Confucianism

The most influential of all teachers, not in his lifetime but with increasing acclaim after his death, was the Chinese philosopher Confucius (Kǒng Fūzǐ, or  "Master Kong", 551–478 BC).

He was concerned with the relation of man to man, and declined to engage in metaphysical speculation.  He viewed that the ideal society require the proper observance of Five Relationships:
 1) ruler & subjects
 2) parent & child
 3) elder & younger brother
 4) husband & wife
 5) friend & friend

Confucianism as an ideology is humanistic and non-theistic, and does not involve a belief in the supernatural or in a personal god. The core of Confucianism is humanism, the belief that human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor especially including self-cultivation and self-creation. Confucianism focuses on the cultivation of virtue and maintenance of ethics, the most basic of which are:

• Ren - altruism and humaneness for other individuals within a community.
• Yi - upholding of righteousness and the moral disposition to do good.
• Li - system of norms and propriety that determines how a person should properly act within a community.

Confucianism holds that one should give up one's life, if necessary, either passively or actively, for the sake of upholding the cardinal moral values of Ren and Yi. 

Cultures and countries strongly influenced by Confucianism include mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, as well as various territories settled predominantly by Chinese people, such as Singapore. Although Confucian ideas prevail in these areas, few people outside of academia identify themselves as Confucian, and instead see Confucian ethics as a complementary guideline for other ideologies and beliefs, including democracy, Marxism, capitalism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.

Samplings from the Analects of Confucius:

 • The Master said: "To learn without thinking is in vain. To think without learning is dangerous."

 • The Master said: "If natural qualities exceed refinement, then one is uncouth.  If refinement exceeds natural qualities, then one is like a clerk.  If refinement and natural  qualities are equally combined, thereafter one is a Superior Man." (eg, sexual abilities vs. sensuality)

 • Tzu-kung asked: "Is there a single saying which one can act upon until the end of one's life?"  The Master said: "Would it be reciprocity?  What you do not wish done to yourself, do not do to others."

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