Every “successful” nation, or empire, requires a legitimate social, political, and economical system. These are the foundations that every humanizing system needs to improve and expand the dynamics of the country. The dynamics is the ideology that it follows and lets it govern the nation. The ideology could be a religious, economical, political, or socially motivated force the derives the whole nation forward. I will argue that Confucianism is an ideology that strongly connects politics, “ethics”, and social structures as well as influenced majority of Chinese dynasties to adapt some of its principles.
Confucianism was created by the thoughts and ideas of Kong Fuzi, also known as Confucius. Confucius was born in the Lu state in 551 BC. When Confucius was three years old his father had died. His mother took care of him alone and in poverty. Confucius was born in the class of the “shi”. This class was between the aristocracy and the common people. Confucius was working in government jobs in his early 20s. Confucius had built his foundation in politics by his teachings. He gradually climbed positions in the government, going from one position to another.
However, his teachings had changed and influenced the social and political structures of dynasties to come. His teachings had left a legacy of code of ethics, virtue, stability, and prosperity. “Confucianism contains a socio-political program, an ethical system, and a religious tradition”(Yao P. 31). These principles connect with each other to create the “one” ideology. For instances, the social and political system must support one another for fulfillment and success. The basic’s of confucianism resides or focuses on self and the after life.
The filial pity is type of virtue to your ancestors. The filial pity could be used to design the society according to the Analects. “When you meet someone wise, think about becoming his equal. When you see some one inferior, reflect on yourself” (Fuzi 4. 17). This indicates that Confucius is looking to equalize or stabilize the society. The filial pity is the foundation in Confucian role of ethics. The filial pity is mainly used to respect the family members. Some of the teachings are never refute against your parents. Always be good in society because this will promote the family name.
It teaches love, respect, and support as well as never to be rebellious. “You can be a service to your father and mother by remonstrating with them tactfully. If you perceive that they do not wish to follow your advice, then continue to be reverent towards them without offending or disobeying them; work hard and do not murmur against them”(4. 18). I believe that this practice is important because blindly following your parents is wrong. They could be on a path of corruption. This practice allows you to explore and educate yourself and transform your family, if uneducated.
This will improve your families and ancestors worth in society. These are some thoughts from the Analects. “The Analects are considered as the foundation of Chinese social, political, and ethical thought”(Eburey P. 46). In Confucianism, governance is believed to be guided from the principles of Li. Li are the principles that consist of social behavior. The principles that can be practice by Li are the filial pity, brotherhood, or social network, the right path, and virtue. Li has connections with filial pity because it teaches to respect elders and high rankings officials or professionals in society.
Li could be considered to be a process of realization of the “current” world. A process to find the problems in your society and fixing them along with the basic principles. What if there is selfishness in society? How do you fix such a matter in society? According to Confucius, selfishness could be easily fixed from the process of Ren. One of Confucius famous sayings “do not do to other as you do not wish done to yourself’ is a meaning of Ren. Ren is to establish yourself and others around you. When one is selfish, he thinks to corrupt society. To keep righteousness among himself, one must perform a good virtue.
The theory of ten connects with filial pity and Li because a promotes respect for your elders and ancestors. It is believed that when ten is being properly practiced in society, it has no corruption or any types of wrong doing. The reason is because it is believed that while in practice, everything is in its place. So how do you over come selfishness? According to Confucius, is by practicing ren. Confucius said when you are selfish, you should avoid anything that is improper. This practice is similar to Yi, which teaches to do “good”. One of the most important principles in confucian ideology is education.
Education, like in any other ideology, is important because it promotes righteous morals. A wise man would be able to distinguish differences in falsehood and truth. According to Confucius, education improves rationality. It differentiates one from the mentally sane and wise. Confucius taught about realizing the difficulties of society, having bold manners, and respect. From my point of view, Confucius talks about a particular type of education. Not the education that can be received from books but from realizing the required needs of society and fulfilling them. For example, Confucius describes having manners is best form of knowledge.
Manners let us take part in society and challenges us in different situations. It teaches us how to live by the rules and not to manipulate them and demean the laws. Education, Ren, Yi, Li, and filial pity are the foundations of Confucianism. They correlate with each other and develop a unique system. This system is called “role ethics” in Confucianism. These are the ethics that develop the Confucius society. These ethics promote one another because they are a set of behavior patterns. These behavior patterns can be evaluated and turned into a “righteous” government and a social system.
Confucius teachings reflected on controlling one self. Having a sincere heart while taking care of ones responsibilities. These responsibilities are focused on your relationship with your family members. “It’s logic is that the family is the basic unit of the human community and that harmonious family relationships will inevitably lead up to a harmonious society and a peaceful state” (Yao P. 33). Confucianism gives an important role to the concept of family. If there can’t be a noble and peaceful household, then how could there be a prosperous society. These are the principles of Confucianism but did these principles actually work?
The Han dynasty lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE. This empire is considered as one of the longest in the Chinese history. This dynasty is considered to have practiced Confucianism and probably the reason why it lasted so long. During the Han dynasty, every other ideology was banned and Confucianism became the main teaching of the state. The dynasty had improved and establish the land by Confucius morals and ethics. Since the first emperor of the Han imposed Confucianism in the state, it help him reign over the empire for almost 54 years. This make him the longest ruler in Chinese history. The society was starting to have order.
For instance, exams were now placed and determined who was the best one for the job. Although it also stabilize the relationship in the family house hold. Han dynasty had become an influential state. There were dynasties after the Han that adapted some Confucius principles. However, this was a state that practice Confucianism, how was this system reasonable from the other? The prime example could be the Qin dynasty. The Qin dynasty lasted from 221 to 206 BCE. This dynasty did not last very long because it failed in the principles that Confucius had taught. The society was not ruined moral or with justified precedence.
The First emperor was afraid to lose power, and death, that he had destroyed some Confucius teachings. There was feared sensed immoral behavior from the government. There was unjust killing, education was suppressed, and so were religious beliefs. The Qin had ignored every morale aspect of society and Confucius teachings, which led to the empires fall. The Han dynasty could be a prime example of Confucius ideology in practice. Since it was governed and correlated with the principles simultaneously, it was reward with the long lasting of the empire. The Qin had experienced the very opposite.
What do Confucianism actually teach us and how does it relate to world now? It teaches the basic tools to discover one self. Discovering yourself is process that requires knowledge, virtue, respect, patience, and prosperity. This ideology could be inflicted all parts of the world in hope of gaining modesty and prosperity. In my point of view, I am influenced by this ideology because it enlightens a solution to majority of the world problem’s. This is why I believe this ideology should be bestowed in every society, no matter what religion. This is a way of life not religion and that could be practiced separately.
