Interesting Facts About Confucius Assessment Answer
Key Topics
- Summary
- Interesting facts about Confucius
- Thinking for Confucius
- Areas raise questions on Confucius
- Difficulties raised with religion
Offer a brief summary of Confucius. What seemed the most interesting, important, unique or questionable, etc. Explain your thinking. What areas raise questions or difficulties for you and why? What has been the impact of Euro-centered colonialism on this (set of) religion(s) Offer two or more quotations from the sacred texts.
Summary
Confucianism is the system of thought that was based on the teachings of Chinese man Kong Qui which is Latinized as Confucius. Confucius was the teacher, editor and politician of the Chinese .Confucius is a famous and influential man which is represented in his teachings. His philosophies are still meant a lot in this present time. (Vaughn, 2017) His teachings are preserved in the Analects that will focus on ethical models of public and family interaction by the setting up of ethical standards. This reflection paper provides the focus in the thinking and ideologies of Confucius and its impact on the Euro-centered colonialism, that how it will impact the religion of Confucianism.
Interesting facts about Confucius
Confucius was the eminent philosopher, with thousands of disciples and followers. He has a deep influence on the Chinese’s society, which make us attracted towards the teachings of Confucius and its philosophies. The interesting facts that we have identified about Confucius through its teachings are that the real name of Confucius is Kong Qui, but his followers named him as Confucius, which means the master, or the Great Sage. Confucius belongs to the family of Shi that is between the elite class and the commoners (Esposito, 2014). In his early life, he had done various minor jobs for the living of his families like shepherd, cowherd, and labor. He has included the concept of six arts in the philosophy like archery, mathematics, music, calligraphy, charting and ritual. Around 500 BC, Confucius has gained the esteem from the teachings and was appointed as the magistrate in the public works, and later on the minister of crime in the state of Lu.
Thinking for Confucius
In this paper, the Confucius view of learning entails the logical reasoning about the structure of an argument. In my opinion, the learning of Confucius leads to the generalization of judgments which provides the way to heaven that helps in guiding the humans. The concept of Dao has been given by Confucius which helps in interpreting the world, by the experiences, in the cultivation of both the self and the others. (Vaughn, 2017) By going through the concept of Confucianism this culture shared resources and values in terms of judgments. (Why is “Confucian Culture” so wildly successful? This religion focused on the thinking of creativity and self-cultivation, for the revision of prevailing beliefs and practices. The concept of Yi, which is translated as appropriateness refers to knowing and doing, and this concept of Yi is essential in the day to day situations while conversing with somebody.
Areas raise questions on Confucius
Although the teachings of Confucius, has led to the fascinating study, which involves a lot of people in this religion, in spite of that several studies of Confucius leads to the criticisms. As the learning of Confucius is based on the logical arguments and reasoning. But the drawbacks have been arising from the abuse, misuse, and distorted understanding (Vaughn, 2017). The key virtues of Confucianism focus on love, good manners, wisdom, and integrity. As love is taken on the top priority, and the right way to express love as good manners. But the good manners varied from culture to culture. As for example, to express the love for a friend, we have to give the gift. In Chinese, a gift of a roast piglet is treated as good for gifting, but on the other hand in other cultures, the gift of Pig is considered bad and treated as an insult. So, in this way the teachings of Confucius cause lot of hypocrisies, which leads to the drawbacks of the religion.
Difficulties raised with religion
The problems with Confucianism is at the forefront in this era. The religion raises the questions at two points of entry one is that the culture of Confucianism represents which religion of the Chinese cultural system, and the other one is that whether the Confucian culture is allowed to be incorporated in the modern cultures of the west. As the Confucian religion do not describe the whether the teachings of Confucius is in a religious sense or in the philosophical sense. The issue is raised due to the thought that the ideal person in Confucianism is “Sage” and the personal ideal in Confucianism –“To become a sage” (Esposito, 2014). Both means the different thoughts which make the religion the complex one and not recognized by the culture of the west.
Impact of euro-centered colonialism on Confucius
The European culture is witnessing the secularization. Confucianism was never treated as the religion by the European colonies, but that treated it as the code of conduct for the creation of harmonious society. The European colonies focus on the thoughts of Confucius as” Wherever you go, go with all your heart”, which will be focused in Europe for making the peaceful society. (Vaughn, 2017) Thus among the Chinese’s, the most ancient saying is that “the wisest of nations, Honor does not descend but ascends.” which is followed by American colonies to encourage parents to give their children a good and virtuous education.
Conclusion
“Love is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated” it’s the thought of Confucius, which insist on the feeling that love is very easy but due to our selfishness, we make it complicated. The teachings of Confucius will make us determined to work together, by maintaining harmony, by correcting the misbalances in harmony. The teachings of Confucius has evolved and changed, due to its social ideals, but if we follow it in our lives it will be acted as the building blocks for the Stable civilization.
References
Vaughn, L (2017). Anthology of world religions: 237-246 and Tu Wei Ming—248-250.
Espito, J.L., Fasching, D.J., & Lewis, T .T. (5th Edition). World Religions Today. Oxford.
