Unit 3, Lecture 1: Confucianism and Self-Cultivation

Confucianism: The Way of the Junzi -> China (East Asia) Confucius (551-479 B.C.E): deeply conservative, didn’t like being called Confucius - Period of rulers as sage kings as peace and prosperity - “a transmitter and not a creator, a believer in and lover of antiquity” (Analects) o Not creator of religion but transmit his beliefs that the world was in disarray - Edited existing texts -> The 6 Classics: core of Confucius Canon Collection o Hard texts so should read at end - Anyone can follow path: age, wealth - Primary learning: memorizing texts (civil service examination for better jobs) Neo-Confucianism (14th C): easier to understand because original teachings were too hard, how to read and interpret The Four Books: introductory canon, more assesible, easier to read - The Great Learning: memorizes o What the great learning teaches is to illustrate illustrious virtue to renovate the people and to rest in the highest excellence § Creates a system of references (ex. Tv, songs) § Great learning (higher moral education), lower learning (child learn) § Virtue is full of light and shines a light § Renovate (make the people new) stop at highest state § Done by self-cultivation -> required to make place tranquil § If I'm good -> family better -> state -> kingdom (vice versa down) - The Analects of Confucius (most famous) - Sayings of Confucius -> takes repeated readings to appreciate Autobiography of Confucius: view of path, moral learning is most important to become good and fully human (lifelong practice) -> goal is to follow heart/mind without thought as he knows what is right - Trained Spontaneity: act without thinking what is right, desire naturally right o Now: Rational /Ethical (Pro/con) vs. Follow gut/intuition o Confucius: rational is limited in the moment (excuses) vs. gut leads us astray (desires: not always good) --> third way: trained desires by morals on daily basis to where follow rational and gut correctly - The Menius - The Doctrine of the Mean Self-Cultivation: change/grow/develop oneself - Uncut jade is like our heart where each day chisel until becomes beautiful Ren: (goodness, benevolence, virtue) in which is cultivated, being a proper human being Pingyin: ren (people) character + 2 character = being good to people socially, cultivate oneself with other people Junzi: goal of becoming a gentleman - Being gentleman didn’t matter on birth; anyone can become if cultivate - Opposite is “little person” or “petty person” -> anyone can become too if don’t “li” ritual propriety, rituals, etiquette Ex. Saying good afternoon back to professor (greetings), dress up, posture, little everyday things, to high forms of rituals - Propriety: doing things dictated by society Dao: the way, the path, the moral order of the cosmos, self-cultivation