetus) protects the expectant mother, and deals harshly
with anyone/thing that harasses or harms the woman. She receives a special diet and
Birth is given one month to rest after the delivery of the baby. Her parents are responsible
for everything that is needed to support the child, on the first, fourth, and twelfth
month anniversary of the child's birth.

There are six separate things that happen during the marriage
Marriage rituals, these include: proposal, engagement,dowry,procession,
marriage,morning after.

Death
After the death of a loved one, the family cry aloud to inform
the neighbors of the tragic news. The family begin to mourn by
making clothes made of course material, and wearing them. 

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Symbols of Confucianism

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There are four main symbols that represent the beliefs
and views of Confucianism.

Confucius Water Scholar Yin yang

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LET’S REVIEW SOME CONCEPTS
Confucius Water Scholar
The symbol for Confucius The Chinese character for The third symbol, the Chinese
represents the man who began water, is made for water is one character for scholar, is made for
the religion, as he is one of, if the importance of knowledge and
of the five elements of Chinese
not the most important person
philosophy. Water is viewed as self-awareness. Confucius
to come from this religion. He
was very interested in the a life source, which most believed one could never have
moral conduct of people in likely comes from it's too much knowledge, and the
society. . importance in the natural idea of an education has become
Yin Yang very important in Chinese culture
world in sustaining life.
The final symbol, Yin Yang, is today.
common in other forms of Chinese
relgion, and has different meanings.
The general meaning is that the
circle represents a whole, while the
halves and dots depict opposites,
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interactions, or balance.
Sacred Writings

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 There are two main groups of sacred writings that people of the
Confucianism religion follow. They are split into two groups, the "Four The Five
Classics:
Books" and the "Five Classics." Yet, one of the most well know and most
• Classic poetry
followed would be the 'Analects.' The Analects are the ideas and sayings
• Book of
of Confucius (the founder and philosopher of Confucianism) that were documents

written and put together in the 'Analects' around seventy years after his • Book of rites
• I ching (book of
death. The Analects has been the most widely read and studied books in changes)
China for the last 2000 years and continues to have a large impact on • Spring and
autumn anals
Chinese and East Asian thoughts and values today. The Analects
originally belonged to "The Five Classics" but was found to be more
important and now resides in "The Four Books." 
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 Cultural Impact

The Four Books: Confucianism impacted Ancient China and their culture
in many ways. It created a sense of stability in a country that
had recently been rearranged by many change overs of
dynasty's. This was shown the most in Confucius' idea that
◈ Analects
every person has their own place in society. By enforcing this,
he created a more structured Chinese society. This was

◈
enforced by the amount of work and effort given in support of a
community. For example, merchants were at the very bottom
Great learning
of the society chain. Although they were very wealthy, they did

◈
not put in the same amount of effort that local farmers did.
Doctrine of the Confucius also created the positive outlook on education and
allowed young boys to attend school to learn Calligraphy (an
mean Ancient Greek writing style), which lead to many of the young

◈
boys becoming scholars.
Mencius

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HOLY DAYS IN CONFUCIANISM

✔ QING MING

✔ CHONGMYO TAEJE4

✔ CONFUCIUS BIRTHDAY

✔ CHING MING FESTIVAL

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“ The essence of knowledge is,
having it, to apply it; not
having it, to confess your
ignorance.
- Confucius
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THANK YOU!
ANGELYN T. AYCO
MARK DENVER
ASUNCION
(REPORTERS)
BSED-FILIPINO 2