Confucianism Archives

We know that Confucius was a genuine person who lived in China between the years 551 and 479 BCE. He was known as the father of Chinese philosophy. He had a significant impact on the development of thinking in China, and some academics have drawn parallels between him and the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. We also know that he was a political figure who had strong beliefs on education and philosophy, in addition to how people should conduct themselves in their daily lives. The Analects is a collection of literature that preserves his teachings and is known as the founder of the Ru School of Chinese thinking. This school of thought is named after him. According to the tales that have been passed down about Confucius, his ancestors were prosperous citizens of the state of Song in the past. As they attempted to escape the political unrest, the family relocated to Lu, where they eventually fell into poverty. The earliest biographies of Confucius detail his youth spent in abject poverty and describe how this forced him to first seek employment in low-paying menial professions like caring for animals and doing accounting work for wealthy farmers. Confucius was able to educate himself and become skilled in a variety of fields, including music, thanks to some unknown means. When he was a middle-aged man, he started sharing his philosophy with other people and teaching it to them. Because of his teachings, Duke Ding of Lu recognized Confucius when he was approximately fifty years old and appointed him as a minister of the court. Confucius's teachings led to his recognition. The legend goes that Confucius and his disciples were sent into exile because of competition at the royal court. While searching for work in the Chinese states of Wei, Song, Chen, Cai, and Chu, Confucius had a number of exciting experiences along the way. According to the myths, Confucius went back to his hometown of Lu in 484 BCE and remained there for the rest of his life, where he is said to have taught and written. In addition to being credited with writing two of the most important books ever written at China, the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents, he is also credited with editing the Spring and Autumn Annals, which detail life in the royal court of the Lu dynasty. Confucius was renowned for always having the perfect words to speak at the precise moment they were required to be spoken. A number of historians have portrayed him as a great philosopher who probably ought to have been elevated to the position of king. The teachings of Confucius suggest that each individual is accountable for their own acts, despite the fact that individuals are subject to the will of a superior entity who controls both their destiny and their deeds. He taught that "we can do little or nothing to change our fated span of life, but we alone can choose what we achieve and what we are remembered for." Although we have little or no control over our lives, he said, "we may determine what we are remembered for." Historians tell us that many of the ideas that Confucius taught were original and new at the time, and in some cases were quite different from the ideas and conventions that were traditionally followed. While this may not sound revolutionary in comparison to the standards of today, historians tell us that this was the case. The compassionate and loving behavior toward other people that Confucius advocated for was known as "ren," and it formed the foundation of his social philosophy. He had the belief that sympathetic individuals tended to be reserved in manner and spoke few words, regardless of gender. His approach to social issues may be summed up in what many of us were taught to call "The Golden Rule," which is to simply treat people the way you would want to be treated yourself. Confucius also emphasized that it was of the highest significance to show reverence for one's parents and other members of one's family. In addition to being revolutionary for its time, Confucius' political thought was also unconventional. He was of the opinion that those in positions of authority should develop self-discipline and constraint and that they should lead by example. He was adamant in his conviction that anybody in a position of authority over other people owed it to their subjects to show them affection and care. This was his view on the matter. In conclusion, Confucius was a fervent advocate of receiving an education. He was of the opinion that this was something that was necessary to everyone, no matter what walk of life they came from, and that without it, society would eventually deteriorate and the world would descend into anarchy. Because Confucius's philosophy incorporated quite a bit of common sense, it is simple to see how his teachings initially became so popular, and it is also simple to understand why they continue to be held in high esteem in current times.