Leigh-Ann Cheek
Howard Ritz
Debate
3 Mar 2017
Confucius
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest;
Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the
bitterest.” –Confucius
Most people have heard of Confucius and his sayings,but very few understand his ways of life and
his beliefs.
Confucius was born on 551 BCE in Qufu,China. (2) We are unsure of his exact birth
date because they did not have birth certificates during that time. Although there
is no exact date, many believe his birthday to be September 28th. (4) According to The Analects,a
book of teachings written by Confucius, Confucius was born into prover try and was forced
to acquire many different skills.(2)It is also said that Confucius is a descendant from Shang
Emperors.(2) His father’s name was Kong He (aka Shuliang He) and he was an officer in the Lu
Military. It is said that his father had divorced his first wife as she had given birth to two
daughters, and a disfigured son because she was unable to birth a healthy boy to continue
the family's name. Yan, Confucius’s mother, was his second wife.(3) Three years after
Confucius’s birth, his father passed away. This left Confucius to grow up with his mothers family
in the border region between Lu and Zhou.(3) Confucius’s birth name was Qiu Kong, but gained
the name Confucius throughout his life. He is known as Kongzi or Kongfuzi (Master Kong)
throughout Chinese history.(3) Confucius lived during a time of ideological crisis in China.
He also lived during the Zhou Dynasty in Ancient China. During the sixth century B.C.,
competing Chinese states undermined the authority of the ChouEmpire, which had held supreme
rule for over 500 years. Traditional Chinese principles began to deteriorate, resulting in a
period of moral decline. Confucius recognized an opportunity and an obligation to reinforce the
societal values of compassion and tradition.(2)Confuciusmarried very early at the age of
nineteen and worked as a laborer to support his family.Shortly after, him and his wife, Qi Guan,
had a child.(3) Confucius did many things throughout while growing throughout his life. Before
teaching, he worked for the Prince of Lu as the Director of Public works in 503 BCE and as the
Director of the Justice Department in 501 BCE.Confucius was also a traveler. He traveled
widely in China and met with several minoradventures, including imprisonment for five days
due to a case of mistaken identity. (1)His mother passed away when he was twenty-three and at
the age of twenty-four, he started teaching.(3) In 518, he is alleged to have journeyed to Loyang
where he is said to have met thefamous Taoist teacher, Lao Tzu, who bluntly rebuked Confucius
for his “stuffiness and arrogance.”Confucius is credited with writing and editing some of the
most influential traditional Chinese classics. These include the rearrangement of the “Book of
Odes” as wellas a revision of the historical “Book of Documents”.. He also compiled a
historical account of the 12 Dukes of Lu, called “The Spring and Autumn Annals”. Lunvu, which
sets forth Confucius’s philosophical and political beliefs, is thought to be compiled by his
disciples.It is one of the “Four Books” of Confucianism that Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi, a self-
proclaimed Neo-Confucian, published as “Sishu” in 1190. Far reaching in its influence,
Lunvu was later translated into English under the title “The Analects of Confucius”.(5)
Confucius was the first person to revolt his whole life to learning and teaching for the purpose
of transforming and improving society.(3) Confucius believed that education should be as widespread as possible.Confucius said “Even though he came to me on foot, with
nothing more to offer as tuition than a package of dried meat, I will never refuse a student.”
He would never refuse a student, because he believed that any man has the potential to be a
man of principle.(4) He also strongly believed that a leader needed to exercise self-discipline
in order to remain humble and treat his followers with compassion.(2) Confucius rejected the use of a rigid legal system and believed that instead, moral custom and voluntary compliance
were the best ways of maintaining order in society.(4) He mixed his theology with his ideas of
politics. So he encouraged everybody to behave as they should I'm whatever role they had in their society. Confucius said that is they did so, there would be harmony, prosperity, and happiness.(5) His philosophy of education focused on the “Six Arts”: archery, calligraphy, computation, music, chariot driving, and ritual.(2)The teachings of Confucius were written by his students and were compiled in the “Sishu” or “Four Books” which were studied by Chinese for twenty four hundred years.(3) Lunyu, which sets forth Confucius’s philosophical and political beliefs, is thought to be compiled by his disciples.(2)The three major virtues that he felt were the basis of morality were Ren (humanity/humanness), Li (ritual propriety), and Xiao (filial respect). (3) Humanity/humaneness, he said, was the essential goodness and love for others that distinguishes us from other animal species. As his later follower, Mencius, put it, “To be human is to humane.” Ritual propriety (Li) is the necessary outward expression in behavior of that humanity, and must be consistent with culturally specific norms. Filial respect (Xiao), or respect for elders, is a naturally occurring virtue that is the building block of the other virtues. In later centuries filial respect would become by far the best known Confucian virtue, with both od and bad results.Confucianism, also known as Ruism, is described as a tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or simple, a way of life.(4) Central to Confucianism is that moral harmony of the individual is directly related to the cosmic harmony; “what you do not wish for your self , do not wish on others ”.(1) Confucianism, which was founded by his followers, is one of the largest and oldest religions in China and in the world.(3) Chinese Philosophy , particularly Confucianism, has always been concerned with practical questions of morality and ethics.(1) The beliefs of the religion made women subordinate throughout the religion. This reaffirmed the claim that woman were not as powerful or wise as men. This impacted how woman were viewed in society causing many woman to try and claim social status with gruesome practices such as Foot Binding.(5) Confucianism did create a society which had a stable structure and was very stable for the majority of the time it was used as an example of a perfect society. Even though it had many positives including a boom in economy, it also had it’s drawbacks.(2) Confucianism impacted Ancient Chinese in numerous ways and for a very large part of Ancient Chinese history. Confucianism brought a stability into a country which had been effected in many ways from previous changeovers in dynasty’s. Ancient China also shows it was valued due to it being kept in practice until the end of the Ancient Chinese era and beyond. (5) The influence of Confucianism extended to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam and is still being practiced in the world today.(4)
Following his death in 478 BCE in, Confucius was buried in his family's tomb in Qufu, and over the following centuries, his statue grew so that he bad me the subject of worship in schools.(1) The thoughts of Confucius were further developed and codified by two important philosophers, Mencius and Xunzi. Mencius (or Mengzi) lived from 371-289 BCE, and as for Xunzi, he lived from 310-220 BCE. The two philosophers both believed that man’s since of morality and justice separated hi, from the other animals.(1) Xunzi was a more rigorous thinker and wrote elaborately argued essays where he distinguished what is born in man and must be learned through rigorous education. Xunzi was slightly against human nature and he, therefore stressed the importance of education and ritual to keep people on the right moral track.(1)Mencius was more like Confucius. Mencius expounded the belied that human nature is essentially good.(3) For centuries, the birthday of Confucius has been a national teachers holiday.(4) Confucius greatly impacted China. By the second century B.C , during China's first Han Dynasty, his ideas became the foundation of the state of ideology. There were many temples built for Confucius after his time including: Anshun Confucian,Zhenghou Confucian, Shanghai Confucian, Nanjing Confucian,Chongzhou Confucian, BejingConfuciam, Suzhou Confucian, Quzhou Confucian, and Qufu Confucian.(5)There were also many Dynasty's that were influenced by him. Today he is widely considered one of the most influential teachers in Chinese History.(2)
Today, there are several tens of thousands of the three million registered descendants of Confucius live outside of China. There are about thirty four thousand in Korea and many are also living in Taiwan. Confucius was a great philosopher who influenced many different people. He went from being from someone born in property, to one of the greatest teachers in history.He is the author of many books and an amazing inspiration. Confucius believed in everyone and in a good society and with that motivation, he changed the world.
Confucius Test
1.)What was Confucius born into?
a.) Wealth
b.)a royal family
c.) Poverty
d.) a lake
2.) When was Confucius born?
a.) 100 BCE
b.) 479 BCE
c.) 330 BCE
d.) 551 BCE
3.) Who were the two philosophers greatly influenced by Confucius?
a.) Mencius and Xunzi
b.) Buddah and Kong
c.) Francis Bacon and Buddah
d.) Mencius and Zou
4.) What is Confucianism also known for what?
a.) Christianity
b.) Ruism
c.) Buddhism
d.) Catholicism
5.) What day do people celebrate Confucius’s birthday on?
a.) June 1st
b.) April 20th
c.) December 25th
d.) September 28th
6.) When did Confucius die?
a.) 479 BCE
b.) 551 BCE
c) 1990
d.) 150 BCE
7.) What was Confucius’s birth name?
a.) Confucius Lee
b.) Qiu Kong
c.) Ling Ling
d.) Shang Kong
8.) Confucius refused students without enough tuition.
a.) True
b.) False
9.) Confucius’s father died three years after his birth.
a.) True
b.) False
10.) Confucius believed that education should not be as wide spread as possible.
a.) True
b.) False
11.) People of Confucianism do not celebrate Confucius’s birthday.
a.) True
b.) False
12.) Confucius started teaching at the age of twenty four.
a.) True
b.) False
13.) Confucius believed that any manhas the potential to be a man of principle.
a.) True
b.) False
14.) Confucius did not devout his whole life to learning and teaching.
a.) True
b.) False
15.) Confucius’s philosophy of education focused on the “Six Arts”.
a.) True
b.) False
Works Cited
Annie Wu. “Confucius.” China Highlights. 21 Feb 2017. China Highlights. 27 Feb 2017.
Biography.com Editors.”Confucius.” Biography.com. N/A. Biography.com. 27 Feb 2017.
Encyclopedia Editors.”Confucius.” Encyclopedia.com 2004. Encyclopedia.com 1 Mar 20017.
Encyclopedia of World Biography.”Confucius.” 12 Dec 1998. Gale Biography. 27 Feb 2017.
Joy Van de Crabben. “Confucius.” Ancient History Encyclopedia. Aug 2009. Ancient History Encyclopedia.27 Feb 2017.