Confucianism and Contemporary Issues

Confucianism and Contemporary IssuesThis essay will illustrate the history of Confucianism and the background of scale Kong (Confucius) in the earlier set outs of the religion. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the common char performeristic of Confucianism with other eastern religions, the contemporary issues it faces, and the interaction between the modern valet and Confucianism. withal the paper list the nine most common text of literature used by the religion and it includes the role of women and the five bonds besides known as the five great relationships.HistoryConfucius was born August27, 551 BC in a small state called Lu. His birth name is Kong Qui or Kung Fu-tzu. The modern name of Confucius is an early Western rendering of the sages Chinese honorific name Kung-fu-tsu (Confucius, 2013) It is noned that Confucius was born in answer to his p arents prayers. Confucius surname Kong means an phonation of thankfulness when prayers adopt been answered. He stemmed from the Chang dynasty 500 years before the birth of Christ. According to the text, the exact details of his childhood vary. Some say that he grew up in a wealthy household. Other reports say that he stemmed from a p overty stricken background. savants do agree that Confucius existed during a cartridge clip of crisis in China.The crisis stemmed from the challenge to the ruler posed by the three Huan families. By heredity they had the right to occupy the ministerial offices of the Lu government. It is recorded that he entertained himself during his youth by arranging rituals and staging ceremonies. This turmoil in society had an effect on Confucius. He thought that if the thinking of society would kind it would change the way things were done. The notion of society must change. Individuals must strive to be noble as possible. (Confucius, 2013) During his early adult life, Confucius took on odd jobs to deport him-self and assumedly his family. He was most often unemployed with very li ttle money. He was said to be a very humble and sympathetic man that had a passion for government. He believed in sharing his knowledge with the world.What was most important to Confucius was not holding an official governmentalposition but upholding his moral beliefs. Confucius held dickens moral shelters. Per the text, his two main ideals were to grow excellent individuals that would be great social leaders. And secondly, he wanted to create a harmonious society. (Molly, 2010) His concern for others is demo through his regard for the conventions communicated in the belief of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That principle is more commonly known as the Golden Rule. Confucius also believed that everyone had a social responsibility these social responsibilities were communicated into the five great relationships. Duties were identified by what social classification you were included in. With all five of the great relationships at that place is a high aim of r espect that is shown. Each party is held in the same regard as the other.He established a school with the intent to produce and develop supreme individuals. He wanted to teach his students to mentally and morally expand their social views and to practice self-discipline. Confucius teachings to his disciples were recorded in the book of analects. His teachings were informal and primarily delivered in lectures. His teachings were not religious. The focus of his teachings revolved around the Six Arts archery, calligraphy, music, com allotation, chariot driving and ritual. (Confucius, 2013)According to an article written by Valerie Sartor, she notes He (Confucius) must have been a highly persuasive speaker, and a magnetic personality, for he convinced many men to become his disciples. (Sarator, V., 2009) He is said to have had 3,000 students and 72 disciples, with whom he traveled with throughout China. (China Today, 2005) Confuciuss principles and virtues still have a heavy influence on Chinese religion. At the while, his teachings provided guidelines for the Chinese upbringingal system. Common characteristics the Confucianism religionConfucius put forth kindness to pieceity and kind-heartedness and teaches people to do unto others what you would like for yourself, (19962013 A+E Television Networks, LLC). His social philosophy was base primarily on the principle of Ren, loving others (Moloy 2010). The people believed in him and his teachings. Confucius, said when people are produced the distinction between classes of people will disappear and this will bring musical harmony amongst people. Religions, such as Buddhism has a lot in common withConfucianism, both believed in spiritual development, having good morals and harmony amongst ourselves.Confucianism and Buddhism also believed that people should act with good manners, and have good etiquette. In todays world, Chinese strongly push themselves in education, learning different languages, mathematics and a rts. Confucius saw no difference between people with money and the ones without money. He believed that anyone can be superior and he teaches his student to be noble and with good character and with education you can achieve a lot and anything. Education will also make a better way of life. Confucianism also value males over females on that point for males have dominance over the women.The comparison between Confucianism and Hinduism teachings is that they are both similar, both religions meditate and having good ethics. Confucianism and Buddhism are also similar. They both do supposition and they both believe in end of measly and the love for each other.Interactions between the modern world and ConfucianismIn todays society it is easy to check over that religion in the modern world would face multiple challenges and changes. Some of the advances today scientifically such as DNA genetics, reproducing of children, and major organ organ transplant surgery are all doubtfulnesss t hat men and women in the earlier durations didnt have to worry slightly. They are many eastern cities that are the foundation base for certain religions. At one point these religions were thought of as foreign. We now live in a world where every place to visit and Remote Island in the world is may be featured on the travel channel. Television exposes all creation in the world the different cultures and conversion as well as the different religions.Every day this world we live in is constantly evolving. It makes you think of where this world would be in the future. The writer started to question in what ways would religion change. From the beginning when religion was first introduced erect take a moment to think about how much it has changed. There is no way possible to predict that far into the future, but we can make an educated guess based on the things that are transpiring today in religion. There are many different influences that make up religions and how they continue t o evolve throughout the years. It was not long ago, the majority of most human beings in the world lived as farmers, and in small villages, and monarchs ruled the majority of thecountries.As time passed we slowly begin to see less kings and queens and in some counties they just disappeared. Some governments were formed and a lot of people traded in rural life for a big city lifestyle. There was a period of time where people traveled sometimes out of the country in order to taste different food or experience firsthand the way of life story for another culture. Now you can purchase a Whopper at a burger king located in Switzerland or have the pleasure of beverage a cup of Starbucks coffee in Hong Kong. With all these changes and our world as we know it today is steadily evolving it makes you take a moment to think about how the cultural unifications will change religion.In the past many religions preached the value of being less fortunate and living a simple but comfortable lifestyl e. Things that were taught held value because it was a reflection of the lifestyle of the majority of people. Today in religion we see exhortation from the poor to get ahead and how money can be the center of the religion. In the new world contact is always attainable. There are many different items that we have that can be used to educate men and women on Confucianism and some of the religion interactions. Its common to utilize television, radio, books, magazines and most important internet to close in the gap that once unbroken every culture and religion separate. More frequently are we seeing where religions adopt different beliefs and religious ways from other religions. Contemporary Issues in ConfucianismThe beliefs of Confucianism are written in the Sacred Narratives as Confucian thinking, believed that learning from the past is fundamental (Beversluis, 1995). Confucius did not eliminate the possibility of a reality beyond the human world. However he believed that a human did not have the capacity to understand such a world. He believed that human morals should be based on human relationships, without reference to some higher order (Beversluis, 1995). Most Confucian scholars believed that the human being existence is based upon reaching ones highest potential in life. And that by achieving the ultimate goal of a perfect person is a lifelong process of self-cultivation (Beversluis, 1995).We also see that the belief in suffering and evil by some Confucian scholars are inevitable in human life. These two problems can promote learning and growth. A mistake does not label one as a sinner, but one should take it as opportunity to learn and growfrom the mistake. Even though some humans are incapable of feeling empathy, the suffering of others for most should provide motivation for moral growth (Beversluis, 1995). Confucius believed that human beings should live and conduct their lives with good moral statures so that they can exist in harmony with others, rath er than hoping to be rewarded or punished in the afterlife (Beversluis, 1995). Womans role in ConfucianismNow let us take a typeface at the role of women in Confucianism. A womans role in this religion is that of subservience and obedience. Scholar Xiao Ma has said Women always have been fighting for a way out of the Confucian shadows. According to Women And Confucianism (1996-2012)the Confucian structure of society, women at every level were to occupy a position lower than men. Most Confucians accepted the subservience of women to men as natural and proper order of life. At the same time they accorded womens honor and power as mother and mother-in-law within their family end quote.Some Neo-Confucian saying as it regards to women are, Womans greatest duty is to produce a son, Disorder is not sent down by Heaven, it is produced by women, Women are to be led and to follow others and a favorite by male Confucians is, A woman should look on her husband as if he were Heaven itself, and never weary of thinking how she may yield to him (Women And Confucianism, 1996-2012). Sacred textsSacred texts associated with Confucianism are The Five Classics. These are the oblige of Songs (Sh Jng), The Classic of History (Sh Jng), The Classic of Rites (L J), The Book of Changes (I Ching), and The Spring and Autumn Annals (Chn Qi). The Four Books, which are The Analects of Confucius (Ln Y), The Mencius (Mng Z), The gigantic Learning (D Xu) and The Doctrine of the Golden Mean (Zhng Yng). The Thirteen Classics and the Three Commentaries (Hare, 2010).The Five Great RelationshipsThe Five Great Relationships were implemented by Confucius so that everyone would know the role they played in society and conduct themselves accordingly. These five bonds are those of ruler and field of operations compassion in rulers, loyalty in ministers and subjects father and son kindness in thefather, filial piety in a son husband and wife righteous behavior in the husband, obedience in the wife el der brother and younger brother gentility in the oldest son, humility and respect in the younger siblings and friend and friend humane consideration in elders, deference in juniors.Confucianism today, is mainly practiced in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. There are over six million devotees who practice Confucianism. In the past Confucianism was the state philosophy in China, but this has drastically decreased in todays world due to communism in China (Beversluis, 1995). However as recently as 2011 we saw President Hu Jintao introducing the idea of a Harmonious Socialist partnership in order to officially revive this fading religion in China. There has been several network of cultural Confucius institutes set up globally by the Chinese government, as well as erecting a statue of Confucius in Tiananmen Square.ConclusionMaster Kong (Confucius) was a man of great moral standings and character. Even if many in the beginning of the religion disliked him, he has been immortalized by the Chinese Government because of the millions of followers he has to this day.