Mystical Wonders Discussion Group

d_redant · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:36 am Post subject: Confucius and Confucianism

Confucius and Confucianism!
By Dr Joshua David Stone

Confucius or K’ung Fu-Tse as He was called in Chinese, was born in 551 BC. After His father died at an early age, Confucius supported His mother. She, in turn, saw to it that he got properly educated in music, history, poetry and sports. Confucius was both a gentleman and scholar.

He had one unsuccessful marriage and was graced with a son. After His mother’s death, He went into mourning and at the end of this period He became a teacher of what was known as the six disciplines; Poetry, music, history, government, etiquette, and divination.

Confucius aspired for higher office in the government. He proceeded through the ministries and public works and became the Chief Justice in his state. Upon leaving this position He spent a long time wandering with several disciples. which lead Him to receiving an appointment on duke (?) to a prestigious post which enabled Him to spend the rest of His life compiling His writings known as the Confucian classics.

These books are the Book of History (Shu-Ching, the Book of Poetry (Shih-Ching), the Book of Rites (Li-Chi), the Book of Changes (I-Ching), and the annals of Spring and Autumn (Ch’um Ch’iu), and the Book of Music (Ueh-Ching). Some of these books were compilations of material from ancient Chinese history.

The basic ideal of Confucius was that of "Jen". Jen means benevolence, true manhood, altruism, character, human-heartedness, steadfastness, humanity. It is this quality that makes man different that just an animal. When "Jen" was related to human relations it becomes "Te". Te is translated as virtues.

A secondary significant ideal was living by "Li". "Li" means living with reverence or propriety. To Confucius this meant living by appropriate forms, social ceremony, and proper form of public conduct. It meant to have courtesy in all social and religious behavior.

"Li" was living the moral and religious way of life." By living this way, people would give proper reverence and sanctification to the spirit of the universe. "Li" establishes harmony in the individual, home, village and country.

Confucius philosophy, very much emphasized the formal accepted patterns of politeness and good manners of His time. five hundred years before Christ, Confucius said, "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others." This golden rule was referred to as "Shu" or reciprocity.

Confucius’ ideal was the "Chun-Tzu" also known as the superior man. The superior man followed the "five constant virtues". (self respect, magnanimity, sincerity, earnestness, and benevolence. To Confucius, life’s central purpose was to serve mankind. His focus was on right human relationships. God’s will was fulfilled when man practiced right moral law.

Confucius had the strongest conviction that His precepts were backed by the will of heaven. Chinese people, even to this day, have concerned themselves less with the hereafter than with proper conduct of affairs and attainment of happiness on earth. This was very much Confucius ideal.

When Confucius was asked by a disciple about life after death, Confucius replied, "We have not yet learned to know life. How can we know death." Confucius focused more on ethical teaching rather than a revealed religion.

Confucius’ teachings have dominated every aspect of China’s thought and culture for 25 centuries. This fact is quite amazing, for Confucius was not really a founder of a religion. He was more of a reformer, and conserver of it. When it was starting to decay He revived it. Confucius said, Himself, that He was "not a maker, but a transmitter, believing in the ancients."

The century that Confucius lived in was one of the most extraordinary i the history of this planet. It was during this sixth century BC that not only He lived, but also Buddha in India, Zoroaster in Persia, Jeremiah and Ezekial in Israel, Mahavira in India (started Jainis religion) Pythagoras of Greece, Lao Tse in China, a contemporary of Confucius.

Five different major religions were started in this century. The three main religions of china to this day are Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, and they all began in the Sixth Century.

By the time Confucius was twenty two years of age, He was already considered a great teacher. he was a man who loved the ancients, and devoted His life to the study of their teachings. For many years Confucius spent all of His time collecting and editing all the old writings. So to understand Confucius’ role properly, he did not seek to break with the past, but rather sought to heal the breach that had already been made. By His editing and compiling o the sacred writings, He established their supreme authority.

Confucius infused life into china’s decaying religions history. His highest contribution came in the field of ethics and His proverbs are quoted even to this day. A century after Confucius died, the great sage, Mencius, arose to spread the Confucius doctrine.

The essence of His Confucius teaching was to strive for perfect virtue in every thought, word, and deed. In Confucianism philosophy there are five great relationships that, if virtuous, make society work in perfect order and harmony. These five relationships are between father and son, elder brother and younger brother, husband and wife, elders and juniors, and lastly, between ruler and his subjects. A great deal of Confucius’ teachings dealt with the standards and moral codes of behavior that should be met in these five areas.

Confucius perceived that all people were inherently good at heart, and that salvation could be achieved through the realization of this essential nature. Charity, righteousness, propriety, and moral consciousness were not something that had to be drilled into us, but rather we had them within us at our birth, and creation.

Confucius saw character as the root of all civilization. Confucianism is very rational, orderly, practical, and humanistic. Taoism, as you will see in a later chapter, is very romantic, intuitive, mystical and vague. In my way of thinking, together they make up the whole, or balance of the yin and yang. (See chapter on Taoism, Lao Tse, and the Tao Te Ching). Confucius was not seen as a God, but rather as a sa? or an ideal.

Proverbs and Teachings of Confucius
"I believe in the presence of the Supreme ruler in all things, and in heaven as the ethical principle whole only law is order, impersonal and yet interested in the affairs of mankind."

"I believe that man is master of his own life and fate, free to conduct himself as he wills, and that he should cultivate qualities of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and sincerity."

"I believe that the family is the most essential institution among men and that religion should lend its potency to the family as well as to the state."

"I believe that the purpose of life is to pursue an orderly and reverent existence in accord with the principle of "Li" (Propriety and virtue), so as to become the superior man or woman.

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