Around 1100 B.C, the Chinese people were fashioning
ideas that would result in unique civilization.
From then until the 2005 A.D the
Chinese lived under three dynasties or ruling families the Zhou
dynast, the Qin dynasty and the Han dynasty.
Three major philosophers Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism
where the daily ways of life in ancient China .Deals little with supernatural
or with eternal life; instead they focused on life in this world and how should
be lived. Some ways of life later came to be absorbed by Buddhism, Judaism and
Christianity.
Confucianism stressed basic moral rules in human
relationship and the ideal of a courteous, well-educated individual; Daoism
deal living in harmony with nature; and Legalism the opposition to Confucian,
emphasized the importance of strict laws and harsh punishment. Legalism became
favoured by many nobles during 200s B.C because it applied force and power, and
became official policy of the Qin dynasty. Hanfeizi, who was the founder of Legalism,
once said “human were by nature evil and required a strong forceful government
to make them attend to their duties”.[1]
However, these philosophers were the daily life of
ancient China, but Confucianism was favoured by the majority. It emerged from
the scholar known as Kongfuzi, in the west known as Confucius. Born about
551B.C and died in 479B.C. He was a thinker, political figure educator and
founder of the Ru school of Chinese thought. Born to a peasant family
where his father died when he was young but he managed to gain education and
became a wondering scholar. His teaching, preserved in Lunyu or Analects.
He wanted to advise kings on how to rule their
kingdoms, but it was difficult to get on with. No king really wanted to give
him job, so he became a teacher, started to teach other scholars .His teachings
made the first Emperor angry and wanted to burn Confucius books .One of the
main teaching that made the Emperor angry is this. “Older people know better
than younger people and the past was better than the present”[2]
Confucius stated that social harmony and good
government would return to China if the people live according to principles of
ethics-good conduct and moral judgment. When a student asked Confucius for a
single word that could serve as principle for conduct, he responded; “Perhaps
the word reciprocity will do. Do not do unto you”[3]
This rule is similar to familiar
teaching of Judaism and Christianity, sometimes called Golden rule. There are
historical and social circumstances that pushed for the rise of Confucius
philosophy of history as follows;
Historical circumstances that pushed for the rise of
Confucius philosophy of history. Confucius lived in a period when Chinese feudal
society and political kingdoms were transformed themselves and it was this time
when Chaos and violence were wide spread in most china provinces. Chinese was
divided into number of small feudal states which were constant conflicting each
other or neighbouring tribes because of this constant Chaos, there were 124
states shortly before Confucius birth and around 70 states during his life time.
The kings of princes of China were well respected by other smaller states. But
as the time went on the link between bigger states and smaller ones started
weaken. This led to power struggle, general ministry, family breakage and
inequality. This mischievous led Confucius to explain why was the case and the
way of solving. Confucius started to teach moral behaviour through of Chinese.
In spring and Autumn Annals, Confucius reported major events that occur in the
state Lu between 722 B.C and 481 B.C he said “the ruler should be a ruler, his
subjects, the farther should be a farther, and his son a son”[4] In Lu power rested not in the hands of the
ruler but instead in hands of the powerful ministerial families. Therefore the
material condition of this time political Chaos, inequality pave the way for
his thinking and d the existing of Chinese oral tradition and written document
are the factor for the rise of Confucius philosophy of history.
Confucius teaching, conversation and exchanges with
his disciplines. His teachings based on the way or Dao, Ritual or property,
Humanness and Virtue. His teachings are recorded in the Lunyu or Analects which
used by the Han Dynasty after in his death 479 B.C. For example he stressed the
importance of moral behaviour in five basic relationships: ruler and subject,
parent and child, husband and wife, old and young, and friend and friend. A
code of proper conduct governed each of this relationship that is “filia piety”,
or family relationship that is family represented society. He said “The
superior man spread his culture to the entire nation by remaining at home ….
The teaching of filia piety is preparation for the serving the
ruler of the state ; the teaching of the respect for ones older brothers is a
preparation for serving all the older of the community; and the teaching of kindness in parents is a training for ruling
over people ….when individual families have learned kindness”[5]
Then asked by his student for a single
word that could serve as a principles for a conduct, he responded : Perhaps the
word reciprocity will do, do not do unto
others what you would not want others to do unto you”[6].
This saying and teaching recorded in analects and hence become famous in Judaism
and Christianity teachings. Also during his life Confucius, moved from one
region of China to another while spreading his teaching and various Chinese
Oral traditions.
Confucius philosophy of education. Many Chinese
scholars believe that the history of education in china can be traced back at
as far as the 16th century B.C
during the late “Xia Dynasty” through out of this period of time;
education was the privilege of the elites. The teaching of Confucianism during
the spring and autumn and Warring states periods (770-221) the curriculum were
mainly based on the four book, these were based on Confucius culture in the
feudal society in the ancient China. The four books are; the book of Poetry
(book of songs, the book of Does), The book of History, The book of Rites, The
book of changes and the spring and Autumn Annals. Confucianism probably is the
biggest influence in education of China throughout the entire Chinese history.
Han dynasty of a farm of public education system was established based on
Confucianism. Not elites from upper class families on study in study in school,
common man also can use education. During the Han Dynasty around 100BCE, agreed
with Confucius that education was the key to good government.
Confucius argued that “To enrich your family, there is
no need to buy good land: books hold a thousand measures of grain for an easy
life, there is no need to build Mansion: in books are found house of gold. When
you go out, do not be upset if no one follows you: In books there will be a
crowd of horses and carriages. If you wish to marry don’t be upset if you don’t
have a go between: In books there are girls with faces like Jade. A young man
who wishes to be some will devote his time to the classic. He will the window
and read”[7]
The teaching of Confucius were honoured nationally. Schools were setup in each providence during
Han dynasty and spread to all ancient China based on Confucianism philosophy.
There were schools called Grand school beginning only with 50 students allowed
to study. In less than 100 year, enrol mental the Grand school was over
30,000students. Hence this enables to rise and grow Confucius philosophy.
Therefore, Confucianism stands as basic foundation way
of life during the Han dynasty and really shapes ideas of modern China during
that first of 1900s. Where the modern –Confucianism shaped the ideas of Confucius.
Confucius influence Chinese life in large. By the end of the 4th
century, meniscus says of Confucius “Ever since man came into this world, there
has never been one greater than Confucius”
REFERENCES
Farah K. & Mounir,
A.(1999). World history: the human experience. New York:
Glencoe McGraw hill
Reynerdson, F.(1994).
Heinemann history: Imperial china. British: Heinemann publish ltd
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