Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

1. Confucianism
Javier, Mariez
Farochilin, Angie Lee
Paciente, Frankie
Agramon, Elton John

2. Confucianism
-Emphasizes the ethical dimension of the world, it gives primary
attention to human relationships, thus advocating social values and ideas
which should serve as the foundation of Chinese society.
Confucianism, also known as Ruism, is described as tradition, a
philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of
governing, or simply a way of life.

3. Concept Map
Sacred
Scripture
Worship and
Observance
Beliefs and
doctrines
Subdivision
Confucianism

4. Historical Background
Zhou Dynasty - the second historical dynasty in China.
- the proliferation of Chinese classical
. through happened within the reign
of this dynasty.

5. The Zhou period was divided into western Zhou (1122-770 B.C.E.) and
Eastern Zhou (770-221 B.C.E.).
The Eastern Zhou was further subdivided into the spring and autumn
period (772-481 B.C.E.) and the warning state period (403-221 B.C.E).
It was during the period of Eastern Zhou,a period of great economic
growth,social change,and political development that philosophies would
emerge and the classics would be written.

6. Zhou Period – During this period, technological growth led to trading
development, which letd to a remarkable increase in wealth.
The basal states were Qin in the west, Jin in the north, Yan in the northeast,
and Qi in the east.

7. The Life of Confucius
Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician,
and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of
Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius, also
known as Confucianism, emphasized personal and
governmental morality, correctness of social
relationships, justice and sincerity.
Confucius is the Latinized version of Kongzi and the
honorific Kong Fuzi both meaning “Master Kong”

8. About Confucius Life
He was born on september 28 on 551 B.C.E .
He was born in a small feudal state on Lu (now Shantung Province)
in Qufu.
His personal name was Qui and his family name was Kong.
He set his heart upon learning at the age of 15.

9. He got married at the age of 19, and had a son at the age of 20.
At the age of 30, he had already started a brilliant teaching career
because of his master of the arts of ritual, music, archery,
charioteering, calligraphy and arithmetic.
He died in 479 B.C.E at the age of 73.

10. Confucius Temple

11. Quotes of Confucius
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”
“ Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
“ I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.”
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. “

12. Qoutes of Confucius
“Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
“ want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.”
“Beforee you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
“Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you.”

13. Sacred Scriptures: The
Confucian Classics
The Five Classics was a group of books which was regarded as
early Confucianism’s basic text. This include the Book of changes,
the Book of History, the Book of Poetry, the Classic of Rites,
and the Spring and autumn animals.

14. The Book of Changes
* Book of Changes
- Also known as the I-Ching, the book of the changes
was believed to have existed at Time of Confucius and is
the oldest of the Classics. It focuses in short predictions
following a type of divination called cleromancy where in
six random numbers Are picked and arranged under
sixty-four hexagrams.

15. The Book of History
* Book of History
- Also known as the Book of Documents or
Shang-suShangshu, the Book of History is
supposedly a collection organized and introduced
by conventionally attributed to Confucius by early
scholars.

16. The Book of Poetry
* Book of Poetry
- Also known as the Book of
Songs/Odes/Shih-chingShijing, it is a collection
of three hundred and five songs compiled
around 600 B.C.E which includes four sections
of various themes such as love, courtship,
abandonment and dances. It also includes feast
songs or state chants.

17. Classic of Rites
* Classic of Rites
- Originally the Three Li/ Three Rites/ San Li,
the Classic of Rites is a compilation of ceremonial
rituals, administration and social forms of the Zhou
Dynasty.

18. The Book of Analects
* Analects
The Analects, or Lunyu (“conversation” or
“saying”), is also known as the Analects of Confucius. It
is a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the
Chinese philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries,
traditionally believed to have been written by Confucius’
followers.

19. Confucian Doctrines/Beliefs
• Perhaps Confucius is more often celebrated for his Golden Rule:
• “Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you”.
• Found in the Analects, this saying teaches the ethics of mutuality and reciprocity.

20. Recitification of Names
• Confucius believed that to return to the ancient Way, people must play their
assigned roles in society. This was later called the recitification of names, or
zhengming, The Five Relationships include:
1. the ruler-sibject
2. father-son
3. husband-wife
4. elder and younger brother
5. friend and friend.

21. The Five Constants
• The Five Constants, also known as the Five Classical Virtues, or
Wuchang, are the Five most important Confucian ethics mentioned
in the Analects and the Book of Mencius. These include the
following: the ren or benevolence ; yi or righteousness ; li or
propriety ; zhi or knowledge/wisdom ; xin or fidelity.

22. • Ren, can be achieved by returning to li, or the traditional Chinese rituals. It
means following the social hierarchy patterned after family relationship. Yi,
can be achieved by having the moral disposition to do good. Li , considered
as the concrete guide to human action and social order, can be achieved by
following the guide to human relationships. Zhi, can be achieved by knowing
what is right and what is wrong. Xin, can be achieved by keeping one’s word
and being faithful.

23. Worship and Observances
The Book of Rites recorded the rituals practiced by the Chinese for many
centuries. Some of these rituals have been classified under Family Rituals, also
known as the “Four Rites”, which are rituals or ceremonies that characterize a
person’s growth and Maturity, namely: Coming of age rites, marriage ceremonies,
mourning rites, and sacrificial rituals.

24. The Four Rites
* Coming of age rites
-are ceremonies held to signify that a young person has reached the
marriageable age and could join the different activities of his/her clan as an
adult. The two important Coming of age Rites among the Chinese are capping
and hair pinning ceremonies.
Capping –refers to doing the male teenager’s hair ina bun/coil and wearing a
cap.
Hair Pinning –refers to the gathering of a girl’s hair into a knot, and securing
it using a hairpin or a hairclip.

25. * Mourning Rites
-a tradition of exerting effort to recover the deceased, which is being practiced to
avoid false death.
* Marriage Ceremonies
-are an important aspect of Chinese culture since marriage is considered as a
central feature of society; through marriage, patience and love are cultivated to
promote the right virtue.
*Sacrificial Rituals
-are performed regularly by the descendants of the deceased ancestors. Sacrifices
are often given at festivals.

26. Mozi
-Mozi was an ancient Chinese philosopher born
in 470 BC, a contemporary of Confucius, and the
founder of Mohism. Along with his followers, he
would strongly oppose Confucianism, which placed
values on the exact things which Mozi disliked.

27. Mozi
Mozi’s philosophy was a philosophy of the common man. He believed
that ceremonies, rituals and other excesses of the elite were a waste
of money and other valuable resources which would be better used
for things like clothing and shelter. For the same reason, Mozi was
strongly against war. In contrast to the Confucian belief that one
should love their parents and those close to him more than others,
Mozi put forth his doctrine of Universal Love. Mozi believed that the
Way of Heaven was to do what is most beneficial.

28. Mengzi
(Mencius) – (fourth century B.C.E) was Confucian
philosopher. Often referred to as the “second sage” of
Confucianism (meaning second in importance only to
Confucius himself) , Mencius is best known for his claim
that “human nature is good”
-mengzi was more successful than mozi in passing on his
teachings to later generations. Mengzi was elevated to the
status of a classic in the twelfth century.

29. Xunzi
- was a Chinese philosopher who lived around 300-237
B.C.E and like Mengzi, left a profound legacy on
Chinese civilization. He became successful as a politician
and teacher and had an anthology of essays entitled
Xunzi.

30. Neo-Confucianism
-refers to the revival of the different
features of Confucian philosophy and
political customs which began in the middle
the 9th century. It was able to reach new
heights of intellectual and social
resourcefulness in the century during the song
Dynasty.

31. The Painting
“The Vinegar Tasters”
-it represent how Buddhist and
Daoist ideologies were incorporated in
Neo-Confucianism.

32. Symbols
The scholar, as represented by the Chinese symbol (the Ru), it contains the
symbol of a person, as well as the character for need or desire. Water is one of
the five important elements in Chinese philosophy, along side wood, fire , earth
and metal. Water is considered as the source of life.