Confucian Symbol
Psychological Articles as Solutions to Types of Discrimination
Confucianism evokes a number of images, often of an elderly man preaching morality to an eager group of disciples. This idea has been largely formed by the ideas of The Enlightenment period in history that first introduced Chinese Confucius and his philosophy to the Western world. However, a less limited understanding of Confucius thought leads one to a better comprehension of East Asian culture and temperament, as Confucian thought, or the thoughts it sought to elaborate, permeates the societies of China, Korea, Japan, and Thailand.
The originator is of course Confucius himself who lived in China during the 6th century BC. His thought, however, morphed into many other forms, each propagated by a thinker of the time. His basic precepts were preserved and maintained the core thought behind Confucianism. His thought, in its fullest expression, came to encompass a system of moral, political, philosophical, social and semi-religious aspects envisioning positive types of discrimination.
Psychological articles tell us we can consider an abbreviated introduction to Confucianism as being a system of beliefs that sought to educate individuals in a moral manner so that the state would not need coercive measures to run its affairs. Instead, all people will be motivated by a principle of humanity set forth by the moral virtues of its citizens and government. The primary source is Confucius’s ‘Analectic’ where his basic ideas are explained. The first principle is that of ‘Rites’ or ‘Ritual’. According to this principle, people are not organized in social harmony by means of penal law and administrative injunctions, but led by example and allocated their place and duties in society through ritual practices; thereby developing a sense of shame and thus choosing to live in better harmony. Psychological articles report that the goal, in time, is that the behaviors acquired through rituals become internalized, whereby individuals effortlessly and sincerely comply accordingly. Confucians believe that individuals cultivate themselves and will thus uniformly behave with acceptable, socially correct conduct.
Aside from rituals, other precepts that were used as a way to harmoniously bind men, governments and society, concerned that relationships should be conducted with filial piety, loyalty, humanism, that there is a concept of a noble person, and that there should be a correct language usage and proper ‘terms’ in one’s discourse. It is reasoned that if followed, these precepts would enable social and political stability, cohesiveness and harmony, and would eliminate any type of discrimination or untoward behavior towards self or others. Later on more sophisticated and elaborate concepts were established, based on these cornerstones of ideas that involved a central humanism to every aspect of private and public life. However, oftentimes governments would usurp Confucian principles in order to serve the purposes of the ruler of the day, and thus anti-Confucian types of discrimination could be established.
While sometimes Confucian is regarded as a philosophy and sometimes as a religion, it is more correctly viewed as “an all encompassing humanism that neither denies nor slights Heaven”, (”Confucianism” and “Confucius.” Encyclopædia Britannica (Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service, 2005), and is comfortably followed alongside many who proclaim to follow other religions such as Shinto, Taoist, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, or Judaic. In spite of not being termed a formal religion (bearing the hallmarks of the Semitic religions, Hinduism, or Buddhism), Confucianism has effortlessly blended itself with the prevailing religions of the times, such as the examples of Vietnam and Japan, where Shinto’s, and Buddhism comfortably coexisted with Confucian ideas. To this day, the primacy of ritual, respect of family and neighbors, and an adherence to good manners have remained the shared heritage of the cultures of the Far East demonstrating Confucian values and proving one of its basic premises: the inherent value of tradition and history in the evolution of human society.
Religious Symbols: One World Many Faiths
The Psychological Article on Confucianism is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of psychological articles on World Religions, Spirituality, and Solutions to Types of Discrimination. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.
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