Notes on Confucius

nConfucius—the First Teacher

nK’ung Fu-Tzu (latinized to Confucius)

q“Kung the master”

qb. 551 B.C.

nTraveleld China to persuade political leaders to follow his ideas

qFew listened, but a small group of followers recorded his sayings and teachings

nEventually, his teachings spread throughout China

nMoral Teachings of Confucius

nBased around 4 themes

qJen (pronounced “ren”; “love”, “good”, “true manhood”

nAttaining jen is the object of education

qLi (moral codes, ethics, acceptable conduct)

qHsiao (filial piety)

qChung Yung (the golden mean)

nCf. Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics

nConfucianism

nTwo important elements: duty & humanity

qDuty

nPersonal needs are subordinate to larger needs of family & community

qHumanity

nCompassion and empathy for others

nFive Constant Relationships:

qParent & Child

qHusband & Wife

qOlder Sibling & Younger Sibling

qOlder Friend & Younger Friend

qRuler & Subject

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nConfucianism

nA philosophical system interested in politics and ethics, not spirituality

qHow does Confucianism compare with Christianity?

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nInteractive Confucius

n“Thinking about our  individual lives and their relation to the communities in which we participate.”

nBy lifting ideas from Chinese tradition and applying them to our own lives-we can gain greater understanding of ourselves by looking at the “other.”

nHow Worldwide are Confucius’ Teachings?

nMan with one chopstick go hungry.

nMan who jump off cliff, jump to conclusion!

nHe who thinks only of number one must remember this number is next to nothing.

nMan who pushes piano down mineshaft get tone of A flat miner

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nFind out if your neighbor has a confucius joke that you haven’t heard. If it is a particularly good one, raise your hand to share with the class.

nThe Influence of Confucius

nKnowledge of his Analects was required to pass the civil service examination

nHis teachings were written down on bamboo strips after his death by his followers and their students

nActivity: Pick any teacher from  elementary or junior high or any learning environment: school, church, family, friends. Think what they have taught you. Will you teach the generation that follows after you? Will you tell this teacher’s stories? Will their impact be as great as it was on the disciples of Confucius? Discuss this with your neighbor and write your thoughts.

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