Confucianism Essay Example For Students

Confucianism Essay Confucianism Essay, the philosophical system founded on the teaching of Confucius, who lived from 551 BC to 479 BC, dominated Chinese sociopolitical life for most of the Chinese history and largely influenced the cultures of Korea, Japan, and Indochina. The Confucian school functioned as a recruiting ground for government positions, which were filled by those scoring highest on examinations in the Confucian classics. It also blended with popular and important religions and became the vehicle for presenting Chinese values to the peasants. The schools doctrine supported political authority using the theory of the mandate of heaven. It sought to help rulers maintain domestic order, preserve tradition, and maintain a constant standard of living for the tax paying peasants. Who is Confucius? Confucius was of noble descent in the state of Lu (modern Shantung). No records show him attending school even though Confucius was a well educated man. He had to make his own living at an early age. He started a political career at a young age, rising in the ranks, but fell faster than what he rose. His main goal in politics was to restore humanity and to convince various nobles to follow a certain guideline, but after he was dismissed from government, he never returned to public life. By the age of 20, Confucius decided to become a teacher, to try to change the world through what he teachers. He had a pattern of thinking that inspired many people, no matter what religion they were, most of East Asia and their way of thinking had Confucian elements in them. His policy was accept anyone as a disciple provided that the student is willing to learn. But the violent leaders at the time, paid no attention to any of his philosophies. Confucius was one of the first and few philosophers to leave a collection of writings behind as a source for all people (like the Bible for Catholics). History of Confucianism Confucius lived from 551BCE to 479BCE, during the Chou Dynasty, where in fact imperial rule was breaking down. High principled men originally founded then ran the Chou Dynasty, but by Confucius time, China was going through a very difficult period where conflicts and attacks had controlled the dynasty, while usurpers took over land, this dynasty was corrupt. This period of political turmoil (770BCE-221BCE) started a new era of a ;hundred schools; where teachers, such as Confucius, would move from state to state teaching their other people about their ideas and morals. This was also the time though, where prisoners were put to death in mass executions, soldiers were paid when they presented the severed heads of the enemy, whole populations that were captured were beheaded and there were accounts of the conquered being boiled to death in a soup and the family being forced to drink the human soup. There was something seriously wrong with the justice and equality in this dynasty, that th e philosophy of Confucius could help. The development of Confucianism came to an all of a sudden stop during the Chin dynasty (221BCE-206BCE) where the First Emperor didnt approve of the Confucian ideas, therefore declared that anyone who differed with the state in their ideas, were killed, and all of Confucius teachings and books were to be burnt. After the death of the Emperor, the Chin dynasty was overthrown by the Han dynasty, where Confucianism was not only re-introduced, but became the dominant school of thought among imperial officials. But not long after this happening, the new leaders were convinced that having a foot in Confucian philosophy, is leading you the right way in life. What happened after the death of Confucius? Confucius believed that he didnt achieve anything in life and that he was a failure, but if this was so, the legend and teachings of Confucius, and Confucianism would of died, but it didnt, instead it lived on through the analects, through Mencius and through Neo-Confucianism. (a new system of Confucian thought) Intimacy Essay Each of the five elements was identified with one of the five primary colors, the five directions, the five principal grains, and the five planets. The Five Elements Correspondence Wood Fire Earth .