INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

Chapter 9

Confucianism

Welcome to the ninth module of the course “Introduction to World

Religions and Belief Systems.” For this lesson, are going to talk about

specific events and situations that illustrate how religious devotion can

result to either good or bad.

It is important for you to get acquainted with the founders of this

religion are, its sacred texts, its basic doctrines, its concept of God, its

sects, and issues concerning it.

Profile

What is Confucianism?

Understanding the religion of East Asia is challenging especially

Chinese religion. Today, Chinese religion is an amalgam of Buddhism,

Confucianism, and Taoism. In ancient times, these three religions were

entirely separate systems and during a certain period Confucianism

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was the main religion of China, which meant ¼ of the world’s

population at that time.

After the fall of the Chinese Empire in 1912 and the communist

Cultural Revolution, Confucianism faced severe attack from political

institutions and thus has declined ever since.

Unlike the South Asian religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), Original

Confucian philosophy was not grounded on the metaphysical. Its main

problems were moral and political issues. Because of this the birth of

Confucianism is a very good illustration on the influence of culure to

the rise of religious thought.

Below are the important political and cultural conditions that gave rise

to Confucianism:

1. Anarchy and Chaos in China. Before Confucius’ time China

was an orderly feudal society. Chaos and anarchy broke out

when the bigger national monarchies lost political power over

China’s different provincial states. This decentralization of

power resulted to local rulers waging war against each other.

This period was very bloody as accounts mention a total of

more than 400,000 slaughtered during this time.

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2. The Advent of the Classical Period of Chinese Philosophy.

Confucius lived during the classical period of Chinese

philosophy, which occurred between 600-200 BCE. The

flowering of philosophy during this time was partly caused by

the social upheaval of this time as philosophers offered

different solutions to the social problems present across

Chinese society.

3. The Period of 100 Philosophers. This rise in philosophical

solutions to social and political problems led to the age called

the Period of 100 Philosophers. These 100 philosophies were

later on classified into just six schools namely (1)

Confucianism, (2) Taoism, (3) Mohism, (4) the Ying and Yang

School, (5) the Logicians, and (6) Legalism. The various

schools competed against each other pursuing the endorsement

of the rulers of China. Confucianism became an important and

influencial school of thought because it won this political

competition.

It is important to note that Confucianism and the flourishing of the

Confucian school was not the direct result of Confucius’ prominence

during his time. In fact he considered himself a failure until his death

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at age 73. It is through his followers who preserved and developed his

teachings that led to the blossoming of Confucian thought.

Required Reading

 For a historical and cultural backgrounder, please read:

“Confucianism” at World Religions (7th Ed.) by Warren

Matthews (pp. 187-201)

 For a discussion on Confucian Philosophy using Confucian

texts, please read “Part 3: Confucian Philosophy” by James

Fieser. Get a copy at your resources section.

Video

 Story of Confucius:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWHt9FR0b_M

Forum Discussion

1. How important was Chinese culture and civilization in the birth

and rise of Confucianism?

2. In your opinion, how important were the texts written by

Confucians after Confucius died in expanding and developing

the belief systema and influence of Confucianism?

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3. Please respond to at least one of your classmate’s answers.

Activity

Accomplish the corresponding Activity Sheet for this module.

Quiz

Take the Quiz for this chapter

Issue: Women In Confucianism

It is difficult to look for issues directly related to Confucianism as a

religion. Confucianism has become more than a religion. It has

permeated modern contemporary culture and way of living not just in

China but also in other East Asian countries especially Korea.

If there is an issue that Confucianism has always been criticized about

it has to be the cultural norms about women that arose out of its

teachings.

In this second section of our module we shall study this issue further.

See its roots and impact. There will be two readings for this section.

The first reading provides a historical and legal backgrounder to

Confucianism’s treatment of women specifically in Chinese society.

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Then we read another text about how Confucian values have also

affected the emotional and psychological wellbeing of modern

American Korean women. This discussion shall be further expanded

through the video about the culture of shame in South Korea

Required Reading

“Confucianism and the Lack of the Develoment of the Self Among

Korean American Women” by Angella Son

Video

South Korea: The Operating System of Shame at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNyZTlb5KmE

Forum Discussion

1. [On the article] What is your reaction about how women are

viewed in Confucian societies?

2. [On the video] The man talking on the video is obviously a

Caucasian and is discussing South Korea through an outsider’s

perspective. Do you think he did justice in his discussion on the

culture of shame in South Korea? If yes, why? If no, why not?

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3. Please respond to at least one of your classmate’s answers.

Lecture

Watch the accompanying video lecture to summarize this chapter.

Long Test

Take this chapter’s long test.

References

Fieser, J. (2001). Eastern philosophy: An introduction to the classical

theories of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

Gupta, Mayank. [Screen name] (2014, July 11). Story of Confucius

[Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWHt9FR0b_M

Matthews, W. (2013). World religions (7th ed.). Belmont, CA:

Wardsworth.

Son, A. (2006). Confucianism and the Lack of the Develoment of the

Self Among Korean American Women. Pastoral Psychology, 54(4),

325-336. Doi: 10.107/s11089-005-0003-0

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 Chapter 9: Confucianism

Thinking-Ape. [Screen name]. (2016, January 10). South Korea: The

Operating System of Shame [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNyZTlb5KmE