Preview

Confucius Lives Next Door

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1045 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Confucius Lives Next Door
Confucius Lives Next Door The term “Confucianism” is often regarded as a complex mechanism of social, political, moral as well as religious beliefs that have considerable influence especially upon the civilizations belonging to the East Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea along with Singapore and Vietnam. With reference to the observation made by Reid (1999), it can be viewed that a clear depiction about different principles and beliefs exists within the sphere of “Confucianism”. Therefore, the major purpose of this report is to briefly review of T. R. Reid’s book “Confucius Lives Next Door: What Leaving In The East Teaches Us About Living In the West” through concisely unfolding the experience of Reid’s family concerning the Confucian ethos. Moreover, the report would also reveal the influence of Confucian ethos within the modern Japanese culture and identify the lesson which might contribute to a better social experience within the Western culture (Reid 29-66). CONFUCIANISM AS PER REID’S EXPERIENCE

The perception of ‘Confucianism’ can be duly considered as one of the widely accepted religions in the East Asian region. The concept can be termed as a religious belief which tends to incorporate adequate measures of ethical and philosophical method that has been cultivated by the teaching of the past Chinese sage ‘Confucius’. At the time when various religions seek to merge the gap between God and human being, the aspect of “Confucianism” tends to find the actual path of accomplishing peace and coherence. According to the observation of Reid, the fundamental principles of “Confucianism” generally involve humanism and broadly incorporate the principles concerning that human belief and perceptions are teachable as well as improvable by emphasizing different communal endeavors. In this regard, the continuous practice of self-cultivating and self-creating plays a decisive part for each individual to improve his/her innate



Cited: Reid, T. R. Confucius Lives Next Door: What Leaving In The East Teaches Us About Living In the West. United States: Random House Publishing Group, 1999. Print.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Although Buddhism was not accepted when it was first introduced to China, it has its positive aspects and was later on respected. In these documents, the authors- whether they may be a Chinese scholar, Confucian scholar, or a Buddhist scholar- display either animosity towards Buddhism, enthusiasm and encouragement towards the teachings of Buddhism, or a neutral opinion of not only the Buddhist ways, but the Confucian as well.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ccot Essay

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages

    China’s culture and it’s values have stayed as mostly continuities and few or little changes. The teachings and values of Confucianism that were so strong that they have lasted throughout the centuries of Chinese history and is still well-known today. These values included guidelines on respect. Chinese civilization during the classical civilization was a patriarchy and with the Confucius teaching which created the outline of how a good family should work like. Patriarchy was continuity for Chinese civilization. Many of Confucius’ beliefs and values will survive and withstand many potential changes to come. One of these changes were Buddhism, which came into China through many different paths such as the Silk Road. The Han Dynasty fell, causing China to go into a three year period of chaos. China’s cultural unity was threatened by the spread of Buddhism, though it was tone of the one ideas that was imported into China before the 20th century. Fortunately for China’s streak of continuity, the three century period of chaos would end which would also revive Confucianism. The rising and falling of dynasties were continuity. Confucianism took China’s social pieces and put them together. Even though China had many changes that took place from 100 C.E. to 600 C.E., they always evened out culturally. They also remained in their streak of cultural continuity thanks to Confucius and his teachings.…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Confucius Lives Next Door, by T.R. Reid, we learn how Confucianism has affected the culture of Japan. There are many positives in this culture as far as creating a harmonious society. As the author states, “Asians now argue that they have valuable lessons to teach the rest of the world. And they're right.” There is not nearly as much income inequality as in the United States, people on average are wealthier,…

    • 1075 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Dbq On Confucianism

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The first point to be understood about Confucianism is that it is not a religion. Confucianism is an ethical system. However, it does have religious traits (Chiyun 337). The Confucianist accepts the existence of a supreme being. Similar to how Christians accept the existence of a God. The trait of mercy and love is commonly held by Buddhism and Confucianism. Confucianist’s belief in prayer is just the same as a Christian or a Buddhist. The difference of Confucianism in relation to being a religion is that it does not promise nirvana as a reward for believing. The purpose of Confucianism is to convince people to behave by teaching different concepts.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Our world is constantly changing and creating new and unique religions. Throughout the semester our World Religions class has studied several of the most common religions that are practiced today. Two religions that I have found particularly interesting are Judaism and Confucianism. Judaism was one of the common religions that we had previously learned about in class. However, Confucianism is a religion that was not taught in class but was a religion that I had wanted to learn more about. In this essay I will explain more about Confucianism and its origin, teachings, practices, and current status in today’s world as well as explain how Confucianism and Judaism are different and how they are similar.…

    • 115 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    He was born at Tsou, in the state of Lu, known today as the Shandong province,…

    • 3111 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    The tao stands at the center of confucianism and all the religious practices are connected to it. The tao is the arche and cosmos of Confucianism. Durkheim argues that the religion sacred must play a role in the formation or preservation of the society. Confucius Sacred has a close tie to moral order and personal conduct in its society (183).Through the Silver rule and the deliberate tradition, one can infer that Confucianism attempts to civilize the world. Freud argues that religions are civilizing mechanism that attempt to solve world’s problems.…

    • 1574 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Analects of Confucius

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Analects of Confucius, a collection of sayings and ideas of Confucianism, was compiledby the followers of Confucius mostly in the form of dialogues. The last chapter, “[Emperor] Yao Said,” is the briefest chapter in the book. One school of thought holds that it is just a collection of leftovers. I come from the school of thought that the last chapter concludes Confucius’s theme of politics as well as philosophy with an inseparable connection with the other chapters in the analects.…

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are many different religions in both China and India. The most popular religions in China are ancient Confucianism and Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Protestant, Catholic, and a new form of religion Falun Gong. India has many religions that are different or the same as the Chinese. Indian religions include: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. There are also many people from China that do not follow a religion because of its communist background.…

    • 1280 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    References: Confucius (1915) (Contributors: Dawson, Miles Menander) The ethics of Confucius: The sayings of the Master and his disciples upon the conduct of “The Superior Man”. G. P. Putnam’s Sons: New York.…

    • 5503 Words
    • 23 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion has always played a key aspect to societies, ancient or not. Whether to unify a group of people, or to provide a common thought to ensure that the civilization not fail, there is no argument as to the importance of religion. However, in every ancient society, religions share common characteristics which define the term religion itself. There are certain forms to which each religion has to mold to in order to be considered a religion in itself. Certain thought processes or beliefs are exempt from being considered religion. A prime example of this would be Confucianism- Confucianism cannot be considered a religion, but a thought process.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Questions: It has been said that the classical approach to organisational design and management is not appropriate for the need of modern- day organisations.…

    • 2268 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    China experienced a lot of the revolutionary changes and a proliferation of new ideas in the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period. These periods can be represented as chaotic periods, so eventually there were many tries for solving the disorders of the societies by many philosophers[1]. Philosophers in those periods tried to address within these historical context and requests such as the needs for stability and reunification. Among them, Confucius has become the most noticeable philosopher, and his thought, Confucianism, has influenced significantly the cultures and histories of countries in East Asia such as China, Korea, and Japan. The analects of Confucius is a record of words and discussions of Confucius and his disciples after his death. Although the Analects of Confucius was not directly written by Confucius, this book contains most of critical ideas of Confucius. Also, this book will lead us better to understand ethics of East Asian countries and historical situations of the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period.…

    • 1684 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius

    • 913 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Confucius was not a religious teacher but rather an ethical thinker whose aim was to improve moral and social order. He believed all aspects of life flow from an ethical core and to achieve moral and social order, one must look within oneself. Some of the key concepts emphasized in Confucianism are: the concepts of Good (jen), Ritual (li), Virtue (te, or moral power), and the Gentleman or “superior man” (chun-tzu). All of these concepts are vitally important but for the purpose of this paper, I will focus on the concept of jen and how it works in Confucian philosophy.…

    • 913 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Chinese Tradition

    • 2130 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Slote, W. H. & De Vos, G. A. (1998). Confucianism and the family. Albany, N.Y.: State University Of New York Press.…

    • 2130 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays