Confucius; Then Now - 973 Words

Confucius; Then Now Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, can be argued to be the first and most significant of Chinese political thinkers. His philosophy traveled across the many kingdoms in China, centuries later becoming a part of the foundation of modern Chinese governance. Born after the fall of the Zhou Dynasty, Confucius belonged to the Warring States Era, a time of significant chaos. From the time of his being to modern day, people from China and many other countries in the world have studied the core values of his teachings, all hoping to make such values applicable to their own lives. Although the extent of Confucius’s teachings is astonishing at the least, one should not neglect to understand the interpretations of†¦show more content†¦In fact, Confucius in passage 12.1 emphasizes the importance of ritual: â€Å"Do not look unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not listen unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not speak unless it is in accordance with ritual; do not move unless it is in accordance with ritual.† Because of the vast scope of ritual in society, it cannot be disregarded in Confucian philosophy. One cannot perform any tasks from serving of food to chatting with friends without having considered ritual, in order to fulfill the expectations of an ideal person. This practice of ritual is commonly seen in America as etiquette, in the form of politeness and general respect. However, this cannot be accepted to be of the same value. Confucius’s statement taken from passage 12.1 can be expected to receive a much different response from the twenty-first century American as opposed to a response from a Chinese person during Confucius’s time. In regards to other values found in American society, etiquette usually does not outshine values of freedom, honesty, and pride. Some Americans may find ritual to be humorous because of its absurdity, while others may find it to be a value that needs more public interest. There fore, ritual in American society is not to be easily understood, especially in the magnitude seen in Chinese culture. Confucius believed that benevolence andShow MoreRelatedA Brief Look at Confucius763 Words   |  3 PagesConfucius faced a lot of troubles during his time, mainly from his unpopularity with the feudal leaders of China – way back when China was still divided by states. 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He proved that his early interest in rituals as a child was carried on in his career and on what will be the center of his life. â€Å"The founder of Confucianism, Master Kong (Confucius, 551-479 B.C.E.) did notRead MoreU.S Goverment Essay670 Words   |  3 Pagesgovernment Name Professor Institution Course Date American government When many people get to hear the term Confucius, they often relate the notion to wisdom, values, and clever phrases. Confucius’ teachings centers on philosophy and specifically deals with effective leadership ideologies. Confucius states that good government comprise of a ruler playing the role of a ruler; in that, each person having a leadership role is required to perform the delegatedRead More Confucius Curry and a Mountain Dew1396 Words   |  6 PagesPepsi. We could use some manners, or maybe just a reintroduction. Confucius thought is constructed on kindness and propriety, as well as holding the morally virtuous to be the ideal person. This philosophy exceedingly expresses value in benevolence, education, and the treatment of other people, but has hidden innuendos that would knock the petals off any flower child. In this reflection paper, I will dabble with how incorporating Confucius thought and practices would help in some areas of American societyRead MoreSimilariti es Between Confucianism And Ancient China1248 Words   |  5 Pageshistorians and philosophers and many believe the myth of Confucius developing Confucianism all in his lonesome. Confucius was born in the historical state of Lu at a time when Zhou Dynastic power was crumbling. The Zhou Dynasty has started to lose control and Ancient China erupted into a struggle for power. Many ruling elites craved for unification thus granting them total control of the Zhou household, known as the Warring States Period. Confucius believed the founders of the Zhou Dynasty had established