CONFUCIANISM

Parts of World dominated by

Confucianism

Confucianism=
BLUE, takes over
more than half of
China. Has about 5-
6 million followers.
 CONFUCIANISM TERMS
-Taoism: a religion native to China, its followers attempt to live according to the “Tao”, or the way
which they believe governs the universe.
-Daoism: philosophical system developed by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu advocating a simple honest
life and noninterference with the course of natural events
-Yin/Yang: two principals of Chinese religion, one negative, dark and feminine (yin), and one
positive, bright, and masculine (yang), the interactions with these influence the destinies of living
things.
-Five Classics: are described in terms of the five visions: metaphysical, political, poetic, social,
and historical.
-Five Elements: represent cyclic movements. Wood, fire, earth, water, and metal. This list was
made to cover and explain all things.
-Xin: refers to keeping ones word and being faithful. One of the “Five Constant Virtues.”
-Yi: important in Confucianism, means justice and righteousness.
-Zhi: Means wisdom, believed that wisdom didn’t just concern the persons ability and aptitude, but
also his moral cultivation.
-Jen: Another word for humaneness in Confucianism.
-Chung: Means loyalty to the state.
-Hsiao: filial piety, which is considered very important in this religion, is the primary duty of
respect, obedience, and to care for ones elderly relation. Also means love within the family.
 THE FIVE CONSTANT
VIRTUES
o Ren- the virtue of benevolence, charity and
humanity.

o Yi- honesty, uprightness.

o Zhong- doing ones best.

o Shu- consideration of others.

o Li- good manners, politeness, ceremony, or

worship.
 THE FIVE ELEMENTS

o Water, Fire, Wood, Earth, and Metal.

o Corresponded with the colors black, red, blue-green,
white, and yellow.
o Ancients believed that the elements made absolutely
everything in nature.
o Chinas emperors would use the elements to select
colors.
o People gradually established a relationship between
colors and the principle of the five elements that guided to
the natural movement of heaven and the heavenly Dao.
 THE COLOR BLACK

o The Book of Changes regards to the color black as

Heaven’s color. The people observed the northern sky and
noticed that it was black for a long time so they thought
that their God resided in the Northern Star.

o Black and white are also used to represent the unity of Yin
and Yang.

o Black was considered to be the king of the colors because

it was honored longer than any of the other colors.
 THE COLORS RED AND
BLUE-GREEN

o Chinese people cherish the color red and wear it during

the holidays like the Chinese New Year.

o Red symbolizes good fortune and joy.

o Blue-Green symbolizes spring when everything is

overflowing with vigor and vitality.

 THE COLOR WHITE

o Represented gold

o Symbolizes brightness, purity, and fulfillment.

o Also considered the color of mourning, people would wear

white clothes and hats only when someone died, this

tradition is still practiced today.

 THE COLOR YELLOW

o The color yellow symbolizes the Earth.

o It’s the center of everything.
o Was the symbolic color for the five legendary emperors of
China.
o Signifies neutrality and is considered the most beautiful
color.
o Also represents freedom from worldly cares.
o Often decorates royal palaces, alters, and temples.
 FACTS ABOUT
CONFUCIANISM
o Was founded in the 6th or 5th century B.C. by Confucius.
o Originally started in China.
o Eventually spread to Korea and Japan where it’s still
studied in universities to teach moral values.
o Has been followed for 5-6 million years.
o It is sometimes viewed as a philosophy rather than a
religion.
o Its influences have spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
o East Asians seldom refer to themselves as followers of
Confucius.
 HISTORY OF CONFUCIUS

o Was born in 551 B.C.

o Lost his father at an early age and was raised by his mother.
o Was a master of the six arts of :
o Ritual
o Music
o Archery
o Charioteering
o Calligraphy
o Arithmetic
o Was believed to be a teacher when he was in his twenties or
thirties.
o Was loyal to the king so he was alienated from the power
holders of the time.
 HISTORY OF CONFUCIUS
CON..
o The kings inner circle was uninterested in his policies so
at age 56 he left the country.

o He exiled himself for about 12 years and during that time

he was accompanied by an expanding group of students.

o At the age of 67 he moved back to preserve his cherished

ways of writing and editing.

o Confucius died in the year 479 B.C. at age 73.

 SYMBOLS

Ideogram for
water. Represents
source of life in
Yin and Yang: Chinese
symbolizes balance in philosophy.
nature between
opposing forces.

Usually used for

weddings in the
Chinese heritage,
can be used to
represent
righteousness and
total harmony in
Confucianism.
 BELIEFS
o They believe in the great God, whom they worship and
offer sacrifices to.

o These sacrifices are to be submitted through mediation of

the king or princes of the government that they live in.

o They believe that the Earth has a separate God as does

the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, and the
mountains.

o A sacrifice must be offered to every separate God.

 BELIEFS CON…

o Angels occupy a very high position in Confucianism, they

are offered sacrifices as well.

o Also believe that the spirits of their ancestors are immortal.

o Offer sacrifices to them by having banquets, ceremonies,

and large celebrations to make sure that they are content.

o They don’t believe in heaven, hell, or the resurrection of the

body.

o Mainly concerned with moral values.

 MORAL VALUES

o Obedience to parents, older brothers, and rulers.

o Sincerity to friends, the refusal to cause harm to

others, even in words, identical harmonies in
words and deeds, rejection of hypocrisy, care
for common interest, encouraging beneficial
arts, sympathizing with foreigners, working for
the common welfare of the princes and the
common people of the empire.
Five Classics
Book of History (Shu Jing)- anthology of historical material
about kings from earliest time up until the early Zhou
Book of Poetry(Shi Jing)- collection of 300 poems of the
Zhou period
Book of Changes(Yi Jing)-speaks of the basic pattern of the
universe
Book of Rites( Li Jing)- lists of ancient ceremony and their
meaning
Spring and Autumn Annals (Chun Qiu)- comprises historical
records of the state of Lu where Confucius live
THE FOUR BOOKS
The Analects (Lun Yu) –sayings of Confucius and his
conversations with followers
The Great Learning- (Da Xue)- short discussions of
the character and influence of the noble person
The Doctrine of the Mean (Zhong Yong)- speaks in
praise of the mean or equilibrium
The Mencius(Mengzi)- long collection of the teachings
of Mencius, a Confucian clan who lived several
centuries after Confucius