Student Materials: What Did Confucius Say?
Learning Targets: I will be able to…
1. identify and explain the important values of Confucianism
2. analyze primary sources by identifying the source, occasion, audience, point and
significance of the source (SOAPS)
Prior Knowledge: Explain how the following beliefs
Key beliefs/values
1. Filial Piety:
a. Definition:
b. Examples
2. Benevolence
a. Definition:
b. Examples
3. Propriety (Li): paying attention to rituals, traditions and the “proper” way of carrying
out customs.
a. Examples
Effect of Confucianism on ethics: Role of education & Self-cultivation
Effect of Confucianism on social structure: Five important relationships
Effect of Confucianism on Government
1. Benevolent ruler & the Mandate of Heaven
2. Benevolence: Confucian principles emphasized on the Civil Service Exam
3. Propriety: Order & Tradition as keys to political stability
Expert Group Directions & Group Roles:
Facilitator (Reads the introduction & asks questions)
Wordsmith: researches the definition of key words
Time keeper
Individual role: Please write the answer the questions on your own.
Filial Piety & Five important relationships
Read me first: Filial piety, devotion to one's parents and family members, has always been a
central element in Chinese life and thought. It remains so to the present day. The English
expression "charity begins at home," from a Chinese point of view, is quite literally true. This is
because the Confucian idea is that a person learns to be loving through experiencing live in his
family. Becoming a moral person depends on extending to others in an ever widening circle the
love and consideration that are fostered in a natural way in the family itself. For Confucius, our
being moral is grounded in the most basic human feelings.
Yu Tzu (a disciple named Yu Jo) said, "Few of those who are filial sons and respectful brothers will
show disrespect to superiors, and there has never been a man who is not disrespectful to superiors
and yet creates disorder. A superior man is devoted to the fundamental (the root). When the root is
firmly established, the moral law (Tao) will grow. Filial piety and brotherly respect are the root of
humanity (jen). (1:2)
Filial Piety Questions
1. Vocabulary: define the following terms in your own words
a. Filial piety
b. Moral
c. Virtue
2. Source: What is the source (format)? Who wrote this source?
It is a quote from a disciple of Confucius written down in Analects
3. Occasion: What circumstances led to the creation of this source?
Confucius lived during a period of war and chaos (Late Zhou Dynasty)
4. Audience: Who is the intended audience?
Leaders were looking for advice regarding how to gain power and rule
Scholars who were studying for the civil service exam (Han) and get in to the government
5. Purpose:
6. Significance Point 1: Why was filial piety so important to Confucius?
7. Significance Point 2: Confucius and government:
a. What was the similarity in the order of relationships within the family and within
the government headed by a single ruler?
b. Why did Confucius teach filial piety as the basis for a good government?
Expert Group Directions & Group Roles:
Facilitator (Reads the introduction & asks questions)
Wordsmith: researches the definition of key words
Time keeper
Individual role: Please write the answer the questions on your own.
Benevolence & Government
Read me first: Benevolence & Government
For Confucius, morality and government were so closely related that it was scarcely possible to
think about them separately. As you read the following selections, try to form your own idea
about the kind of government Confucius was teaching and its possible strengths and weaknesses.
Confucius said, "Lead the people with governmental measures and regulate them with laws and
punishment, and they will avoid wrongdoing but will have no sense of honor and shame. Lead them
with virtue and regulate them by the rules of propriety, and they will have a sense of shame and,
moreover, set themselves right." (2:3)
A. Vocabulary: define the following terms IN YOUR OWN WORDS
 propriety
 hierarchy
B. SOAPS analysis
1. Source: What is the source (format)? Who wrote this source?
2. Occasion: What circumstances led to the creation of this source?
3. Audience: Who is the intended audience?
4. Purpose:
5. Significance Point 1: Why is it important for a ruler to be benevolent?
Chi K'ang Tzu asked Confucius about government, saying, "What do you think of killing the wicked
and associating with the good?" Confucius replied, "In your government what is the need of killing?
If you desire what is good, the people will be good. The character of a ruler is like wind and that of
the people is like grass. In whatever direction the wind blows, the grass always bends." (12:19)
Answer
1. Point: Paraphrase this quote in one sentence using your own words.
2. Significance Point 1: Why is it important for the ruler to be virtuous?
Expert Group Directions & Group Roles:
Facilitator (Reads the introduction & asks questions)
Wordsmith: researches the definition of key words
Time keeper
Individual role: Please write the answer the questions on your own.
Benevolence & Society
Read me first: Humanity/”Benevolence”
What is benevolence? The Chinese word for benevolence is “Zhen” or “Jen”. The character is
written with the “human” symbol on the left while the symbol on the right is the number two. So
the basic idea has to do with the way in which human beings relate to one another in society. See
if you can develop a feeling for jen on the basis of what follows.
Tzu-chang asked Confucius about humanity. Confucius said, "One who can practice five things
wherever he may be is a man of humanity." Tzu-chang asked what the five -are. Confucius said,
"Earnestness, liberality, truthfulness, diligence, and generosity. If one is earnest, one will not be
treated with disrespect. If one is liberal, one will win the hearts of all. If one is truthful, one will be
trusted. If one is diligent, one will be successful. And if one is generous, one will be able to enjoy the
service of others." (17:6)
Vocabulary: Define in your own words
1. Humanity
2. Benevolence
3. Resolute
4. Liberality
5. Diligence
6. Earnestness
Answer
1. Source: What is the source (format)? Who wrote this source?
2. Occasion: What circumstances led to the creation of this source?
3. Audience: Who is the intended audience?
4. Purpose:
5. Significance Point 1: What kind of quality or virtue is jen, and what kind of person
could be called a person of humanity? Why is this important in society?
6. Compare/contrast: Do you find any similarities between the humanity of Confucius and
the guiding principles of another religious tradition with which you may be familiar--for
example, love or charity in Christianity, social responsibility in Judaism, or compassion in
Buddhism? Any differences?
Confucius Quotes from Analects: Use this graphic organizer to help you take notes
Quote
Topic 1: Filial Piety & Five
Relationships
Yu Tzu (a disciple named Yu Jo) said,
"Few of those who are filial sons and
respectful brothers will show
disrespect to superiors, and there
has never been a man who is not
disrespectful to superiors and yet
creates disorder. A superior man is
devoted to the fundamental (the
root). When the root is firmly
established, the moral law (Tao) will
grow. Filial piety and brotherly
respect are the root of humanity
(jen). (1:2)
Topic 2: Benevolence & impact
on government
Confucius said, "Lead the people
with governmental measures and
regulate them with laws and
punishment, and they will avoid
wrongdoing but will have no sense
of honor and shame. Lead them with
virtue and regulate them by the
rules of propriety, and they will have
a sense of shame and, moreover, set
themselves right." (2:3)
Topic 3: Benevolence & impact on
society
Tzu-chang asked Confucius about
humanity. Confucius said, "One who
can practice five things wherever he
may be is a man of humanity." Tzuchang asked what the five -are.
Confucius said, "Earnestness,
liberality, truthfulness, diligence,
and generosity. If one is earnest, one
will not be treated with disrespect. If
one is liberal, one will win the hearts
of all. If one is truthful, one will be
trusted. If one is diligent, one will be
successful. And if one is generous,
one will be able to enjoy the service
of others." (4: 17)
Point/ Evidence
Significance