Confucianism is a Chinese teaching that has played a large role in both the history of Chinese culture and the socio-economic development of the Celestial Empire. The ancient teaching remains a living intellectual and spiritual tradition to this day. Modernity has given the world many great thinkers who developed the teachings of Confucius in new historical conditions. In this article, we will talk about the most interesting facts related to Confucianism.
| Confucianism is not a religion but a philosophy. Confucius was an ordinary man who wanted society to be better. We present interesting facts about Confucius and Confucianism. |
Interesting facts about Confucianism
1. The concept of “Confucianism” comes from the Latin form of the surname and the nickname of its creator (Confucius is translated as Kung Fu Tzu – Wise teacher Kun).
2. Confucius lived during the fragmentation of China. The years of the life of the great sage (551-479 BC) are internecine strife and the desire to overcome the chaos born of fragmentation.
3. Confucius was born into an aristocratic but wealthy family. He was orphaned early, was a modest young man. Having found money for the journey, Confucius went to the region of the king’s residence and began to work in the ruler’s book depository. The future sage talked there with Lao Tzu and often argued with the philosopher.
4. Upon returning home, Confucius became a well-known music connoisseur (for the Chinese, music is harmony with oneself and the world) and a connoisseur of ancient rituals. Soon he opened a school and became the first professional teacher in China. Many students of the teacher became great politicians, scientists and philosophers.
5. Confucius sought to put his social theories into practice. He traveled a lot, but never received an important post in the institutions of power, which he so dreamed of. Confucius died in his hometown of Qufu, where there is now a memorial in honor of the great sage. His distant descendants live there today.
6. Confucius greatly respected the values of the society of his time, did not doubt its ideals, beliefs and cults.
7. Confucianism is not considered a religion, and Confucius in this teaching is not God. This is a sage, a philosopher, a great man, endowed with great wisdom. Nevertheless, many historians and religious scholars call Confucianism a religious and philosophical teaching, because the influence of teaching on the life of ancient and modern China is so great.
8. For more than two millennia (until the beginning of the 20th century), Confucianism was the official ideology of the Chinese state, fulfilling the same purpose in the country as the official religions in other great civilizations.
9. The sage Confucius believed that a person with a noble soul should think about society, the state and the family, and not about money, food and status. A person should be controlled by the brain and soul, not the stomach.
10. The philosopher pointed out the huge role of education in the development of society. According to Confucius, only educated people can become successful people, and the state will become strong thanks to them.
11. Confucianism was at first one of several teachings of ancient China, along with legalism, Taoism, Mohism, etc. But after the creation of a single centralized state, the teachings of Confucius became the only state ideology of imperial China.
12. Confucius said that parents should raise their children in an atmosphere of deep love, and children should love and care for their elderly parents. Respect for elders is the basis of the philosophy of Confucius.
13. The Chinese sage taught that the state is like a big family: the subjects must respect and love the ruler as their own father.
14. A person who follows strict observance of moral norms in Confucianism is considered a “noble husband.”
15. In Europe of the XVIII century, thanks to the missionaries, an interest in Confucianism arose. The ideas of teaching by Europeans were rethought in the spirit of the Enlightenment. The great French educator Voltaire read the works of Confucius and interpreted them in his own way, in the spirit of the European society of modern times.
16. “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others” is the golden rule of morality, which has not lost its relevance in our days. These wise words belong to Confucius.
17. Confucius got married at the age of 19. A year after the wedding, the young had a son. The ruler on this occasion gave Confucius a large live carp.
18. A wise ruler in Confucianism is not one who punishes his subjects, but treats them patiently and brings them up as his own children. Severe punishments do not suit the ruler, he must, by his example of a good person, instruct people on the true path.
19. In the book Judgments and Conversations, the followers of Confucianism recorded the sayings of Confucius, his thoughts and ideas.
20. During the life of Confucius, his ideas and thoughts did not receive recognition. The sage spent twelve years of his life in exile.
21. Confucius taught to love all people and the ruler, whom he called the Son of Heaven. China itself was called the Celestial Empire, because. Heaven was considered the highest being.
22. The ancient Chinese revered the deceased parents as wise and kind patrons, they made sacrifices in honor of them. This tradition continues in modern China.
23. According to Confucianism, the best praise for a person is to compare him with some great and famous hero of the past.
24. In China, the teaching is called the “school of learned scribes”, they have a word from the Western lexicon “Confucianism” is not common.
25. The texts of the ancient books “Pentateuch” and “Tetrabook” constitute the Confucian canon of wisdom.
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