The life and philosophies of Confucius
Confucius (551-479 BC), founder of the philosophy known as Confucianism, was a Chinese sage and teacher who spent his life dealing with practical moral values. He was called Kong Qiu at birth and was also known as Kong Fuzi, Kong Zi, K'ung Ch'iu or Master Kong. The name Confucius is a transliteration of Kong Fuzi, and was first used by Jesuit scholars who visited China and learned about it in the XNUMXth century AD
Fast facts: Confucius
Full name: Kong Qiu (at birth). Also known as Kong Fuzi, Kong Zi, K'ung Ch'iu or Master Kong
Known for: philosopher, founder of Confucianism
Born: 551 BC in Qufu, China
Died: 479 BC in Qufu, China
Parents: Shuliang He (father); Yan clan member (mother)
Spouse: Qiguan
Children: Bo Yu (also referred to as Kong Li)
Early life
Although Confucius lived during the fifth century BC, his biography was not recorded until the Han dynasty, some 400 years later, in the records of the Great Historian or Shiji of Sima Qian. Confucius was born of a once aristocratic family in a small state called Lu, in northeastern China in 551 BC, just before a period of political chaos known as the Warring States Period. Various translations of the Shiji indicate that his father was elderly, nearly 70, while his mother was only 15 years old, and the union was likely to be out of wedlock.
Confucius' father died when he was young and was raised in poverty by his mother. According to The Analects, a collection of teachings and sayings attributed to Confucius, he acquired humble skills out of necessity from his poor upbringing, although his position as a member of a previously aristocratic family offered him the ability to pursue his academic interests. When Confucius was 19, he married Qiguan, although he quickly separated from her. The records differ, but the couple are known to have had one child, Bo Yu (also called Kong Li).
Years after
At about the age of 30, Confucius began to make a career, taking on administrative roles and subsequently political positions for the state of Lu and his family in power. By the time he reached 50, he had become disillusioned with the corruption and chaos of political life, and began a 12-year journey through China, gathering disciples and teaching.
Little is known about the end of Confucius' life, although he is assumed to have spent these years documenting his practices and teachings. His favorite disciple and his only son both died during this period and Confucius' teaching had not improved the state of the government. He predicted the beginning of the period of the fighting states and was unable to prevent chaos. Confucius died in 479 BC, although his lessons and legacy have been passed down for centuries.
Confucius teachings
Confucianism, originating from the writings and teaching of Confucius, is the tradition centered on achieving and maintaining social harmony. This harmony can be achieved and continuously promoted by adherence to rites and rites, and is founded on the principle that human beings are fundamentally good, improvable and teachable. The function of Confucianism is based on general understanding and the implementation of a rigid social hierarchy between all relationships. Adherence to one's prescribed social status creates a harmonious environment and prevents conflicts.
The purpose of Confucianism is to achieve a state of total virtue or kindness, known as ren. Whoever reached ren is a perfect gentleman. These gentlemen would adapt themselves strategically to the fabric of the social hierarchy by emulating Confucian values through words and actions. The Six Arts were the activities practiced by the lords to teach them lessons beyond the academic world.
The six arts are rituals, music, archery, chariot transport, calligraphy and mathematics. These six arts eventually formed the basis for Chinese education, which, like much more in China and Southeast Asia, is heavily influenced by Confucian values.
These principles of Confucianism arose out of the conflict in Confucius's own life. He was born in a world that was on the verge of chaos. Indeed, immediately after his death, China would enter a period known as the Warring States, during which China was divided and chaotic for nearly 200 years. Confucius saw this fermented chaos and attempted to use his teachings to prevent it by restoring harmony.
Confucianism is an ethics that governs human relationships and its central purpose is to know how to behave in relation to others. An honorable person reaches relational identity and becomes a relational self, one who is intensely aware of the presence of other human beings. Confucianism was not a new concept, but rather a type of rational secularism developed by ru ("the doctrine of scholars"), also known as ru jia, ru jiao or ru xue. Confucius' version was known as Kong jiao (the Confucius cult).
In its early formations (Shang and early Zhou dynasties [1600-770 BC]) ru referred to dancers and musicians who performed in rituals. Over time the term has grown to include not only the people who performed the rituals, but the rituals themselves; in the end, ru included shamans and teachers of mathematics, history, astrology. Confucius and his students have redefined it to indicate professional teachers of ancient culture and texts in rituals, history, poetry and music. For the Han dynasty, ru meant a school and its teachers of the philosophy of studying and practicing the rituals, rules and rites of Confucianism.
Three classes of students and teachers are found in Confucianism (Zhang Binlin):
the intellectuals who served the state
ru teachers who taught in the subjects of the six arts
followers of Confucius who studied and propagated the Confucian classics
In search of the lost heart
The teaching of ru jiao was "to seek the lost heart": a permanent process of personal transformation and improvement of the character. Practitioners observed them (a set of property rules, rituals, rituals and decorum) and studied the works of the sages, always following the rule that learning should never cease.
Confucian philosophy intertwines the ethical, political, religious, philosophical and educational foundations. It focuses on the relationship between people, expressed through the pieces of the Confucian universe; the sky (Tian) above, the earth (below) and humans (ren) in the middle.
Three parts of the Confucian world
For Confucians, heaven establishes moral virtues for humans and exerts powerful moral influences on human behavior. As nature, paradise represents all non-human phenomena, but humans play a positive role in maintaining harmony between heaven and earth. What exists in heaven can be studied, observed and understood by humans who study natural phenomena, social affairs and classical ancient texts; or through the self-reflection of one's heart and mind.
The ethical values of Confucianism imply the development of personal dignity to realize one's potential, through:
ren (humanity)
yi (correctness)
li (ritual and property)
cheng (sincerity)
xin (truthfulness and personal integrity)
zheng (loyalty for social coherence)
xiao (the foundation of the family and the state)
zhong yong (the "golden medium" in common practice)
Is Confucianism a religion?
A topic of debate among modern scholars is whether Confucianism qualifies as a religion. Some say it has never been a religion, others say it has always been a religion of wisdom or harmony, a secular religion with a focus on the humanistic aspects of life. Humans can achieve perfection and live up to heavenly principles, but people must do their best to fulfill their ethical and moral duties, without the assistance of the deities.
Confucianism involves the worship of ancestors and claims that humans are made up of two pieces: the hun (a spirit from heaven) and the po (soul from the earth). When a person is born, the two halves come together and when that person dies, they separate and leave the earth. The sacrifice is made to the ancestors who once lived on earth playing music (to remember the spirit from heaven) and pouring and drinking wine (to attract the soul from the earth.
Confucius' writings
This plaque from the People's Republic of China is part of a Tang Dynasty manuscript of Cheng Hsuan's Analects of Confucius with Annotations, discovered in 1967 in Turfan, Sinkiang. The Analects of Confucius was an essential textbook for pupils in ancient China. This manuscript indicates the similarity of education systems between Turfan and other parts of China. Bettmann / Getty Images
Confucius is credited with having written or edited several works during his lifetime, classified as Five Classics and Four Books. These writings range from historical accounts to poetry, autobiographical sentiments to rites and rituals. They served as the backbone for civilian reflection and government in China since the end of the fighting states period in 221 BC.