Confucianism and Contemporary Issues

Confucianism and Contemporary IssuesThis essay lead illustrate the history of Confucianism and the background of Master Kong (Confucius) in the untimely beginnings of the piety. The objective of the paper is to discuss the common characteristic of Confucianism with other eastern worships, the modern issues it faces, and the interaction between the modern reality and Confucianism. Also the paper tip the nine most common text of literature used by the religion and it includes the percentage of women and the phoebe bird bonds likewise cognise as the v great relationships.HistoryConfucius was born August27, 551 BC in a sm whole express called Lu. His birth ph whiz is Kong Qui or Kung Fu-tzu. The modern name of Confucius is an early Western rendering of the sages Chinese honorific name Kung-fu-tsu (Confucius, 2013) It is noted that Confucius was born in answer to his p bents prayers. Confucius surname Kong substance an utterance of thankfulness when prayers grow been answ ered. He stemmed from the Chang dynasty 500 eld before the birth of Christ. According to the text, the exact details of his childhood vary. any(prenominal)what say that he grew up in a wealthy household. early(a) reports say that he stemmed from a p all overty stricken background. Scholars do agree that Confucius existed during a time of crisis in China.The crisis stemmed from the challenge to the s dasher posed by the three Huan families. By heredity they had the right to charter the ministerial offices of the Lu government. It is recorded that he entertained himself during his youth by arranging rituals and staging ceremonies. This turmoil in society had an effect on Confucius. He thought that if the cerebration of society would change it would change the way things were done. The notion of society must change. Individuals must strive to be statuesque as possible. (Confucius, 2013) During his early adult life, Confucius took on odd jobs to support him-self and assumedly his family. He was most often unemployed with very little money. He was utter to be a very humble and sympathetic man that had a passion for government. He believed in sharing his knowledge with the human beings.What was most Coperni net to Confucius was not holding an official governmentalposition provided upholding his object lessonistic beliefs. Confucius held two moral values. Per the text, his two main ideals were to produce excellent individuals that would be great favorable leaders. And secondly, he wanted to create a consonant society. (Molly, 2010) His concern for others is demonstrated through his regard for the principles communicated in the belief of do unto others as you would go for them do unto you. That principle is more commonly known as the Golden Rule. Confucius likewise believed that allone had a acely responsibility these social responsibilities were communicated into the five great relationships. Duties were identified by what social classification yo u were include in. With all five of the great relationships there is a high take of respect that is shown. Each party is held in the same regard as the other.He established a school with the intent to produce and develop ultimate individuals. He wanted to teach his students to mentally and morally expand their social views and to practice self-discipline. Confucius teachings to his disciples were recorded in the book of Analects. His teachings were informal and primarily de feelred in lectures. His teachings were not religious. The focus of his teachings revolved around the Six Arts archery, calligraphy, music, computation, transport driving and ritual. (Confucius, 2013)According to an article written by Valerie Sartor, she notes He (Confucius) must deliver been a highly persuasive speaker, and a magnetic personality, for he persuade many an(prenominal) men to become his disciples. (Sarator, V., 2009) He is verbalise to have had 3,000 students and 72 disciples, with whom he move arounded with throughout China. (China Today, 2005) Confuciuss principles and virtues still have a heavy influence on Chinese religion. At the time, his teachings provided guidelines for the Chinese cultivational system. Common characteristics the Confucianism religionConfucius put forth kindness to humanity and kind-heartedness and teaches bulk to do unto others what you would like for yourself, (19962013 A+E Television Networks, LLC). His social philosophy was ground primarily on the principle of Ren, loving others (Moloy 2010). The people believed in him and his teachings. Confucius, said when people ar educated the distinction between classes of people leave disappear and this will bring harmony amongst people. Religions, such as Buddhism has a lot in common withConfucianism, both believed in spiritual development, having heartfelt ethical motive and harmony amongst ourselves.Confucianism and Buddhism also believed that people should act with good manners, and have g ood etiquette. In todays public, Chinese strongly take themselves in education, learning disparate languages, mathematics and arts. Confucius saw no divagation between people with money and the ones without money. He believed that anyone can be lord and he teaches his student to be noble and with good character and with education you can achieve a lot and anything. Education will also make a better way of life. Confucianism also value males over females there for males have dominance over the women.The comparison between Confucianism and Hinduism teachings is that they atomic number 18 both similar, both religions meditate and having good ethics. Confucianism and Buddhism atomic number 18 also similar. They both do meditation and they both believe in end of scummy and the love for each other.Interactions between the modern world and ConfucianismIn todays society it is easy to voltaic pile that religion in the modern world would face multiple challenges and changes. Some of the advances today scientifically such as DNA genetics, reproducing of children, and major organ transplant surgery are all questions that men and women in the earlier times didnt have to occupy about. They are many eastern cities that are the home base for legitimate religions. At one point these religions were thought of as foreign. We now hold out in a world where every place to visit and outside Island in the world is may be featured on the travel channel. Television exposes all humans in the world the diverse cultures and transformation as well as the different religions.Every day this world we live in is constantly evolving. It makes you think of where this world would be in the future. The author started to question in what ways would religion change. From the beginning when religion was first of all introduced just take a flash to think about how a good deal it has changed. There is no way possible to predict that far into the future, but we can make an educated g uess establish on the things that are transpiring today in religion. There are many different influences that make up religions and how they continue to evolve throughout the years. It was not huge ago, the absolute majority of most human beings in the world lived as farmers, and in small villages, and monarchs ruled the majority of thecountries.As time passed we slowly begin to see less kings and queens and in some counties they just disappeared. Some governments were organise and a lot of people traded in rural life for a big city lifestyle. There was a period of time where people traveled sometimes out of the country in order to understanding different food or experience firsthand the way of lifetime for another culture. Now you can purchase a Whopper at a burger king located in Switzerland or have the enjoyment of drinking a cup of Starbucks coffee in Hong Kong. With all these changes and our world as we know it today is steadily evolving it makes you take a moment to thin k about how the cultural unifications will change religion.In the sometime(prenominal) many religions preached the value of being less fortunate and living a ingenuous but comfortable lifestyle. Things that were taught held value because it was a reflection of the lifestyle of the majority of people. Today in religion we see exhortation from the poor to regain ahead and how money can be the center of the religion. In the late world contact is always attainable. There are many different items that we have that can be used to educate men and women on Confucianism and some of the religion interactions. Its common to utilize television, radio, books, magazines and most historic internet to close in the gap that once kept every culture and religion separate. More frequently are we seeing where religions demand different beliefs and religious ways from other religions. Contemporary Issues in ConfucianismThe beliefs of Confucianism are written in the Sacred Narratives as Confucian th inking, believed that learning from the past is fundamental (Beversluis, 1995). Confucius did not eliminate the possibility of a reality beyond the human world. However he believed that a human did not have the capacity to understand such a world. He believed that human morals should be based on human relationships, without reference to some high order (Beversluis, 1995). Most Confucian scholars believed that the human being existence is based upon reaching ones highest potential in life. And that by achieving the ultimate goal of a perfect person is a lifelong process of self-cultivation (Beversluis, 1995).We also see that the belief in suffering and evil by some Confucian scholars are inevitable in human life. These two problems can promote learning and growth. A mistake does not label one as a sinner, but one should take it as chance to learn and growfrom the mistake. even off though some humans are incapable of feeling empathy, the suffering of others for most should provide motivation for moral growth (Beversluis, 1995). Confucius believed that human beings should live and conduct their lives with good moral statures so that they can exist in harmony with others, rather than hoping to be rewarded or punished in the afterlife (Beversluis, 1995). Womans role in ConfucianismNow let us take a look at the role of women in Confucianism. A womans role in this religion is that of subservience and obedience. Scholar Xiao Ma has said Women always have been rubbish for a way out of the Confucian shadows. According to Women And Confucianism (1996-2012)the Confucian grammatical construction of society, women at every level were to occupy a position lour than men. Most Confucians accepted the subservience of women to men as natural and becoming order of life. At the same time they accorded womens honor and power as mother and mother-in-law within their family end quote.Some Neo-Confucian saying as it regards to women are, Womans greatest art is to produce a son , Disorder is not sent down by Heaven, it is produced by women, Women are to be led and to follow others and a favorite by male Confucians is, A woman should look on her husband as if he were Heaven itself, and never weary of thinking how she may yield to him (Women And Confucianism, 1996-2012). Sacred textsSacred texts associated with Confucianism are The Five Classics. These are the have of Songs (Sh Jng), The Classic of History (Sh Jng), The Classic of Rites (L J), The parole of Changes (I Ching), and The Spring and Autumn Annals (Chn Qi). The Four Books, which are The Analects of Confucius (Ln Y), The Mencius (Mng Z), The Great attainment (D Xu) and The Doctrine of the Golden Mean (Zhng Yng). The Thirteen Classics and the 3 Commentaries (Hare, 2010).The Five Great RelationshipsThe Five Great Relationships were implemented by Confucius so that everyone would know the role they played in society and conduct themselves accordingly. These five bonds are those of ruler and subject compassion in rulers, loyalty in ministers and subjects father and son kindness in thefather, filial piety in a son husband and wife righteous behavior in the husband, obedience in the wife elder associate and younger brother gentility in the oldest son, humility and respect in the younger siblings and friend and friend humane consideration in elders, deference in juniors.Confucianism today, is generally practiced in China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. There are over six-spot million devotees who practice Confucianism. In the past Confucianism was the state philosophy in China, but this has drastically decreased in todays world due to communism in China (Beversluis, 1995). However as late as 2011 we saw President Hu Jintao introducing the idea of a Harmonious collectivised Society in order to officially revive this fading religion in China. There has been several network of cultural Confucius institutes set up globally by the Chinese government, as well as hard-on a statue of Co nfucius in Tiananmen Square.ConclusionMaster Kong (Confucius) was a man of great moral standings and character. Even if many in the beginning of the religion disliked him, he has been immortalized by the Chinese Government because of the millions of followers he has to this day.