Confucius (Kung Fu-Tzu)*
(551-479 BC)
*Family name = Kung (Kong)
Personal name = Zhong-ni
Kung Fu-Tzu (Kong Fu-zi) = “Master Kung”
“Confucius” = Latinization of “Kung Fu-Tzu”
Historical backdrop:Confucius' China
Confucius lived in the “warring states” period of China.
Wandering warlords of little virtue were overthrowing
legitimate kings.
He was concerned about where his society was going;
leaders weren’t caring well for society. Petty wars were
constantly erupting.
Society was emphasizing less education, writing, the arts.
Families were in discord. Peasants were being unjustly
burdened with heavy taxes to support their own life of luxury.
Confucius worked his way up through government posts until
age 50. He retired in frustration and began 30 years of teaching,
which he saw as transmitting old wisdom from the sage kings).
He did not see it as innovation, he was renewing age old values
in a spirit of conservative renewal.
The 5 Chinese Classics
Taoist: the
oldest writings.
Source: Lao
Tzu
I Ching (Book of Changes)
The Book of Rites
Believed to be
The Book of Poetry
edited by Confucius
The Spring & Autumn Annals
Believed to be
The Analects
written by
Confucius
Some add Mencius’ (a later disciple of
Confucius) The Great Learning and
The Doctrine of the Mean.
Confucian ethics / Li, continued
Filial Piety (Xiao, Hsiao)
(devotion to & reverence for parents & family)
The institution of the family is the
foundation of a well-ordered & civilized
society (grounded mainly on respect of
children for parents)
 Respect for age (experience & wisdom)

Confucian ethics, continued
Li - Propriety (proper conduct)


The Rectification of
Names (Zheng-ming)
(proper use of
language)
The Doctrine of the
Mean (Zhongyong)

The Five Constant
Relationships:
◦ parent-child
◦ husband-wife
◦ elder sibling-younger
sibling
◦ elder friend-younger
friend
◦ ruler-subject
1. Confucian beliefs start with human experience and immediate
human relationships: family, work and station in life. The main goal
in Confucian thought is to live a moral and responsible and fruitful
life within this context.
2. Education: learn your past, your culture, your history, great
heroes, sages.
3. Cultivate goodness and good practice. Become a Chuntzu: a
good role model. Lead by example.
4 Ritual . that shows respect for ancestors and others in societal
roles. “He who does not know the rites, cannot make his stand.”.
5. Don’t lead society by force or fear ; use example, ritual, and
encouraging . (Ideally, we would need no laws: very optimistic).
Confucianism (550 BC)

Humanism: a term from the


Confucianism is essentially
humanistic: human relationships are

European renaissance/reformation that
states that man should be the center of
our view of the world (not God).
the key to virtue, happiness, a good life
and a good society.
Li = the rules of social order.
No li, no peace.
 The mandate of heaven =
how things are meant to be.
Rulers must win the mandate of
heaven. Lose it and they will fail,
the kingdom will suffer and fall
from power




Confucianism has a positive
view of human nature. It just
has to be nurtured properly.
How?
1. The Rectification of Names
2. The 5 Great Relationships
3. Ritual
4. Education
The Grand
Harmony
Anthem
The ancient
State of Lu
That’s where Confucius
was born & spent most
of his life.
Confucianism originated in China,
but its influence spread to Korea &
Japan over the centuries.
The primary sources of
Confucian philosophy
Confucius claimed to derive his teachings from
“the Ancients,” whose wisdom is embodied in
“The Five Classics” (Wu Jing)
The I Jing (“Book of Changes”)
 The Shu Jing (“Book of History”)
 The Shih Jing (“Book of Odes” [poetry])
 The Li Ji (“Book of Rites”)
 The Ch’un-ch’iu (“Spring & Autumn Annals”)

Confucius’s primary goal:
order, harmony, peace, & happiness in this life
here on earth
He had only a secondary interest in “transcendental”
salvation, and avoided speculating about the gods, heaven,
the nature of the soul and the creation of the world.