University:
MacEwan University
Course:
HIST 476 | Topics in the History of Religion
Academic year:

2024
Views:

63

Pages:

3
Author:

Arthur M.

3/29-Confucianism Li - hard to translate, could be propriety - can refer to daily things or in rituals - Ex Saying "Good Morning, Professor Allen" Origin China Confucianism & Daoism - they share some similarities (grew up side by side) - BUT very diff (don't generalize) When Buddhism entered China, many were skeptical Confucianism also spread to other East Asian countries Confucius (SS1-479 B.C.E) - we think of him as a founder - BUT he saw himself as a reviver of past Chinese traditions - Believed China's past had sage kings that ruled over Golden kingdoms - was inspired & wanted the world to be like this - didn't write anything, edited old texts - Book of changes, Book of Odes, Book of Rights, etc. - 6 Books = classical scriptures (hard to read) Four Books - Replaced the 6 classics as intros (easier) 1. The Great Learning 2. The Analects of Confucius 3. The Mencius 4. The Doctrine & the Mean The Analects Wasn't wrote by him - his disciples wrote down lots of things that Confucius would say no exact order One section had a small autobiography emphasized moral learning (we aren't born good, we must learn to be GOOD) highlights how Confucius wasn't perfect at the beginning He trained! After training, his desires were aligned with what is GOOD Confucius says weigh both rational thought & gut feelings to balance your actions Says follow gut (desires), but not as how they are right now So train your gut/desires Lifelong process & training Goal is to be able to act on derived such that it's only good Practice Li & education on Confucianism Key Concepts Self cultivation like a garden take care of/ cultivate yourself takes a while, but slowly work on yourself ren (goodness, benevolence, virtue) comes from 2 people (=) goodness emerges from interactions with people junzi (gentleman) people of high birth → people of good manners Confucius redefined it → ANYONE can become a junzi li (rituals, propriety) Ex: addressing people of respect, holding the door dressing in a respectable fashion + internal external things are connected. Focusing on simple things, like clothes, can help your internal morals. ALSO includes high rituals dao (the way; here: the moral order of the cosmos) shared with Daoism In Confucianism, NOT subjective, transcends people & is part of the world Moral order of the entire cosmos (OBJECTIVE)