Confucius and his Legacy

1. Confucius and his Legacy In the words of… Andrea Price bg image: “http://www.sacred-destinations.com/china/images/shanghai/confucian-pond-nc-jfdaily.jpg”

2. Table of Contents • The Life of Confucius • Teachings and Confucianism • Modern Day • References • The Game bg image: “http://129.79.22.9/china/QuFu/Confucius%20temple%201.jpg”

3. The Life of Confucius Who was this guy, anyway? • Confucius lived from 551 B.C. – 479 B.C. • He was born in a village called Tsou in Lu, to a wealthy family. • His father was over sixty-four years old when he married Confucius’ mother, who was in her late teens. • Father died when Confucius was only three years old and left the family to fall into poverty. • As a result, Confucius had to educate himself. • As a young child, he would become interested in ritual and politics, participating in ceremonies and sacrificial offerings in his hometown. statue image: “http://www.ivan-herman.net/Photos/Beijing/target85.html” bg image: “http://www.betsygoestochina.com/images/3rdclmn.jpg”

4. At sixteen, his mother passed away, leaving Confucius alone in the world and initiating a new chapter in his life. • At twenty he married a girl with the last name of Ch’I, arranged by his mother before her death. And two years later, he was blessed with a son, whom he named Li. • He was given his first job around the age of twenty and was put in charge of a granary at the house of Ch’i and was famous for his fairness. He was soon promoted to Minister of Public Work (construction of buildings and such). • At twenty-four he left for Chou, the Emperor’s capital in order to study rites and ceremonies and also to visit Lao Tzu famous for Taoism. • As time progressed, he became a teacher and gathered many followers. At around the age of fifty, he delved deeper into politics as magistrate of Chungtu and was soon promoted to Grand Secretary of Justice and was well-known for being extremely fair in governing. • Ongoing trouble between Ch’i and Lu prompted Confucius to leave his post and he soon traveled for the next fourteen years of his life. He concentrated on education and editing some ancient books on ritual and music (The Five Chinese Classics). He taught poetry, history, ceremonies and music to students regardless of social status. • He died in 479 at age seventy-three. bg image: “http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/467227330_03704c327d_b.jpg”

5. Teachings and Confucianism • Confucius never distinguished between classes when he taught to his students. • It is important to know that Confucius himself never meant for his teachings to become a religion, but should be taught as a means of living life and governing a province with stability and fairness • Confucius himself never wrote anything; however he did compile together a series of texts known as the Five Chinese Classics, which are a compilation of the works of many scholars, including poetry, everyday conduct, ritual and such and meant to offer advice. • However, after his death his students put together the wisdom of Confucius into the Analects. Advice in the text covers everything from marriage to nearly everything under the sun. • Later scholars wrote The Four Books and Meng Zi (Mencius). image: “http://www.grips.ac.jp/teacher/oono/hp/image_j1/lec02_7school.jpg “ bg image: “http://www.ariustile.com/store/images/9%2016x16%20Yin%20Yang%20OSC.jpg”

6. His Teachings The teachings of Confucius lead to the basis of Confucianism; some Confucianists memorize them as a part of their devotion, even if they don’t understand them right away, they believe they will with time. Five Chinese Classics (p. 158, The Humanistic Tradition/Other Sources) • The Book of Changes (I jing): Text of divination, it helps scholars to foretell future events and understand the human condition as well as natural events. • The Book of History (Shu jing): Government records: speeches, reports and announcements by rulers and ministers of ancient China. The original was destroyed, however it was recreated in early Han dynasty. Meant to educate present rulers over mistakes of the past, for wiser decision making. • The Book of Songs/Poetry (Shi jing): An anthology of some 300 poems: folk songs, ceremonial and secular poems. • The Book of Rites (Li ji): A collection of texts centering on rules of conduct for everyday life. • The Spring and Autumn Annals (Lushi chunqiu): Commentaries that chronicle events up to the fifth century B.C. It covers the events in Confucius’ home town for the time period, the name is a shortened version of the seasons. • -- sixth classic on music no longer exists. bg image: “http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~trishin/sergey/galleries/2003/china/pictures/24/images/Confucius%20Temple,%20Confucius%20Stone%20Sculpture%201.jpg”

7. The Books • There are essentially four books including the Analects, Mencius, The Higher Education (Great Learning) and Doctrine of the Mean these were recorded by disciples and followers of Confucian in years and centuries following the death of the teacher. • The Analects is commonly called the words of Confucius. There are 497 verses, Confucius doesn’t dictate the way one should live of anything, but rather he discusses reactions and specific problems almost anyone could experience. • Mencius was one of the most influential of the sages and teachers of Confucianism after the death of its founder. His teachings can be found in Meng Zi (Mencius). The book discussions how Confucianism had intellectual competition in his time, he comments on some of Confucius’ teachings and he even argues with rulers of his time period and points out their faults. Mencius put the most attention into the political principles Confucius established and argued with rulers over it. • Great Learning is actually a part of the Book of Rites and was written by the grandson of Confucius. It is, in a way, a guide to becoming a true Confucian gentleman and functions as a guide for self-improvement. Self-improvement was seen as a way to good government, that a man must be able to control himself before he can a government. bg image: “http://www.illabirinto.com/travel/china/beijing/80%20-%20Confucius%20Temple%20-%20Main%20building.JPG”

8. Doctrine of the Mean was written by Zhong Yong and consists of the “characters for normality and centrality and conveys the Confucian ideas of moderation, balance and harmony.”Its a compilation of essays and stories, some refer to what constitutes a true gentlemen, social obligation and the responsibilities rulers should carry. There are also some quotes from Confucius as well as other things. (Hoobler, p. 81) • There are some other writings that cover the responsibilities of women as well as those of the warrior. • The Lessons for Women was actually written by a women and I found this interesting and it covers women’s education, its author Ban Zhao wished and argued for the equailty of women’s education. • The Confucian Code for the Warrior was written by one of top Samurai of his time period, Yamaga Soko (1622-1685) during the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was the first true description of bushido or “way of the warrior” and dictated the principles of the life of the samurai and Soko presented these in Confucian ideology. bg image: “http://travel.searchina.ne.jp/pic/sd_qufu1.jpg”

9. Confucianism (Extremely brief overview of a very involved and complicated subject.) The principles of Confucianism are based on the Scriptures as well as the Books written in the centuries following the death of its founder. • In some places Confucianism is seen as an ideology, but in others it is seen as a religion and way of life. • It is popular in China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Singapore and many East Asian countries. • Confucius, as you know, grew up in basically as a peasant, it was hard to education and he ended up educating himself. He believed that no one else should have to worry about this so he educated anyone who was willing to listen. This is what made him so popular. He also grew up and traveled all over a country torn by war and strife, so he strived for a stable country, fair in government and with as little corruption as possible.] • He believed that a good person was a gentlemen (someone who had developed the virtues of courtesy, magnanimity, good faith, diligence and kindness and a man with these qualities should use to govern a state. Confucius held government service the highest honor and calling anyone could receive and was a gentlemen’s first calling. • Confucianists also hold the family and relationships within in. These relationships were divided into two types and did not include the roles between mother and children, only the patriarchal roles. (cont’d next slide) bg image: “http://www.unesco.org/ext/field/beijing/whc/778b.jpg”

10. Confucius stressed the importance of the hierarchical nature of human relationships and the responsibilities within each of those roles. This is a governing reason as to why women in Asia are considered subservient to their male counterparts. • These are the governing principles behind Confucianism. Is it a Religion? It has been argued by some historians as a system of ethics and values as a kind of Chinese type of humanism. (Greek influence? Humans matter?) Humanistic because it isn’t based on the Gods, in fact, there aren’t any gods, priests or sects of Confucianism. It is religion through Education, the religion exists to instill morals into a person. Despite not having any type of Gods, as per Asian tradition there are sacrifices to spirits of ancestors and there is an idea of a Heaven that has a role in human affairs, but does not completely govern it. In China, it took its deepest roots. And was seen more as a religion than as a code of ethics and such. The emperor would act as a priest for a nation. The Five Classics were more closely regarded for wisdom and with incredible zeal. Eventually, temples would sprout and sacrifices would be made to statues. Confucius is never worshipped, it is more of a dedication and veneration for the ancestors as he is one; he is revered as “Sage to All Generations.” (Hoobler, pg. 14) bg image: “http://staff.xu.edu/~tan/images/chinese/tiantan.jpg”

11. Rituals and Conduct • Rituals held the most importance in ancient China (only true place of priests and holy men). • Imperial Ceremonies took place during the winter solstice and were carried out by the emperor and “marked the return to power of the yang force, which symbolizes the visible heaven and sun after yin winter and cold and darkness.” (Idea of Yin and Yang is opposites that balance the universe… i.e. spring and winter, light and dark.. without balance, doom is ensured.) (Hoobler, pg. 87) There were also ceremonies at the biggest events such as the summer solstice. Sacrifices made were often animals, young, physically perfect and in peak condition. And there were even sacrifices made in provinces by important officials such as priests… however the emperor was the only one who could make certain sacrifces. • The Cult of Confucius, the sacrifices took three forms. First, at time of his death, ancestral rites carried out in Qufu. Others took place when he became patron saint of scholars, places of learning created rituals for him. His teachings become so intertwined with state affairs (theocratic?), he was the most honored of China’s sages. Biggest temples include Great Hall of Confucius and Temple of Heaven. • Other rituals included those of the family, birth, marriage, coming of age, death, ancestors and a few others. bg image: “http://www.millsaps.edu/religion/todaiji.JPG”

12. Modern Day • As time progressed in China, after the last emperor in the early 1900’s Confucianism lost much of its importance because it was incompatible with Communism that grips the country even today. • Chinese believers fled and in modern day areas of Japan, very very small parts of China, Singapore, Vietnam, Korea, and other East Asian countries Confucianism thrives as a way of life and somewhat as a religion. • His birthday is honored even in Beijing, China despite the change in government, temples thrive all over Asia… his ritual music is played in South Korea as well as other places. • Confucianism may not exist in its religious form as strongly as it once did but aspects of it still thrive in society. In the East, there is music and such as described above. All over the world, including the West strive for the principles taught by Confucius including harmony and balance. • It’s a ideology based on balance and the mind, it is something that is ingrained in humanity that teaches the mind to fight for morality and justice in government. No matter the time, its always there. It just may be subtle. bg image: “http://tortoise.orcon.net.nz/hangingcloseup.jpg”

13. References Aside from the school book I did indirectly refer to a few sources that I figured that I should include somewhere in a kind of casual form, rather than in MLA format. • Confucianism by Thomas and Dorothy Hoobler (direct ref. pg. 81, 84, 14) (book) • Confucianism (Wikipedia) • ***The backgrounds used are actually found throughout Google Image Search, and each image was converted to black and white and faded. Each one’s original version can be found at the links listed on the slides (ex. the image pictured here, has link below). bg image: “http://129.79.22.9/china/QuFu/Confucius%20temple%201.jpg”

14. The Game I hope you’ve been paying some attention, here is a six question quiz, each time I get a right answer, you get a piece of candy. How’s that for motivation? • What inspired Confucius to provide education to everyone, regardless of class or social standing? • a. He thought ducks were cool. • b. He saw a young child playing in the streets and thought that he should be educated. • c. He grew up poor himself and knew how hard it was to get an education. • d. As he was working one day as a magistrate, someone asked him about reforming the educational system of his area. C! Yay, you’re smart. . bg image: “http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/467227330_03704c327d_b.jpg”

15. 2. Did Confucius ever serve as a government official, himself? Yes or No? Yes, and you got it. Don’t you just feel special? 3. The Japanese Samurai Yamaga Soko wrote what piece of literature in a Confucian philosophy? a. The Warring States. b. Sakura. c. Genki. d. Bushido. D. All right, keep going. 4. In ancient times, the emperor was the only one who could do what? a. Perform four special rituals. b. Sacrifice bulls. c. Dance naked under the full moon screaming I Will Survive and watching Oprah. d. Honor Confucius on his birthday. A. I’d probably need therapy after C. bg image: “http://www.ariustile.com/store/images/9%2016x16%20Yin%20Yang%20OSC.jpg”

16. 5. What two books were written following the death of Confucius, but after the Analects? a.Five Chinese Classics. b. Hail the Chief! c. Doctrine of Mean and Mencius. d. Book of Rites and Five Chinese Classics. C. And the last one is wrong because The Book of Rites is a part of the Five Chinese Classics. • What type of hierarchal nature is within the family of Confucian thought (i.e. what types of relationships are seen as most important *worth two candies!*)? • a. Matriarchal; Mother/Daughter. • b. Patriarchal; Father/Son. • c. Oligarchy; Mother/Father. • d. All of the above. B. Yay, its over! bg image: “http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~trishin/sergey/galleries/2003/china/pictures/24/images/Confucius%20Temple,%20Confucius%20Stone%20Sculpture%201.jpg”

17. That’s all folks! bg image: “http://www.illabirinto.com/travel/china/beijing/80%20-%20Confucius%20Temple%20-%20Main%20building.JPG”