CONFUCIUS

CONFUCIUS

 Also known as “Kong Qui”

 His teachings, preserved in the Analects, focused on creating ethical models of family and
public interaction, and setting educational standards.
 He died in 479 B.C.
CONFUCIUS

 Confucianism later became the official imperial philosophy of China, and was extremely
influential during the Han, Tang and Song dynasties.

 His teachings are foundational to Asian cultures. His writings, The Five Classics, a
collection of ancient Chinese literature, and The Four Books, a collection of Confucius'
and his disciple's teachings, was for centuries the standard curriculum for Chinese
education.
Background of Confucius:

 Born in the Lu province in China.

 Lived during the Chou dynasty when the land was divided among feudal lords (a man of
rank in the ancient regime).
 Moral and social order was in a state of decay, this pushed Confucius to seek a way to
restore cultural-political order.
 Believed that reform would come through educating leaders in the classics and his
philosophy.
 Had a cabinet position at the age of 50, ascended to higher positions of public office.
 However, he resigned his post at 55 due to internal conflicts and political disagreements.
Background of Confucius:

 He then traveled for 13 years teaching and trying to persuade political leaders to adopt his
teachings.
 Although the lords all respected him, not one gave him a position.
 Discouraged, Confucius devoted his final years to teaching and writing while expressing
his discouragement and disillusionment regarding his career.
 Although Confucius himself was not that successful in terms of persuading the
government to adopt his teachings, his disciples had better luck and managed to get
prominent positions in government.
Background of Confucius:

 After his death, he was revered as a God. Confucianism is not a religion but a system to
make humanity better in life.
 In addition to Confucius’ teachings, his disciples also added their own insights.
 The teachings and insights are what we call Confucianism today.
Views in education:

 Anyone and everyone should be educated.

 The method of teaching depends on the student.
 Students can get something new after reviewing old knowledge.
Confucius’s definition of education

 Confucius believes that other than formal education, students should also learn to love
others and appreciate them, which we come to know as ‘moral education’.
 He rephrased the biblical saying, which was ‘Do unto others as you would have them do
unto you’ into ‘Do not do to others what you would have them not do to you’
 The education system that Confucius devised, Confucianism, is defined as ‘the system of
ethics, education and statesmanship taught by Confucius and his disciples, stressing love
for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and
conduct.’
Purpose of education for Confucius

 Emphasis on three principles, namely Li , Jen and Chun-Tzu .

 Li has several meanings, mostly translated to proprietary, respect, reverence and courtesy.
 Jen is the very core of Confucian teaching, it is virtue and benevolence. It is through Jen
that the ‘silver rule’ was made.
 Li provides the structure for human interaction, Jen makes it a moral system.
 Chun-Tzu is the idea of a true gentleman. It means that one lives on the highest ethical
standards possible and displays ALL of these five virtues: Self-respect, generosity,
sincerity, persistence and benevolence.
Relationships

 Central to Confucius' teaching are relationships and social roles. There are five great
relationships:
1. Kindness in the father and obedient devotion in the son
2. Gentility in the eldest brother and humility and respect in the younger
3. Righteous behavior in the husband and obedience in the wife
4. Humane consideration in elders and deference in juniors
5. Benevolence in rulers and loyalty of ministers and subjects

 If these attitudes are practiced there will be harmony among all.

Ethics

Confucian ethics are described as humanistic. This ethical philosophy can be practiced by all the
members of a society. Confucian ethics is characterized by the promotion of virtues, encompassed by
the Five Constants, or the Wuchang, extrapolated by Confucian scholars during the Han Dynasty.

The Five Constants are:

1. Humaneness
2. righteousness or justice
3. proper rite
4. knowledge
5. integrity
Influence

17-century Europe:
 The works of Confucius were translated into European languages through the agency of
Jesuit (Society of Jesus) scholars stationed in China.
 Translations of Confucian texts influenced European thinkers of the period, particularly
among the Deists and other philosophical groups of the Enlightenment who were
interested by the integration of the system of morality of Confucius into Western
civilization.
Influence

On Islamic thought:
 From the late 17th century onwards a whole body ofliterature known as the Han Kitab
developed amongst the Hui Muslims of China who infused Islamic thought with
Confucianism.
Influence

In modern times:
 Important military and political figures in modern Chinese history continued to be
influenced by Confucianism, like the Muslim warlord Ma Fuxiang.
 The New Life Movement in the early 20th century was also influenced by Confucianism.
 There exists among political scientists and economists a theory that Confucianism plays a
large latent role in the ostensibly non- Confucian cultures of modern-day East Asia, in the
form of the rigorous work ethic it endowed those cultures with. These scholars have held
that Confucianism is the main reason why many of the people of the East Asia region
have been able to modernize and industrialize as quickly as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong
Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and even China has done.
Relevance to today’s society

Still very much relevant in today’s society

 Eighty Confucian centers in the US and more around the world are funded by the People’s
Republic in China.
 The society is embracing the ancient philosophy because of the spirit of openness and
reform sweeping through many areas of Chinese life.
 However, it is also due to the nature of Confucian ideas, which support the continuity of
Chinese history, that the Communist ideology cannot be excluded.
Detrimental (negative impact) to today’s
society

 The idea of modelling oneself after respected elders might explain why Chinese students
have a hard time disagreeing or questioning their teachers. This could result in a rigid and
narrow way of thinking, which could in turn cause for a lack of innovation and creative
ideas
 New ideas are suppressed for more established wisdoms.