Ancient China Research Paper

The beliefs of Confucius supported the people of China but some of the teachings in addition to the teaching methods were harmful and inappropriate. The three words Confucius’ beliefs teach are ren, li, and xiao. Otherwise known as benevolence, ritual, and respect. Confucius believed that in order to live a good life, ren, li, and xiao needed to be in your mind, every day of every week.

Although I am also supporting the con side of Confucius’ beliefs, lots of his teachings were helpful and valid. Some of the benefits of Confucius’ teachings were that family relationships grew tighter, you learned more about the world and society around you (with help from the Chinese government), and that the people of China were taught respect from a young

age. A piece of great advice that Confucius pushed on his people was quoted from analect 2.16, “Confucius says ‘in order to be knowledgeable and smart is to be able to identify when you know or don’t know’”. The controversial Confucian belief system encourages those who are not to be fine and robust people. Confucian beliefs also encourage you to befriend those who are “learned”. The Master said, “Guide them by edicts, keep them in line with punishments, and the common people will stay out of trouble but will have no sense of shame. Guide them by virtue, keep them in line with the rites, and they will, besides having a sense of shame, reform themselves.” [Lau]
While there were a few benefits from Confucius’ methods, Ancient Chinese traditions and practices disabled and paralyzed the people because injustices and inequalities played a big role in the governmental system.

Some examples of the horrendous tragedies that occurred were foot binding, the education system, the concept of superior versus inferior, and the Mandate of Heaven. Foot binding was popular in Ancient China because the more attractive your daughter is the more money you’ll make when you sell her. Most of the time when a woman was wedded to her husband the bride’s family would get money for her, like in ‘A Small Happiness’, where a woman was sold to her groom’s family. The simplified description of what foot binding is, is when you or someone you know wraps your foot with a cloth so tightly the the bones crack and break. As you grow, you continue to wrap your foot, as you continue to wrap your foot your feet get smaller. That was only one type of oppression shown towards the women in China. The educational system and curriculum in China was no good since it was all based on one man’s beliefs. Anything solely based off of one person’s opinions and beliefs will never be sufficient because you are not getting more than one point of view. To add on to the foundation of the con side this argument, the idea of superior and inferior was not beneficial. It put up brick walls between people. It put limitations on relationships, and stunted the progress and growth of the

country.
To conclude this debate of whether or not Confucian beliefs were a benefit to the Chinese, I don’t think there is a definite answer. Both sides of the argument have very good and compelling statements.