Confucius and Christ
Chapter Two
Confucianism and Christianity
Confucius and Christ
Colin Hoad
“As to being a sage, or a man of virtue, how dare I presume to such a claim? Striving thereafter unwearyingly, and teaching others therein without flagging – that can be said of me, and that is all.”
[Confucius, “The Analects” 7:33]
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
[John 11:25]
Spring & Autumn Period China and First Century Palestine
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever.”[i] These prophetic words of the Old Testament are taken by Christians to mean the foretelling of Jesus Christ’s birth and his subsequent message of salvation, not only for Israel, but for all mankind. Like Jesus, Confucius’s birth was prophesied. In Chinese legend, a Ch’i Lin (Unicorn) appeared with a jade tablet in its mouth, the following words being inscribed upon it: “A child as pure as crystal will be born for the continuation of the declining Chou[ii], to become a King without a kingdom.” Similarly, Jesus is reputed to be a direct ‘descendent’ of King David[iii], Confucius’s mother Yen Chêng Tsai is believed to have been descended from the Duke of Chou, thus giving Confucius an element of aristocratic blood. That said, both Confucius and Jesus were brought up in relatively poor families, neither being born into riches.
Both men showed a keen interest in religion at an early age. Confucius showed a keen awareness of the Rites at a very early age, and Jesus himself is recorded to have stayed
Confucianism and Christianity
Confucius and Christ
Colin Hoad
“As to being a sage, or a man of virtue, how dare I presume to such a claim? Striving thereafter unwearyingly, and teaching others therein without flagging – that can be said of me, and that is all.”
[Confucius, “The Analects” 7:33]
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
[John 11:25]
Spring & Autumn Period China and First Century Palestine
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever.”[i] These prophetic words of the Old Testament are taken by Christians to mean the foretelling of Jesus Christ’s birth and his subsequent message of salvation, not only for Israel, but for all mankind. Like Jesus, Confucius’s birth was prophesied. In Chinese legend, a Ch’i Lin (Unicorn) appeared with a jade tablet in its mouth, the following words being inscribed upon it: “A child as pure as crystal will be born for the continuation of the declining Chou[ii], to become a King without a kingdom.” Similarly, Jesus is reputed to be a direct ‘descendent’ of King David[iii], Confucius’s mother Yen Chêng Tsai is believed to have been descended from the Duke of Chou, thus giving Confucius an element of aristocratic blood. That said, both Confucius and Jesus were brought up in relatively poor families, neither being born into riches.
Both men showed a keen interest in religion at an early age. Confucius showed a keen awareness of the Rites at a very early age, and Jesus himself is recorded to have stayed