Traditional Chinese Thoughts

Traditional Chinese thoughts1
Traditional Chinese Thoughts
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................1
What Confucianism and moism entail.........................................................................................................1
Comparison between Confucianism and Moism.........................................................................................3
Similarities...............................................................................................................................................3
Differences...............................................................................................................................................5
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Introduction
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Human nature has been a subject of debate amongst various classical Chinese
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philosophers. The philosophers expressed their different understanding of the human nature.
The paper will focus on two Chinese philosophers Confucius and mozi. Both philosophers came
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up with a different interpretation of human nature. It will look at the differences and similarities
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between the understandings of human nature by these two philosophers.it will also link these
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two philosophies with other Chinese philosophers such as Mencius, Xun Zi (Hsun Tzu), Lao Zi
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(Lao Tsu) and Zhuang Zi.

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What Confucianism and moism entail

Confucianism and moism were among the most influential schools of thought during the
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states period of war. Confucianism is philosophical and ethical system of development that was
developed from teachings of Confucius a Chinese philosopher. This was the cornerstone of the
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entire Chinese culture. it came up as an ethical-sociopolitical teaching during the periods of
spring and autumn.it later developed cosmological and metaphysical elements during the Han
Dynasty. After legalism in china was officially abandoned after Qin dynasty, this became the
state official considered official of Han. After the Han period, Chinese emperors mixed
Confucianism and legalism to apply as the ruling doctrines. Confucian values were used to cover
up the legalist ideas which were harsh underlying the imperial system. Confucianism core was
humanism; spiritual concern focus was the world and family as opposed to afterlife’s and gods.
Broadly speaking, Confucianism is not meant to exalt faithfulness to higher law or divine
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(TravelchinaGuide ,2013).
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The stance is based on the belief that humans can be taught, can improve, and can
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perfect themselves through communal and personal endeavors particularly self-creation and
self-cultivation. The basic concepts and practices when it comes to ethics in Confucianism
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include li, yi and ren.li is a system that entails propriety and norms that stipulate how an
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individual is supposed to act properly in their daily lives. yi entails keeping up righteousness and
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moral disposition in such a way that one does good .Ren entails the obligation towards altruism
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and humanness when it comes to other people. Confucianism strongly advocates for giving up
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one’s life whenever it is necessary, either actively or passively so that the cardinal moral values
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can be upheld. Historically Confucianism influenced various cultures and countries such as
China, Hong-Kong, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Japan .today, the influence of Confucianism has
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greatly reduced and only a small number of people can broadly accept to be identified as
Confucians. instead, people view the ethics involved in Confucianism as a guideline termed as
complimentary for beliefs and ideologies such as Marxism, Islam, Christianity, democracy and so
on (Wheeler, 2013).
Moism was a Chinese philosophy that was developed by Mozi a Chinese philosopher.it
came about almost the same time as Confucianism, legalism, and Taoism.it was among the main
philosophical schools during the period of spring and autumn. It was a major rival to
Confucianism and it was not adopted by any dynasty that came into power.it observes that
learning of the world is achieved through adversity .Therefore when one reflects on their
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successes and failures they are able to attain self-knowledge and not merely conforming with
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the ritual.it just disappeared as a school of thought that was separate from the others. The
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unification of China saw moism completely dies out even though it had greatly influenced the
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warring states period. The greatest contribution of moism to the Chinese philosophy was the
belief that there were important standards by which judgment of doctrines should and could be
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judged. Throughout moism, appeal is made to method of three standards which are the basis of
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moism, origin of moism and the application of moism by the people. The ideas of moism still
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had an influence on contemporaries and the emphasis was standards and methodology when it
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comes to arguments and reasoning.it had an influence that was profound on thinkers who had
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brought out other schools of thought (cultural-china.com, 2010).

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Comparison between Confucianism and Moism

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Similarities
Both had the recommendation that there was need for a social hierarchy which was
based on the relationships that existed between superiors and their subordinates’ .such
structures which were advocated really needed a government that was bureaucratic. Moism
advocated for organization whereby there would be the existence of a political organization
which was highly structured. This was such that the ideas that were preached would be fully
realized. The political structure comprised of an intertwined network of local units where there
were leaders presiding over them. There were also subordinates under these local units. This
means that in the organizations there was a form of hierarchy that existed. On the other hand in
Confucianism social harmony was a great goal which entailed that an individual should know
how they are placed in the social order and ensures that they play this part very well. For
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instance Duke Jing of Qi had posed a question on governance which he meant which was the
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most proper form of administration that would bring harmony in the society. The reply that he
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got from Confucius was that a government is in existence when there is a prince who acts as a
prince, a minister acting as a minister and when there is a father acting as a father and a son
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acting as a son (Wheeler, 2013). Specific duties come about from a particular situation as it
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relates to another. When it comes to an individual basis there are different relationships
between different people according to how they relate to each other. For instance a junior
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relates differently towards his elders and parents at the same time a senior relates differently to
his siblings who are younger, students and other people.in Confucianism, juniors are considered
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to owe reverence to their seniors, and at the same time seniors are supposed to be concerned
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and benevolent to their juniors. Therefore particular duties were accorded to each of the
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seniors and juniors (Piblius, 2007).
Both philosophies regard education as being of great importance. The basis of
Confucianism was the seeking of knowledge and studying in order to become better people.
Even though Confucius held claims that he did not invent anything, and he was only a
transmitter of ancient knowledge. He came up with many new ideas such as the introduction of
an imperial examination system to be used within China. This system gave a chance to anyone
who had good results from their examination the chance to become a government officer. This
position was one that brought honor and wealth to an entire family. He also came up with a
number of principles that concerned studying. He said” studying without thinking leads to
confusion”. Quality education seen today was nothing new according to Confucius. Mozi gave a
description of various aspects of a variety of field which can be linked to physical science at the
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same time providing a considerable amount of information on mathematics.it also gave a
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definition of the geometric point which stated that there the separation of a line into two parts.
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The understanding of mathematics and physical science led to preeminence o f siege engineers
who combined these with their artisans’ skills.

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Differences
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Moism believed that free will existed and hence viewed heavens displeasure as being an
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effect of unjust rule. On the other hand Confucianism believed that there was some sort of
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fatalism or predestination which had the view that heaven’s displeasure is an indication of
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unjust rule. This thought gave rise to astrological knowledge as well as keeping a calendar that
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was accurate to be very important when it comes to the confusion emperor. Moism was also
more utilitarian and things often thought to be useful such as music, theoretic philosophies and
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rites were considered to have no worth. On the other hand in Confucianism there was a belief
of the existence of an ethical system which was strengthened by rites, rectification of names,
music and so on. These were thought to be things that formed a backbone of righteousness and
prosperity within the society. In moism anything that was not benefiting to a majority of the
people was condemned hence offensive warfare was condemned. In Confucianism there was
belief in helping one another, those within the family were considered first followed by those
who were outside the family. In Confucianism there was no such distinction between defensive
and offensive warfare made (Piblius, 2007).
In moism there was the emphasis of practical education for instance learning a particular
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trade or skill in contrast Confucianism valued fine arts and literary education. The differences
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are same to trade or technology schools and a college for liberal arts. Contrary to the teachings
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of Confucianism the moral teaching in moism put emphasis on authenticity and self-reflection
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as opposed to obedience being the main ritual. Mozi had replaced what he had considered to
be long over-attachment of Chinese to the clan and family under the concept of universal love
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of caring that was impartial. This is different from the Confucianism whereby it was argued that
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it was not only natural but correct for people to show care and concern to others but in
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different extents or degrees.in contrast Mozi argued that people should always care for others
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equally.
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Linking the thoughts of different philosophers

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The ancient Chinese sacrificial practice was very common whereby the historical dynasties had
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carried out human sacrifices quite extensively. However there was the disappearance of this
ritual during the periods of spring and autumn as well as the warring periods. Though it was
practiced privately this ritual of sacrificing humans was replaced at the state level by clay
puppets. The reason why this ritual was discontinued was not known. All these philosophers
ignored the blood letting ritual but instead put emphasis on ritual morality to form the
foundation of ritual state. Xunzi came up with a funeral ritual which was an ancestral right
which required blood sacrifice in the ancient time. This according to him was to form the basis
for good citizenship and morality when it came to rituals (Plutschow, 2002).
All the philosophers debated on the shift from a sacrificial towards a moral ritual.
Confucius, Mencius, Mozi, Zhuangzi, Han Feizi were all against the human sacrifice ritual.
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However though they all shared the same thoughts they deviated from each other when it
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came to the opinions of the principles that governed statehood and good citizenship. Another
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reason for the deviation was due to the fact that these philosophers had come to a realization
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of the moral potential that is created in humans through rituals. This include respect, reverence,
frugality, loyalty ,love without mentioning the potential that rituals have when it comes to the
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debates on political and social issues ( Plutschow, 2002).

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All these philosophers also agreed on another premise .they all were in agreement that
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the moral virtue whether it was acquired through education it was innate it should be cultured
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under the guidance of the state. Morality and state were dependent upon each other and
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neither could exist without the other. Another common thing among these philosophers was
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their debate on statecraft. They asked themselves basic questions on how the state should be
organized and the relationship that should exist between those who are being ruled and their
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rulers. Therefore it is seen that these philosophers held similar views on certain issues.
References
Plutschow, H. (2002). Xunzi and the Ancient Chinese Philosophical Debate on Human Nature
.Retrieved May 23, 2013 from
http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap0801/xunzi.htm
Cultural-china.com. (2010). Mohism (Philosophy of Mozi). Retrieved May 23, 2013 from
http://history.cultural-china.com/en/49H6943H12322.html
Brindley, E. (2011). Individualism in Classical Chinese Thought. Retrieved May 23, 2013
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from http://www.iep.utm.edu/ind-chin/
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Piblius. (2007). Comparing Mohism and Confucianism. . Retrieved May 23, 2013 from
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http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?/topic/16546-comparing-
mohism-and-confucianism/
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Wheeler, L. (2013). Confucius and Confucianism. Retrieved May 23, 2013 from
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http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/chinese_confucius.html
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TravelchinaGuide. (2013). Confucianism. Retrieved May 23, 2013 from

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http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/religion/confucianism/
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Traditional Chinese thoughts1

Traditional Chinese Thoughts

(Lao Tsu) and Zhuang Zi.

What Confucianism and moism entail

entire Chinese culture. it came up as an ethical-sociopolitical teaching during the periods of

brought out other schools of thought (cultural-china.com, 2010).

Comparison between Confucianism and Moism

seniors and juniors (Piblius, 2007).

Both philosophies regard education as being of great importance. The basis of

who combined these with their artisans’ skills.

and offensive warfare made (Piblius, 2007).

Linking the thoughts of different philosophers

debates on political and social issues ( Plutschow, 2002).

.Retrieved May 23, 2013 from

TravelchinaGuide. (2013). Confucianism. Retrieved May 23, 2013 from

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