In his philosophy, the most important thing is the importance of moral life, filial piety and ancestor worship. It also emphasizes the necessity of benevolent and thrifty rulers, the importance of inner moral harmony and its direct connection with the harmony of the material world, and that rulers and teachers are important examples for the wider society.
Confucius' Early Experience
Confucius is believed to have lived in 200 BC. 55 1 In the state of Lu (now Shandong Province or Shandong Province) in 479 BC. But his earliest written records show that he died in Sima Qian (or Sima Qian) in Historical Records 400 years later. Confucius grew up in Qufu and worked for the king of Lu in various capacities, especially as the director of public works in 503 BC, and then as the director of the Ministry of Justice in 50 1 BC. Later, he traveled extensively in China and encountered several small adventures, including being imprisoned for five days because of his wrong identity. Confucius treated this matter with typical restraint. It is said that he played his stringed instrument calmly until he found the mistake. Finally, Confucius returned to his hometown and founded his own school to provide students with the teachings of the ancients. Confucius doesn't think he is the "creator" of these ancient moral traditions, but a "disseminator". Confucius' school is also open to all classes, rich and poor.
In the 2nd century BC, Confucianism became the state religion of China.
Confucius' works
Confucius began to write when he was teaching at school. The two collections of poems are The Book of Songs (namely The Book of Songs or King of History) and Literature (namely The Book of Songs or King of Books). Chunqiu and Yijing, which describe the history of Lu, are a collection of divination theories. Unfortunately, none of these works outlines Confucius' philosophy. Therefore, Confucianism must be created from second-hand materials, and the most reliable document of Confucius' thought is the Analects of Confucius. Even here, there is no absolute evidence that these proverbs and short stories are actually said by him, and many of his teachings can usually be explained by individuals because of the lack of context and clarity. The other three main sources of Confucianism are Mencius, University and the Doctrine of the Mean. These works and The Analects of Confucius constitute four Confucian classics, also known as Confucian classics. Through these texts, Confucianism became the official state religion of China from the second century BC.
Confucianism
China's ideological and political philosophy, especially Confucianism, has always paid attention to the practical problems of morality and ethics. How should human beings live in order to master the environment, provide suitable * * * and achieve moral harmony? The core of Confucianism is that personal moral harmony is directly related to cosmic harmony; What one person does will affect another. For example, bad political decisions may lead to natural disasters such as floods. The so-called "there are no two kings in the sky" is an example of the direct relationship between body and morality. The result of this concept is just like there is only one cosmic environment, only one real way of life and only one correct political system. If society fails, it is because the Bible and teachings are misunderstood; The text itself contains the road, but we must find it.
Another important aspect of Confucius' thought is that teachers, especially rulers, must set an example. They must be kind to win the love and respect of the people, not by force, which is futile. They should also be models of thrift and high morality. Therefore, China's education tends to cultivate a sense of morality, rather than specific intellectual skills. In addition, under the influence of Confucianism, China's politics mainly focused on intimacy rather than system.
Mencius and Xunzi
Mencius and Xunzi, two important philosophers, further developed and sorted out Confucius' thoughts. Mencius thought that man's sense of morality and justice made him different from other animals, while Mencius expounded the belief that human nature is good. Although Xunzi didn't stand in the opposite position, his view on human nature was a little pessimistic, so he emphasized the importance of education and ceremony to put people on the right moral track.
Therefore, Confucianism expounds the importance of the four virtues we all possess: benevolence, righteousness, propriety and virtue. Later, a fifth element, faith, was added, which skillfully corresponded to the five elements of earth, wood, fire, gold and water (China people's thoughts). It once again shows the belief that there is a close relationship between the material field and the moral field. It is said that everyone has such virtues, and two concepts have emerged: education must be cultivated and cultivated, and everyone is equal-"all men are brothers within the four seas." Anyone can become a saint as long as he uses it properly and acts properly. What matters is not innate talent, but a person's will to shape his character into the most moral person.
heritage
After his death in 479 BC, Confucius was buried in the family cemetery in Qufu, Shandong. In the next few centuries, his status improved continuously, so that he became the object of school worship in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). ), all walks of life in the Tang Dynasty built temples in his name. (ad 6 18-907). Throughout the imperial period, to pass the civil service selection examination, we must have a broad understanding of the basic Confucian classics. Educated people and aristocratic families often display memorial tablets of Confucius' works and sometimes statues in their houses. Most of the time, they sit and wear the emperor's clothes, symbolizing his status as a "king without a throne". Portrait prints are also very popular, especially those taken from the lost original Wu Daozi (or Wu Daozi) and made in the 8th century. Unfortunately, the contemporary portrait of Confucius has not been preserved, but he is often depicted as a clever old man with long white hair and beard, and sometimes holding a scroll in his hand.
For centuries, the teachings of Confucius and his followers have been an indispensable part of education in China. The influence of Confucianism can still be seen in contemporary China culture and other East Asian cultures. It insists on emphasizing family relations, filial piety and respect, the importance of etiquette, the emphasis on restraint and etiquette, and the firm belief in the power and benefits of education.