Confucius in the American Founding

Virginia Review of Asian Studies

Volume 16 (2014): 11-26

Wang: Confucian Morality in the American Founding

CONFUCIUS IN THE AMERICAN FOUNDING: THE FOUNDERS’ EFFORTS TO USE CONFUCIAN MORAL PHILOSOPHY IN THEIR ENDEAVOR TO CREATE NEW VIRTUE FOR THE NEW NATION

DAVE WANG
ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY

Confucius and the founding of the United States don’t seem to be related. Confucius, the Latinized name of Kongzi (孔子) (c. 550-476 B.C.), was a great philosopher and educator who lived at the end of “the Spring and Autumn Period” (771-476 B.C.) in China. The founding of America in the 1770s was a period in which the founders of the United States waged their death-or-life struggle to overthrow the imperialist rule of the Great Britain. However, despite their differences, a close relationship actually existed between them. The United States’ founders applied many values from Confucian moral philosophy while founding of the United States.[1] Their recognition of Confucian ideas can be seen in places such as the house of James Madison (1751-1836), the father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which had a portrait of Confucius. In addition, Thomas Paine (1737-1809), author of Common Sense, considered the Chinese sage to be in the same category as Jesus and Socrates.[2] Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), the Creator of the American Spirit, made the solemn statement that Confucian moral philosophy was valuable to the human being in general.[3] Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, also promoted Confucian moral principles in his inaugural speech in 1801. In his personal scratch-book, Jefferson placed a poem about an ideal Chinese prince that was recommended by Confucius. Other founders such as John Adams (1735-1826) and Benjamin Rush (1746-1813) also regarded Confucius highly in their efforts to make a blueprint for the new nation. These founders urged the citizens of the United States to adopt positive elements from Confucian moral philosophy and follow these moral examples to cultivate and advance their own virtues.[4]

The great founders’ collective esteem of Confucius during the formation of the United States has stimulated my curiosity to find why Confucius’ moral teachings became so important. The American Revolution was a political revolution which marked the birth of the United States as a new nation. However, it was also simultaneously a moral revolution. While the founders were concerned with preserving their civil liberties and economic freedom through their stance, “no taxation without representation,” they were also concerned with public morality. They fully understood that the war was as much a battle against “the corruption of 18th century British high society” as it was against financial oppression.[5] As a result, the founding fathers were determined to construct new virtues responding to the needs of the new nation. Having seen the results of the moral corruption in the old world, the founders worked diligently to use all valuable moral resources available for them to create virtues for the new nation.

A Good Moral is the Life or Death to the New Nation

"We may look up to Armies for our defense, but virtue is our best security. It is not possible that any state should long remain free, where virtue is not supremely honored."[6]

The conclusion of the revolution in 1783 brought freedom to the British colonists in North America. But with this freedom also came greater opportunities to misbehave. During the late 18th century, moral issues caused by a culture of pleasure and freedom blossomed in American cities. According to some existing historical records, one could find a public place to engage in illicit activities in nearly every block in every 18th-century American city.

Alarmed by those problems and other social issues, the founders reached a consensus that moral construction was not only a necessity in order to make the fruit of the revolution sustainable, but should be considered a priority. The founders believed that only virtuous people could live in a free society. Almost every founding father testified to the link between liberty and virtue. George Washington (1732-1799) told Americans: “It is essentially true that virtue or morality is a main and necessary spring of popular or republican governments.”[7] Benjamin Rush stated, "Without virtue there can be no liberty."[8] Benjamin Franklin warned, “[O]nly a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”[9] Thomas Jefferson told his fellow Americans, "A nation as a society forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society."[10] John Adams told the Americans that while the success of the revolution made the colonies free, “they will not obtain a lasting Liberty” without good virtues.[11] He continued, "If Virtue & Knowledge are diffused among the People, they will never be enslav'd. This will be their great Security.” [12] Adams repeatedly warned, "Liberty can no more exist without virtue and independence than the body can live and move without a soul."[13] To prevent corruption became John Adams’ main concerns. He told his countrymen:

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. [14]

James Madison echoed:

The aim of every political Constitution is or ought to be first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust.[15]

As the main designers of the new nation, the founders knew that it took more than a perfect plan of government to preserve liberty. They needed some moral principles accepted by the people to encourage them to obey laws voluntarily. They recognized that a free government should be supported by people who could act morally without compulsion, and would not willfully violate the rights of others. Benjamin Franklin firmly believed that "Laws without morals are in vain."[16] Cultivating new virtues for the fledgling United States therefore became one of the most significant themes during this time of social and political transformation. With this notion in mind, the founders turned to Confucian moral philosophy.

Private Virtue and Confucian Moral Philosophy

Public virtue was regarded as a foundation of freedom. Private virtue was considered the most important element of the public virtue. As early as 1776, John Adams emphasized the significance of the private virtue. He told his fellow Americans that the new American government’s principles were “great and excellent among Men. But its Principles are as easily destroyed, as human Nature is corrupted.” Therefore, “public Virtue is the only Foundation of Republics.” However, “Public Virtue cannot exist in a Nation without private, and there must be a positive Passion for the public good, the public Interest,” [17] James Madison emphasized the significance of private virtue to the new nation. For him, “To suppose liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people is a chimerical idea.”[18] Thomas Jefferson also told the Americans, “When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it, and avarice possesses the whole community.” …. “The order of nature [is] that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue.”[19] Jefferson understood that leaders had to establish role models in order for the nation to continue its success.

Private virtue meant being a person of integrity; such qualities essential to private virtue included being honest in one’s dealings with others, being faithful in one’s duties to one’s family, and controlling one’s appetites. The qualities that private virtue emphasized could be found in the values that Confucius promoted. For instances, one of the main tenets of Confucian moral philosophy was a positive passion for the public good and public interest.

Confucian moral philosophy is one of the most important components of Confucianism, which is regarded as the crystallization of ancient Chinese traditional culture. Confucius taught five virtues a gentleman should possess: Ren (仁) benevolence, Yi (义)uprightness, which requires Zhong, (忠) loyalty; and Shù, (恕)altruism. Zhi, (知 ) knowledge; Xin, (信) faithfulness Li, (礼) good manners.

Confucius taught that a perfect leader could create a perfect world through moral strength and example. Confucius viewed a leader as a moral person; thus, anybody who anticipated a role of leadership as result of either desire or social status should rigorously mold and polish personal character, or Te (德). Te in this sense was not just personal power, but also positive human qualities such as honesty and loyalty. Confucius believed that personal self-cultivation should be practiced for the benefit of society.

The founders understood that respectable and benevolent men were more likely to support the universal pursuit of happiness. An affectionate man would not only be more likely to live in harmony with his neighbors, but also able to understand the mutual sacrifices required for the success of the new nation. The founders drew from Confucius’ moral teachings for the private virtue that the new nation required.

The main tenets of Confucian moral philosophy provided what the founders needed to build the new private virtue for its citizens and future leaders. These founders dreamt of creating the truly virtuous people brought up by the Confucian standards of a gentleman. As a result, Confucian moral philosophy became so important to the founders and the cause they fought for.

Confucian Moral Philosophy in North America around the Revolution

In the 18th century colonial society, the impact of Confucius was widely discussed in the North American colonies. Some eminent colonists, including Benjamin Franklin, expressed their respect for the philosopher. Franklin followed Confucius’ procedure for moral cultivation and started to develop his own virtues as early as 1727.[20] Franklin saw it as his responsibility to spread Confucius’ moral teachings. He published some excerpts from Morals of Confucius in his widely circulated Pennsylvania Gazette in 1737[21]. Franklin also made it clear that he regarded Confucius as his role model in 1749.[22] In August 1775, just before the eve of the Independence, Thomas Paine revealed a vital and informed interest in China. He published a series of works about China in the Pennsylvania Magazine.[23]

Other prominent figures of the day also recognized the value of Confucian teachings. For instance, John Bartram (1699-1777), a well-known botanist in the colonies, was very interested in Chinese philosophy, particularly in the personality of Confucius.[24] Bartram’s paper, “Life and Character of the Chinese Philosopher Confucius,” introduced Confucius’ life to his readers. [25] James Logan (1674-1751), another very influential colonist in Philadelphia, acquired a copy of the first European printing of Confucius philosophy for his personal library in 1733.[26] Logan was not satisfied with the translation by the Jesuits and showed his desire to obtain the “true sense” of Confucianism.[27] Joel Barlow (1754-1812), an American poet and diplomat, considered Confucius to be one of the wisest philosophers in the history of antiquity.[28] Jedidiah Morse (1761-1826), a notable geographer, praised Daxue (大学Great Learning) and Zhongyong (中庸the Doctrine of the Mean), two of the four classics of Confucius. Morse extolled the two classics as “the most excellent precepts of wisdom and virtue, expressed with the greatest eloquence, elegance and precision.”[29] Morse also compared Confucius with Socrates. He pointed out that Confucius was “very striking, and which far exceeds, in clearness, the prophecy of Socrates."[30] A contemporary author found that Morse's high praise of the Chinese sage “is especially significant” because Morse wrote his Geography for the youth of America and “considered it a means of instructing students in patriotism and morality."[31]

In May 1788, an article carried in the Columbia Magazine discussed Confucian morals related to filial piety.[32] One author loved Confucius’ philosophy so much that he published a paper under the pen name, Confucius Discipulus, introducing Confucius and Confucian moral teachings. In his paper, carried in the New Hampshire Magazine in September 1793, this author gave "a concise History of Confucius, a famous Chinese philosopher." He also told his readers that Confucius was “a character so truly virtuous.”[33]

Even among the women in the fledging United States, Confucian moral philosophy was also read and appreciated. Mrs. Elizabeth Drinker in Philadelphia was deeply impressed by Confucian moral teachings. Mrs. Drinker believed that people in her era should follow Confucius to cultivate their virtues. After studying the Morals of Confucius, she wrote in her diary on May 28, 1795:

I have been pleased by reading The Morals of Confucius, a Chinese Philosopher, who flourished about five hundred and fifty years before the coming of Christ—said to be one of the choicest pieces of Learning remaining of that nation. A sweet little piece it is. If there were such men in that day, what ought to be expected in this more enlightened Age![34]

The Founders’ Efforts to Use Confucius Moral Philosophy in their Efforts to Build New Virtue

The founders of the United States promoted Confucian moral teachings and urged these principles be applied in the developing nation. Benjamin Franklin loved Confucius virtue so much that he even planned to build a United Party for Virtue. He told his readers,