Introduction to World Religion

and Belief System

(HUMSS 002)
Prepared by: Ms. Carla Joy Q. Gozar
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Explain: The core teaching of Confucianism is
to be a “gentleman” by following the moral way
consisting of the virtues of love, righteousness,
wisdom, decency, and loyalty to promote
harmony in society.
2. Present a character sketch of a person who
personifies the Confucian virtues.
Are your grandparents living
with you in your household?
CONFUCIANISM
 CONFUCIANISM
 It is often described as a system of
social and ethical philosophy rather
than a religion
 Founded on the ancient Chinese
religion, its purpose was to establish
the social values, institutions and
inspiring ideals of traditional Chinese
society.
 Confucianism emphasizes the
ethical dimension of the world.
 It gives primary attention to
human relationships, thus
advocating social values and
ideals which should serve as
the foundation of Chinese
society.
 There is no god in Confucianism,
but rather a force called the Tao,
also known as the Great Ultimate.
 Confucius believed that the Tao
was the impetus for creation and
that this force flows through all
life, enabling change and
betterment.
 FOUNDER OF
CONFUCIANISM
Confucius
 Born in 551 B.C.E in China
as Kung Chiu, but his
followers called him Kung
Fu Tzu (fu for respect; tzu
means “master” or “Great
Master Kung”
SYMBOLS
Two symbols which are important to Confucianism
are the symbols for scholar and water:

The scholar, as represented by the Chinese

symbol (the ru), is an important symbol in
Confucianism. It contains the symbol of a
person, as well as the character for need or
desire. The foremost need of people is
nourishment, then education. When
combined, it means “the need of a human
being.”
 Water is one of the five important
elements in Chinese philosophy,
alongside wood, fire, earth, and
metal.
Water is considered as the source of
life, valued for its significance in the
natural world and for sustaining life.
 SACRED
SCRIPTURES
THE FIVE CONFUCIAN CLASSICS
The Five Classics was a group of books
which was regarded as early
Confucianism’s basic texts.
1. The Book of Changes
2. The Book of History
3. The Book of Poetry
4. The Classic of Rites
5. The Spring and Autumn Annals
1. Book of Changes (I Ching)

 The oldest of the Classics

 A book of divination that is based
on the interpretations of the 64
possible combinations of six whole
or broken lines.
2. Book of History (Shu Ching)

 Also known as The Book of Documents

for Shang-suShangshu.
 It consists of as well as chronological
accounts of imperial achievements and
rules of government.
3. Book of Poetry (Shih Ching)
Also known as the Book of Songs/Odes
It composed of 305 poems and songs on
various subjects such as love and courtship,
affairs in daily life, and war.
It is the earliest known collection of Chinese
poems.
4. Classic Rites (Li Chi)

Originally the Three Li/ Three Rites/ San li

A compilation of ceremonial rituals,
administration, and social forms of the
Zhou Dynasty
 5. Spring and Autumn Annals
(Chún Chíu)
A history of Confucius’ native state of Lu
which covered the period from 721- 478
B.C.E.
This was compiled by Confucius who
condemned the unlawful practice of
seizure of power and rights.
 The introductory set to the Five Classics
are the Four Books which are:
1. The Great Learning (Ta Hsueh).
• The basic for gentleman’s education, the first text
studied by school boys in old China.

2. The Doctrine of the Mean (Chung Yung)

• A treatise on the development of human nature
through moderation.
3. The Analects (Lun Yu)
• A collection of Confucius sayings considered the
main source of Confucian Thought.

4. The Book of Mencius (Meng-tzu)

• Writings and sayings of Confucius greatest
disciple, Meng-tzu, or Mencius.
 CONFUCIAN
DOCTRINES/ BELIEFS
Confucius is more celebrated for his
GOLDEN RULE:

“Do not do unto others what you

would not have them to do unto
you.”
 RECTIFICATION OF NAMES
( Zhengming)
Confucius believed that to return to the
Ancient Way, people must play their assigned
roles in society. The Five Relationships include:
1. Ruler-subject
2. Father-son
3. Husband-wife
4. Elder and younger brother
5. Friend and friend
 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 fulfill one’s social
duties and responsibilities, thus
creating social harmony.
 THE FIVE CONSTANTS
 Also known as the Five Classical
Virtues or Wuchang
 Are the five most important
Confucian ethics mentioned in
the Analects and the Book of
Mencius.
 THE FIVE CONSTANTS
• Ren or Humaneness
• Yi or Righteousness
• Li or Ritual
• Zhi or knowledge/ wisdom
• Xin or Honesty
 Ren/ Humaneness
 Which means ‘’humaneness”, is the
core virtue in Confucian ethics.
 Ren is the virtue of benevolence,
love, compassion, and humaneness
towards others.
 Yi or righteousness
 Can be achieved by having the
moral disposition to do good,
which can only be possible after
recognizing what is right and good.
 It can be achieved through the
ability to feel what is the right thing
to do.
 Li or Ritual
 Considered as the concrete
guide to human relationships
 It can be achieved by following
the norms of Ren, or
righteousness
 Zhi or knowledge/wisdom
 Can be achieved by knowing
what is right and what is
wrong, which is innate in
people who are basically good
according to Mencius
 Xin or Honesty
 Can be achieved by keeping one’s
word and being faithful, for Kung Fuzi
believed that only people who are
faithful can be trusted with important
tasks.
 Fidelity is also seen as the key to
nation-building.
FILIAL PIETY AS AN IMPORTANT VIRTUE
 For Confucius, family relations provide a
model for social behavior. Respect for
elders, whether your own or others, is
emphasized as well as kindness to your
own children and juniors, including those
of others. These were said to be
instructed by Mencius and have provided
inspiration for generations of Confucians.
FILIAL PIETY AS AN IMPORTANT VIRTUE
Ancestor worship is a manifestation of filial
piety, or respect for one’s parents, which is
directed toward older relatives and
ancestors.
• Children to respect and obey their parents
in life, and to continue remembering them
after they have died through the proper
observance of rituals.
Thank you
for listening!
 Assessment
Present a character sketch of a
person who personifies the
Confucian virtues. Briefly
explain your character sketch.