Introduction to

World Religions
and Belief Systems
CONFUCIANISM
Most Essential Learning Competency
Analyze the brief history, core
teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of
Confucianism.
Learning Objectives
1. Describe Confucianism;
2. Discuss the teachings and philosophies of Confucius;
3. Describe the Confucian worship and observances;
4. Explain the issues arising in considering the relevance of
Confucianism; and
5. Internalize core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices of Confucianism through a reflection paper.
ACTIVITY: MY REAL-ationships
INSTRUCTION: List down at least
three relationships that you are involved
right now. Identify whether you are a
subordinate, superior, equal position in
each relationship.
CONFUCIANISM: RELIGION OR
PHILOSOPHY
• Those who argue that
Confucianism is a philosophy
asserts that when Kung Fuzi
founded Confucianism, he never
meant to establish a new religion;
he merely wanted to interpret and
revive the ancient religion of the
Zhou Dynasty.
CONFUCIANISM: RELIGION OR
PHILOSOPHY
• Confucianism is considered a religion
because its ideals were inspirational, not in
the supernatural sense but in the sense of
aiming for excellence in one’s
relationships with others.
• Confucius stressed the importance of
rituals which would lead them back to the
ideal society of their ancestors when there
was harmony between heaven and earth.
CONFUCIANISM: RELIGION OR
PHILOSOPHY
• The followers of this
religion are called
Confucianists.
SYMBOLS
Symbol of Water
Water, which is one of
the five elements in
Chinese philosophy,
represents a significant
life source.
SYMBOLS
Symbol of Scholar (ru)
Symbolizes knowledge
and self-awareness which
are important aspects of
Confucian teachings.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• The proliferation of Chinese classical thoughts
happened within the reign of the Zhou dynasty, the
second historical dynasty in China. It was the result of
several factors such as technological, and economic
development, stronger political units, political and
social improvement, and even military development.
Advances in the said realms led to the emergence of
competing dynasties who wanted to establish
supremacy over other dynasties, hence the period was
marked by social upheaval and chaos.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS
Confucius is the Latinized
version of Kongzi and the
honorific Kong Fuzi both
meaning “Master Kong.”
He was born on September
28 on 551 B.C.E.
THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS
He came from a noble family, but by the
time of his birth, they had already lost
much of their wealth. His first teacher was
his mother, and at the age of 15 he set his
heart upon learning, thus love of learning
became one of the highest virtues in
Confucian ethics. He married at the age
of 19 and had a son at the age of 20. At
this point in his life he had already served
in minor government posts and had
already gained a reputation as an all-
around scholar.
THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS
When he was in his 30s he had already
started a brilliant teaching career
because of his mastery of the arts of
ritual, music, archery, charioteering,
calligraphy, and arithmetic. He was
also familiar with classical tradition,
particularly in poetry and history. He
is often considered as the first person
to devote his whole life to learning and
teaching for the purpose of social
transformation and improvement.
THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS
He held several government
positions including as arbiter,
assistant minister of public
works, and minister of justice in
the state of Lu. Frustrated that
his ideals and policies were
brushed off by his superiors, he
soon left Lu.
THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS
At 67, he returned home to teach
(where he gained more disciples)
and to preserve his classical
traditions by writing and editing.
He died in 479 B.C.E at the age of
73 and he left around 3,000
followers who preserved and put
his other teachings to writing.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
THE FIVE CLASSICS THE FOUR BOOKS
Book of Odes Doctrine of the Mean
Book of Documents The Great Learning
Book of Changes Mencius
Book of Rites Analects
Spring and Autumn
Annals
SACRED SCRIPTURES: FIVE CLASSICS (WU-JING)
Book of Documents Compilation of 58 chapters detailing the events of ancient
(Shangsu) China. Often considered the first narrative history of
ancient China.
Book of Odes (Shijing) comprised of 305 poems dealing with a range of issues,
including love and marriage, agricultural concerns, daily
lives, and war.
Book of Rites (San Li) described the social norms, governmental organization, and
the ritual conduct during the Zhou dynasty. foundation of
many ritual principles that arise in later imperial China.
Book of Changes (I- contains a system of divination, which is centered largely
Ching) around the principles of yin and yang.
Spring and Autumn historical chronicle of the State of Lu.
Annals
SACRED SCRIPTURES: FOUR BOOKS (SI-SHU)
The Great Learning The Great Learning is a guide for moral self-cultivation.
According to the Great Learning, the key to moral self-
cultivation is learning, or the investigation of things. Through
the investigation of things, one comes to understand the
principle in all things, which allows one to better comprehend
the world.
Analects (Lunyu) Collection of Kongzi's teachings and discussions with disciples.
According to the Analects, the first step in knowing the Way is
to devote oneself to learning.
Mencius Collection of conversations Mencius had with Kongzi.
The Doctrine of the The Doctrine of the Mean focuses on following the Way and
Mean acting in accordance with what is right and natural, but
acknowledges that people often do not act properly.
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/ BELIEFS

“Do not do unto others what

you would not have them do
unto you.”
GOLDEN RULE
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/ BELIEFS
THE BELIEF IN TIAN
• Confucius believed that Tian is an all
encompassing god. He believed that
Tian is analogous with moral order.
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/ BELIEFS
HUMAN NATURE AS ORIGINALLY GOOD OR EVIL

MENGZI XUNZI
Mengzi believed that all human Xunzi believed that human nature
beings are born with innate is basically evil but can be
goodness which, on one hand, can improved through self-cultivation.
be cultivated through proper
education and self-discipline (li);
or be thrown away through
neglect and bad influence, on the
other.
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/ BELIEFS
RECTIFICATION OF NAMES (ZHENGMING)
• The Five Relationships include: 1) ruler-subject; 2) father-son;
3) husband-wife; 4) elder and younger brother; and 5) friend
and friend.
• The Five Relationships emphasize the upright sense of
hierarchy.
• Zhengming helps bring social order for it advocates the idea that
every person has a particular role at a particular time in life, and
that by abiding to this particular role, one is able to fulfil one’s
social duties and responsibilities, thus creating social harmony.
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/ BELIEFS
RECTIFICATION OF NAMES (ZHENGMING)
Five Principal Relationships
Ruler Subject
Husband Wife
Father Son
Elder brother Younger brother
Friend Friend
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/ BELIEFS
FIVE CONSTANTS (WUCHANG)
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/ BELIEFS
FILIAL PIETY AS AN IMPORTANT VIRTUE
• In Confucianism, the attitude of obedience,
devotion, and care toward one’s parents and
elder family members that is the basis of
individual moral conduct and social harmony.
• Ancestor worship is a manifestation of filial
piety, or respect for one’s parents, which is
directed toward older relatives and ancestors.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
• The Book of Rites recorded the
rituals practiced by the Chinese for
many centuries. Some of its rituals are
known as the “Four Rites” which are
ceremonies that characterize a
person’s growth and maturity.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
COMING OF AGE RITES
• ceremonies held to signify that a
young person has reached the
marriageable age and could join the
different activities of his/her clan as
an adult.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
COMING OF AGE RITES
Capping refers to doing the male
teenager’s hair in a bun/coil and wearing
a cap. This is a ritual that male teenagers
have to go through sometime between the
ages of 15 and 20. In this occasion, a male
Chinese receives his formal hat and
ceremonial gown, as well as his formal
name.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
COMING OF AGE RITES
Hair Pinning refers to the
gathering of a girl’s hair into a knot,
and securing it using a hairpin or a
hairclip; often done by 16-year old
women after engagement and before
their wedding day.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
MOURNING RITES
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
SACRIFICIAL RITES
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
MARRIAGE RITES
SELECTED ISSUES
FEMALE SUBORDINATION
It is often said that a woman’s life under
Confucianism can be summed up in three
periods, also known as the “Three
Obediences:” obedience to her father while at
home; obedience to her husband when
married; and obedience to her son when
widowed.
SELECTED ISSUES
AUTHORITARIANISM
Because Confucianism stresses the
hierarchy between relationships, this has
reinforced top-down values and
hierarchical systems by encouraging
deference to one’s superiors-ruler, father,
teacher, or anyone older.
SELECTED ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
While it is true that Confucianism
advocates respect for the environment,
its acceptance of people’s dominance of
nature poses a threat to the issue. The
Analects mentioned the subordination
of animals to social interests.
CRITICAL THINKING CORNER (reflection
paper)
What particular Confucian values do
you think can be applied to solve
particular social problems at present?
REFERENCES
• Cornelio, J., Sapitula, M., & Calano, M. J. (2019).
Introduction to world religions and belief systems. REX
Bookstore.
• Corral, V. & Balance-Kupang, G. (2017). Introduction to
world religions for senior high school. C&E Publishing,
Inc.
• Mejia, R. (2016). Introduction to world religions and belief
systems. St. Andrew Publishing House.
• Jose, M. D. & Ong, J. (2016). Introduction to world
religions and belief systems. Vibal Group.