The Influence of Caste System in India and Confucianism in China

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The caste system and the Confucianism have profound effect on the society of India and China. Confucianism constitutes the main body of traditional Chinese culture and possesses many facets. Fundamentally, it has influenced Chinese for more than two thousand years. There are two core virtues of Confucianism – “li,” and “Ren.” “Li” emphasized a man had to live in accordance with the highest code of conduct, which can be expected as a true gentleman in a very broad sense. “Ren,” concerned about the attitude of an ideal ruler or an ideal father who was graciously kindly to his subjects or children (Homer, 1951). On the other side, caste system is the permanent and rigid social positions that a person was born into. It placed responsibility upon the individual and explained everyone’s role in society (Jordan, 2014). Both of caste system and Confucianism in India and China had supported and expanded by the rulers for a long time. After caste system and Confucianism accumulated over a period of time, both of the systems blended into the societies and as a part of citizens’ lives.

As we discussed in class, the founder of Confucianism was Confucius (Kung Fu-Tsu) developed at the end of the Zhou/Warring States era. The key concepts of the Confucianism are education, the gentleman, the family and five relationships— ruler/subject, father/son, older/younger brother, husband/wife and friend/friend. Confucius emphasized the importance of harmony, order, and obedience and believed that the five basic relationships are what all of society would be. Ruler/subject relationship advocated the ruler had the responsibility to take care of his subjects, and subjects must obey the emperor. Father/son relationship promoted the father needed to take car...

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...stem was supported by the Aryas.

Works Cited

Homer, H. Dubs. “Confucius: His Life and Teaching.” Philosophy 26 (1951): App. 96. Online Database JSTOR.

Jonathan, D. Spence. “Confucius.” The Wilson Quarterly 17 (1993): App. 4. Online Database JSTOR.

Jordan, Theresa. “Empires: Ancient China.” History 120. Smith Center For Undergraduate Education, Pullman. 26 February. 2014. Lecture.

Jordan, Theresa. “Hinduism.” History 120. Smith Center For Undergraduate Education, Pullman. 19 February. 2014. Lecture.

Smith, Bonnie G., and Mieroop Marc Van De. "Peopling the World." Sources of Crossroads and Cultures: A History of the World's Peoples. Vol. 1. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012. 17-19. Print.

Wei-ming, Tu and Wachman, Alan. “Workshop on Confucian Humanism.” Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 43 (1990): App. 6. Online Database JSTOR.

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