Ancient China’s Confucianism

Comparative Civilizations 12

Confucianism and UtopiaConfucianism shares some of the same ideologies as a utopian model and therefore, both

complement each other nicely.

• Both believe that people, regardless of status, can live harmoniously in communities of order, virtue, happiness and abundance. Like the Master, utopia champions a life that is easy and cheerful

• Both cherish the family structure, believing all should love their parents and children and caring for the family, especially the elders was of great importance.

• Confucius principles were at the core of China’s government and paralleled the utopian belief that government should be conscientious and educated, ultimately working for the people instead of self-interest. It was believed virtuous and educated men were best suited to public office.

• Confucius believed political order must be based positive human relationships as opposed to state structures. Utopia also relied on harmonious personal relationships as opposed to formalized structures.

• The utopian concept of perfection is mirrored in Confucius’ belief that people can improve themselves to perfection. Leaders were also models of perfection who were guided by Heaven’s flawless mandate.

• Confucius analects transmitted the philosophy’s strong ties to utopianism, especially regarding education, harmony, equality and wealth.

Utopia and the AnalectsUtopian Ideal Confucius Analects

Education is championed and the right of all citizens "From the man who paid in dried meat upwards, I have withheld teaching from no one."

"I was not born to understanding. I loved the past, and questioned it earnestly."

"There may be men who act without understanding why. I do not. To listen much, pick out the good and follow it; to see much and ponder it: this comes next to understanding."

All citizens are equal "I have no more culture than others: to live as a gentleman is not yet mine."

"How dare I lay claim to holiness or love? A man of endless craving I might be called, an unflagging teacher; but nothing more."

All citizens will be cultured Will the right; hold to good won; rest in love; move in art."

Peace and harmony are of greatest importance "Love makes a spot beautiful: who chooses not to dwell in love, has he got wisdom?"

"A heart set on love will do no wrong." "A friend to love, a foe to evil, I have yet to meet. A friend to

love will set nothing higher. In love's service, a foe to evil will let no evil touch him. Were a man to give himself to love, but for one day, I have seen no one whose strength would fail him. Such men there may be, but I have not seen one."

Materialistic goods are irrelevant "A scholar in search of truth who is ashamed of poor clothes and poor food it is idle talking to."

"The chase of gain is rich in hate." "A gentleman considers what is right; the vulgar consider what

will pay."

Confucianism’s Influence on Chinese History and Politics

Before Confucius’ influence, the Chinese empire was perpetually at war and was morally and intellectually stagnant. Confucianism reshaped and defined the nation, making it harmonized, enriched and accessible to its people.

The majority of China’s emperors used a mixture of Confucius thought and legalism to govern their

land. As the empire grew in landmass and population, emperors needed a strong foundation of officers to support the nation’s development. Gradually abandoning the feudal tradition of passing the empire to the eldest son, emperors began to leave their kingdoms in the hands of those who were most qualified, the Confucians who personified the way of life’s ideals and doctrine. Inspiring a system of government that applauded morality, harmony, merit and social interest versus feudal structuring is what truly made Confucius the everyman’s champion. As a result of embracing Confucianism and living by its model of self-improvement and education, disciples, regardless of their backgrounds, could build lives of honour and fortune for their families through their potential to become officers and shape the policies of the empire. All officers were Confucians who showed testable moral excellence to read, write and analyze administrative documents and policies. Because the life of an officer was engrained with Confucius thought, so were the policies that were created and Confucianism became the official state philosophy. Through Confucianism, citizens were no longer defined by their economic status, but by their morals and as a result, could escape the social rigidity that suffocated their ancestors.

Mencius Strongly endorsing Confucius and his teachings, Mencius was a 2nd generation Confucian whose fame was seconded only by Confucius himself. From Confucius begins, Mencius interpreted and built upon some of the ideology’s most prominent principles, including those regarding human nature, education, destiny and politics.

• Human Nature: Society has the potential to negatively influence and create poor moral character. For example, if a child isn’t allowed to be educated, they will turn to crime to survive.

• Education: To be effective, education must awaken and engage the human mind. For example, education that is memorization based isn’t effective to establish problem solving and desire to be a lifelong learner.

• Destiny: Destiny has the power to shape the roles of humans.• Politics: Common citizens of the state must be embraced and the ruler is obligated

to them. If he is unable to rule fairly, he has no right to his position and should be removed. For example, if a ruler overtaxes and greedily keeps all for himself, it is the people’s right to have him removed from the throne and replaced by someone who has their interest at heart.

Mencius also developed a concept that humans have four gifts. He believed each person has the ability to...

• feel empathy for others and seek to help them in their struggle

• recognize when they’re not actively contributing to society

• recognize conflict and seek to defuse it• recognize injustice and advocate for change

These are interesting characteristics because even though they were focused on centuries ago in Ancient China, I’d like to think that they are still relevant to modern Canadian society. These gifts are traits we hope society have as we move forward into the future.

Confucianism and Other Chinese Philosophies

• Through Confucianism was the dominate ideology of the time, shaping how people lived and government functioned, it was not Ancient China’s only ideology. Daoism, Mohism and Legalism were also embraced and at times, conflicted with Confucius’ ideals.

Confucianism and Daoism

Confucianism (Focused on relationships with others)

Daoism (Focused on relationships with self and the cosmos)

•Championed morality, ethics and activism

•Was critical of activism, chose not to focus on problems that defied solution

•Ideologies were a foundation for the government and its handling of national affairs

•Wanted self-sufficient communities and frown upon government and empires

•Required education and enlightened relationships to attain success

•Required self-reflection to attain success

•Sought to improve self through human relationships

•Intended to understand the world’s natural principles (Dao- “way of nature”)

Confucianism and Mohism

Confucianism (Focused on relationships with others)

Mohism (Focused on universal love)

•Championed enlightened and advantageous relationships

•Championed utilitarian friendship (not solely those that were advantageous)

•Believed in predestination and the Mandate of Heaven

•Believed in free will

•Celebrated education in ethics, morality, literature the arts

•Celebrated practical educations (trades)

•Believed that helping family was the greatest priority in life

•Believed that helping everyone was the greatest priority in life

Confucianism and Legalism

Confucianism (Focused on relationships with others)

Legalism (Focused on government)

• Believed that family and human relationships should come before everything

•Believed that government should come before everything

•Believed knowledge of history and poetry were worthwhile

•Believed knowledge of history and poetry didn’t empower and were therefore useless

•Embraced the family unit as of central importance

•Family was seen as secondary to the government and its laws

•Celebrated peace and harmony, frowned upon violence

•Higher status was given to those who killed in battle

•Cherished activism •Cherished self-interest

Bibliography • “Confucianism.” China Travel.com 27 May 2014. 29 May 2014.

<http://www.chinatravel.com/facts/confucianism.htm>. • Eno, R. “The Analects of Confucius: An Online Teaching Translation.” Indiana University. 2012.

26 May 2014 < http://www.indiana.edu/~p374/Analects_of_Confucius_(Eno-2012).pdf>.

• Fraser, Chris. "Mohism.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 14 May 2014. 28 May 2014. <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mohism/>.

• Hu, Shaohua. “Confucianism and Contemporary Politics.” Wiley Online Library. 26 Feb, 2007. 28

May 2014. < http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2007.00051.x/full>.

• Ji, Li. “Utopia.” China, the Beautiful. 2010. 28 May. 2014 <http://www.chinapage.com/confucius/utopia.html>.

• “Legalism: Ancient Chinese Philosophy.” Cultural China. 2014. 27 May 2014. < http://history.cultural-china.com/en/167History8721.html>.