Religion 17 Confucious
Mencius, Hsün Tzu, and Chu Hsi
the three most important teachers of Confucianism
Mencius
(372-289 B.C.E.) was born over one hundred years after Confucius. He is considered the greatest orthodox instructor of Confucius' teachings. His philosophical system was compiled by his disciples in a text known as the Book of Mencius (Meng-tzu).
Hsün Tzu
(Xun-Zi, 298-238 B.C.E.) is frequently called the least orthodox interpreter of Confucianism. He not only adopted some teachings of the Legalists, but he was greatly influenced by Taoism.
the Golden Mean
A good Confucianist is expected to avoid emotional and intellectual extremes in order to live in harmony with the Tao. This belief is sometimes called the _____ Mean, a phrase taken from a saying of Confucius.
qi
A neo-Confucianist word for vital force or energy.
neo-Confucianism
An eleventh-century movement that attempted to determine which schools of Confucianism were philosophically consistent and in accordance with the teachings of Confucius.
Legalists
An influential group of scholars from about 400-200 B.C.E. that opposed the Mohist School of thought and adopted a harsh view of human nature.
Doctrine of the Mean
According to tradition, a grandson of Confucius wrote the Doctrine of the ____. This text has played an important role in the history of Confucianism. It expands upon and discusses Confucius' belief in a higher moral force. According to this, the Tao pervades everything and provides the moral order of the universe.
Hsün Tzu (Xun-Zi)
An instructor of Confucianism who lived from 298 B.C.E. to 238 B.C.E.; he stressed traditional rites and rituals more than Confucius did.
Mo Tzu
Founder of the Mohist school; lived from 471 B.C.E. to 391 B.C.E.
Four Books
Four texts that, along with the Five Classics, are the traditional authoritative texts for Confucianism; these include the Analects, the Doctrine of the Mean, the Book of Mencius, and the Great Learning.
Hsün Tzu
He stressed traditional rites and rituals more than Confucius did. He denied the basic goodness of people and thought that education and rituals were necessary to show people how to behave appropriately. Laws and restraints were essential in order for society to survive, and goodness came only through proper training and rituals.
Golden Mean
In the Analects, Confucius used the term ______ Mean to describe a virtuous person. The term was later used to refer to a lifestyle that is in harmony with the Tao.
Mencius
Like Confucius, he was not very interested in religion. He stressed the natural goodness of human beings and believed people will act virtuously if they have the proper environment. He also believed that when people are not good, it is because they do not live in the correct environment. According to him, evil is the result of the corruption of our innate capacity for goodness.
V
Mo Tzu began as a Confucian, but he broke away to formulate his own distinctive religious philosophy. He criticized traditional Chinese religious rituals and ancestor veneration. The ______ School taught a view of human nature similar to that of Hsün Tzu.
literati
Scholars who taught Confucianism and often held a position in the government.
Mohist School
School of thought founded by Mo Tzu that brought about a great departure from orthodox Confucianism and traditional Chinese practices, such as religious rituals and ancestor veneration.
Lun Yu (Analects) Chung Yung (Doctrine of the Mean) Meng-tzu (Book of Mencius) Ta Hsueh (Great Learning)
The Four Books contain the sayings and teachings of Confucius and his disciples about how to live correctly. The Four Books include the following:
Tai Ji/T'ai Chi
The Great Ultimate, or the supreme force that regulates the universe in neo-Confucianism.
evolution of the Four Books
The _____ Books, like the Five Classics, went through several editions. Like the Five Classics, they became recognized as an independent collection of authoritative texts, though the these Books eventually became more important for Confucianism than the Five Classics. Most of the major schools of Confucianism are based on these Books.
literati
The _____ are scholars who taught Confucianism. Many also held positions in government. They stressed learning to understand the eternal nature of things and meditation to achieve balance.
Mohist
The ______ School, founded by Mo Tzu (Mo-zi, ca. 471-391 B.C.E.), represents a radical departure from orthodox Confucianism. Along with the religion of Taoism, this School became a major rival to Confucianism.
Legalists
The ______ were an influential group of scholars from about 400-200 B.C.E. They opposed the Mohist School of thought and adopted an even harsher view about human nature than Hsün Tzu or Mo Tzu.
Golden Mean
The belief that people must avoid emotional and intellectual extremes in order to live in harmony with the Tao.
the Analects
The first of the Four Books, is the most important text in Confucianism because it contains many of Confucius' sayings. The other books are writings by Confucius' followers who explain and elaborate on his teachings.
Great Learning
The fourth text of the Four Books, is about virtuous government. It also includes a commentary by one of Confucius' disciples on political theory and morality.
Ta Hsueh(Great Learning)
The fourth text of the Four Books, which contains instructions for a virtuous government and a commentary from one of Confucius' disciples on political theory and morality.
Mencius
The greatest orthodox instructor and interpreter of Confucius' teachings; lived from 372 B.C.E. to 289 B.C.E.
Chu Hsi
The most famous teacher of Neo-Confucianism was (also spelled Ju Xi and Zhu Xi, 1130-1200). He taught that the universe is made of a single principle called the Great Ultimate (Tai Ji or T'ai Chi). The Great Ultimate is the supreme force that regulates the cosmos. He said that the Great Ultimate consists of two elements: li and qi.
Chu Hsi(Ju Xi or Zhu Xi)
The most famous teacher of neo-Confucianism; lived from 1130 to1200 and taught that the universe was made up of a single principle called the Tai Ji.
The Doctrine of the Mean
The second of the Four Book teaches people how to follow a middle path between emotional and intellectual extremes.
Chung Yung(Doctrine of the Mean)
The second of the Four Books, which teaches how to follow a middle path between emotional and intellectual extremes.
Meng-tzu (Book of Mencius)
The third of the Four Books, which contains the teachings of Mencius.
the Book of Mencius
The third text of the Four Books, contains the teachings of a man named Mencius, who became the greatest interpreter of Confucian tradition after Confucius' death.
li
The traditional term for propriety; used by neo-Confucianism to refer to law or rational principle.
Chu Hsi
The word li is the traditional term for propriety. He used li to refer to law or rational principle. Qi (or ch'i) is a vital force or energy. He based his understanding of qi on Mencius' writings about force. Li and qi combine, like yin and yang, to form the Great Ultimate.
literati
They also sought to live the ideal Confucian lifestyle and become superior men. These people tried to explain Confucianism to the masses. Their teachings and writings resulted in the development of many different ways to understand and practice Confucianism.
Doctrine of the Mean
This book also teaches that humans can unite with heaven and earth to nourish and transform the Tao. A person who acts morally lives in accordance with the will of heaven. This doctrine teaches people to follow a middle course in life so that they will live in harmony with this moral order.
Neo-Confucianism
This is an eleventh-century C.E. revival movement that was greatly influenced by some of the mystical teachings of Buddhism and Taoism. It attempted to determine which schools of Confucianism were philosophically consistent and in accordance with the teachings of Confucius.
Legalists
This school taught that people are innately evil and selfish and believed that people do whatever is in their own interest. They believed that education should consist of warning and punishment. This was, in their opinion, necessary in order to instill good behavior.