This document provides an overview of Confucius and Confucianism. It discusses that Confucius was a philosopher from 551-479 BC in Lu, China who felt he had a mission to return China to its former glory by emphasizing self-cultivation and virtue. Confucianism defines Chinese society and provides a philosophy for living in society through emphasis on family, social hierarchy, education, and government. The core teachings of Confucianism are humanism, morality, justice, sincerity, and filial piety. It focuses on the importance of life and relationships rather than the afterlife or gods.

1. Hello.

2. CONFUCIUS & CONFUCIANISM

3. WHO IS CONFUCIUS?

4. 551 – 479 BC
PHILOSOPHER

5. ALL of religions use the
GOLDEN RULE
to summarize their
ethical teachings.

6. Defined Chinese Society for the
past 2000 years

7. LU
(Modern day
Shandong
Province)

8. Confucius felt he had a
mission to return China
to its former glory, to
return to the 'Way' or
Dao.

9. Dao -culture of
self-cultivation
and emphasis on
the way of virtue

10. Confucianism is very
much a philosophy for
those living in society

11. Buddhism and Daoism
stress withdrawing
from the world to
seek spiritual
enlightenment.

12. He was never employed in any
significant government post during
his lifetime.
IRONIC
300 years after his death,
Confucianism was adopted as
China's state philosophy.

13. CONFUCIANISM‟S
ADVOCACY

14. PROMOTES HARMONY
AMIDST CHANGE

15. The embeddedness of each person
in concentric circles of
relationships and ethical
responsibilities

16. 1. The importance of
family (past, present
& future)

17. 2. The function of a
hierarchical social
system

18. 3. The significance of
education

19. 4. The role of government
in establishing a political
bureaucracy

20. 4 Key Elements
of the
Confucian
Worldview

21. Anthropocosmic
the great triad
1. heaven (a guiding
force), 2. earth (nature),
3. humans

22. Organic Holism
the universe is seen as
unified, interconnected,
and interpenetrating

23. Dynamic Vitalism
basis of the underlying
unity of reality which is
ch‟i,
constituted of
the
material force of the
universe

24. Comprehensive Ethics
humans are biological-
historical-ethical beings
who live in a universe of
complex correspondences and
relationships.

25. Essential
Teachings

26. The main core of
Confucianism
is humanism

27. It focuses on the
importance of life
and all that
affects it such as
the family

28. It does not focus on
the belief of the
afterlife and of gods

29. Philosophies

30. Religion?
Ethical Code

31. "To devote oneself
earnestly to one's
duty to
humanity, and
while respecting
the spirits, to
keep aloof from

32. Agnostic
who believed in
spirits and the
supernatural
but was not
interested in
them

33. Built on the foundational belief
that man is basically
good.

34. Teachings:
*Morality
*The importance of
justice, sincerity and
filial piety - the duty of
every son to serve his
parents.

35. ANALECTS

36. Five
Classics

37. defined as "Utilitarianism"
by John Stuart Mills

38. Five Constants
(五常)

39. Ren(仁, being
humane)
Best expressed by the golden rule or
the ethic of reciprocity.
Political dimension: makes rulers
take care of subjects

40. Yi 義:
upholding of
righteousness and the
moral disposition to do
good.

41. Li 禮:
Following/respecting
of etiquette and
norms of daily life

42. Zhi 智:
“He who learns but does
not think is lost. He who
thinks but does not learn is
in great danger.”
Education is very
important for him.

43. Xin 信:
Refers to keeping one‟s
word and being faithful to
it. (not to gods, but to one‟s
words, tasks, etc.)

44. Four Virtues
(五常)

45. Zhong 忠:
One should be loyal to their
superiors and vice versa.

46. Jie 節:
One must
exercise self
control.

47. Xiao 孝:
Children must respect their
parents, but a child has a
duty to dispute with his/her
parents if necessary

48. Yi 義:
The same as the one in the five constants, which is the moral disposition to do good.
Yi 義:
The same as the one in the
five constants, which is the
moral disposition to do
good.

49. Contributions of
Confusianism

50. Public policies
Family codes
Relationship ethics
Education
Government

51. Influenced the
Chinese people to
respect their
leaders and their
leaders to set a
good example as
well

52. Explained humanity as „to love
the people‟ and „to love the
masses extensively‟

53. Development of
everyone‟s potential
ability‟

54. Filial Piety

55. Influenced the
„Neo-Confucianism‟
by Zhu-Xi

58. Bye.