Kait Howell 10/7/14

Understanding Confucius: How Does He Mean?

During the 400s BCE, Chinas Zhou Dynasty was in a state of political transition and strife.
Confucius, a rather ordinary guy of the time, sought to share his philosophical and political ideas in
relation to the changing system. Focusing on education, proper conduct, and filial relationships,
Confucius promoted a way of life that stressed moral character and maintenance of a harmonious
community. Since his death, these ideas have spread across Asia (and the world) in a collection of
books titled the Analects. Millennia later in modern times, China thrives as a Confucian influenced
state. Even 21st century Americans can merit from Confucian ideas. However, current Americans
may not fully understand Confucius main ideas because they dont hold the same cultural, linguistic,
and time based assumptions Confucius held. I will dissect a few of these assumptions through three
Confucian pillars: education, proper conduct, and filial relationships.
The practice of education meant something culturally different to Confucius than to an
American today. Confucius used education to attain what an American may assume is the American
Dream. He worked hard and studied harder to move from a low class status to a higher class status.
However, it is important to understand that the Confucian idea of education means more than
achieving an end goal. As the first verse of the first book in the Analects states,
The Master said: Having studied, to then repeatedly apply what you have learned-is this not a source of pleasure?...To go unacknowledged by others without harboring
frustration--is this not the mark of an exemplary person ( junzi)? (1.1).

The concept of junzi, or gentleman/exemplary person, repeatedly shows up in the Analects.

Confucius intends for us to not only gain skills, but also to use our knowledge to build moral
character and community. To translate this idea even further: If I were to go through college
expecting only to gain skills that would result in a great job, I would not be fulfilling Confucius idea
of education. I would need to also apply my studies to the development of my person and my
relationships. As stated by Analects translator and editor Rodger T. Ames, a main theme throughout
the analects is that real education is the cultivation of ones character, not the accumulation of
skills (7). When an American reads the Analects, they should understand Confucius is referencing
the whole person type of learning over a goal-oriented learning.
To become this whole person, Confucius assumes his students understand the concept of
character using a Chinese-language lens. An American should start by considering that Confucian
character development depends on ones personal and interpersonal conduct. This means acting
virtuously and righteously. As the analects elaborate,
The Master said, To fail to cultivate excellence ( de), to fail to practice what I
learn, on coming to understand what is appropriate ( yi) in the circumstances to fail
to attend to it, and to be unable to reform conduct that is not productive--these things
I worry over (7.3).
Without practicing virtues such as de (excellence) and yi (righteousness), one cant grow and learn.
To explain with another excerpt from my college career: If I concern myself with what (my stuff, my
grades, my wants) over dao/the way (how I practice my actions and relationships), then I am not
conducting a proper way of life. Confucius explained his ideas using an event-based language
(Chinese) and Americans are reading a translation of the Analects in an object-based language
(English). Understanding event-based ideas via a language that focuses on object is understandably

difficult for an English speaker. An English speaker should learn to assume that building character is
something that one does over a long time, not something that one achieves after a long time. Looking
into Confucius event-based virtue of xiao (filial piety) will further deepen this understanding.
Filial piety is the original Confucian virtue of respecting ones parents and ancestors. To
someone living in the western 21st century, respecting ones parents may not be expected at all.
Around the teenage years its encouraged to grow away from family. In most cases, kids dont come
back to take care of their parents and pay little to no head to their ancestors. Its key to know that
Confucius saw the parent/child relationship as crucial to being an exemplar person and conducting
proper behavior:
Master You said: It is a rare thing for someone who has a sense of filial
responsibility (xiao ) to have a taste for defying authorityExemplary persons
(junzi ) concentrate their efforts on the root, for the root having taken hold, the
way (dao ) will grow thereform. As for filial responsibility, I suspect its the root of
authoritative conduct (ren ) (1.2).
Taking care of ones parents may seem like an old idea in this day and age, but it was crucial to
Confucius philosophy. Remember that China was going through an age of political transition during
his lifetime. He sought to smooth this transition and enforce better government through improving
relationships. If a ruler treats his subject well then his subject will only want to follow, right? Filial
piety is the Confucian idea. An American wouldnt assume the same virtue since their country isnt
going through the same political upheaval as China in the 400s BCE.
Confucius ideas of education, character, and relationship all assume a cultural, linguistic and
time based lens. Understanding the differences between his day and age and a current Americans

day and age will bring more fruitful interpretation of the Analects and appreciation for Confucianism
as a whole.