Introduction to World Religions

3. Analyze the brief history, core
teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of
Confucianism.
Objectives

4. INTRODUCTION
▪Confucianism is often characterized as
a system of social and ethical
philosophy rather than a religion. In
fact, Confucianism built on an ancient
religious foundation to establish the
social values, institutions, and
transcendent ideals of traditional
Chinese society.

5. HISTORY
▪ Confucius, also known as Kongzi or Master Kong, was born on September
28, 551 B.C.E. in the state of Lu in present-day Shantung province, China.
▪ He came from a noble family that had lost much of its wealth.
▪ Confucius valued learning from a young age and became a renowned
scholar and teacher.
▪ He held government positions but left due to frustration with his ideas
being ignored.
▪ For 13 years, he traveled and tried to put his theories into practice. At the
age of 67, he returned home to teach and preserve classical traditions.
▪ Confucius died at the age of 73, leaving behind numerous followers. His
teachings were later written down by his successor, Mencius.
▪ Confucius lived during a turbulent time in Chinese history called the
Warring States period. His ideas had a lasting impact on China and the
region, and his teachings continue to be debated and discussed to this
day.

7. SACRED SCRIPTURES
▪ The Five Classics are a group of books considered fundamental
texts of early Confucianism.
1. Book of Changes (I-Ching)- oldest of the Classics. It revolves
around making predictions using a form of divination called
cleromancy.
2. Book of History (Shangshu)- it composed of speeches of royalty
and ministers from Shang and Zhou dynasties.
3. Book of Poetry (Shijing)- it is a collection of 305 songs
4. Classic of Rites (San Li)- compilation of ceremonial rituals,
administration, and social forms of the Zhou Dynasty.
5. Analects (Lunyu)- collection of sayings and ideas attributed to
Confucius. It is believed to have been written by Confucius’
followers.

8. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
▪Confucius is well-known for his Golden Rule, which is
found in the Analects and promotes treating others as we
would like to be treated (Do not do unto others what you
do not want others to do unto you). This rule emphasizes
mutual respect and reciprocity.
▪Other significant Confucian teachings include the
concepts of Tian (heaven), human nature, rectification of
names, the five constants, filial piety, and ancestor
worship.
▪These ideas highlight the importance of understanding
our place in the world, fulfilling social roles, honoring
family and ancestors, and upholding moral principles.

9. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
RECTIFICATION OF NAMES
▪Confucius emphasized the importance of playing assigned
roles in society, which he called the rectification of
names. This concept included the Five Relationships:
1. ruler-subject
2. father-son
3. husband-wife
4. elder-younger brother
5. friend-friend.
▪These relationships carried shared and reciprocal
responsibilities, promoting social order and harmony.

10. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
THE FIVE CONSTANTS
▪The Five Constants, also known as the Five
Classical Virtues, are crucial ethical
principles in Confucianism. They are
benevolence, righteousness, propriety,
knowledge/wisdom, and fidelity. These
virtues guide human actions and social
order, emphasizing the importance of familial
relationships, moral disposition, following
norms and rituals, understanding right from
wrong, and being trustworthy.

11. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
FILIAL PIETY
▪Filial piety, the respect and obedience towards
parents and ancestors, is a significant virtue in
Confucianism. It serves as a model for social
behavior and fosters solidarity within families and
communities. Ancestor worship is a manifestation
of filial piety, where rituals and offerings are
performed to remember and honor deceased
ancestors. This practice symbolizes the
connection between the living and the loved ones
who have passed away.

12. CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS
FILIAL PIETY
▪According to Chinese cosmology, humans possess
two souls: an intellectual soul that becomes a
spirit after death and an earthly soul that becomes
a ghost. Ancestor worship acknowledges the
belief that the souls of ancestors continue to exist
and should be revered. It involves rituals
performed at ancestral tablets and graves,
symbolizing the union between the living and the
deceased.

13. WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
▪The Book of Rites contains the rituals followed by
the Chinese people for a long time. It includes the
"Four Rites," which are important ceremonies
marking different stages of a person's life: coming
of age, marriage, mourning, and sacrificial rituals.
Although many of these rituals are no longer
practiced, they demonstrate the religious aspects
of Confucianism.

14. WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
▪ Coming of Age Rites are held when a young person reaches
marriageable age, including capping for males and hair pinning
for females.
▪ Mourning Rites involve various practices to honor the deceased,
such as public grieving, wearing white funeral clothes, offering
symbolic goods, and performing rituals to pacify the spirit.
▪ Marriage Ceremonies are significant events decided by parents,
emphasizing loyalty and monogamy, with rituals ranging from
proposal to wedding celebrations.
▪ Sacrificial Rituals are regularly performed by descendants to
honor their ancestors, often during festivals like the Qingming
Festival, involving visiting and cleaning graves, offering food,
fruit, wine, and other items.

15. SELECTED ISSUES
FEMALE SUBORDINATION
▪Women's lives under Confucianism can be summarized as
three obedience: to father, husband, and son.
▪ Women are expected to display ideal behavior and
obedience, without independence.
▪ Male supremacy is emphasized in the husband-wife
relationship.
▪ Preference for male children leads to gender inequality,
dowry system, and cases of female infanticide.

16. SELECTED ISSUES
AUTHORITARIANISM
▪ Confucianism reinforces hierarchical systems and deference to superiors.
▪ Confucianism has been criticized on the issue of father-son relationship,
especially on the aspect of allowing the bad behavior of a father and
requiring the son to accept it when this occurs. After all, Confucianism
teaches that a father must be respected at all costs and a son must obey
his father no matter what. This suggests that children must not question
the authority of their parents and simply accept their subordinate status.
When they become parents, the son will become a father hence that is the
time that he will enjoy a superior status over his son. Meanwhile, the
daughter, when she becomes a mother, will continue to be in an inferior
position, this time to her husband.

17. SELECTED ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
▪Confucianism advocates respect for the
environment but also accepts human dominance.
▪ Social duties are prioritized over environmental
protection.