Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Ideal Person According to Confucius

Satisfactory Essays
374 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ideal Person According to Confucius
Ideal Person-Confucius
Smith-brown, Della
REL/133
Jul 01.2010
Donald Savell

Ideal Person-Confucius
“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). He focuses on the real world and provides guidelines for how people should live their lives. (www.mythencyclipedia.com)
Morality was the most important subject for Confucius. 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/.
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. Golden Rule-do unto others as you would have then do unto you. 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. Confucius believed that if everyone lived this way harmony within ones-self, those who ruled and nature became balanced. “Confucianism is often thought of as a system for the regulation of social groups and the transformation of the individual. The perfect person is the junzi (chun-tzu) meaning Noble Person.” (www.Ebook collection,Molloy,M (2010). Experiencing the world’s religion: Tradition,challenge, and change (5th ed.) ,

References:

www.mythencyclopedia.com www.plato Stanford.edu/entries/Confucius/ www.ebookcollection. Molloy,M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

References: www.mythencyclopedia.com www.plato Stanford.edu/entries/Confucius/ www.ebookcollection. Molloy,M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Syllabus Rel 134

    • 2035 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.…

    • 2035 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Assignment 5 Price

    • 1866 Words
    • 6 Pages

    To Confucius, good people lived good lives, which in turn caused good societies to be formed from the deeds of these individuals. He believed that education should focus on shaping individuals into good people; people with “virtue and excellence”. One of his ideas, called ren, is directly translated into “human excellence”, “benevolence” and “love”. According to Confucius ren is not something that is inherent in every individual, however, humans are able obtain ren through cognitive thinking and effort. Confucius believes that every person has certain qualities inside of them that can make them good. For instance he believed that every individual possessed wisdom, kindness, respect and piety.…

    • 1866 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory 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
  • Powerful Essays

    First of all we will look at Confucianism. Confucianism is humanism, a viewpoint or mind-set that is involved with humans, their success and passions, rather than with the summary people and issues of theology. In Confucianism man is the middle of the universe: man cannot stay alone, but with other humans. For humans, the greatest objective is personal pleasure. The necessary situation to accomplish pleasure is through serenity. To acquire serenity, Confucius found man made up of the five connections which are depending on really like and responsibilities. War has to be abolished; and the Great Oneness around the globe should be designed.…

    • 2524 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful 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

    From the beginning of time, the quest of all humans has been to discover how to live the good life. What is a good life exactly? This term will mean different things to different people, and yet I believe there are the same ingredients that all “good lives” share, even from the classic Eurasian time until present day. Virtues of character, which are also called ‘moral virtues’, seem to be more complex and are an integral part of the completeness of life that is said is necessary for a good life. There seems to be a pattern with people of always trying to achieve being a good person. Is being a good person the answer to having a good life? The Author, Robert W. Strayer makes the point that Confucius, Krishna and Socrates had opinions of ways to a good life but they are all different from one to the other. I will argue that there is a pattern between the three and that the belief to the good life is the same throughout the writings. The saying that history repeats itself is certainly true, but it is also true that people all want to live good lives. Confucius believes living a good life is being virtuous and treating others with respect creates the kind of person that then is given the good life. Being a leader he believed that ruling under an iron fist didn’t create people that respected him and that listened to the law, instead using kindness and sincerity gave the people an example of how to live. He says, “Let him be final and kind to all; then they will be faithful to him. Let him advance the good and teach the incompetent; then they will eagerly seek to be virtuous” (pg. 218). He also goes on to describe forgiveness which is an essential component in all of the opinions on what is a good life. If one is not being virtuous they can change, which tells us that people are never intended to be perfect but to continue to strive for goodness is always better than to never attempt to be good. That same ideal is…

    • 1007 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

    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
  • Good Essays

    Mencius believed that human nature is good. Every person is born instilled with four main virtues; Righteousness, Ritual property, Wisdom and Benevolence. These virtues will only develop fully if it is nurtured and put to effect appropriately. He also claimed that those who are not virtuous have been “corrupted by the environment” . He believes that “Individual effort was needed to cultivate oneself, but one’s natural tendencies were good to begin with.” In this way, Mencius has integrated elements of Taoism into his theory. Basically, people are born well with good intentions, but they must work to maintain their good nature.…

    • 660 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

    Confucius Paper

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Living as he did in the second half of the Zhou (Chou) dynasty (1027?-256 BC), when feudalism degenerated in China and conspiracy and evildoing were constant, Confucius deplored the contemporary disorder and lack of moral standards. He came to believe that the only remedy was to convert people once more to the principles of the sages of antiquity. He therefore lectured to his pupils on the ancient classics. He taught the great value of the power of example. Rulers, he said, can be great only if they themselves lead free lives, and were they willing to be guided by moral principles, their states would sure become prosperous and happy.…

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    References: Molloy, M. (2010). Experiencing the world’s religions: Tradition, challenge, and change (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.…

    • 948 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Confucius was mostly interested in how to bring upon societal order and harmony. He believed that humankind would be in harmony or balance with the universe if everyone understood their position in society and were taught behaviors and responsibilities of their position. He also believed that social order was threatened whenever people failed to act according to their prescribed roles in society. An example of Confucius philosophy on social roles and positions is Filial Piety.…

    • 1526 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius and Virtue

    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages

    One word could garner every stroke of brilliance, every riddle composed and every thought that circled within the most influential sage, Confucius. The word “Shu: never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself,” expresses one rule that any individual could follow and practice (176). It encompasses areas of one’s life like intellect, relationships and behavior, but more importantly it begins to describe the concept of virtue and we can obtain it. In view with Confucius, virtue can be defined as morality possible within an individual. Virtue can be taught through the formation of habit and by respecting those around you as you would expect them to do as well—simultaneously garnering necessary traits such as honor and humanity that satisfy an individual’s life.…

    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Confucius believed that we’re naturally good, but it needs to be learned. People have to learn how to “cultivate the good and throw out the bad. Anything that is worth learning is must be practiced. He thought very highly of education hence one of his sayings “enrich them educate them”. Confucius focused on relationships, they were very important and every type of relationship should function a certain way. Some people say the Confucius is very similar to Socrates.…

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays