Module 4: CONFUCIANISM

Prerequisite Skills: Knowledge and skills in the application of spirituality

Instructor:
Mrs. Nieves R. Madelar
Level:
First Year College
Allotted Time:
Three Hours
OVERVIEW
This module is designed to help you understand the basis of Spirituality of all existing religion

OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:

1. Develop a sense of spiritual awareness in Confucianism.

2. Appreciate the spiritual value necessary for the enhancement of their spiritual life.
3. Trace the origin and development of Confucianism.

PRETEST

1. Direction: Identification- Identify the items referred to by the following phrases.

1. The Chinese name of Confucius

2. The religious book of Confucianism
3. An ancient official of the Chinese who liked to tell old stories.
4. What office did Confucius hold when he was in the government of Shantung, China?
5. Give one philosophy or principle of Confucius that can be lifted from the book of Analects.
6-10. Enumerate the five human virtues of Confucius.

LEARNING FOCUS
The believers are called Confucianists. The founder of Confucianism was Confucius. The place o origin was
China.
Confucius was born 551 B.C. he was an earnest student and interested in philosophy, ethics and music. He
became a travelling teacher. Confucius believed that in wisdom man could find the answers to all his problems.
Many followed him and became his disciples.
Confucius was the first to tell a man that the more he meditates upon good thoughts; the better will be
his world and the world at large. He believed that man was inherently good and that good is stronger than evil.
He believed that a man must practice what he preaches; he himself lived a good life.
Confucius became active in political life of his day and at one time was a member of the cabinet of his
province. During his time in office, crime decreased, Confucius said, Let there be but right men and the
government will flourished, but without these, government decays and ceases.
In all his teachings, Confucius did not have religion in mind. He did not talk about God. But after his death,
his teachings became a way of life for the Chinese.
Chinese name- K ung Chi iu
He was called K ung Chi iu or Master K ung by the Chinese
K ung Fu Tzu- Chinese name
Confucius- Latin name (given by the Europeans) He was from Shantung, China
Analects- A record of some of the things he said, as his disciples remembered them (Lun YU in Chinese)

He believed that he was a transmitter, one who saw the past with its traditions as a model for the
present. Confucius did not see himself as a savior or Messiah with a new idea for people to follow. In his
words: I transmit but do not create. I believe in and loved the ancient. I mature to compare myself to
the old Peng.

Peng- an ancient official who liked to tell old stories

Confucius emphasized five human virtues:

1. Kindness
2. Uprightness

3. Proper behavior
4. Wisdom
5. Faithfulness
Having served for a time as prime minister of one of Chinas province, he was very interested in
government. He taught and urgently so, that government should be patterned after the family, with the
responsible head and all in the family to be subject to that head. It, of course, was taken for granted that
the head would be a very moral man.
The philosophy of Confucius contains many good principles, but does not deal with the cause
and cure of sin, does not give promises of peace of mind, forgiveness of sin nor life after death.
Some of his philosophies:
1. Generation of Ancestors, an inescapable aspect of filial piety (worship of ancestors).
Analects 2:5
When parents are alive served them according to the rules of propriety, when they die,
bury them according to the rules of propriety and sacrifice to them according to the rules of
propriety.
Analects 4:18- 21
As to attitudes toward living parents, if a son feels that his parents following a wrong
course of action demonstrate with them; but if they pay no attention to him, the son should
resume the attitude of reverence and not abandon his effort to serve them. A son should not
go far from his parents especially without telling them where he is going. As his parents advance
in age, a son rejoices in their long life but is concerned because another year has passed. In
these many other passages Confucius affirmed that filial piety was a major value in his
philosophy of life.
2. Confucius stressed righteousness- the ruler and his ministers as well as the common people
should follow a high moral standard.
Analects 15:17
The superior man regards righteousness as the substance of everything. He practices it
according to the principles of propriety. He brings it forth in modesty and carries it to its
conclusion with faithfulness. He is indeed a superior man.
Confucius had in mind one that who brings himself under control, who blames himself rather than
others, who goes beyond the outward show of righteousness.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Activity 1
a. Brainstorming
1. What is filial piety?

2. Describe the moral standard that Confucius mentioned in his Analects.

b. Reflection
State one of the principles in life from the book of Analects and relate it into your family and the wider community.

c. Group Work

Divide the class into five groups and plan for what they are going to present in the class illustrating the five virtues of
Confucius. Select a leader for every group.

POST TEST
Name: __________
Course/Year/Section: __________

Course: __________
Date: __________

1. Direction: Answer the question briefly but completely.

1. State the five human virtues of Confucius and explain using illustrations that are happening in our every day
life. (10 points each)
References:
1. The Worlds Religions- Understanding the Living Faith by: Dr. Peter B. Clark pages 173 181
2. World Religions by Michael Keene, pages 68-85