1. Confucianism: There and Here, Then and Now
World Literature
Ms. Cassie Nodine

2. Who Was Confucius? Chinese scholar, teacher, and statesman
Member of the upper class
B.C.
Never wrote anything
Students recorded his words
Sayings were compiled into The Four Books
Most famous collection of quotes is called The Analects (“Confucius”).
(Confucius Statue at Qufu)

3. Teacher and Statesman
Taught young men only (admitted all who showed a desire and ability to learn)
His home was the school in Qufu (poorer students lived with him)
Used small group or one-on-one conversations
Required study of morality, literature, rituals, music, archery, calligraphy, mathematics, and charioteering
Proposed a series of examinations to place students in careers (Bledsoe).
(The Gate Entrance to the Kong Family Residence)

4. Teachings of Confucius
Based on THE THREE BONDS
Ruler over the subject
Father over the son
Husband over the wife
If these are followed, the world will be at peace; however, if these are violated, the world will be in chaos (Yan, “Chinese”).
(Confucius Teaching)

5. Sought to teach pupils how to think, not what to think
Confucian Ideals
Ren: benevolence and kindliness toward others
Yi: faithful friendship
Li: ritual and propriety
Zhi: wisdom
Zhang: loyalty
Shu: reciprocity
Xiao: filial piety (familial places)
Ti: brotherly love
Xin: sincerity, honesty, and trust (Yan, “History”).
Sought to teach pupils how to think, not what to think

6. (Confucian Education in Contemporary China)
Core Values
Emphasizes kind and humane governance
Moderation in all things, the Middle Way (Yan, “History”)
Emphasizes the importance of education
Values harmony and unification
Opposes distinction of classes
Honors family through ancestor worship
Encourages the establishment of morality on all levels
(Confucian Education in Contemporary China)

7. Rise and Fall
Height of popularity was during the Han Dynasty by Wu Di in 136 B.C.E.
Decline came after the fall of the Han led to war and a rebellion against the examination system.
Mao banned the philosophy after the Communist take-over in 1949 because it was said to promote the selfish interests of the wealthy, highly educated minority (Lannom).
Current favor in China is due to the Communist Party’s revival of the philosophy because it promotes values the party desires for its people: education, family values, hard work, and collective harmony with an acquiescent attitude toward authoritarian rule (Slavicek).

8. (Analects of Confucius)
The Analects, or Lun Yu
Followers of Confucius compiled his teachings into The Four Books
The Analects is the last of these four.
Contains aphorisms, proverbs, maxims, sayings of Confucius
Deals with attaining true virtue
Emphasizes strengthening relationships to one’s family, neighbors, country, the earth, and heaven (Gard).
(Analects of Confucius)

9. Confucius says…
“Wake yourself up with poetry and complete your education with music.”
“Teaching is half of learning.”
“A youth must be respected. How do you know that his future may not exceed your present?”
“Don’t criticize other peoples’ faults; criticize your own.”
“A person of true wisdom knows what he knows and knows what he does not know.”
“Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you” (Confucius, The Analects).

10. Works Cited
Analects of Confucius. Photograph. Cultural China Web. 31 Oct <
Bledsoe, Helen W. "Confucius: Teacher and Statesman." Calliope 10.2 (1999). Academic Search Premiere. Web. 28 Oct
Confucius. Confucius: The Analects. Trans. D. C. Lau. Hong Kong: Chinese UP, Print.
"Confucius." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 02 Nov <
Confucian Education in Contemporary China Photograph. Beijing. Neo-Confucian Schools. CRCC/USC, Web. 31 Oct <
Confucius Statue at Qufu Photograph. Qufu. What Confucius Said. Shunya, Nov Web. 31 Oct <
Confucius Teaching. Qufu. English East Day Web. 31 Oct <
Gard, Carolyn. "The Analects." Calliope 2.10 (2009). Academic Search Premiere. Web. 15 Oct
Lannom, Gloria W. "After Confucius." Middle Search Plus. EBSCO, Oct Web. 31 Oct
Slavicek, Louise C. "Confucianism Today." Middle Search Plus. EBSCO, Oct Web. 31 Oct
The Gate Entrance to the Kong Family Residence Photograph. Qufu. Hakloot Web. 31 Oct <
Yan, Wenqiang. "Chinese Buddhism with Chinese Characteristics." Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad. China, Chongqing. 13 July Lecture.
Yan, Wenqiang. "History of Confucianism." Message to the author. 24 Sept