China is a country over thousands of years old with roots buried in many different types of soil.  One of the types of soil that the roots of Chinese culture grow from is religion/philosophy.  These roots developed into the trunk of Confucianism.  Confucianism is a major influence in the background of Chinese culture.  The bud of Confucianism was planted by the teachings of Confucius. He believed in the respect for tradition, practical piety and filial obligation. Confucius endorsed a “paternalistic government” in which the leader is kind and honorable and the subjects are respectful and obedient.  Confucius did not intend to found a religion, but express his political and spiritual views to China. Confucius was born in 551 B.C.  His family was of the lower aristocracy. The Five Classics, a collection of poems of Chinese history, were what sowed the initial seed of Confucius’ beliefs.  At twenty-three years old he began teachings during the Zhou dynasty.  This was during a time of great social and technological change.  For Confucianism, this was a time of instability.  Confucius traveled to courts to convince lords of his ideals.  His teachings were accepted as laws and religious scripture.  The practical piety, respect and views of tradition that Confucius taught came from his intention to preserve the foundering values in Chinese society (Berling).

Click to view entire text