Philosopher Confucius - Case Study Example

Major Aspects of Confucius life Introduction Confucius, founder of the school of philosophy of Confucianism is an olden social & political thinker. He is one of the ancient China’s most eminent philosophical characters whose handy experience and wide thoughts on feudal education system made him great in history of china. His landmark and lifelong role to moral schooling also confirmed him a higher place in history of world as well as scholar of ethical practices in China and beyond (Fingarette 40). Besides teaching, Confucius most possibly invested much of his end years working on some of the classics including ‘Book of Poetry’, ‘Spring and Autumn Annals’, and ‘Yi Jing or ‘Book of Changes’ .There is much understanding in this book comparable to the proverbs of Confucius through his followers, but their accuracy as being straightly from Confucius is a subject of assumption (Dawson 60-72). Personal Life of Confucius Confucius came from a poor family, born in 551 B.C near the city of Qufu, the northeastern part of China at the time when the country was being portioned into feudal states. There was a belief that Confuciuss father divorced his first wife at an advanced age because of giving born daughters only and one handicapped son. His father again married a young girl of fifteen years who gave birth to Confucius. The relationship was refers the child unlawful or born out of matrimonial relation. Though Confucius personal family was hardly written and mentioned, tradition says, he was an orphan and his immediate brother was a cripple. He married, and inherited a son and a daughter, chosen a husband for his own daughter and also one for his niece himself. Because of his brothers condition, he performed this family task (Fingarette 112-118). The life of Confucius begins with a name K’ung Ch’iu who later reflected a great sign about social philosophies that emphasized private and legislative decency. Confucius beliefs outlined a moral and different ethical philosophy. His followings later diverted his teachings into a directory of highly structured moral rules. After being self-educated, he got expertise in the six defined contemporary disciplines of arts like customs, music, archery, chariot-driving, calligraphy and math. He also became familiar with history and poetry that allowed him to begin a bright teaching career in his thirties of life. Confucius realized education a strong process of continuous self-improvement. Seeing public service having high significance of education and that required for concern of Chinese social structures like family, institutions, society, state, and kingdom, he tried to publicize his policies while serving in government posts but that attracted a little concern. He left the posts and went for a 12-year self-imposed exile. His circle of students being expanded and he made his journey to Lu at age 67 to teach and to write for spreading his precious thoughts (Dawson 34-39). The last some years of the Confucius’s life have been painful one regarding the number of sudden deaths of his a good number of intimated followers as first of his son then his favorite follower Yen Hui, the highest noble of the followers, Sima Niu, with a tragic in 481, and assassination of Zilu in 480 for rescuing his chief heroically in Wei though Confucius seemed to appear his death peacefully (Fingarette 78). Teaching as a Great Career Of his entire life provide teaching ‘wisdom’ is an important feature of his life. Confucius began his teaching career in the age of thirty. While at Lu he started to spend most of his time by acquiring knowledge through studying and teaching, surrounding by a number of students. The schools course includes instruction in custom, music, history, and verse. Next Confucius decided to leave his home in Lu and made on a long journey throughout eastern China along with some of his followers. They wandered throughout the eastern states of Wei, Sung, and Chen. There he received great admiration by the rulers of the states he visited, and seems to have received formal payments. While on journey he spent much of his time for making himself developed by his ideas on the skill of the government administration besides continuing his moral schooling. His desire was to share his political thoughts with the ruler wishing that this would make the rulers to have an upraised pressure to serve the inhabitants with high merit instead of leading them with direct power, supremacy and worth for self-interest and the leaders of China must realize their higher purpose (Dawson 24-33). Confucius attained a huge response and the solidification of his philosophical school during these times. Not like that all of his devotees followed him on his travels, several of them in point of fact went back to Lu. With the influence that they achieved backed them to Lu with an invitation. However, during his travels, he won the hearts of the exploited people. Returned to his home state he launched an informal school where he educate his principles to a rising number of followers. He taught in spots of moral codes, direction, ancient history, psychology and the current arts. His intention was to teach the young by moral schooling to take public job positions in all China, where they could have play a true impact and raise consciousness on radical change in the state (Fingarette 89-93). Confucius delivered his taught that the principal initial task of the ruler was to ensure the public-welfare and pleasure of the people of the state. To carry out this plan, government first had to introduce a proper practice by his own activities which would in sequence provide a good sign of sustainable change on the peoples behavior. Confucius’s teachings and thinking have highly prejudiced to Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese culture of thoughts and pattern of social virtual life. Showing outstanding qualities as a teacher, Confucius is honored in many parts of eastern Asia as a following character for his educational thoughts among the professional, aristocratic and royal members of the civil society. For his highness, his birthday was celebrated as a holiday in pre-liberation China which is still the subject today in Taiwan, Viet Nam and even in the Asiatic societies of the United States as an event marked by dedicatory actions and ceremonial happenings to praise and respect definitely the merit of a teacher and to give confidence through inspiration from the virtues of the great educator shown (Dawson 76-78). Development of Formula Another important aspect of Confucius’s life is the development of a formula which includes different steps definitely included a psychological approach of self-control .By using this formula; people can begin to discover their ethnic patterns by which the families and community can be empowered. Attaching with the patterns in the physical plane that will help to uplift the planet and organize himself for the coming golden age of Aquarius. Going to look at the phases of self-discovery and beginning with personal experience people place their right to transfer their heart so that they can connect with their heart chakra to give out the love of their heart and receiving love into their heart. Then people can intensify this love as they continue on with these lessons (Fingarette 89-93; Dawson 57-59). Confucius is logically presented for his popular sayings about every aspect of life and his thoughts which still make a high value in the study of human development as stepping forwards day by day. Confucius modesty and sincerity provided a well pattern and designed him a close concept of the general people. In spite of his useful abilities and his name for wisdom, Confucius had to go for a trouble finding a right position in state administration throughout his career for a long even when he was very eager for such a prospective job position. He was determined to perform any kind of tasks as long as it was moral, but if honest work was not available he was happy continuing his studies. That he said “If any means of escaping poverty presented itself that did not involve doing wrong, I would adopt it, even though employment were that of the better person who holds the whip. But as long as it is a question of illegitimate means, I shall continue to pursue the quests that I love.” (Fingarette 87) Popular Sayings of Confucius Confucius said more that there are three things which the wise man holds in respect; the will of heaven, those in authorities, and the words of the wise. The fool knows not the will of heaven and holds it not in respect: he is impolite to those in authority. By saying so he laughed at the words of the then wises. Confucius too said, “When the Empire is well governed, ceremonies and music and warlike operations are controlled by the Son of Heaven. When the Empire is in disorder, these things are controlled by the feudal princes, and will seldom outlast ten generations.” (Confucius 23) As master of intellectuals he said, “He who does not understand the Will of God can never be a man of the higher type. He who does not understand the inner law of self-control can never stand firm. He who does not understand the force of words can never know his fellow-men.” (Confucius 78) Once in his ailing condition, Zilu offered if he could wish for his recovery, by the practiced belief of the Eulogies, to the existence of the upper and lower earths. Confucius responded, “My praying has been for a long time.” (Confucius 45) Confucius survived Zilu by about a year, and expired at the age of seventy-two. The actions of his life had been his wish to Heaven. So what Confucius believes, he believed it finally with a view of strong attitude and self-determination. The impact of his popular intellectual sayings continues appreciable today and subject to renewal of interest as a vital scholastic approach. Conclusion As a leading spiritual teacher, Confucius became known also as the Master of the time in China. He trained many of his followers over couple of years and helped replaced them in state public places. The Master out looked political methods as the strategic way to introduce his new ethical lessons across China. After the time of his death Confucius was highly honored and remembered with Buddha, as one of the two greatest moral characters in the East. While Aeschylus and Socrates were generating the moral principles in the Greek globe, and Haggai and Zechariah were guiding the Jews to back to Jerusalem, Confucius was developing principles of moral studies that would have a mammoth impact on the social-political and rational structure of China for coming years (Fingarette 32; Dawson 51-52). Works Cited Confucius. Confucius: Analects—With Selections from Traditional Commentaries. Translated by E. Slingerland. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing. 2003 Dawson, Raymond. Confucius. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1982 Fingarette, Hebert. Confucius : the secular as sacred. Long Grove, Ill.: Waveland Press. 1998 Read More