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Kong Fu Zi = “Master Kong”. Title Cornell Notes: Confucius and His Teachings. Page 11. EQ: Why was Confucius important to the Chinese?. Video: http ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-- AFCI4HCU. Life. Born in 551 B.C. to a noble but poor family Died in 479 B.C. at age 73 Loved learning
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Kong Fu Zi = “Master Kong” Title Cornell Notes: Confucius and His Teachings Page 11 EQ: Why was Confucius important to the Chinese? Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O--AFCI4HCU
Life • Born in 551 B.C. to a noble but poor family • Died in 479 B.C. at age 73 • Loved learning • Self-taught (from a poor family, could not afford tutors/ school) • Died in 479 B.C. at age 73 • Believed his life to be a failure • Teacher • Philosopher ( a person who offers views or theories on profound questions)
Confucianism • Ideas came to be known as Confucianism • Persecuted in Qin Dynasty • 221 B.C. - 206 B.C. • promoted by later rulers • Reinforced by the civil examination system from 605 to 1905
Teachings of Confucius What kinds of students did Confucius teach? • Became China’s first professional teacher • Charged students for classes • Taught rich and poor! • “I instruct only a student who bursts with eagerness” • Discuss: • Do you think you could or would have been one of his students? • Why or why not?
Teachings of Confucius • What was Confucius’s desires with his teachings, what was his goal? • Who did he want to impact?
Teachings of Confucius • He hoped to bring peace, stability and prosperity to China’s kingdoms • Why? • Chinese states were fighting each other over land • Wanted to bring order in all of society • Wanted a ruler to follow his teachings • He never wrote down his teachings • instead his students did!
Teachings of Confucius:The 5 Relationships • Relationship between "two persons” • each role of social relations had clearly defined duties • father-child • ruler-subject • husband-wife • elder brother-younger brother • friend-friend
Philosophy: a system of values • Confucius’s teachings became known as Confucianism • He taught about five human relationships and explained how people should act in each • “Do not do to others what you might not want done to yourself” • Although Confucianism was a philosophy, it also could be treated as a religion • It helped to guide how you should behave
Influences of Confucius • His teachings became part of training for Civil Services jobs • Civil Service: the group of people who carry out the work of government • People who wanted a government job had to pass official examinations that were based on Confucius • Poor Chinese men could enter government positions if they could read and write, and pass the exam. • They could go far • based on merit.
Taoism (Another Chinese Philosophy) • Taoism: Happiness comes from having a balanced life • Based on Laozi’s writings in the 500s B.C. • Never as popular as Confucianism
Taoism • What do you think is similar and different about a philosophy and a religion? Philosophy: a system of values Religious beliefs and practices: worshiping ancestors, honoring gods, beliefs in spirits
Questions Confucius died thinking his life was a failure. • What do you think he would have thought about the influences of his teachings? He did not consider himself good or wise. • What would you consider him? Why?