Confucianism

Ethan Paulson  Confucianism



Confucianism’s founder, Confucius, was born in 551 BCE in the state of Lu. His father died when he was only three, and as he was growing up, he began to develop concepts about education, society and government that he hoped to put into practice in a political career. This didn’t work out for him so he exiled himself for almost twelve years where he taught a growing number of students. His reputation began to grow, and at the age of 67, Confucius returned home to teach his classical traditions by writing and editing. He died in 479 BCE, at the age of 73. But this wasn’t the end, in fact, Confucianism didn’t start with Confucius. Confucianism was not recognized until the Han Dynasty accepted it as its religion. In 1530 CE, a Ming emperor reformed the Confucian cult to focus more on Confucius’ teachings. the T'ang Dynasty, the canon of Confucian Classics became the basis for the great civil service examinations

The main focus of Confucianism is humaneness/benevolence. This signifies excellent character in accord with ritual norms, loyalty to one’s true nature, filial piety, and reciprocity, which all constitute virtue. Confucianism is highly optimistic about human nature, and believes that humans are teachable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor. Confucius also looked at Heaven as a positive force in the universe.


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History and Symbols of Confucianism - This link will take the viewer to a website that gives a more detailed description of the customs and beliefs of Confucianism, as well as the translation of different symbols they use.

Will Jahnke



Confucius, birth name K’ung Fu Tzu, was born in 551 BC in the state of Lu, China during the Chou dynasty. Later in life, he wandered through many states of China, giving advice to their rulers. During this time he acquired a small group of students. In the last years of his life, he returned back to Lu and devoted himself to teaching. His writings dealt primarily with individual morals and ethics, and the proper political power by the rulers. In China, the teachings of Confucius are blended with Taoist communion with nature and Buddhist concepts of the afterlife, to create a set of peaceful co-existence with the world.

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Confucian beliefs include ritual and etiquette, love within the family, righteousness, honesty and trustworthiness, humaneness towards others, and loyalty to the state. Some texts of Confucianism include The Four Books, Shu-ching, Shih-ching, Li chi, and Ch’ un-ch’ iu. The Four Books was written by Chu His that included the four inner stories of Tahsueh, Chung Yung, Lun Yu, and Meng Tzu. The Shu-ching describes the political vision of Confucian thought. Shih-ching is expressed in almost 300 poems and religious hymn that emphasize common human feelings. Li chi describes a cooperative society organized by four principle occupations –scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant. And lastly, Ch’ un-ch’ iu is a text that emphasizes the history and significance of the memory in individual and societal identification. =====


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Confucianism This website will tell you more about Confucianism and how it all began. It also will tell you the life of Confucius himself.

was born in Shantung, China in 551 B.C. K'ung Fu-tze father died when K'ung Fu-tze was only three years old. K'ung Fu-tze was the one to learn and educate himself and studied strong. At the age of only 19 K'ung Fu-tze was already very, very well known by the community as one to come to for help. At this period Jesuit missionaries latinized K'ung Fu-tze name to Confusious. Confusious was very smart there for he wrote five books which made up Confucianism. Which till this day is accepted by all Chinese as part of their heratage.

__//** Brandon Berg **//__ __//** [|Confusious] This site is good for people who never have listened or heard of Confuious. **//__

^-This is a picture of the symbol of Confucianism, Confucianisim is a way of life taught by Confucius in the 5th to 6th century BC. Confucianism has been followed by the Chinese for more than two hundred years. It has deeply influenced spiritual and political life in China; its influence has also extended to Korea, Japan, and many other places in the world. (TW)

For more information... Confucius An illustrated article reviewing the basic Confucis teachings and the history of Confucianisim**.(TW)**

K'ung Fu Tzu (a.k.a. Kông Fūzî, K'ung-tze, K'ung-fu-tze, and commonly written as Confucius in English) was born in 551 BC in the state of Lu (modern day Shantung Province in China). He lived during the Chou dynasty, an era known for its moral laxity. When he was 22 years of age, he opened a school. Success in teaching led to his appointment as minister of justice of Lu. After a conflict with the Marquis of Lu, he left the state and wandered for 13 years throughout China, giving advice to their rulers. He accumulated a small band of students during this time. The last years of his life were spent back in Lu, where he devoted himself to teaching. He died about 479 BCE at the approximate age of 72. Confucianism is mainly concerned with moral values, which form the cornerstone of its philosophy and the basis of its religion. It tends to teach the individual to absorb these values until they become part and parcel of his very being. These values materialize in absolute obedience to parents, elder brothers and rulers. These moral values also include sincerity to friends, refusal to cause any harm to others even in words, identical harmony in words and deeds, rejection of hypocrisy, care for common interest, encouraging beneficial arts, sympathizing with foreigners and working for the common welfare of the princes and the common people of the empire. (S.S)  For more info: Confucius Says This site has all there is to know about confucianism.

[|Confucisiam]This website talks about all the practices, beliefs, holidays, leaders, profits, and legends. (ES)

These pictures are the sacrate symbols of the religion Confuciasiam. (ES)