Confucius 551 BCE – 479 BCE

Confucius551 BCE – 479 BCE • Confucius’ portrait done by Wu Daozi or Wu Daozi (680-740) 吴道子 who was a Chinese artist of the Tang Dynasty.

The Analectshttp://ctext.org/confucianism

A Brief Bio551 to 479 BCE • Known as Kong Qiu (孔丘), courtesy name, Zhongni (仲尼). Confucius was born in 551 BCE in the State of Lu (the south of modern-day Shandong Province). His father Shu lianghe (叔梁紇) was a famous warrior who was appointed as a senior government official at the City of Zou (Shandong Province). • After having nine daughters, he finally got a son. However, the boy Mengpi fell off a tree at 7 and limped around ever since. When his wife passed away, it was very hard for him to take care of his children. • He proposed to Family Yan, hoping to marry one of the five daughters. • Father Yan let his daughters make a decision on their own. Zheng Zai, the youngest, expressed her love. By the time Confucius was born, his father was about 70 years old. • Confucius lost his father when he was three years old and grew up in poverty.

The largest and oldest Temple of Confucius is found in Confucius's hometown, present-day Qufu in Shandong Province. It was established in 478 BC, one year after Confucius's death, at the order of the Duke Ai of the State of Lu, who commanded that the Confucian residence should be used to worship and offer sacrifice to Confucius. The temple was expanded repeatedly over a period of more than 2,000 years until it became the huge complex currently standing. Temple of Confucius

the Cult of Confucius • The construction of state temples devoted to the cult of Confucius was an outcome of his gradual canonization. In 195 BC, Han Gao Zu, founder of the Han Dynasty (r. 206–195 BCE), offered a sacrifice to the spirit of Confucius at his tomb in Qufu. Sacrifices to the spirit of Confucius and that of Yan Hui, his most prominent disciple, began in the Imperial University (Biyong) as early as 241.

Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu Was listed on the World Heritage List in 1994 sponsored by UNESCO Most Confucianist temples were built in Confucian schools, either to the front of or on one side of the school. The front portal of the temple was called the Lingxing Gate 棂星门. Inside there were normally three courtyards, although sometimes there were only two. However, the complex in Qufu has nine courtyards. Nine Courtyards at Qufu

The first private Chinese academy where Confucius taught his students Peripatetic school "peripatetic" is often used to mean itinerant, wandering, meandering, or walking about. 亚里士多德学派的人；逍遥学派的人 Apricot Pavilion in the Confucian Temple at Qufu.

Peripatetic schoolAristotle's School, a painting from the 1880s by Gustav Adolph Spangenberg

The ‘Peripa’tetics • The Peripatetics were members of a school of philosophy in ancient Greece. Their teachings derived from their founder, the Greek philosopher, Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) , and Peripatetic (Greek: περιπατητικός) is a name given to his followers. The name refers to the act of walking, and as an adjective, "peripatetic" is often used to mean itinerant, wandering, meandering, or walking about.

Aristotle's School, a painting from the 1880s by Gustav Adolph Spangenberg

Confucius’ ContributionsFather of Education • Frederick W. Mote credited Confucius with three contributions to Chinese education: • 1. the creation of the role of the private teacher; • 2. the creation and establishment of the content of education, its methods and ideals. • 3. the most important is Confucius made education possible to students from all walks of life, including those who were very poor; • Intellectual Foundations of China—essential reading

“In instruction there is no grading into categories” (159). Before Confucius, only sons of nobles and a’ristocrats could be educated. 3,000 disciples, 72 worthies or notables 有教无类【yǒujiàowúlèi】 in education, there is no distinction between classes of men. Book XV.39

How knowledge is accumulated? Two ways: To study To ask 不耻下问【bùchǐxiàwèn】 not feel ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates. 学问【xuéwen】 learning; knowledge; scholarship.

Fredrick W. Mote (June 2, 1922–February 10, 2005) was an American Sinologist and a professor of History at Princeton University for nearly 50 years. His research and teaching interests focused on China during the Ming Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty. In collaboration with Professor Twitchett and Professor Fairbank he helped create The Cambridge History of China, a monumental (though still incomplete) history of China. Frederick W. MoteAlma mater: University of NanjingUniversity of Washington (1954, PhD)

The Content • Although education was quite specifically for one kind of career--that of public service--Confucius believed in the broad liberal arts learning. It included study of venerated books, especially The Odes (The Book of Songs—see Arthur Waley), the Book of Documents (See Bernard Karlgren), and the ritual texts. • These texts were studied as both theoretical philosophy and applied philosophy—In the west, the division of philosophy into a practical and a theoretical discipline has its origin in Aristotle's moral philosophy and natural philosophy categories.

Four branches & best students: Moral conduct: Yan Yuan/Min Ziqian/Ran Boniu/Zhong Gong; Speech: Zai Wo/Zi Gong; Government affairs: Ran You/Ji Lu; Literature (Culture and Learning): Zi You/Zi Xia page 97 in the Analects Confucius’ teachings are related to the Six Branches of Learning in ancient times (since the Zhou Dynasty): Rites/Rituals Music Archery Chariot Driving Literature Arithmetic Content of Confucius’ Teaching

因材施教 【yīncáishījiào】 teach students in accordance with their aptitude. 温故知新【wēngùzhīxīn】 gain new insights through restudying old material; reviewing past helps one to understand the present. Confucius’ Teaching Methods

举一反三 【jǔyīfǎnsān】 draw inferences about other cases from one instance. Indirect By analogy Confucius’ Teaching Methods

students were a cut above common job seekers • Overall, his students were a cut above common job seekers. Most of them got employed at different levels in government affairs. • The content of Confucian education is somewhat related to the so-called • 六艺– the six arts/skills or branches of learning in ancient China since the Zhou Dynasty.

The three cardinal guides ruler guides subject, father guides son husband guides wife The five constant virtues: benevolence; righteousness, propriety, wisdom and fidelity as specified in the feudal ethical code 三纲五常 sāngāng wǔchángsummarized by Dong Zhongshu 董仲舒 (179–104 BC) in his book 《春秋繁露》TheLuxuriant Gems/Dews of the Spring and Autumn Annals

The key to the teaching of Confucius is the idea of relationships between or among people. Confucius believed that people could live together peacefully by recognizing their roles in networks of relationships; The family was seen as a ‘microcosm of how relationships linked people together A Web of Human Relationships

Confucius used a model of Five Relationships to suggest how society might work; The Five Relationships are those between ruler and subject; father and son; husband and wife; elder brother and younger brother; friend to friend; Each of these involved both hierarchy and reci’procity; In each pair, one role was superior and one, inferior; one role led and the other followed; Yet each involved mutual obligations and responsibilities; Failure to properly fulfill one’s role could lead to the abrogation of the relationship; Five-Fold Relationships Featured with Hierarchy & Reciprocity

Individual’s role in Government • Inward, self examination three times a day to become a gentleman • Confucius cited The Book of Documents, “…Simply by being a good son and friendly to his brothers a man can exert an influence upon government” (The Analects 17).

论语【Lúnyǔ】 The Analects of Confucius; The Analects. • The Lun yu is the first example of what is called yu lu 语录 or record of conversations. It purports to be a record of the conversations Confucius had with his disciples. Although it probably was compiled after Confucius’ death, much of the material probably is based on actual sayings and speeches made by the master himself. There also are a number of passages that describe Confucius’ actions and conduct in various situations. • Chapter titles: the first two or three characters

Notes1.1 stands for Book 1 Verse 1 • 1.2 the way differs from Taoism that favors something natural; • The core in Confucianism is morality, rule by virtue/benevolence • The way refers to the web of human relationships that is featured with hierarchy and reciprocity

The Gentleman Junzi 君子 • Junzi, the gentleman, is the ideal figure for Confucius. • The gentleman understands the workings of relationships; • He observes proper ritual; • He engages in learning both to develop his personal moral character and to gain knowledge that is useful in serving others; • He seeks to promote the Way of living appropriate to a well-ordered society through both personal example and service in government;

The Number of ChariotsSymbolic of Power (1.5) • One chariot includes 4 horses; • A light chariot for offence: 75 foot soldiers or infantryman; • A heavy chariot for defense: 25 soldiers + provisions • Every 100 residents had been provided with a light chariot and a heavy chariot

1.8 A gentleman who studies is unlikely to be inflexible. 1.10 温/良/恭/俭/让 Cordial Well-behaved; Respectful; Frugal deferential Flexibility & Five Virtues

hé wéi guì 和为贵 • 1.12 Harmony is the most valuable; • 1.16 It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs;

On GovernmentRule by Virtue • 2.3 Guide them by edicts, keep them in line with punishments, and the common people will stay out of trouble but will have no sense of shame. Guide them by virtue, keep them in line with the rites, and they will, besides having a sense of shame, reform themselves.

The Golden Mean3.20 Translated by Arthur Waley • Shih-ching (Shijing) the first anthology of Chinese poetry, around 600 BC. It was compiled by the ancient sage Confucius (551–479 BC) and cited by him as a model of literary expression, for, despite its numerous themes, the subject matter was always “expressive of pleasure without being licentious, and of grief without being hurtfully excessive” (Lunyu or The Analects).

Confucius 551 BCE – 479 BCE