Download World History 1 Ancient China Handout: Confucius CONFUCIANISM

World History 1
Ancient China
Handout: Confucius
CONFUCIANISM: REVIEW AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Arguably, the single most important “game-changer” in Chinese history was Confucius, or Kong Fuzi
(Master Kong) as his contemporaries called him. (Confucius is the name given to Kong Zi by the Greeks.)
His philosophy had a profound impact on education, government, culture, art, religion, and society in
China and other eastern countries, especially Korea and Japan. But what was so amazing about his
philosophy?
In order to fully understand Confucian philosophy, we first need to examine the era in which he was born.
Born in 551 BCE during the early Warring States Period, Confucius was exposed to great political and
social upheaval in China. At that time, seven separate states fought continuously.
Confucius was very concerned with chivalry (how a gentleman should act), family values (five
relationships), and the paternal connection between emperor and subjects. He believed that scholars
should rule China and as such, a system should be developed to find bright young students who would
participate in Chinese government.
THE FIVE ESSENTIAL VALUES:
Li:
Ren (or Jen):
Chun:
Wen:
Te:
FIVE RELATIONSHIPS: Also called Filial Piety

Emperor to Subject

Father to Son

Husband to Wife

Older Brother to Younger Brother

Friend to Friend
Confucius believed that all people were inherently good and that if they followed the appropriate rituals
and respected the aforementioned relationships, society would run harmoniously.
CIVIL SERVICE:
For many years, military leaders ruled China. Confucius believed that the extensive Chinese bureaucracy
necessary to unify China could only be run by gentleman (Jun) scholars. A fair system was devised to test
these would-be scholars. Confucius believed that no individual should obtain a government position due
to wealth or connections. He believed all men, regardless of class or wealth should have the opportunity
(if they were bright) to participate in government. Moreover, he was a proponent for universal education
of all Chinese people.
After his death, academies were set up to teach young men Confucian classics. During the late Han
dynasty, these men would compete for very few spots in Chinese government by taking a civil service
exam. In later dynasties, only 2% of test takers would pass this rigorous exam. In theory, all were eligible
to take the exam, but most that were successful had the means to devote 10-15 years of their lives to
studying for the exam. Important to note: The exam tested students on the Confucian classics, literature,
and logic, mostly by memorization.
RELIGION OR PHILOSOPHY?
Like many in ancient China, Confucius believed in ancestor worship. He thought that paying respect for
ancestors and participating in rituals honoring ancestors (Li) was one of the hallmarks of a good
gentleman (Chun). Likewise, he believed that the ruler of China should act as a good father would- and
that in turn, the Chinese people should act as good daughters and sons. Although he did not write
extensively about spirituality, it was clear that Confucius believed that the ruler of China derived his
power via the Mandate of Heaven, a Chinese concept that allowed the emperor of China to rule based on
the favor of the Gods. Should the emperor behave poorly, the Gods and ancestors would alert the
Chinese people that it was time for change- in the form of war, pestilence, or other natural disasters.
Indeed, dynastic change was often preceded by such disasters in Chinese history.