Download Confucianism

Confucianism
& Taoism
Confucianism
Grew out of the teachings of Master Kung Fu-Tzu (552-479
B.C.E.)
- Before he was 16, he left home and wandered around China
for nearly 15 years seeking a position as an advisor to a
ruler, wishing to help put an end to the personal, political
and social disorder that he witnessed everywhere.
- He never got the advisory position, but instead found a group of
students who were eager to learn about his ideas – so…he
became a teacher.
Although Confucianism is often described as a religion, it is not one in
the formal sense. Confucius did not write about the gods except to
indicate that he accepted the religious beliefs of his day.
Confucius' main moral concepts can
be divided into a few overarching
categories:
1. "Jen" meant "becoming a person" which is
often translated as "benevolence" or "human
kindness."
- Confucius believed that people must practice goodness and
extend respect to others. This concept is best signified
by what is called the silver rule of Confucianism: "Do
not do to others, what you do not want them to do
to
you." It is called the silver rule in comparison to the
golden rule of Christianity: "Do unto others as you would
want them to do to you".
2. "Li" or “the rites” were to act as the guidelines
for proper conduct. They helped to guide
someone who may be unsure of what would
be the truly "benevolent" act in certain
circumstances.
3. "De" or Virtue. The following of the "li" and
the development of "jen" were stages
towards developing virtue, the ultimate goal
of Confucian thought.
- Confucius saw virtue as combining the features of "li" and
"jen". Virtue for him was concrete and determined by
action, not contemplation. He envisioned virtue as an
obtainable goal, and his ideas as being practical rules
of life and not a philosophy that was impossible to live
up to.
Confucius' ideas about morality were not abstract, but
pragmatic (practical), which meant morality was
not determined by absolutes as much as it was by
circumstances and relationships.
The basic relationships a person had in society
determined or defined moral action. The goal
was to ensure a person performed his key roles
and obligations well. The main relationships were:
Emperor
-
Subject
Father
-
Son
Husband
-
Wife
Elder brother
-
Younger brother
Elder friend
-
Younger friend
- All the relationships were between a superior and inferior.
Depending on where one stood, a person needed to learn
proper behavior for one's role.
- Confucius taught established authorities should be respected.
Governments too had a duty – a duty to set an example of
right conduct.
-The ethical ruler:
- would have integrity
- was righteous
- inspired loyalty
- understood proper behavior
- followed the appropriate rituals
- appreciated culture
Taoism
Taoism
Differed from the moral and social teaching of Confucianism.
Comes from the word “Tao” which means “The Way”.
Developed by a man named Laozi, or “old master”.
Rejected formal social structures and the idea that people must
fill specific roles in a society. Instead Taoism placed importance
on the individual seeking harmony with the universe, renouncing
wealth, power and formal codes of behavior.
It should be enough if people attune themselves to nature and
to the Tao (Way) – the eternal force that permeates everything
in nature.
Interestingly, even though Confucianism and Taoism were in
conflict with each other, it was (is) possible for someone
to practice both.
Confucianism – pattern for gov’t and social structure
Taoism – emphasized harmony within the individual attuned to
nature
A concept that helped people come to terms with this opposition
was that of yin and yang.
These two opposite forces were believed to be present
throughout nature. The interplay of these forces could explain
all the actions of the universe.
Yin – female, dark, cold, passive
Yang – male, light, hot, active
These opposites are not in conflict, rather they compliment each other and
exist side by side in nature. We could not have:
light without darkness
big without small
man without woman
life without death
One might say that Taoism is the yin of Chinese thought, and
Confucianism is the yang.