Confucianism

Confucious was a minor official who lived during the warring states period and developed a philosophical and political system he hoped would lead to a more stable state and society. Confucious spent a lot of his time trying to convince one of the powerful emperors to embrace his system and though the emperor didn’t Confucious’s system has become the base of China’s government system, education and most things in China. Confucious argued that the key to having a peaceful and stable society was looking back on the sage emperors and what they did to have a peaceful ruling. One of the early Han dynasty rulers called Wen of Han ruled in 180BCE avoided extravagance in personal behaviour, declining executions didn’t demand any harsh punishments for insulting or criticizing the government, the government also stopped burning books to the relief of the Confucian scholars. Wen ruled China under Confucian principles and being a wise Confucian, maintains the mandate of heaven. By bringing their example of moral and upright behaviour the Chinese emperor could bring order to China. Confucious’s idea for order was for a person to know his or her place in the hierarchy and act according to the role. There are 5 relationships, the most important being between a father and son, the son treating the father with respect but the father needs to earn the respect by caring and educating his son though this doesn’t mean that the son has the right to disrespect a neglectful father. The goal of this relationship is for the father and son to act like a ‘superior man’(Junzi). If all men strive to be ‘Junzi’ then the society will run smoothly. The emperor especially needs to be ‘Junzi’ as he is technically a father to everyone.