K'ung Fu Tzu, or Confucius as he was more popularly known as was born in 551 B.C. during the Chou Dynasty in a province called Lu. With his father dying at a young age of 3 he grew up in harsh poverty with his mother. Growing up Confucius strived and dreamed of dealing with politics and becomecing even a prime minister of his country. He achieved some political status being the Justice Minister of his province at this time but due to quarrels with the local prince he failed at his dream of a political career. After leaving his political office, he began to journey to different provices offering advice to the rulers int eh area and preaching the idea of good moral conduct. Although he was able to accumulate a small group of followers, the moral laxity of this era in China eventually drove Confucius to retirement. He spent the last years of his life in the province of Lu dedicating his life to teaching and writing about individual morality and ethics, and the proper exercise of political powers by rulers. These discussions and lessons were accumulated into The Analects which were copies of the discussions and teachings he had with his students.
Major Elements and Moral Teachings
In Confucius' teachings he greatly laid stress on the cultivation of character, purity of heart and good moral conduct. He preached that people should develop their good character first. According to Confucius, the nature of man is fundamentally inclined towards goodness and must strive to become Junzi which was his idea of the perfect man. He said that the perfect man was one who combines the qualities of saint, scholar, and a gentleman. He says the the perfect man sticks to virtue, whereas the inferior man clings to material comfort. Confucius also believed that society was made up of five basic relationships:
1.Husband and wife
2. Parent and child
3. Elder and younger brothers
4. Ruler and subject
5. Friend and Friend
If these relationships were preserved and nurtured, each party would help to develop a morally well-governed state. Confucius also included his own version of "The Golden Rule" which was "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do unto others. Confucius also developed most of his teaching and beliefs around his more important four central virtues.
1.Sincerity- which means to be truthful, honest, and based on love of virtue and right conduct.
2.Benevolence- This was based on his version of the Golden Rule.
3.Filial Piety- This was considered the "root of all virtue" which was respect for parents, elders, through your own success in life and thus honoring their names.
4.Propriety- This was the basic good moral conduct of humans, thereby teaching them to do the right thing.
Key Ethical Terms
Jen: This term is considered the Highest Confucian virtue and means benevolence, and humaneness towards your fellow man.
Li: A teaching of gain, benefit, and order, which includes ritual, propriety, and etiquette.
Hsiao: A concept of love within the family which means a love of parents for their children and of children for their parents.
Yi: This term is translated into English as "righteousness" and is a key term in Confucianism.
Xin: This term is known as meaning honesty and trustworthyiness between man and family.
