Confucius: 10 Important Teachings of the Chinese Sage
Confucius: 10 Important Teachings
© 2014 – present by Jensen DG. Mañebog/MyInfoBasket.com
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
-Confucius (551/552–479 bc)
CONFUCIUS (551 or 552-479 bc), the Chinese philosopher and educator, is one of the most important individuals in Chinese history, and one of the most influential figures in world history.
Famous for his philosophy, he made many wise sayings in ancient China that helped many people learn about nature, the world, and the human behavior.
Confucius, The Philosopher
The following are some unpopular but interesting information about him.
1. Confucius was an illegitimate child, or a child born out of wedlock.
2. Confucius wasn’t always a philosopher. At age 16 he was a corn inspector.
3. Like other great men, Confucius practiced fasting. When fasting in preparation for sacrifice, he would wear the Bright Robe, and it must be of linen.
4. Confucius would change his food and also the place where he would commonly sit. He would not object to his rice being thoroughly cleaned, nor to his meat being finely minced.
5. In bed, he avoided lying in the posture of a corpse.
6. Confucius lost his father when he was three years old. His mother Yan Zhengzai took him and left the fiefdom, because as a concubine, she wanted to avoid mistreatment from Shulianghe‘s formal wife.
7. Confucius lived in poverty with his mother since childhood.
8. When he was 23, his mother died. This had a profound impact upon Confucius. For three years, he lived in solitude and mourned the passing of his mother. He dedicated these three years to philosophical studies.
9. Confucius married a young woman who was from the Qiguan family of the Song state. Although Confucius had a mild tempered wife who loved him, he left his family to strive for his ideals.
10. In 518 B.C.E., he is said to have met the famous teacher Lao Tzu (sixth century B.C.E.), who is reported to have bluntly criticized Confucius for his stuffiness and arrogance—a lesson he is siad to have taken seriously.
11. Confucius presents himself as a “transmitter who invented nothing”.
12. Confucius, himself, is credited by the tradition with having taught altogether three thousand students, though only seventy are said to have truly mastered the arts he cherished.
13. Confucius’ disciples and his only grandson, Zisi, continued his philosophical school after his death.
14. Today, the site of his final resting place houses the beautiful K’ung Forest.
15. One of the quotations he left which is useful to those who are looking for a career is this admonition: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Confucius Philosophy
Now that you are somewhat aware of the philosopher, let us proceed to tackling his philosophy. Much of Confucius’ teachings are directed toward the maintenance of three interlocking kinds of order: (1) aesthetic, (2) social, and (3) moral.
Though Confucius, as a teacher, emphasizes the “Six Arts”—(1) ritual, (2) music, (3) archery, (4) chariot-riding, (5) calligraphy, and (6) computation, he regards morality as the most important subject.
The following are 10 of Confucius’ ethical teachings:
1. Moral educationis important because it is the means by which one can rectify a nation’s unpleasant situation and restore meaning to language and values to society.
2. Ethics must be practical and more concerned with earthly matters, such as good manners, treating others kindly, and enhancing family relations.
3. The practice of social decorum and ritual, or li, is the quickest path to ethical growth.
4. Heaven is an impersonal force of morality or ethics. (Confucius believed in heaven, but not in the traditional spiritual sense).
5. The most important moral lessons are to be found in the canonical Book of Songs, because many of its poems are both beautiful and good.
6. Political philosophy must be rooted in ethical principles.
7. A rulershould learn self-discipline, should govern his subjects by his own example, and should treat them with love and concern.
8. The best government is one that rules through “rites” (lǐ) and people’s natural morality, rather than by using bribery and coercion.
9. A ruler should practice kindness and virtuous living.
10. The primary task of the ruler is to achieve the welfare (well-being) and happiness of the people of his state. To accomplish this aim, the ruler first had to set a moral (good character) example by his own conduct … continue reading
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Copyright © 2014-present by Jensen DG. Mañebog/MyInfoBasket.com
Also Check Out: From Socrates to Mill: An Analysis of Prominent Ethical Theories, also by author Jensen DG. Mañebog
Related: A Lesson from Confucius: The Concept of a Chun-Tzu
Which, for you, is Confucius’ best teaching?
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