Confucianism is a philosophy founded by Confucius that focuses on social order, ethics, and restoring harmony. It teaches human-heartedness and proper behavior in relationships. Confucius established schools advocating learning strategies like reviewing lessons and eliciting student understanding. He believed education should be available to all and aimed at developing good citizens, family members, and subjects of the emperor.

2. Confucianism
 Founded by Confucius
 Philosophy or Religion
 a system of social and ethical
philosophy
 concerned primarily with
restoring social stability and
order
 Teachings found in the
Analects An illustration of Confucius

3.  Human-heartedness (jen/ren)
 The ideal of the “ Superior
Person”
 The role of ritual (li) and
culture (wen)
 The rectification of names
 The five constant relationships
(and their attendant virtues)

4.  Jen (Ren) – character is combination of “two”
and “human being”. Goodness; human-
heartedness; benevolence; love.
 The basic virtue in Confucianism: “If a man sets
his heart on benevolence [ren], he will be free
from evil.” [Analects, 4.4]
 Entails a doctrine of reciprocity: “do not do unto
others what you would not want others to do
unto you” (“The Silver Rule”)

5.  A state of being; the sole focus for the
superior person:
The Master said, “Of neighborhoods
benevolence [re n ] is the most
beautiful. How can the man be
considered wise who, when he has
the choice, does not settle in
benevolence?” (Analects, 4.1).
 Difficult to attain, but also the most
natural:

6.  Has wisdom, compassion and courage:
The Master said, “There are three things constantly on the lips of the gentleman none of which I have
succeeded in following: “A man of benevolence never worries; a man of wisdom is never in two minds;
a man of courage is never afraid.”
 Always strives for the good
“Make it in your guiding principle to do your best for others and to be trustworthy in what you say.”
The Master said, “A noble person covets the reputation of being slow in words but prompt in deed.”
 Thinks broadly
The Master said, “A noble mind can see a question from all sides without bias. Small minds are biased and
see a question only from one side.”

7.  Ritual: Li – also means propriety. There is a proper way to comport one’s self in all
situations.
 Culture: Wen - “the arts of peace” – music, art, poetry.
 “If terms be no correct, language is not in accordance
with the truth of things. If language is not in accordance
with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried out to
success… Therefore a superior person considers it
necessary that the names he uses be spoken
appropriately. What the superior person requires is that
in his words there be nothing that is incorrect” (Novak,
126).

8. 1. Ruler- minister
2. Father – son
3. Husband – wife
4. Elder brother – younger brother
5. Elder friend – younger friend

9.  Loyalty
 Filial piety
The Master said, “The service which filial children do to their parents is as
follows: In their general conduct to them, they manifest the utmost
reverence; in their nourishing of them, their endeavor is to give them
the utmost pleasure; when they are ill, they feel the greatest anxiety; in
mourning for them, they exhibit every demonstration of grief; in
sacrificing to them, they display the utmost solemnity. When children
are complete in these five things (they may be pronounced) able to
serve their parents.”

10.  子曰：“吾十有五而志于学，三十而立，四十而
不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从
心所欲，不逾矩。”
 Confucius said, “Since the age of 15, I have
devoted myself to learning; Since 30, I have been
well established; Since 40, I have understood
many things and have no longer been confused;
since 50, I have known my heaven-sent duty;
since 60, I have been able to distinguish right and
wrong in other people’s words; and since 70, I
have been able to do what I intend freely without
breaking the rules.”

11.  孔子曰：“君子有九思：视思明，听思聪，色思温，貌思恭，
言思忠，事思敬，疑思问，忿思难，见得思义。”
Confucius said, “ A gentleman concentrates on the following nine
things: seeing clearly when he uses his eyes; hearing acutely when
he uses his ears; looking mild when it comes to facial expression;
appearing sedate when it comes to demeanor; being sincere when
he speaks; being conscientious when it comes to his office
responsibility; seeking advice when he is in the face of difficulty;
foreseeing the consequences when he gets angry; asking himself
whether it is right when he wants to gain something.”

12.  Confucius emphasized the importance of education, the aim of which is
to turn people into good family members, responsible members of
society, and good subjects of the emperor.
 Confucius established private schools, advocating his learning
strategies, that is, the combination of learning and thinking, reviewing
and teaching.
 Confucius said, “ I will not instruct my students until they have really
tried hard but failed to understand. If I give them one instance and they
cannot draw inferences from it, I will not teach them any more.”
 He maintains the idea that everyone has the right to be educated, and
that education should be offered to all classes. While spreading the
spirit of being insatiable in learning and tireless in teaching, he strives
for educating students in accordance with their aptitude by adopting an
elicitation method of teaching.

13. 10 Powerful Life Lessons
From Confucius

14. Lesson # 1 : Just Keep Going
“It does not matter how slowly
you go as long as you do not
stop.”

15. Lesson # 2 : Your Friends Matter
“Never contract friendship
with a man that is not better
than thyself.”

16. Lesson # 3 : Good Things Come With a Price
“It is easy to hate and it
is difficult to love. This
is how the whole scheme
of things works. All good
things are difficult to
achieve; and bad things
are very easy to get.”

17. Lesson # 4 : Sharpen Your Tools First
“The expectations of life depend
upon diligence; the mechanic that
would perfect his work must first
sharpen his tools.”

18. Lesson # 5 : To be Wronged is Nothing
“To be wronged is nothing
unless you continue to
remember it.”

19. Lesson # 6 : Consider the Consequences
“When anger rises, think of the
consequences.”

20. Lesson # 7 : Make Adjustments
“When it is obvious that the
goals cannot be reached, don’t
adjust the goals, adjust the
action steps.”

21. Lesson # 8 : You Can Learn From Everyone
“If I am walking with two other men,
each of them will serve as my teacher.
I will pick out the good points of the
one and imitate them and the bad points
of the other and correct them in myself.”

22. Lesson # 9 : All or None

23. Lesson # 10 : Love whatever you do

24. "Life is really simple, but we insist on
making it complicated."