The Mandate Of Heaven: Confucianism And Its Teachings

The Mandate of Heaven was reinforced by Confucianism and its teachings. Confucianism was a social and political philosophy derived from the writings of Chinese scholar Kong Fuzi (Wade-Giles: Confucius) who lived between 551BC and 479BC. Most Confucian philosophy is drawn from the Analects, a compilation of Kong Fuzi’s ideas, sayings and teachings, compiled after his death. Confucianism is sometimes considered a religion, though that is only partly true. It is also a moral and philosophical code, a guide to personal behaviour and success, and a treatise on social harmony and effective government. Confucianism urges individuals to show respect to their elders and concern for those beneath them. Obedience, loyalty to one’s family and ancestors,

Wu was an enthusiastic patron of Confucianism. He ordered China’s education and examination systems to incorporate the study of Confucian texts, while scholars and officials who refused to embrace Confucianism were marginalised. It became very difficult, if not impossible, for Han bureaucrats to succeed without a Confucian education. The adoption of Confucian principles in education and government saw them readily adopted by ordinary Chinese. Emperors had an obvious agenda in their sponsorship of Confucianism, which encouraged hard work, social stability and respect for authority. But Confucianism shaped political values as much as it protected incumbent leaders. “Confucianism was not merely a passive tool of government,” wrote Xinzhong Yao, “it functioned, to a considerable extent, as a watchdog for ruling activities”. By the 1800s, the last century of the Qing dynasty, classical Confucianism had been supplanted by neo-Confucianism, which integrated elements of Buddhist and Taoist religious philosophy. This hybrid form of Confucianism remained embedded in Chinese education and