Confucianism
Calvin Young
REL 133
April 21, 2015
Dr. William Sunday
Confucianism
Similar to Daoism, Confucianism is concerned with harmony and the Dao, however, Confucianism views the Dao as inside the person and balance is achieved through proper relationships. This paper will explore the five great relationships within Confucianism. Then, this paper will explain the Confucian ideal of the superior person or Junzi. Finally, Confucianism’s place in modern China will be examined.
The Five Great Relationships
According to Molloy in Experiencing the World’s Religions (2013), Confucius saw people through their relationships with others; how the relationships shaped the character and determined the person's place in society. Of all the interactions people have, five are viewed as the most important and archetypes for others. The first, and most important, is the relationship between the father and son, or parent and child. This filial relationship is viewed as the core of the family and the family as the center of society. Confucianism also sees the relationship of father and son as the basis of the relationship between boss and employee or teacher and student. The next important relationship is that of the elder brother and younger brother. The elder siblings are expected to assist in raising their younger siblings while the younger siblings are expected to be respectful and compliant. Third is the relationship between husband and wife. The husband is expected to be the protector, and the wife a mother and homemaker, but each is responsible for the care of the other. Next in importance is the relationship of the older to the younger, whether this is as a mentor to the pupil or among friends. Finally, the last relationship among the five great relationships is that of the ruler and his subjects. The ruler is expected, in a Confucian society, to assume the role of father to all of his subjects, who are like his children, taking responsibility for their care, and development.
The Ideal Person
The Confucian ideal of the “Noble Person’ or Junzi, is a person in whom Confucian manners become natural. The noble person would treat all relations correctly, and within the proper setting. Someone who was Junzi would set an example for the rest of society in their faithfulness and modesty. The noble person would be respectful to his elders, approaching them with an open mind toward learning, while caring for the younger, seeking to teach and guide them. The Junzi is not a person who seeks to dominate all aspects of life, but