This document provides an overview of Confucianism, including its history, key figures, teachings, and influence. Some of the main points covered include: - Confucius lived in 551-479 BCE in China and was the founder of Confucianism. He taught principles of virtue, ethics, and morality that focused on social harmony through strong family and social values. - Other major Confucian philosophers included Mencius, Xunzi, Mozi, and Zisi, who expanded on Confucius' teachings in subsequent centuries. Central concepts included benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity. - Confucianism became the dominant philosophy and basis for

1. CONFUCIANISM
INT-244 | Topic 6b

2. Demographics
Country Distribution Total
Worldwide 8.7 Million
South Korea 6.4% 5.6 Million
China 0.2% 1.8 Million
Myanmar < 1% 806,785
World Religion Database (2020)

3. History

4. Confucius (Kongzi)
551 - 479 BCE
Qufu, China
https://www.worldhistory.org/Confucius/

6. City of Lu in Shangdon Province

7. Confucius (Kongzi)
Director of Public works
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Province of Lu
https://www.worldhistory.org/Confucius/

8. Confucius (Kongzi)
503 BC
Opened a school in City of Qufu
Train workers for the Emperor
https://www.worldhistory.org/Confucius/

9. Temple of Confucius

10. Books by Confucius
Book of Odes
Book of Documents
Spring & Autumn Journals
*I Ching (Book of Changes)
https://www.worldhistory.org/Confucius/
*allegedly this existed before Confucius

11. Four Great Confucian Philosophers

12. Four Great Confucian Philosophers
Zisi (483 - 402 BCE)
Mozi (470 - 391 BCE)
Mencius (371 - 289 BCE)
Xunzi (300 - 230 BCE)

13. Zisi
483 - 402 BCE
Grandson of Confucius
Author of Zhongyong
Chapter in the book Record of Rites
„
Stefon, M. (2016, March 8). Zisi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zisi

14. Zisi
483 - 402 BCE
Theory of Wuxing
Five modes of moral conduct
Stefon, M. (2016, March 8). Zisi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zisi

15. Wuxing
1. Ren - Benevolence
2. Yi — Righteousness
3. Li — Ritual Property
4. Zhi — Wisdom
5. Xeng — Integrity
Stefon, M. (2016, March 8). Zisi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zisi

16. Mozi
470 - 391 BCE
Student of Confucius
And also Lao Tze
„
Ames, R. T. and Mei, . Yi Pao (2017, June 15). Mozi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mozi-Chinese-philosopher

17. Mozi
Authored The Mozi
Developed a criteria for making wise
decisions and determining moral
behavior.
Ames, R. T. and Mei, . Yi Pao (2017, June 15). Mozi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mozi-Chinese-philosopher

18. Threefold Test of a Proposition
1. What is the premise of a proposition?
2. Can the proposition be veri
fi
ed?
3. What is the proposition’s applicability (relevance)?
Ames, R. T. and Mei, . Yi Pao (2017, June 15). Mozi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mozi-Chinese-philosopher

19. Fourfold Test for a Rule
1. Conformity to the will of Heaven
2. Conformity to the teachings of the Sages
3. Good consequences for the welfare of society
4. Con
fi
rmation by the testimony of sight and hearing
Loy, Hui-Chieh. (2023). Mozi. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.https://iep.utm.edu/mozi/

20. Mencius
371 - 289 BCE
Born in state of Zhou.
Student of Zisi
O
ffi
cial in the State of Qi
Traveled and taught court princes
Mei, Yi Pao , Ames, Roger T. and Stefon, Matt. "Mencius". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Feb. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mencius-
Chinese-philosopher. Accessed 16 November 2023.

21. Book of Mencius
Statements about human nature
Intended to be philosophy for the common
people.
Mei, Yi Pao , Ames, Roger T. and Stefon, Matt. "Mencius". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Feb. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mencius-
Chinese-philosopher. Accessed 16 November 2023.

22. Teachings of Mencius
• Guidance for Rulers
Ruler should provide for his people
Ruler should educate his people
Rulers need to cultivate moral power rather than power by force
Rulers should govern for the good of people, not themselves
25

23. Teachings of Mencius
• Guidance for Rulers
Ruler should provide for his people
Ruler should educate his people
Rulers need to cultivate moral power rather than power by force
Rulers should govern for the good of people, not themselves
• The Doctrine of Human Nature
Feeling of empathy
Feeling of shame
Feeling of courtesy
Feeling of right and wrong
26

24. Teachings of Mencius
• Guidance for Rulers
Ruler should provide for his people
Ruler should educate his people
Rulers need to cultivate moral power rather than power by force
Rulers should govern for the good of people, not themselves
• The Doctrine of Human Nature
Feeling of empathy
Feeling of shame
Feeling of courtesy
Feeling of right and wrong
• Nature of Man
All humans are innately good
Goodness must be cultivated through education and self-discipline.
Goodness is squandered through neglect and negative in
fl
uences
Goodness can never be lost
27

25. Xunzi
300 - 230 BCE
Born in Zhao
Classical Period of China
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2017, June 9). Xunzi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Xunzi

26. The Book of Xunzi
A book of essays about the nature of man
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2017, June 9). Xunzi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Xunzi

27. The Book of Xunzi
A book of essays about the nature of man
“The Nature of man is evil. His goodness is
acquired by education”.
Disagreed with Mencius who said Man is
basically good.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2017, June 9). Xunzi. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Xunzi

28. Confucius Schools
School Curriculum
Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 AD)
https://www.ancient.eu/Confucius/

29. Requirement for
Public Office
Study the Confucian Classics
Take tests to enter into service
Service available for anybody
https://www.ancient.eu/Confucius/

30. Confucian Temples
First Temple built in 450 AD
Built in South China
During the Song dynasty

31. Temples Built
Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD)
Confucianism became a religious
institution.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Confucius/

32. Confucian Beliefs

33. Tianming - Mandate of Heaven

34. Tianming — The Mandate of Heaven
The divine source of authority and the right to rule of China's early kings and
then emperors. The ancient god or divine force known as Heaven or Sky
selected a particular individual to rule on its behalf on earth.
Cartwright, M. (2017, July 25). Mandate of Heaven. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Mandate_of_Heaven/

35. Tianming — The Mandate of Heaven
Although a ruler was given great power, he also had a moral obligation to use it
for the good of his people. If a ruler did not do this, then his state would su
ff
er
terrible disasters and he would lose the right to govern.
Cartwright, M. (2017, July 25). Mandate of Heaven. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Mandate_of_Heaven/

36. Tianming — The Mandate of Heaven
1. Ruler has an obligation to rule morally
2. Ruler must depend on his advisors
3. Ruler is limited by his predecessors and the founders of the dynasty
Cartwright, M. (2017, July 25). Mandate of Heaven. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Mandate_of_Heaven/

37. Confucianism
Foundation of Chinese Philosophy
• Practical questions
• Morality
• How to master the environment
• Basis for Civil Law
• Principles of Social Responsibility

38. Philosophy
1. People are innately good & and inclined to choose good
2. People choose wrong because of ignorance
3. People are ignorant of the moral code
4. People can be educated in the moral code
5. People educated in moral code will choose good

39. Philosophy
6. Tian (Heaven) is the source and sustainer of life
7. Understanding one’s relationship to Tian and one’s place in
the universe establishes order
https://www.worldhistory.org/Confucianism/

40. Wuxing — Five Virtues

41. Ren - Benevolence
Literally “humanity” or “humanness” bearing behavior that is
authentically human. To embody goodness in one’s
relationship with another.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

42. Yi - Righteousness
Righteousness entails unselfishness, the steadfastness to do
what is right in the face of temptation.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

43. Li - Ritual Propriety
“ritual propriety” expresses a sensitivity to one’s social place,
and willingness to play all of one’s multiple ritual roles.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

44. Zhi - Wisdom
Ability to appraise people and situations. In
the Analects, wisdom allows a gentleman to discern crooked
and straight behavior in others (12.22), and discriminate
between those who may be reformed and those who may not
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

45. Xin - Integrity
Trustworthiness, sincerity, faithfulness, something that
qualifies a gentleman to give advice to a ruler, and a ruler the
right to manage others. Faithfulness and honesty.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

46. Three Values

47. Xiao - Filial Piety
Right behavior toward parents, superiors, siblings, and the
emperor
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

48. Xiao - Filial Piety
1. Subjects to Emperor
2. Wife to Husband (family head)
3. Younger brother to Older brother
4. Younger friend to Older friend
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

49. Ren — Humanness
Altruism, empathy, authenticity, human morality
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

50. Li — Ritual
Importance of tradition, ritual, honoring the ancestors, and
honoring the gods
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/

51. Confucian Texts

52. Confucian Canon
• Analects & the books written before 300 BCE
• Tradition says Analects written by Confucius (probably not)
• 12th century CE — Zhu Xi, Song Dynasty, selected them as Canon
• 1368 - 1644 — Became required for public service during Ming Dynasty
58

53. Imperial Examination
1. Shengyan — Local and county graduate, able to serve in the village
2. Juren — Provincial graduate, able to serve in a provincial capital
3. Jinshi — Metropolitan graduate, able to serve in the capital nationally.
Imperial Examinations (Keju). (2023, February 4). New World Encyclopedia, . Retrieved 17:48, November 28, 2023 from
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Imperial_Examinations_(Keju)&oldid=1099292.

54. The Four Texts
1. Book of Analects
2. Book of Mencius
3. Book of Great Learning
4. Doctrine of the Mean

55. Book of Analects
476 - 221 BCE
Proverbs of Confucius
Required for Civil Service

56. Book of Mencius
4th century BCE
Conversations with Confucius

57. Book of Great Learning
4th century BCE
Philosophy in Personal Life

58. Doctrine of the Mean
3rd century BCE
Kong Ji, Confucius’ Grandson

59. Doctrine of the Mean
1. Self-watchfulness
2. Leniency
4. Sincerity

60. https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/index.htm
66

61. Famous Quotes
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”
Analects

62. Famous Quotes
“To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.”
“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for
life.”
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
“By three methods we may learn: 1st by re
fl
ection, which is the noblest, 2nd is by imitation
which is the easiest, 3rd by experience which is the bitterest
Analects

63. Confucian Texts
https://www.sacred-texts.com/cfu/
1. Find two proverbs you like
2. Find two proverbs you don’t

64. Confucianism
In Modern China

65. Mao Tse Tung
Communist Revolution 1949
Sought to eradicate ancient
religions in China, and modernize

66. Great leap Forward
February 1958 - 1961
Five-year economic plan to modernize
economy by moving people o
ff
farms, into
cities, and employ them in factories

67. Great leap Forward
Led to dissolution of the nuclear family.
Forced labor.
As many as 30 million died
China never owned up
Smil V. (1999 Dec 18). China’s great famine: 40 years later. BMJ. 18-25;319(7225):1619-21. doi: 10.1136/bmj.319.7225.1619

68. Cultural Revolution
1966 - 1976
Religious Books were Burned
Buddhist Temples destroyed

70. Confucianism survives in Taiwan

71. Confucian Temple in Taipei Taiwan

72. Economic Rise of “The Four Little Dragons”
78
Singapore Hong Kong South Korea Taiwan

73. Economic Confucianism
Over our decades…“four little dragons”- Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and
Singapore…progressed toward becoming…the three mainstays of the advanced
economic world order…Their achievement…originated from…social practices
established in the Confucian custom…adjusted to the necessities of a modern
society- [known as] “neo-Confucianism." This economic philosophy incorporates a
meritocratic organization, a selection test framework, the signi
fi
cance of gathering
knowledge, and the goal of advancement.
Dangayach & Gupta. (2018). Four Asian Dragons . International Journal of Advance Research. 3 (1):158 - 162. http://www.ijarnd.com/

74. National Science Conference
March 18, 1978
Be
ij
ing
Deng Xiaping
80

75. The Confucius Institute
1984
Be
ij
ing
Economic Think Tank
81

76. Return of Confucianism
Confucianism has made comeback as the Communist Party looked
for ways to justify its authoritarianism and forge a common Chinese
identity. In the 1990s, Confucianism was promoted to provide moral
teachings and counteract the decadence and materialism brought
about by the Deng reforms. In the early 2000s, a number of schools
opened up to teach Confucian values to youngsters and an institute
was set up at Renmin University devoted to the study of Confucius
and Confucian thought.
Hays, (Sep 2016) “Confucianism Today”

77. Chinese Ruism
1. Chinese value on Education in China
2. Structure of Education in China
3. Examinations Required for Civil Service
4. Social hierarchy in the context of Communism