Life of Confucius

Confucius, born as Kong Qiu in 551 B.C.E., was a Chinese philosopher from the state of Lu (now Qufu,
China) who devoted his life to learning, teaching, and promoting social harmony through ethics. Known
for his expertise in arts and classical traditions, he held various government roles but left after his ideas
were ignored, traveling to spread his teachings. Returning home later in life, he gained disciples, who
helped preserve his teachings, which continue to influence East Asian culture.

Confucius, known as the first to dedicate his life to learning and teaching for social improvement, held
positions like minister of justice in Lu but grew frustrated when his ideas were ignored. Leaving Lu, he
spent 13 years traveling across states to implement his ideals, but ultimately returned at 67 to teach and
write, gathering around 3,000 followers who later recorded his teachings. He died in 479 B.C.E. at the
age of 73, leaving a lasting legacy in Chinese culture and philosophy.

The *I-Ching*, or *Book of Changes*, is one of the oldest Chinese classics, existing during Confucius’s
time, and is based on a form of divination called cleromancy. It uses sixty-four hexagrams—figures made
up of six lines each—to interpret random patterns and make predictions. Later commentaries, like the
*Appended Remarks*, added insights into early Chinese cosmology and philosophy.

The *Book of History*, also called the *Book of Documents* or *Shangshu*, is a classic text traditionally
linked to Confucius. It contains speeches and writings by royals and ministers from the Shang and Zhou
dynasties, covering important events, government principles, and imperial achievements.

The *Book of Poetry*, also known as the *Book of Songs* or *Shijing*, is a collection of 305 ancient
Chinese poems compiled around 600 B.C.E., covering themes like love, courtship, feasts, and dances.
Believed to have been selected by Confucius from a larger set of songs, it is the oldest known collection
of Chinese poetry. This anthology reflects social life and values of early China.

The *Classic of Rites*, or *Three Rites*, is a collection of texts from the Zhou Dynasty that outline
ceremonies, social customs, and government structures. It includes the *Ceremonials*, detailing noble
protocols like marriages and sacrifices; the *Book of Rites*, with forty-nine sections on rituals,
governance, education, and philosophy; and the *Institutes of Zhou*, describing government roles in
early Zhou. Compiled around the first century B.C.E., it draws from earlier traditions.

The *Analects*, or *Lunyu*, is a collection of sayings attributed to Confucius and his followers, compiled
after his death and completed during the Han dynasty. Originally seen as commentary on earlier texts, it
later became one of the Four Books essential to Confucian thought, shaping Chinese and East Asian
philosophy.

Confucius is best known for his Golden Rule, "Do not do unto others what you would not have them do
unto you," which teaches respect and fairness in treating others. His teachings emphasize virtues like
harmony with nature (Tian), the importance of family and respect for elders (filial piety), and principles
for living ethically. Key ideas also include the five constants (benevolence, righteousness, propriety,
wisdom, and faithfulness) and honoring ancestors.

Confucius believed in *Tian*, or "heaven," as a guiding moral force that is beyond human control but
aligned with moral order. Though he was practical in his philosophy, he saw performing traditional
rituals (*li*) as essential to aligning society with heaven’s moral path. For Confucius, this harmony
between heaven and earth could be revived by upholding the rituals practiced by ancient kings.

Confucius emphasized the importance of adhering to one's societal roles to return to the ancient Dao, a
principle known as the rectification of names (zhengming). He identified five key relationships that
structure society: ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder brother and younger
brother, and friend and friend. By fulfilling these roles properly, individuals contribute to social harmony
and moral order.

The Five Relationships in Confucianism highlight mutual responsibilities and respect within social
hierarchies, such as loyalty from ministers to rulers and filial piety from children to parents. In return,
rulers and parents must care for their subjects and children, promoting social harmony. Zhengming, or
the concept of proper naming, emphasizes that individuals have specific roles at different life stages,
and fulfilling these roles helps maintain social order and harmony.

Confucius did not explicitly address human nature, but two of his followers, Mencius and Xunzi, had
opposing views. Mencius believed that humans are innately good and that this goodness can be
nurtured through education and self-discipline, although it can also be corrupted by neglect or a bad
environment. In contrast, Xunzi argued that human nature is fundamentally flawed, but improvement is
possible through self-cultivation and adherence to rituals (li).

The Five Constants, or Wuchong, are the core Confucian virtues outlined in the *Analects* and the
*Book of Mencius*. These virtues include **ren** (benevolence), **yi** (righteousness), **li**
(propriety), **zhi** (knowledge or wisdom), and **xin** (fidelity). Together, they serve as essential
ethical principles guiding individuals in their personal conduct and social relationships.

Ren, or benevolence, is achieved by adhering to traditional rituals (li) and respecting social hierarchies
based on familial relationships, extending love for one's family to all people, and avoiding negative
emotions like envy.

Yi, or righteousness, involves having the moral disposition to do good, which requires recognizing what
is right and feeling compelled to act accordingly. Together, these concepts emphasize the importance of
ethical behavior and social harmony in Confucian thought.

In Confucian thought, **Li** (propriety) serves as a guide for human behavior and social order, achieved
through understanding human relationships and adhering to the principles of righteousness (**Ren**).
**Zhi** (wisdom) involves discerning right from wrong, which is believed to be an innate quality in
inherently good people, as stated by Mencius. Additionally, **Xin** (fidelity) emphasizes the
importance of keeping one's word and being trustworthy, as Confucius believed that trust is essential
for both personal relationships and nation-building.

Confucius believed that family relationships serve as a blueprint for social behavior, highlighting the
importance of respecting elders and being kind to children and juniors. His ideas, further developed by
the philosopher Mencius, emphasize these values as foundational principles for moral conduct. This
emphasis on familial respect and kindness has inspired generations of Confucians throughout history.

Filial piety, a core value in Confucianism, emphasizes respect and obedience to one’s parents and
ancestors, fostering a strong sense of unity within Chinese families and communities. This respect
extends beyond life to practices like ancestor worship, where rituals are performed to honor deceased
relatives, reflecting the belief that children should remember their parents even after death. One
common practice is keeping ancestral tablets at home to facilitate this remembrance.

Ancestral tablets provide information about a family's origins and names of their ancestors, serving as a
way to honor them. People also practice ancestor worship by visiting and cleaning the graves of their
loved ones, offering food and wine, which are believed to be tasted by the ancestors before the family
eats. This practice reflects the deep connection between the living and the deceased, highlighting the
importance of filial piety in many cultures.

In Chinese cosmology, the concept of hun-po describes the dual nature of the soul, consisting of two
parts: the upper soul (hun), which is intellectual and ascends to the spiritual realm, and the lower soul
(po), which is associated with the physical body and descends into the grave. This belief underpins the
practice of ancestor worship, as it is thought that deceased ancestors retain their souls, necessitating
respect and reverence from the living. Thus, honoring ancestors is vital for maintaining a connection
between the living and the spiritual world.

According to the Confucian scholar Zhun Xi, life is a balance between the vital forces of yang (movement
and consciousness) and yin (physical form and body). When a person dies, their vital energies, known as
hun (the heavenly aspect of the soul) and po (the earthly aspect), separate: hun rises towards Heaven
while po and the physical body return to the Earth, indicating that life and death are interconnected
stages of existence. Essentially, life is characterized by the interplay of these forces, and death
represents the natural conclusion of that balance.

The Book of Rites documents centuries of Chinese rituals, particularly focusing on family ceremonies
known as the "Four Rites," which mark significant life events: coming of age, marriage, mourning, and
sacrifices. Although many of these rituals are no longer practiced, they illustrate the religious aspects of
Confucianism and its influence on Chinese culture and traditions.

Coming of age rites are ceremonies that mark the transition of a young person into adulthood, allowing
them to participate fully in clan activities and potentially marry. Among the Chinese, two significant rites
are the capping ceremony for young men and the hair pinning ceremony for young women, both
symbolizing their readiness to take on adult roles and responsibilities within their community.
Capping is a traditional Chinese rite of passage for male teenagers, typically occurring between the ages
of 15 and 20. During this ceremony, the young man has his hair styled in a bun or coil, receives a formal
hat and ceremonial gown, and is given a formal name. The ritual also includes a wine libation as an
offering to ancestors, marking his introduction to his family's lineage.

Hair pinning is the practice of gathering a girl’s hair into a knot and securing it with a hairpin or clip. This
tradition is often observed by 16-year-old girls after their engagement and before their wedding day. It
symbolizes a transition into womanhood and is an important cultural ritual in some communities.

Mourning rites involve various intricate practices to honor the deceased, starting with the family's public
display of grief, including weeping and wearing white funeral clothes. These rituals include offering
symbolic goods like money and food to the dead, preparing a spirit tablet, paying ritual experts, and
playing music to soothe the spirit. Additionally, there is a belief in attempting to recover the deceased's
soul by calling out to it, as a way to ensure it finds its way back to the body, preventing what is
considered a false death.

Marriage ceremonies are a vital part of Chinese culture, emphasizing the cultivation of patience and love
as essential virtues. Traditionally, marriages are arranged by the parents, considering factors like wealth
and social status, and monogamy is expected. The rituals involve a series of steps, including the groom's
family visiting the bride’s home, the bride's dowry being sent, and festive celebrations that include
playful banter from friends on the wedding night and a visit to the bride's parents' home to pay respects
three days later.

Sacrificial rituals are an important tradition for descendants honoring their deceased ancestors, with the
Qingming Festival being a key occasion for these observances. During this annual celebration, families
clean their ancestors' graves and make offerings of food, fruit, wine, incense, and candles. Historically,
significant items, including valuable objects and even sacrifices, were buried with the deceased to
ensure they had what they needed in the spirit world, reflecting the deep sense of filial piety that
continues to be practiced today.