Preview

The Ideal Person by Confusuis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
425 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Ideal Person by Confusuis
Of all eastern philosophers, Confucius, born in 550 B.C., is considered the greatest. His teachings are foundational to Asian cultures.

Ideal Person for Confucius was one who focuses on the real world and provides guidelines for how people should live their lives. “Moral character of the ruler is the wind; the moral character of those beneath him is the grass. When the wind blows, the grass bends.” (Kenyu 12, 19). (www.mythencyclipedia.com)His goal was to create gentlemen who carry themselves with grace, dignity, and good moral character and be well-spoken. In describing the Ideal person according to Confucius, he or she can be described as one who has learned how to “live their life within the parameters firmly established by Heaven.” (www.platostanford.edu/entries/Confucius/. For morality was the most important subject for Confucius to teach to the later generations. There were Six Arts taught by Confucius: Rituals, Music, Archery, Chariot-Reading, Calligraphy, and Computation. He believed individuals that mastered these skills could then lead. Many other teachers’ concepts were similar in thought. Ren-(compassion) believed in the Golden Rule. What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others. Hi- believed in respect for superiors and enacts his role in society in such a way that he himself is worthy of respect and admiration. Shu-self analogy, reciprocity.Wen-arts of peace. Music, Poetry and Art. Virtue. Xiao-obedience, devotion, respect for one’s parents and elders. In reaching the state of idealism according to Confucius; one must understand the need for good moral character and good government. Being of good moral standing gives way to the many concepts of the Daodejing. (Dao de jing, can be translated as "The Classic/Canon of the Way/Path and the Power/Virtue.") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching Confucius believed that if everyone lived this way harmony within ones-self, those who ruled and nature became balanced. “Confucianism is

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    World Religion

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Confucianism has a core of morality, ethics, and activism. It encourages social harmony and mutual respect. Confucianists sought to perfect their character by living a virtuous life and seeking goodness. They valued ethics, respect for elders, and propriety. Confucius, the originator of Confucian thought, believed political order would be found by the proper ordering of human relationships, and so did not bother himself with the structure of the state. He stressed that a good government must fill their positions with well-educated and conscientious people, called Junzi. Confucius was followed by his disciples Mencius and Xunzi. They also possessed the same optimism that humans could improve themselves to perfection.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confucius believed that the Ideal Person should live according to the principles of Jen, Li, and Yi, Chih, and Hsin. These five principles are also known as the Five Virtues. Confucius believed if people followed these virtues in their daily living that they were working towards the perfection that was already inside them. Jen means to live with goodwill and sympathy towards other people. Jen also includes being generous and polite to others. Yi means to respect your position towards others and towards nature. Li means practicing expressing the person’s inner attitude through their outward expressions. Chih means wisdom. By demonstrating Jen,…

    • 531 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    He studied and reflected on and taught the "literature" at the center of Chinese culture in its formative period. He consolidated the ancient texts and contributed commentaries upon them. He spoke about and answered questions about the most serious matters of concern to human beings. Confucianism is humanism, a philosophy or attitude that is concerned with human beings, their achievements and interests, rather than with the abstract beings and problems of theology. Confucianism was founded by the philosopher Confucius. Confucius lived from 551-479 B.C. In many ways, Confucian philosophy is a middle-ground between the harsh doctrines of the Legalist school of philosophy. Legalist philosophy adheres to rules and custom, but it pushes punishment and discipline, and it lacks the emphasis…

    • 1569 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Founded by a charismatic and great philosopher known as Confucius, Confucianism is a religion based on Confucius's philosophy and his system of teaching. Humanism is the significance of Confucianism considering that Confucian partisan have a convinced view of human being and nature which mean people are the innovators, coaches, and perfect maker. In addition, Human being can enhance perfection through personal and cooperative effort. It emphasizes individual and legal integrity, the uprightness, openness and equity of the entire community. Humaneness requires…

    • 588 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism has a core of morality, ethics, and activism. It encourages social harmony and mutual respect. Confucianists sought to perfect their character by living a virtuous life and seeking goodness. They valued ethics, respect for elders, and propriety. Confucius, the originator of Confucian thought, believed political order would be found by the proper ordering of human relationships, and so did not bother himself with the structure of the state. He stressed that a good government must fill their positions with well-educated and conscientious people, called Junzi. Confucius was followed by his disciples Mencius and Xunzi. They also possessed the same optimism that humans could improve themselves to perfection.…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism vs Daoism

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Confucius was born in an era of war and disparity. As a well-educated philosophical man, he realized the problem was chaos and unrest. He believed that order needed to be restored in humanity. In time he created a hierarchical social order that emphasized the importance of relationships: Ruler/Subject, Father/son, husband/wife, elder brother/younger brother, friend/friend. Unlike most social orders in societies though, these five primary relationships were a 2-way functioning system, each of which working for the other. For example, one relationship he listed being the ruler and the subject, in which the subject respects and works for the ruler and in turn the ruler must provide safety and well being to his subjects.…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confucianism is a religion based on peace and equality. It centers on worshipping ancestors, it is the respect of deceased ancestors whose spirits are believed to control the opulence of others. Filial piety is also another trait that Confucianism centers on, which is the faithfulness to respect the elders of the family by the younger members. Confucianism has 6 main primary principles which is the golden rule, the gentlemanly man of virtue, the proper playing of society’s role, the power of virtue, the ideal standards of conduct, and peaceful arts. Confucius founded Confucianism. Confucius referred to himself as an examiner who deliberately tried to claim the meaning of the past by breathing vitality into seemingly outmoded…

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism began as the thoughts and ideas of a man named Confucius who lived at around 500 B.C. It is interesting to note this was around the same time Buddha was supposedly alive. Confucian was not a prophet, and had little to say about gods, death, or the afterlife. He developed instead three concepts of living that formed the basis of his philosophy. First, every person should accept an assigned role in society and perform the duties of that role. Second, the government should be virtuous. Finally, only well-educated and extremely virtuous officials should be appointed to run the government. According to legend, Confucius worked as a minister in his native province of Shandong. It is said that in a less than a year, almost all crime was gone. However, after this it is said nearby emperors became jealous and forced him to retire. For the rest of his years he educated people on the ways of his teaching and stirred thought into the minds of many.…

    • 540 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius strongly believed that the way of life was to maintain the best relationships possible with everyone you met. !…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Confucian philosophy is an ethical and philosophical thinking system thought to have been developed from the teachings of Kong Fuzi, known as Confucius who lived between 551–478 BC in China. [1]The essence of Confucianism is that the human mind can be cultivated through virtue and moral perfection. Confucianism has had tremendous influence on Chinese history and culture as well as other East Asian cultures.…

    • 2972 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism has many characteristics and ideas for life and social order. It came from the teachings of a Chinese philosopher named Confucius, or Kongzi. His students recorded all his teachings in a book called the Analects, which mainly focused on social and family relationships (4). Confucius believed that respect for others was necessary for peace within society. Confucius thought that human nature is morally neutral, and it is peoples ' choices in their later lives that determine if they are good or bad (1). Two of Confucius 's students, Mencius and Xunzi, argued about whether humans are born good or evil. Mencius believed that humans are inevitably good (1). If one is bad, or “lacks a mind that knows right and wrong,” one would not even be considered human (1). Xunzi 's ideas were more similar to Legalists, who thought that humans were naturally evil. Confucius believed that everyone had his/her own Dao, the way to proper behavior (3). If everyone followed his/her Dao, and were respectful to others, social order would follow.…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Eastern Religion Paper

    • 2178 Words
    • 9 Pages

    According to Bowker (1997), Confucianism is the dominant ethical influence on the traditional religious and social life of China and Japan. It is derived from the teachings of the sage K’ung Fu-tzu which is known in the West as Confucius. Confucius was a social, ethical reformer, during a time in China of growing disorder. Confucius was indifferent to many traditional religious ideas, but he was a very firm advocate of filial piety and ancestor rites to achieve a strong society. Later Confucius teachings changed into a political and religious system, which was made to design a balance of harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity, this made his work official text.…

    • 2178 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    He thought of many rules and even a version of the golden rule saying, "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others." (The World Book Encyclopedia – 2004 – World book, Inc. – Chicago IL. – Volume 4) Many consider Confucianism as a religion, but it has no clergy and doesn't involve any type of worship. It is more of a guide to mortality and good government. Confucianism originated about 500 BC, and from 100's BC to the 1900's AD Confucianism was the most important single force in Chinese life. This religion influenced education, government, personal behavior, and the individuals' duty to society. Confucianism started because of a philosopher named Confucius, born about 551BC. He believed his society could be saved if it emphasized sincerity in personal and public conduct. The Confucian's believed the key to orderly social life was gentlemen. Confucius believed they were rulers. He wasn't very well known when he came to his death. It was his followers that spread his ideas, Mencius, (390?-305? BC) and there was Xunzi (mid 200s BC). Mencius believed that you were to be born good and he stressed the need to preserve "the natural compassion of the heart" that makes people human. He also emphasized the past as an ideal age and a model for examining present problems. And Xunzi believed "people could be good and live together peacefully only if their minds were shaped by education and clear rules of conduct". (The World Book Encyclopedia – 2004 – World book, Inc. – Chicago IL. – Volume…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Confucius believed that the problem with government and society was caused by a lack of virtue. Confucius considered gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness all virtuous. 
According to Confucius if you are a hermit you cannot be virtuous. He argued that if you are virtuous, people will be attracted to you willing to provide you with help and information, and happily follow orders. Confucius even went as far as to say virtue is never solitary it always has neighbors (Analects; 4:25). Confucius would say living virtuous is the best way because it would help you live a fulfilling and righteous life.…

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Virtue and Ideal Person

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The ideal person that is described according to Confucius is a superior or noble person. A perfect person that can see beyond of what usual or normal people can see. It is called Junzi. This person is not born from in a day, but it is prepared to show his humanity at its best since childhood, “and the virtues have been practiced for so long that the whole Confucian manner of relating to the world has become completely natural” (Molloy, 2010).…

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays