1. Confucianism 3
T AM
Alexander Sun
Kenneth Wong
Johnny Ho

2. What is Confucianism? Kenneth Wong Confucius belief was studied in
Confucianism- “The School of Scholars”
A system developed from the teachings of Confucius in early Chinese history.
moral
Social
Political
Religious thought
Confucius belief was studied in
China
Japan
Korea
Vietnam
Taiwan
Hong Kong
Macao
Singapore
Kenneth Wong

3. Tenets – Jen Alexander Sun Human Heartedness, Goodness, Benevolence
What makes man distinctively human
Do not do anything to others that you would not have them do to you
The highest virtue according to the Confucian way of life
Alexander Sun

4. Tenets – Li Alexander Sun
Concrete guide to human relationships or rules of proper action that genuinely embody jen
General principle of social order or the general ordering of life
Can carry different meanings:
Propriety
Reverence
Courtesy
Ritual
Ideal standard of conduct
Alexander Sun

5. Tenets – Yi Alexander Sun
A moral sense: the ability to recognize what is right and good; the ability to feel, under the circumstances what is the right thing to do.
Not chih, moral wisdom per se, but intuition
Believe that the value in the act is the rightness of the action regardless of the intention or the consequences of the act.
Alexander Sun

6. Filial Piety Alexander Sun
Generally used to refer to religion, spirituality, or the combination of both
Different meanings:
Behavior towards seniors
Be good towards parents
Take care of one’s parents
Engage in good conduct as to bring a good name to one’s parents and ancestors
Considered the first virtue in Chinese culture
Alexander Sun

7. Ming: The Mandate of Heaven
The virtuous person is thus able to act in terms of a middle way, avoiding all extremes in either thought or action.
The order of the universe
For Confucius, ming is simply the way things are in the course of things.
Humans cannot control unfolding events
Alexander Sun

8. Doctrine of the Mean Alexander Sun Guidance to perfecting one’s self
The person who follows the mean is on a path of duty, but should abandon it once and awhile for the sake of indulgence.
Even common men and women can carry the mean into their practices, and this is highly recommended if you wish to obtain "the good.“
Divided into three parts:
The Axis - They Why
The Process - The How
The Perfect Word/Sincerity - The Where and What
Alexander Sun

9. Confucianism – Religion, Code of Ethics or Philosophy?
It is debatable whether Confucianism is actually considered as a religion.
Many religions have been influenced by Confucianism.
Considered as an ethical tradition and not a religion.
Kenneth Wong

10. The Philosophy of Confucianism provides a great deal of rituals and gives a complete explanation of the world, human nature.
Some religions in the Chinese culture still possess features of Confucianism.
Taoism
Christianity
Muslim
Buddhism
Shintoism
Kenneth Wong

11. It’s not a religion although many religions are influenced by this system.
It can be considered as a code of ethics that many of its followers follow.
It may also be seen as a philosophy because it investigates the way of thought, knowledge, and principles of being.
Kenneth Wong

12. Eros and Agape - Religion
Confucianism is of the eros tradition, while Christianity is of the agape one
Eros-religion is in the language of this thesis, a religion that focuses on human beings and human efforts to achieve eternity. This is more related to Confucianism rather then Christianity.
Agape-religion is a religion in which god is the center.
The relationship between Eros-religion and agape-religion is similar to the relationship between Confucian jen as the principle of humanistic religion and Christian agape as the ideal of theistic religion.
Johnny Ho

13. Similarities and Differences between Confucianism and Christianity
According to Confucius, one would live according to Yi or virtue, particularly the virtues of li, propriety and ritual, and jén, "benevolence, charity, humanity, love, and kindness.
Both teachings are for those who are conscious of their own spiritual depth
Christianity centers around the worship of a single, triune God and the study and guidance of the Bible, the inspired word of God.
Confucius did not claim to be god
Both teachings are resulted from doctrinally and historically validated adaption of their respective traditions.
Jesus Christ is claimed to be deity
Confucians never found the true way to God and eternal life because they looked for the answer in nature and order.
Ethics is an essential core to both teachings. Based on its practice in divine or secular context.
Christians found the true way to Heaven through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Followers for Confucianism is estimated around 6 million.
Both based their ethics on a golden rule: "Treat others only in ways that you're willing to be treated in the same exact situation."
Followers for Confucianism is estimated around 2 billion.
Confucian scholars studied the Four Books: The Confucian Analects, Mencius, The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean.
Both includes self-control, humanity, goodness
Christianity has the bible.
Confucianism is a philosophy.
Both is directed to the harmony of human life with "Heaven" - as the "highest Power" of the manifested world - and the earth.
Let's start with Christianity is a religion
Both uses literature text for teachings.
Neither Confucius or Jesus Christ did not right their book/s for their followers.
Although the Confucian ideal differs from the Christian ideal, both are concerned with having people transcend into eternal life.
Johnny Ho