The Impact of Confucius on the Development of Chinese Thought and Culture

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The impact Confucius had on the development of Chinese thought and culture
Confucianism has been a part of Chinese culture for over a thousand years. Many who have studied Confucianism would say that it is not a religion. It is better described as a philosophy or moral code. The philosophy of Confucianism comes mainly from the speeches and writings of Confucius, a great Chinese thinker and educator. He believed that Humanity, Rite, Neutrality, Virtue, Education, and Cultivation were the basis of human behavior. In addition, Confucius felt that this philosophy was the best way for people to behave and interact with others in society.
Confucius, (551-479 B.C.E.) the Chinese social philosopher was best known for creating one of the world’s oldest philosophies Confusianism. It provided stability in China's imperial system for over two thousand years and it was the official philosophy of China. (136 BCE-1991). (Huang, 2013) Although it has many followers is not religion. Accoring to Judith A. Berling, author of the book, Focus on Asian Studies, “It was built on ancient religious foundation meant to establish the social values, institutions, and transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese society.” (Berling, 2013) Confucius was born in 551 B.C. in Lu, China. Interestingly, the name Confucius was given to him by Jesuit missionaries years later. He was a very smart child and he loved to learn. He married at the age of 19 and by 35 he worked as a minor official. However after realizing he would never attain a higher position he left Lu, in hopes that he could a find a place that would give him the government position he wanted. He traveled for 10 years around Northern China but the position he craved eluded him. After returning to...

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...tp://afe.easia.columbia.edu/cosmos/irc/classics.htm

Berling, J,A. (2013). Confucianism. Retrieved from http://asiasociety.org/countries/religions-philosophies/confucianism?page=0,1 Bentley, J. H., Ziegler, H.F.(2011). Traditions & encounters (Vol. 1). (5th ed.). [Custom Edition for UMUC]. New York, NY:McGraw Hill.

Clasquin-Johnson, M. (2009). Confucianism: The Way of the Gentleman. Retrieved from http://cnx.org/content/m23189/latest/ Huang, Y. (2013). The Return of Confucianism in China:Legitimacy and the Rule of the Communist Party of China. Fudan Journal Of The Humanities & Social Sciences, 6(1),
33-61.

McArthur, M. (2012). Confucius: A Throneless King. Open Road Media. New York, NY:
Pegusus Books

Watkins, T. (2013). The Warring States Period of Ancient China:480 BCE to 221 BCE.
Retrieved from http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/warringstates.htm

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