Confucianism

Confucianism greatly influenced the Chinese ________ system. In order to advance in the Chinese bureaucracy, a position of prestige and power, a man needed to be educated. Confucianist principles became the focus of this education and centered on learning what constituted ___________. The reliance on Confucianism resulted in the development of a conservatism in Chinese society that lasted until the Communist Party came to power in the twentieth century

educational, right action

Filial piety, or respect for one's parents, was part of Chinese culture prior to Confucius' teachings. Families showed respect for their ancestors and family elders, and in that respect filial piety existed. Confucius expanded on the concept. He felt that it was impossible to repay one's parents for the care and love they have provided their children, particularly during the early years when children are helpless. He felt it was impossible to be a virtuous individual without showing _____ while parents were alive and even after they were dead. Confucius believed that children should take care of their parents, bury them properly when the time came, provide them with a male heir, and never speak ill of them, even years after they had passed on.

filial piety

The Analects of Confucius are stories and sayings of Confucius that his followers collected and are one of the ________.

four books

Mencius took the position that human nature is ______. Hsun Tzu (Xun-Zi), an even later Confucian scholar, took the opposite position, that human nature is ______.

good, evil

The five primary virtues of Confucianism are h__________, r__________, p__________, k_________, & i__________.

humaneness, righteousness, propriety, knowledge, integrity

The Confucian philosophy is focused on _______. Many of the core concepts look at the most humane way to act, and the best path to goodness. The five primary virtues are humaneness, righteousness, propriety, knowledge, and integrity.

humanism

Confucius taught the concept of _____, or humaneness, also described as sympathy, benevolence, or love toward others.

jen

Unlike many Eastern religions, Confucius did not see the proper role of humans as self-absorbed in meditation and isolated from one another. He felt that people needed to work toward becoming ______, or genteel, superior, humane beings.

junzi (Through education and adherence to moral ways, and with much practice, Confucius believed that people could achieve junzi. His goal was to create harmony in society)

______ was the primary ideology prior to Confucianism, and was a strict system of laws that governed the interactions of lords, vassals, and fiefs. It was created during the Warring States Period, and was meant to provide a means of ruling. Under this system, individuals had nearly no rights compared to the ruler. This meshed well with the concept of Feudalism which was also prevalent at the time. Under this system, the only land-owners were those in power, and the rest of the people merely worked the land for their respective lords.

legalism

Confucius taught that five relationships exist that involve reciprocal duties and responsibilities, or right action. With the exception of the last relationship, each relationship involves a superior and a subordinate. The subordinate owes loving obedience to the superior, and the superior has a loving responsibility to see to the well-being of the subordinate. The correct behavior, or conduct, between the individuals in these relationships is known as ____.

li

By the use of mandates of heaven, dynasties rose and fell in China for centuries. Claiming that the current emperor was not working in the best interests of the people, a rival would depose him, calling on the ______________ as his authority. In this way, Confucianism was used by various rulers over the centuries to cement their position as supreme earthly rulers.

mandate of Heaven

Confucianism originated in the 4th century B.C.E from the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It became a fully-fledged religion about 200 years later. Initially it was a form of philosophy, but gained some cosmological elements in the 2nd century B.C.E. Confucianism does not base its religion on the worship of gods. Instead, the religion is based on philosophy and some ______. Confucianism is primarily practiced in _______, and was even made the basis of the Chinese civil service test in 136BC. It has spread to other Asian countries, including Korea, Japan, and India

mysticism, China

Confucianism is a _________—an ethical code of living—rather than a religion. There is no central supreme being who created the world. However, there is a respect for the past, including ancestors; a focus on humane treatment of one another; and a belief in the duty of the government to provide for the well-being of the governed.

philosophy

Like Lao-tzu and Gautama Buddha, Confucius was born in the __________ century BC.

sixth

Confucius taught that five relationships exist that involve reciprocal duties and responsibilities, or right action, between: 1. Ruler and _______ 2. Father and ____ 3. Elder brother and _______ brother 4. Husband and ____ 5. Friend and ______

subject, son, younger, wife, friend

In the base Confucian philosophy, _______ were "subordinate to their fathers before marriage, subordinate to their husbands after marriage, and subordinate to their sons after their husband's death". However, there is also evidence that there were women teachers in the Confucian era, although they were rare.

women

Confucius was born to the _________ class. Some books state that he worked as a shepherd and clerk for some time, and also as a bookkeeper.

working

_____ means filial piety

xiao

_______ means loyalty to one's true nature.

zhong

With the overturn of imperial China and the establishment of the republic in __________, Confucianism ceased to exist as the official state orthodoxy.

1911 (With the proclamation of the republic in 1911, Confucianism could no longer exist as a theocratic political system.)

The Four Books: This series of books are the sayings of Confucius as well as the discussion of thoughts and philosophy by Confucius and his disciples.

Analects

The most authentic material about Confucius is contained in a collection of his teachings called the __________.

Analects (The Analects is a collection of Confucius's discourses with his disciples, collected approximately seventy years after his death).

The __________ cult is an ancient Chinese tradition that received renewed emphasis in Confucian times. The ritual sacrifices demonstrate the Confucian ideals of respect for elders and respect for the past.

Ancestor (The ancestor cult is so important and ancient in China that it could be considered its own religion. Yet, its persistence has also been considered another indication of Confucianism's religious character. The ancestor cult reflects the Confucian understanding regarding the dual soul.)

___________ was probably the most influential of the Neo-Confucians. In 1313, his commentaries on the Four Books were integrated into the curriculum of the civil service examinations.

Chu Hsi (With the integration of his work into the civil service curriculum, Chu Hsi greatly influenced the state orthodoxy for the subsequent six centuries.)

In 136 BC, the Han dynasty made Confucianism the basis of the __________ examinations, thereby strengthening its position in government.

Civil service (The civil service examinations were based on Confucianism, ensuring that all government workers were well versed in the doctrine.)

The _________ of Confucian learning are Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, The Analects, and Mencius. These have the core concepts of the Confucian philosophy and also exposit the beliefs and core values of Confucius,

Four Books

In response to the spiritual influence of Taoism and Buddhism, Neo-Confucians adjusted the Confucian canon to include books of a more metaphysical and spiritual orientation. They did this by replacing the Five Classics with a collection known simply as the __________.

Four Books (The Four Books was a smaller corpus of texts, intended to promote the spiritual and religious side of Confucianism.)

The Four Books: This book reflects on philosophy and critical thinking, as well as government.

Great Learning

The Warring States Period lasted until the third century BCE when the _____ dynasty consolidated its power and ruled China for 400 years. Over the centuries, Confucian principles came to dominate Chinese government regardless of the dynasty in power; Confucian teachings and their evolution by government bureaucrats provided an orderly structure for society and governance.

Han

Confucianism became a state orthodoxy under the _____ dynasty, which used Confucian orthodoxy to legitimize its Heavenly mandate to rule.

Han (The Han dynasty unified China in the final centuries before the Common Era. Confucianism accompanied its rise to power.)

Confucius taught that by the practice of Li, the principal relationships in society can be regulated so that complete __________ may reign in every home, village, and throughout the empire.

Harmony (According to Confucius, Li is of vital importance in ordering and regulating the principal human relationships.)

A form of Confucianism in __________ provided a system of ethics suitable for the country's society of feudal warriors.

Japan (Confucianism in Japan differed in notable ways from Chinese Confucianism. Japanese Confucianism was more hierarchal and modified to support bushido, the ethical code of the samurai.)

_____ - Can be considered one of the key concepts of Confucianism; basically means "Human heartedness" and is meant to symbolize the ability of man to be benevolent to one another.

Jen

Confucius's central teaching is the virtue of __________. Translated as "goodness" or "humaneness," it is the inward expression of Confucian ideals.

Jen (Confucius thought that only the great sages of ancient China truly possessed jen. All, however, should seek to develop it in striving towards becoming a superior human being.)

Confucianism in _______ has been associated historically with education and a civil service examination.

Korea (Confucian texts and ideas were introduced in Korea before the Common Era. Official examinations in Confucian doctrines were instituted during the Silla dynasty 668-935.)

Confucianism is the philosophy and religion based on the teachings of Master ________.

Kung (Confucianism is based on Kung's teachings. The Western, latinized form of Kung is "Confucius.")

In Confucianism, __________ does not literally refer to a place. To Confucius, it was a higher power, order, and law, and the annual sacrifices to it were among the most important of Confucian rituals.

Heaven (Mencius focused more on Heaven than Confucius did. To Mencius, Heaven was not a personal deity, but something present within the human heart that one should strive to understand.)

___________ lived in the third century BC. Though he is now known as the second greatest interpreter of Confucius behind Mencius, his teachings actually received greater acceptance than those of Mencius during his lifetime.

Hsun-tzu (The writings of Hsun-tzu are significant to Confucianism in that they differ notably from the teachings of Confucius and Mencius.)

One of the Five Classics, the __________ is an ancient and sacred divination manual attributed to China's legendary sages. It centers upon short oracles arranged under sixty-four different hexagrams.

I-Ching (Over the years, diverse commentaries were added to the I-Ching, referencing early Chinese metaphysical and cosmological ideas such as yin-yang.)

The Confucian concept of ___ is rather abstract, but most nearly means proper behavior, morals, and etiquette. Confucius felt that this concept was very important to be gentlemanly, and thus important for relationships.

Li

Whereas jen describes one's inward orientation, __________ (translated as both "propriety" and "ritual") has more to do with one's outward social behavior.

Li (Li is the Confucian ideal that one should strive to perfect in relationships with others - particularly in the Five Relationships Confucius describes in detail.)

Mencius articulates a theory of political power called the _____________, which describes the ruler as the mediator between the powers of Heaven and the people below.

Mandate of Heaven (The Mandate of Heaven was bestowed upon the ruler, giving him the exclusive authority to govern.)

Mencius articulates a theory of political power called the Mandate of Heaven, which describes the ruler as the __________ between the powers of Heaven and the people below.

Mediator (The Mandate of Heaven was bestowed upon the ruler, giving him the exclusive authority to govern.)

The Four Books: This book is a collection of conversations with the scholar Mencius.

Mencius

__________ was a famous Confucian philosopher who believed that humans were innately good. They became evil or bad after interacting with society or their environment. He also believed in a destined path, but noted that destiny could be changed forcefully.

Mencius

Born in 372 BC, ___________ is considered the second most important Chinese sage after Confucius and the most important of Confucius' interpreters.

Mencius (Though Mencius is best known for reinforcing and clarifying Confucius's original ideas, he also added his own distinctive ideas to the Confucian canon.)

The Book of Mencius (______) is a defense of Confucian teachings by Mencius, a later Confucian scholar.

Meng-Zi

__________ was an ancient school of philosophy with religious overtones that was one of early Confucianism's main rivals. It's noted for advocating universal love and pacifism.

Mohism (Although Mohism was initially a rival of Confucianism, China eventually showed a preference for Confucius's more moderate ways over Mo-tzu's more extremist views.)

The _______-Confucians were commentators active during the __________ dynasty from the tenth through the thirteenth centuries. They reinvigorated interest in Confucianism following the centuries of Taoist and Buddhist dominance in post-Han China.

Neo, Sung (The Neo-Confucians developed an extensive amount of commentary on Confucianism in response to Taoist and Buddhist influences.)

The second-century BC Scholar most influential in consolidating Confucian gains during early Han times was ___________.

Tung Chung-shu (Tung Chung-shu is reputed to have used philosophical arguments to persuade the ruler to govern benevolently according to Confucian principles.)

______________ lived three centuries after Chu Hsi. He is known for his criticism of Chu Hsi and the state orthodoxy built upon Chu Hsi's philosophy.

Wang Yang-ming (Wang Yang-ming did not see Chu Hsi's Great Ultimate present in both the world and the self. Rather, his philosophy argues that the Absolute was found within each individual subjective mind.)

Around Confucius' time, China was undergoing what has come to be called the _________________. A group of independent states was vying for control of China.

Warring States Period

Confucianism takes its name from ________, who lived from 551 BCE to 479 BCE.

Confucius

The Four Books: This book talks about virtue and the way to perfect virtue that is laid down by Heaven.

Doctrine of the Mean

Tung Chung-shu demonstrated traditional Confucian thought to the emperor, drawing the horizontal trinity of Heaven, __________, and humans with kingship as a vertical link among them.

Earth (Heaven, earth, and humans are considered the triad of Confucian thought. It is the emperor's role, as Son of Heaven, to connect them.)

Confucianism is more of an __________ system than the typical religion in which allegiance is owed to a supernatural being.

Ethical (Like Buddhism and Taoism, Confucianism does not teach the worship of a god or gods. Instead, Confucianism is primarily a code of conduct teaching love and kindness for your fellow man. The universal virtues taught by Confucianism are: Wisdom, Benevolence, and Fortitude.)

______ was the basic element of society in Confucian teaching. The emperor was the father of all Chinese and responsible to an impersonal force known as _______ for the well-being of his people/ children. If he did not live up to his role, the people had a ________ from Heaven to replace him.

Family, Heaven, mandate

The decline of ancient China's __________ system led to the period of instability between the eighth and third centuries BC. Out of this tumultuous time came Confucianism and several of the other great Chinese schools, each with its own distinctive answer to solving the nation's problems.

Feudal (The decline of the feudal system led to the creation of the great Chinese schools. Part of Confucianism's solution to the nation's problems was a return to an idealized feudal state.)

Confucius was born in 551BC, the child of an aristocratic family that had lost its wealth and position during the decline of Chinese __________.

Feudalism (In the five centuries between the eighth and third centuries BC, the Chinese feudal world was turned upside down. Lords were unable to defend against invading armies and it was a time of uncertainty and social upheaval.)

__________ was one of the great virtues in Confucianism, and is the belief that above all else, one should have respect for their parents and ancestors.

Filial piety

A collection of books known as the _______ was considered the primary special texts of early Confucianism.

Five Classics (The Five Classics cover widely divergent genres and address a range of concerns in Confucius's day.)

The _________ and the ________ make up the basic writings of Confucianism.

Five Classics, Four Books

When one dies, the lower, or animal, soul called "__________" descends with the body to the grave. The upper, or intellectual, soul called _______ ascends to the world above.

Po, Hun (Not only was the hun a central concept to the ancestor cult, it also greatly influenced Taoist beliefs about immortality.)

The Five classics of Confucianism are: Classic of _____, Classic of ____, Book of _____, Book of ____, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. These 5 books were originated from Confucius himself

Poetry, Changes, Documents, Rites

Confucianism relies heavily upon __________. According to Confucius, however, such outward shows of propriety and devotion meant nothing unless accompanied by the proper inner disposition (called jen) as well.

Ritual (Ritual is so important to Confucianism that it is also sometimes known as the "ritual religion.")

The Confucian concept of ____ is essentially the same as the Golden Rule, and is stated as refraining from actions toward others that would be disagreeable if done to oneself.

Shu

The lack of separation between political and religious powers in Confucian thought is demonstrated by the emperor's title of ______ of Heaven.

Son (As the Son of Heaven, part of the emperor's sacred duty was to perform the annual cult of Heaven sacrifices.)

Confucius was speculated to have authored the __________ Annals, a chronicle of the political and moral decline of Wu (Confucius's native state) from 722 to 481 BC.

Spring-Autumn (Contemporary scholars no longer think that Confucius himself authored the Spring-Autumn Annals.)

One of Chu Hsi's most significant contributions to Confucianism was his description of __________. It is translated as the "Great Ultimate," a cosmological understanding of humankind's interrelatedness with the world.

Tai-chi (The T'ai-chi is described as a macrocosm equivalent to the structure of the human body. The human being, in turn, represents the summit of the universe and is part of the excellence of the Great Ultimate itself.)

A term also found in Taoism, __________ refers to the Confucian ideal of government by virtue.

Te (In Taoism, te connotes more a spiritual connection with the mysterious Tao. In Confucianism, it is more a perfection of the ruler's virtuous ideals, such as li and jen.)

The Analects, also known as '_____________', were a series of writings and quotes by Confucius. It is a very important book to the Confucian philosophy, and even today is widely studied across China. The book series was not written by Confucius himself, but was compiled by his followers after his death.

The Selected Sayings

The Mandate of Heaven was a concept popularized by Mencius, and stated that heaven gave the emperor a mandate to rule, based on performance. The emperor could be from any class as long as he was virtuous and capable. In fact, it was also thought that if an emperor ruled poorly, he had lost his mandate, and as a result should be removed from the throne. Because of this way of thinking, the emperor was often called "______________".

The Son of Heaven

One problem that developed historically with the rise of Confucianism was the increasingly subordinate role assigned to __________ in the patriarchal family system.

Women (As Confucianism became more deeply rooted in Chinese society, women were allowed less freedom. Double standards increased in Chinese society until the early twentieth century introduced to China Western ideas of individual freedom.)

_______, the first of the Five Classics, is is a book of divination.

Yi Jing