The Moral System of Confucianism
by Noah Mitchell
Brief Biography of Confucius and Context for Confucianism:
Confucianism, a mostly ethical system, was founded by K'ung-tze, whose name was translated into Latin as "Confucius" by Jesuits. K'ung-tze was born in 551 BC in the region of Lu to upper-class, aristocratic parents. However, his parents were also poor while Confucius was a young man, and Confucius himself lived in poverty. Mostly self-educated, he opened a school at age 22. During his life he taught a way of life based on virtue, often ignoring the risk of assassination. He held numerous public offices, believing them to be the way in which he could practice his theories. Confucius based his teachings on the traditional culture of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. He returned to Lu for the last 5 years of his life and died in 478 BC at age 74.
Confucius' Teachings:
Confucius taught about different kinds of virtues. These are ofen categorized with three being his key virtues: Jen, Li, and Xiao, as well as the virtue of Te vested in the Chun tzu.
JEN
is often described as goodness or benevolence. Jen is what makes man a moral being, so part of its definition is the idea of humanity itself. Confucius never explicitly defined the term, according to our knowledge, but he most closely descibed it in the Silver Rule: "Do not do unto others what you would not like them to do to you." Jen is named the greatest virtue of Confucius' teaching (according to the New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed.). Jen gives a man earnestness, liberality, truthfulness, diligence, and generosity. It is the structure for social interaction and the key to a moral system.
LI
is defined as "propriety, reverence, courtesy, or the ideal standard of conduct." Li involves the proper conduct regulating human attraction according to rank and family position. Again, like all of Confucianism, the goal of li is social harmony. (New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed.)
XIAO
is virtue within the family. It is "filiality" or "filial piety," including love of one's parents. Xiao can be shown through the production of descendants (procreation) for the sake of one's parents' honor, and provisions for proper burial. Filial piety is the root of virtue in Confucianism, which moves from the family outwards. (New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed.)
TE
is the virtue of "power." Te not only involves physical might, but also moral virtue. Essentially, it is the virtue needed to rule as a CHUN TZU
. The chun tzu is the "perfect man" or "superior man" that possesses jen, li, and te. Traditionally, the chun tzu was the ruler's son in a patriarchal system. He should be a saint, a scholar, and a gentleman, loyal as a son, just and kind as a father, faithful as an official, righeous as a husband, faithful and tactful as a friend.
Confucius outlined Five Key Relationships in his moral system:
FATHER/SON- kindness in the father, obedient devotion in the son
BROTHER/BROTHER- gentility in the elder brother and humility and respect in the younger
HUSBAND/WIFE- righteous behavior in the husband and obedience in the wife
ELDERS/JUNIORS- humane consideration in elders and deference in juniors
RULERS/SUBJECTS- benevolence in rulers and loyalty of ministers and subjects
(taken from this site)
Additional Teachings:
Confucius prescribed 6 ceremonial observances for marriage, mourning, burial, and ancestor reverence.
Confucius taught that vice came from ignorance. Lack of knowledge, he declared, leads to darkness, while knowledge leads to virtue. (analogous to Socrates). The answer to the human condition, which was later clarified in the view that people are inherently evil and are taught to be good through training, is knowledge, according to Confucianism. Overcoming shortcomings "cannot be attained by religious rituals or meditations, but only by proper education and by respecting moral values." Studying the sacred texts and rules of virtue and propriety led to perfection.
Confucius said nothing about drugs or alcohol specifically, but they weaken the mind and show a lack of self control, so the substances would most likely be unacceptable to Confucianism.
Concerning sexuality, Confucianism views sex as a means for procreation; it provides for a sacred family life. Additionally, sex gives descendants to parents, a sign of live. However, physical contact was prohibited outside of marriage as well as outside the bedroom or couch. Husband and wife could not even touch each other. In a way, it was seen as a dirty sin. Homosexuality almost certainly would be prohibited because same sex unions cannot bring children. Yet, concubines were encouraged for married Confucian men. A man was even required to have sexual intercourse with his concubine every five days, and the woman may not stay in bed after the act for any amount of time.
Honesty was encouraged in Confucianism. The system itself is also known as "The Way of Yielding," which implies a priority on yielding to truth, not forcing alterations of harmony through lies. Confucius is quoted, "Silence is the true friend that never betrays." Although this is not complete honesty, it shows a moral responsibility not to lie. Perhaps more significant, Confucius would repeatedly admit his shortcomings and faults, not claiming to be greater than he was. This shows great honesty imbedded in the system.
Concerning the poor, in Confucius' view, feudal lords are to be responsive to the needs of the people at large. If rulers lived by highest principles, people would follow and there would be reform. Confucius did not look down upon the poor to as great an extend as the culture of the time did, being himself once quite poor. Similarly, wealth is not looked down upon in Confucianism, but one should freely share that wealth.
Links:
The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition. The Catholic University of America Press, 2003. pages 95-101.
leaderu.com
travelchinaguide.com
greatcom.org
beliefnet.com
quoteworld.org
comparativereligion.com