Chinese Schools of Thought

1049 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The influence of Confucius on Chinese culture

The concept of Confucianism is regarded as a way of life which was highly held and taught widely by Confucius in period of 5th - 6th Century BC. The Chinese have ardent believers, followers and practitioners of the Confucianism from time immemorial, estimated to be dating as far back as two millennia. The formation and foundation of the movement has been accredited to K’ung Fu-Tzu which means “master king”, over the years.

The basics of Confucius are based on the retrieval of meaning of the ancient rituals which seem to have been pushed to the oblivion by the changing world and ways of life coupled by intermingling of people with different backgrounds. The love for antiquities drove Confucius to try to understand the reason behind the persistence of some beliefs like the reverence for heaven as well as the mourning ceremonies over the centuries. Hence, he saw himself as a conservationist who was responsible for the perpetuation of the cultural values and the positive social norms that had been constructive in the civilization of the Chod Dynasty.

Confucianism is mainly based on the Shang, Xia and the Zhou dynasties traditions and has dominated the feudal society that has practically lasted 2000 years due to the great influence it has had on history, the society and the social structure as well as the people of China in general (Travel China Guide, 2011). As intended by the founder, Confucianism aimed at making better the society and individuals therein hence educated people to be self motivated and self controlled and to enable people to assume their responsibility which would in turn cultivate a better self and harmonious society.

Daoism is noted to have developed in four stages which include in China:

Proto Daoism-is cl...

... middle of paper ...

...r is meant to be contented with the placement in the society as a supernatural endowment unlike the Legalists and the Daoism as well as the Marxists.

Works Cited

Chad Hansen, (2007). Taoism. Retrieved October 10, 2011 from

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/taoism/

James Miller, (2009). Doism and Daoist Studies. Oxford: One world publication. Retrieved

October 5, 2011 from http://ww.daoiststudies.org/dao.daoism

Silicon Valley & Tornado Alley, (2011). Legalism and the Legalists of Ancient China. Retrieved

October 5, 2011 from http://www.applet-magic.com/legalism.htm

Terence C., & Roxanna P., (2010). Indian caste system. Retrieved October 5, 2011 from

http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring98/india.htm

Travel China Guide, (2011). Confucianism. Retrieved October 10, 2011 from

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/religion/confucianism/

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Confucianism Daoism And Legalism

    516 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin, Confucianism is a system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius. Confucianism was the code of ethics accepted as the certified religion of most of the immense empires in the territory since the Han Dynasty. Confucianism provided an outline of ethical and religious beliefs that most of the Chinese expanded to make other religions such as Daoism and Legalism. To expand, Confucianism was founded by Confucius and his beliefs on the political and social order of China. Confucius believed that everything would fall into place if children had respect for their parents and if the rulers were honest. In Confucianism, specific roles were followed by each person in the family. The head of the family, the father, was the one primarily in control and then it was the oldest son that was next in line. Confucius had the belief that a ruler has to be everything he wants

    Read More

  • Antigone And Confucius Essay

    585 Words  | 2 Pages

    Confucius was a philosopher, political intellect and an educator whose philosophies have significantly prejudiced not only the Chinese principles but the entire world evolution. He lived through the “Spring” and “Autumn” epoch of Chinese history, when east central China was separated over a dozen fighting states. The inordinate ailment and grief he saw swayed his political thoughts, which highlighted command, grading and the rule of a compassionate self-governing state.

    Read More

  • How Did Confucius Influence Chinese Culture

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    Confucius’ impact on Chinese culture has withstood numerous generations and continues to be one of the most prominent philosophies found in Chinese culture. Firmly rooted in years of education, Confucius spent considerable time developing his set of values and principles. In his article entitled “Confucius and the Effortless Life of Virtue”, author Hagop Sarkissian adds to this by saying, “Confucius set his mind on a course of study or cultivation at the age of fifteen, and pursued such studies for a span of fifty-five years, and was thereby able to cultivate a state of being such that he could follow his immediate inclinations in all of life’s predicaments without transgressing social norms” (Sarkissian 1). Confucius’ extensive studies only added to the philosophy represented in the Analects. This includes the pas...

    Read More

  • Confucianism Vs Daoism Essay

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Confucianism became popular during the Han Dynasty as it was the state religion and had a great impact on East Asia (Confucianism 1, pg. 7). Born in 551 BCE in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Confucius himself absorbed the teachings of Mahavira and the Buddha (Confucianism 1, pg. 2) He had a set of virtues that he believed a functioning society should stand by such as benevolence, love and rites. Confucius wanted China to return to the old days when people were loyal to their rulers and rulers were polite and caring towards their people. He believed rulers s...

    Read More

  • The Change of Confucianism over Time

    616 Words  | 2 Pages

    Confucianism is a philosophy and way of life formed in China by Confucius, an early Chinese philosopher. It began as a simple concept with ideals of personal virtue, simple filial piety, and basic gender distinctions and social inequalities. But, over time with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism it began to transform into a way of life that was degrading towards women with certain hostilities towards rivaling religions. In its early period, from around 500 B.C.E to the Common Era, Confucianism changed in that it became the leading belief system and a major part of Chinese tradition. From the transition into the Common Era to the end of the Classical time period, Confucianism was altered because of a loss of popularity following the collapse of the Han dynasty and the corruption in the governing political system. In its ending period, the post-classical era, Confucianism underwent perhaps its biggest adjustments with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism. The ideas and virtues presented in the “rebirth of Confucian philosophies” of intolerance of foreign religions and extreme filial piety...

    Read More

  • Aristotle versus Confucius

    1796 Words  | 4 Pages

    The teachings according to Confucius refer to Confucianism. Confucianism is the multifarious classification of ethical, collective, political and pious philosophy developed by Confucius and the old Chinese practices (Bertrand, 1999). Confucianism aim is actually making an individual honorable but also making such an individual the character of learning and of proper manners. The ideal and faultless man has to combine the characters of a saint, an intellectual and gentleman. Confucianism is a religious conviction whose adulation is focused on offerings to the dead. The idea of responsibility is extensive beyond the precincts of morals and holds close to the minutiae of daily living.

    Read More

  • Comparing Hinduism, Buddism, and Confucianism

    333 Words  | 1 Pages

    Confucianism is a religious philosophy formed by the Chinese philosopher Kung-fu-Tsu. This philosophy came out of need during the warring states period of Chinese history. K'ung-fu-Tsu was a teacher at the hundred schools. His prime concern was the improvement of society. Confucianism has no gods, and the only written history of this religion is in the Analects, a collection of his responses to his disciple's questions. K'ung-fu-Tsu believed that the improvement of society was the responsibility of the ruler and that the quality of government depended on the ruler's moral character. This new way meant concern for others and adherance to the golden rule. Confucianism has had a greater and longer lasting influence on China than that of any other religious philosophy.

    Read More

  • Confucianism and Taoism

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    Confucianism and Daoism are two influential schools of thoughts that have existed in ancient China around the 6th century BCE. The former, led by the politician and philosopher Confucius, proposed that humans live in society according to a set of predefined rules and that they transform society through political action. Whereas the latter, led by the philosopher Lao-Tzu, promoted the idea of inaction; people should go with the flow instead of taking action to control their lives and dominate their surroundings. Although, at first glance Daoism and Confucianism seem to be two opposing philosophies, a more in depth analysis of two of their key ideas –filial piety and education—reveals that they do share some similarities.

    Read More

  • Confucianism

    562 Words  | 2 Pages

    Confucianism is a moral and religious system of China. Its origins go back to the Analects, the sayings attributed to Confucius, and to ancient writings, including that of Mencius. Confucius was born a mandarin under the name Kongzi. It was developed around 550 B.C. In its earliest form Confucianism was primarily a system of ethical concepts for the control of society. It saw man as a social creature that is bound to his fellow men by jen, or “humanity.” Jen is expressed through the five relationships—sovereign and subject, parent and child, elder and younger brother, husband and wife, and friend and friend. Of these, the filial relation is most important.

    Read More

  • Buddha and Confucius

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... Confucianism was all about loving each other, and it united the Chinese people in a way they had never been before. Confucius’s ideas helped achieve a peaceful Chinese society. In my opinion, Confucius was right to believe that man can attain the ideal character through education, self -reflection, and self- effort, however, I do not know if society could remain intact if everything were based on the trust system. Even with laws and punishments, people commit felonies, and I can only begin to imagine what the world would be like if the only things stopping a murderer from killing were his morals.

    Read More

  • Comparing Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism

    405 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the category of view of society, each belief has a different view. The Confucians believed that you develop good character through a good life and that everyone has their own role.

    Read More

  • The Analects Of Confucianism

    1273 Words  | 3 Pages

    Confucius played a major role during the time of the Zhou dynasty. “Confucius was a thinker, a political figure, an educator” (“Confucius”). The Analects of Confucius contain information on how one should interact with others and conduct their daily lives, and how deeply people should participate in society and government. These ideas then spread to his students, and eventually to many regions of Asia. This

    Read More

  • The Influence of Confucianism on Chinese Culture

    1731 Words  | 4 Pages

    Confucian culture, also known as Confucianism, was founded by Confucius during the Spring and Autumn Period, which was developed gradually after the Han Dynasty with benevolence as the core. Since the Han Dynasty, Confucianism was the official ideology and the basis of mainstream ideology in the vast majority of historical periods of China, and it also influenced many southeast Asian countries in history. After a variety of shocks, Confucianism was still the core values of China's social public, and represented the Chinese culture and national tradition in the world (Littlejohn, 2010). In the contemporary society, the Confucian culture in China increasingly spread, at the same time, its modern value is excavated by many countries in the world, and its international influence is also growing with the rise of China.

    Read More

  • Three Philosophies In Ancient China

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    the daily life in some sort of way.  Confucianism (儒) was founded by Confucius (孔子)

    Read More

  • A Critique of Confucian Morality

    1609 Words  | 4 Pages

    For many centuries, Confucianism has been widely revered by the Chinese for its emphasis on morality. Confucius, who lived from 551 to 479 BCE, is different to most philosophers in that he showed no interest questioning his existence, the possibility of a God, or the reality that he seemed to live in; instead he focused on the human relations side of philosophy as it was his belief that people should “give (themselves) earnestly to the duties due to men … (and) keep aloof from (spiritual beings)” (Confucius 195). By negating the metaphysical side of philosophy, he was able to devote himself to mold his disciples into ideal gentleman who were morally righteous, and were able to benefit society. He believed in the importance of individuals who knew their roles in an well-structured society, that was a feudal system. In his opinion, the ideal gentleman should be obedient to his elders, have humanness and be morally righteous. Through his teachings, he was able to reform an entire country; the Chinese found Confucianism to embody practices of humaneness that they could apply in their daily lives through his religion.

    Read More

More about Chinese Schools of Thought

Open Document