Preview

What Makes a Good Ruler, in Confucius’s View? a Good Minister?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
453 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Makes a Good Ruler, in Confucius’s View? a Good Minister?
What makes a good ruler, in Confucius’s view? A good minister?
Confucius became famous as a sage of China during the era of Philosophers. He had influences on the civilizations of most of eastern Asia. Confucianism has some points that highlight what makes a good ruler or a good minister.
In Confucius’s view, a good ruler won the confidence of the people. He emphasized this by saying that “The art of governing is to keep its affairs before the mind without weariness, and to practice them with undeviating consistency.” He is referring that if the governor has righteousness and fairness in his mind, people will have confidence in the governor. A good minister would lead the people with correctness and moral desire of thinking from goodness. For example, if a ruler never thinks of stealing or something bad, there will be no common people who steal or do bad things even the ruler rewards them for doing bad things. I believe that if you rule with good morals and love all the people, people will always respect you and people will learn their mistakes and they will correct themselves. I think Confucius is saying that the most important thing for a good ruler is morality and being a good model or example for everyone.
In Confucius’s view, “If people be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have a sense of shame, and moreover will become good.” Confucius intensified that a good minister should lead people with virtue and propriety and not with laws and regulations. Then people will have a sense of shame and turn to good people instead of trying to avoid the punishment and having no sense of shame. A good leader should employ ministers according to the rules of propriety then ministers serve the leader with faithfulness. Then Confucius said “There is a government, when the prince is prince, and the minister is minister; when the father is father and the son is son.” He implied that every minister in the government

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Chinese society is most noted for their how they conduct their lives. They thought respect and dignity would bring good fortunes to them alongside gaining respect from other people. Confucianism and Legalism both thought that following all rules and regulations would improve Chinese society for that would decrease the amount of crimes committed. Both systems thought that their leader put emphasis on respect for both rulers knew that this is a key factor in creating a successful society. Although both systems believed this, they both had some differences in making their people do so. Confucianism believed that in order to have a successful society, they need to have powerful administrators. Unlike the Legalists, the Confucianists elected their administrators by creating the civil service exam. This exam was created so the government can know which person is most able to fit the job as a leader in ancient China. Education was one of the most important roles in Confucianism. Confucianists thought that education would bring moral integrity to the people as well as capacity for fair judgment. Confucianists emphasized education mainly to teach the people how to conduct…

    • 522 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius was born in 51 BC and grew up in poverty. His real name is Kong Zi, the name Confucius, catholic priests finding it easier to use, gave it to him. The causes were that, Confucius said, and wrote in his books, that the past was better than the present. Emperor Qin didn’t like his teachings and burned all his books but that didn’t stop Confucius’s ideas. He said that an Emperor should listen to his people and make them happy. He believed that the Emperor had broken the ways of haven and the soil would not be plentiful and crop would not grow. He said that they should have a good emperor, an emperor that follows the ways of heaven, and that they need a better emperor, one who could be trusted by the people and come from a powerful family. That emperor was Liu Bang, who made the country peaceful again and built schools for the ways of Confucius. Confucius said that people should find happiness in life and find the right way to live in life. He taught people about peace and said that educated people acted and were better than uneducated people. He said, “In a Chinese family, the child should give the parents a constant love and obedience. In return, the parents should give the child a constant love and protection. The Consequences were that China improved and became a more civilized civilization. Confucius’s ways are still being taught today.…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ch 5 Responses

    • 2469 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Confucianism argued that social harmony could only be restored through the moral example of superiors. Confucius emphasized that, because human society (both within the family and in public life) consisted primarily of unequal relationships, social harmony relied on the superior party in these relationships behaving with sincerity, benevolence, and genuine concern for others. Only then would the inferior party be motivated to respond with deference and obedience.…

    • 2469 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism is just one philosophical movement that shaped China and is still shaping China today. Created by Confucius, who according to tradition was a thinker, political figure, and educator.Confucius talked about his vision of a more perfect society in which rulers, subject,nobles,commoners,parents,children,men, and women should graciously accept the roles assigned to them. Confucius also displayed many virtues such as integrity and a sense of duty. Confucianism wasn’t intended as a philosophical learning, but was taken that way. Confucianism changed the way that the empire was run. Before, emperors just appointed people to positions even if they were not fit for the position. After Confucianism, emperors chose the people they thought were the best suited for the job based on written test given out.…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism, developed by the philosopher Confucius, during times of conflict in early B.C, soon became the dominating belief system in China. Confucianism was based on mutual relationships; husband to wife, father to son, leader to subjects. Social harmony could be achieved through respect for the elders, as well as respect and kindness for those people lower in social rank. This applied to the politics of China because it set the basis for the belief of obedience to the emperor, as long as the emperor treated his subjects kindly, and with respect. The idea of Filial Piety was humility towards one superior. Because of this, in China, leaders and elders were in the highest regard.…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Confucian ideal government was promoted on harmony, moral effort and justice also known as the "Moral Way." The Master stated: " If you preside over them with dignity, they will be reverent: if you are filial (relating) and loving, they will be loyal: if you promote the good and instruct the incapable, they will be mutually encouraging (Andrea pg. 94)." They believed in devoting themselves to making the government work for the people (McKay pg. 95).…

    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Those who assume the subordinate role must present to their superiors respect and obedience. Fathers of the household are as the ruler of the kingdom in that they are supposedly owed reverence. Superior beings should demonstrate admirable actions as they should be role models to their inferiors, so thought Confucius. Confucianism also states subordinates should give respect to superiors, even when respect is not warranted; they are expected to “stay in their lane” so to speak. Confucian ethics emphasize the importance of a courteous and humble ruler, as the people would surely emulate such characteristics. It was primarily the ruling class who practiced Confucian…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From the Mencius’s argument on "benevolence”. It can be seen that there is not much difference between basic content and Confucius "benevolence" such as未有仁而遗其亲者也. They are both piety and seems to satisfy the moral norm of Confucianism. But Mencius apply benevolence to politics, "benevolent governance" is put forward, revoke the high achievement of personal moral cultivation. This brought great effect on Chinese political thought.…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    china

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Confucian system was based on the teachings of Confucius. Confucius spread ideas about political virtue and good government. He was not a religious leader which shifted Chinese values. He emphasized the importance of personal virtue. He believed that if people were taught that they would find a reverence for tradition and a solid political life. Confucius set out to rectify political disorder. He emphasized individual virtuous behavior. He thought that whatever a ruler did, his people would imitate and follow. The people will imitate the ruler’s self control. Confucius set up levels of authority stressing personal restraints and careful socialization of children. Rival Chinese schools are the thoughts and teachings of different philosophers that had different ideas that went against each other, such as Confucianism and Daoism.…

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius believed that a well-ordered society tied to ancient tradition and education. An ideal ruler must be compassionate, not forceful, care for the burden of their people. Failure to do so the ruler will lose the “Mandate of Heaven” and have a disasters reign. Qin Shi Huang follows Legalists the belief that people were basically motivated by self-interest and therefore had to be controlled by a strong ruler and stern punishments. Under Qin Shi Huang rule, he appointed district officials to investigate crimes, arrested suspects, and acted as judges.…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius’ ideas arise only a short time before Lao Tzu explains his beliefs. According to the Confucian teachings, people are capable of being taught and changed as long as they are taught the right way. The things people should be taught are things such as being virtuous and acting on what they teach while also keeping a healthy sense of morals and being aware of and willing to help other individuals in need. Confucius believes that each person should be held accountable for his actions in each field. This belief is supported by the fact that he thinks that the government should “lead [people] by means of virtue and regulate them through rituals [so that] they will have a sense of shame and moreover have standards” (“Confucian Teachings” paragraph 51). He believes that each person has the capacity to excel at each endeavor because societies were made to work in…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This government pushes individuals to show respect to their elders and concern for those in lower social levels. Obedience and loyalty to one’s family and ancestors, good service and manners are expected at all times. Confucius said: “ I don’t worry about not having a good position; I worry about the means I use to gain position. I don’t worry about being unknown; I seek to be known in the right way.” it stressed good conduct and careful thought in all things and enveloped qualities like loyalty, self discipline and respect for your ancestors, elders and…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius was one of the most influential people on East Asian culture. Born in the sixth century, Confucius committed himself to spreading morality and inspiring people to do good (Ebrey, 42). Confucius linked moral behaviour to traditional roles and hierarchies in both social and political life. One of his main teachings was filial piety, the reverent respect for people in higher standing than you, such as parents and older people. His ideal world was one where hierarchy created harmony and conventions governed actions (Ebery, 42). The highest virtue for Confucius is called Ren, or “perfect goodness, benevolence, humanity, co-humanity, human heartedness, and nobility” (Ebery, 43).…

    • 466 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • 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
  • Powerful Essays

    At the center of this argument is the belief that Confucius simply presented himself as a reactionary in order to mask his revolutionary ideology. This argument has traction as inside of the system of government that Confucius wanted to take from the Zhou, he made some changes. There is some evidence to suggest that Confucius had revolutionary ideas intertwined with his reactionary ideas. The first example was how Confucius redefined virtue in his society. In order to do this, it is important to talk about the importance of virtue in the Western Zhou system of government. According to the Mandate of Heaven, the legitimacy of a king and a ruling family is their virtue to the extent that if another family becomes more virtuous it is their right to overthrow the previous king and family. Both Confucius and the Western Zhou thought the Mandate of Heaven was important but they differ on what defines virtue. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, virtue signified being powerful on the battlefield. While Confucius saw virtue as having humanity which was when a person acted with “reverence, generosity, truthfulness, diligence and kindness” (19). It is certainly curious that in mirroring the government structure of the Western Zhou, Confucius made a crucial change to the definition of what gave the government legitimacy. This argument is further strengthened when considering the role of nobles and ministers in the Western Zhou Government. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, nobles generally served as ministers over fiefs and other areas and this power was passed through mostly hereditary links. Confucius, on the other hand, opened up being a nobleman and a minister to all people as a result of two factors. First, Confucius believed that any man who had humanity had to be a nobleman no matter their heritage nor their…

    • 1895 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays