CONFUCIANISM
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CONTENTS
1. Introduction
• Original Confucianism
• Neo-Confucianism
2. Strong & Weak points
3. Christian Alternatives
4. Open Questions
INTRODUCTION
Concept and History of Confucianism
CONCEPT OF
CONFUCIANISM
WHAT IS CONFUCIANISM ?
• Concept
– An idea systematized by Confucius
• Core value
– 인(仁) perfect virtue
• Purpose
– Realization of 修身 齊家 治國 平天下 (수신 제가 치국 평천하)
• Original Confucianism
• Ancient china ~ Han Dynasty
• More philosophical
• Neo-Confucianism
• The Dang Dynasty ~ early part of modern society
• More metaphysical
Confucianism refers to
the combination of both.
WHAT IS CONFUCIANISM ?
ORIGINAL CONFUCIANISM
History and Philosophers
HISTORY OF ORIGINAL
CONFUCIANISM
From ancient China to Han Dynasty
BACKGROUND OF BEGINNING OF CONSUCIANISM
• Appearance of Confucianism
– The late of Spring and Autumn period
• Background
– Idea of the Shang and Zhou dynasty
• Depend on
intangible things
PHILOSOPHERS OF
ORIGINAL CONFUCIANISM
Main Thinkers of Original Confucianism
孔子 공자 (Confucius)
• Confucius
– His honorific title 孔夫子(공부자) ‘s Latin expression
• Idea of ‘仁’(ren, 인)
• Essence of human, life itself, desirable possibility,
involve flexibility and diversity
• Combination of familial
• Sincere affection of blood relative
• Develops to politics
• Help confusion in actual society
孔子 공자 (Confucius)
• 論語 논어
the analects
• 仁 인 perfect virtue/
孝 효 filial piety/
弟 제 a ceremony
• Virtue of righteousness for practice of benevolence
• Principle of the royal road by virtue rule
孟子 맹자 (Mencius)
• 仁義 인의(renyi)
• Humanity and justice
• Human nature is good
NEO-CONFUCIANISM
History and Philosophers
HISTORY OF
NEO-CONFUCIANISM
BACKGROUND OF BEGINNING
OF NEO-CONFUCIANISM
• Create a more rationalist and secular form than Buddhism and Taoism
• However, borrow terms and principles of
BACKGROUND OF BEGINNING OF NEO-CONSUCIANISM
In the Tang Dynasty Taoism N C Buddhism
• 性理學 (性命義理之學, Study of nature, right)
• Interpret Thoughts of Confucius and Mencius in Metaphysics way
• Give Moral Guidance to
– Family-centered Blood relation Community (혈연 공동체)
– State-centered Social Community (사회 공동체)
WHAT IS
NEO-CONFUCIANISM ?
PHILOSOPHERS OF
NEO-CONFUCIANISM
Main Thinkers of Neo-Confucianism
• First true Pioneer
• Explains
relationship between human conduct and universal forces
周敦頤 주돈이 (Zhou Dunyi)
• 太極圖說 태극도설 (Taiji Tushuo)
– Explanation of the
Diagram of the Supreme ultimate
– 太極 태극 (Taiji) – 無極 무극(Wu chi)
周敦頤 주돈이 (Zhou Dunyi)
• Compiler and Rebuilder
• Second most influential thinker in Chinese
history (next to Confucius)
朱熹 주희 (Zhu Xi)
朱熹 주희 (Zhu Xi)
• Teachings
1. 理氣說 (Theory of Existence)
all things union of qi(機,vital force), li(理,rational principle)
Five things(fire, water, wood, metal, earth) evolve
in the process of Waxing(Yang,陽) and waning(Yin,陰)
2. 性卽理說 (Theory of Human Nature)
性=理(Human nature = rational principle)
Human has li Should act in accordance with morality
3. 格物致知 (Methodology)
ways to know li(理),qi(氣)
STRONG & WEAK POINTS
STRONG POINTS
1. Love for self and others.
• 修己安人 수기안인
– develop one’s body and mind to comfort others
• 忠 충 Loyalty
– overcome selfish interests &
treat other people sincerely
• 恕 서 Virtuous
– free oneself from selfish mind &
understand and other peoples’ mind
2. Confucianism designs
an ideal society.
• 三綱五倫
삼강오륜
3. The development of
behavioral etiquette.
• Put 仁 인 / 禮 례 into practice
• Ceremonial occasions of coming of
Age / Wedding / Funeral / Ancestral
rites (朱子家禮 주자가례)
WEAK POINTS
1. The origin to set the direction
for life is ambiguous.
• Taiji (太極 태극) Qi (氣 기) is ambiguous
• The directions for human
life becomes ambiguous
2. The value of human was defined as a human identity, not absolute basis.
• 4 categorizations
of the people
① 士 – gentry scholars
② 農 – peasant farmers
③ 工 – artisans and craftsman
④ 商 – merchants and traders
2. The value of human was defined as a human identity, not absolute basis.
• Joseon Dynasty
– Put an emphasis on “士”(兩班 – the privileged
3. Confucianism does not solve
the problem of death.
• Death is a process for the realization of
a virtue
CHRISTIAN
ALTERNATIVES
• Alpha & Omega
– Genesis 1:1 – John 1:1~3
• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were
made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
1.Christianity gives
clear guidance
1.Christianity gives clear
guidance.
• Psalm 119:9
– Where withal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
• Psalm 119:105
– Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
2. Life and our value are
not pre-destined.
• Mark
2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his
disciples, How is it that he eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
• 2:17
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
