2. Introduction
• Confucianism is the complex system of moral, social,
political, and so- called religious teaching built up by
Confucius and the ancient Chinese traditions.
• Confucianism goal is making not only the man
virtuous, but also making him the man of learning
and of good manners. The perfect man must combine
the qualities of a saint, scholar, and gentleman.
• Confucianism is a religion whose worship is centered
in offerings to the dead. The notion of duty is
extended beyond the boundaries of morals and
embraces the details of daily life.
4. Biography of Founder
• NAME: Confucius (Confucius, also known as Kong
• Qui or K’ung Fu-tzu,)
• OCCUPATION: Philosopher
• BIRTH DATE: 551 BCE (August 27)
• PLACE OF BIRTH: Qufu, Zhou Dynasty, China
• DEATH DATE: 479 BCE (November 21)
• PLACE OF DEATH: Qufu, Zhou Dynasty, China
• Date founded: 6th-5th cent. BC
• Place founded: China
• Adherents: 5-6 million
5. Life of Confucius
Confucius was born with the name Kong Ch’iu in answer to his
parents' prayers at a sacred hill called Ni. Confucius' surname Kong
means literally an utterance of thankfulness when prayers have
been answered.
Grown up as an adult, Ch’iu left his homeland and began wandering
from state to state in China. His ambition was to share his philosophy
with the ruling princes, believing that these powerful leaders had an
obligation to lead their people with virtue. Rather than leading for
power, control, money, or ego, the princes of China must understand
their higher purpose, which was to do “right” and lead by selfless
example.
6. At the age of fifty, when Duke Ding of Lu was on the throne of Lu,
Confucius' talents were recognized and he was appointed Minister of
Public Works and then Minister of Crime. It seemed that Confucius’
dream of a position of influence in government had come true.
But Confucius apparently offended members of the Lu
nobility and he was forced to leave office and go into exile.
He returned to Lu in 484 BCE and spent the remainder of
his life teaching, putting in order the Book of Songs, the
Book of Documents, and other ancient classics.
Confucius (Kong Fu Zi), a humble man from poor beginnings,
became so influential that his teachings inspired a
philosophy, a religion, and a way of life that has lasted until
today.
7. Major Works
Confucius is credited with writing and editing some of the
most influential traditional Chinese classics. These include a
rearrangement of the Book of Odes as well as a revision of
the historical Book of Documents.
He also compiled a historical account of the 12 dukes of Lu, called the
Spring and Autumn Annals. Lunyu, which sets forth Confucius’
philosophical and political beliefs, is thought to be compiled by his
disciples. It is one of the "Four Books" of Confucianism that Chinese
philosopher Zhu Xi, a self-proclaimed Neo-Confucian, published as
Sishu in 1190. Far-reaching in its influence, Lunyu was later translated
into English under the title The Analects of Confucius.
8. Texts
• The Lun-yü (Analects) are the most revered sacred scripture in the Confucian
tradition. It was probably compiled by the second generation of Confucius'
disciples. Based primarily on the Master's sayings, preserved in both oral and
written transmissions, it captures the Confucian spirit in the same way that the
Platonic dialogues embody Socratic teachings.
The Confucian Canon achieved its present form in the Sung
dynasty under the direction of Chu Hsi (1130-1200). It
consists of the Five Classics and the Four Books.
9. Philosophy
Confucius' Social Philosophy Confucius' Political Philosophy
Confucius believes that people Confucius' political philosophy is
live their lives within parameters also rooted in his belief that a
firmly established by Heaven— ruler should learn self-discipline,
which, often, for him means both govern his subjects by his own
a purposeful Supreme Being as example and treat them with love
well as „nature‟ and its fixed and concern. “If the people be led
cycles and patterns—he argues by laws, and uniformity among
that men are responsible for them be sought by punishments,
their actions and especially for they will try to escape
their treatment of others. We can punishment and have no sense
do little or nothing to alter our of shame. If they are led by
fated span of existence but we virtue, and uniformity sought
determine what we accomplish among them through the practice
and what we are remembered of ritual propriety, they will
for. possess a sense of shame and
come to you of their own
accord.” (Lunyu 2.3)
10. Teaching
• Confucius is the first Chinese thinker to introduce concepts that
became fundamental not only to Confucian philosophy but to
Chinese philosophy in general. The most important of these are
jen (benevolence), yi (propriety, or being proper), and li (ritual, or
ceremony). Confucius believed that the chün-tzu, or "gentleman,"
must set the moral example for others in society to follow. In the
Lun yü jen, what has been translated as humaneness or
benevolence (being kind) is a quality a chün-tzu should develop
and attempt to encourage in others. Li is considered the rules and
ritual that are observed in religious and nonreligious ceremonies
and, as applied to the chün-tzu, composed rules of behavior. Yi
represents what is right and proper in a given situation. The chün-
tzu, by observing the ritual and because of his good nature,
always knows what is right.
11. Confucius's Educational Theory
• Theory of Value
• Theory of Knowledge
• Theory of Human Nature
• Theory of Learning
• Theory of Transmission
• Theory of Society
• Theory of Opportunity
• Theory of Consensus
12. • His philosophy of education focused on the
"Six Arts": archery, calligraphy, computation,
music, chariot-driving and ritual.
• To Confucius, the main objective of being an
educator was to teach people to live with
integrity.
• Through his teachings, he strove to resurrect
the traditional values of benevolence,
propriety and ritual in Chinese society.
13. Conclusion
Confucianism is a treasure house of profound wisdom.
Chinese consider it to be a religion on the pattern of other
Divinely revealed religions of the world, there are others
among them who view it as a mere philosophy. In fact, the
teachings of Confucius are not really a religious theory.
They are more like an educational philosophy of the
Chinese people that were promulgated 2500 years ago.
However, philosophy came to be ‘worshipped’ by the
Chinese people and passed down from generation to
generation and regarded by some as some kind of unique
religion of the Chinese.
