Confucianism

Confucianism

1. Importance of Peace and Relationship

   • social system is contracted like a spider web in which one is at the center
     • everyone is interrelated
       • Saying: "Everyone has a cousin three thousand miles away,"
     • has an abstract pattern/ a set of categorical concepts
       • family stands in the center,then the neighborhood surround the family, then the state, then the whole world surround the state.
         • meaning each of the factors will eventually be affected by power of the center
         • neighborhood s not a fixed group, the group may shift and change its size
           • Tui (pushing/extending out)
     • Elastic
     • sensitive to change in human relationship
   • individual makes contact with another at different place/time
     • Thus, individuals have distinctive web of social relationship/ set of relatives
       • linked with kinship specific to one person
   • Lun
     • order based on classification
       • "everyone should stay in his place"
       • framework of social structure is unchangeable

2. belief system in which allows Individuals to have their own character

3. Reason why Confucianism was difficult to maintain

   • Hundred School of Thought
     • overflowing opinions and character of individual

4. centrality/egocentrism

   • "control oneself and conform to rituals"
   • "self-restraint, one cultivates moral character"/control over inner self
   • self is always in the center of everything
     • boundary between public and private

5. Everything under Heaven (tianxia)

6. confucious seldom

   • Benevolence (ren)
     • from benevolence one will obtain earnestness, consideration for others, trustworthiness, diligence, and generosity
     • logical synthesis
     • ethical principle of individual relationship
       • filial piety, fraternal duty, loyalty, and sincerity.
   • Profit
   • Destiny