How Confucius Ideas Affected the China Government (Research Paper Sample)

HOW CONFUCIUS IDEAS AFFECTED THE CHINA GOVERNMENT
Name:
Institution:
Date:
Confucius and his Life History
Confucius a name that originate from the name "Kunbg-fu-tzu" was believed to have been born around 551 B.C in a state known as Lu in China. Confucius as a young child had problems in his could hood and everything was not easy for him. He lost his dad who was a warrior at only a tender age of three years. He was also rumored around to be a little and ugly kid. He grew to become a man who would never be offered jobs by Calvin Kelvin. Nevertheless with his ox lips or not he only was lacking the looks but had talent and brains. His mum an him are not ether known for financial prosperity but Confucius grew up and engulfed his education which spanned all types of things from math, history, etiquette, poetry and charioteering.[Daniel A, Bell. China's New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society (Princeton University Press, 2010), 18.]
At only an age of 19 years Confucius got married to lady whom later she got children with. There is not much know about the girl and most scholars make conclusion that the marriage between the two failed to work out. There is no much evidence to that and I believe that it would not be right for people to come into such conclusion on the matter. Regardless of that Confucius became a teacher and very intelligent and good teacher to that effect. He is known to be the first private teacher in China who allowed male students from all social classes which was still not being done in those days. He was a teacher who not only gave book knowledge to his students but went beyond to develop the students to junzi which had a meaning of a superior and extemporary person.[Daniel A, Bell. China's New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society (Princeton University Press, 2010), 27.]
Out of his teaching career Confucius also cultivated a lifelong dream in the political arena. Although he captured the job of being the chief justice of the town and which is said to have improved significantly during his period he did not make it to be a leader in his life time. He was much disappointed by the fact that he did not capture the high authority and in his believe he would have change the whole society if he got such a position.[Yim Yu, Wong, Maher, Thomas E. Yu., Evans, Neil A and Nicholson, Joel D."Neo-confucianism: the bane of foreign firms in China." (Management Research News 21, no. 1, 1998),13-22.]
After his time as a chief justice, he went on to become a wandering sage. He was now on a mission to get a ruler who would take his wise words. However even if his mission was not only to become a wandering sage but to get his wise words known he did not achieve much in his life time. His teachings eventually got recognition more and became the basis of Chinese teachings and philosophy more than 1000 years thereafter. Today if one want to understand the thinking of Chinese people one has to understand the Confucius philosophy and teachings so as to become conversant with the Confucius teachings.[Betty H. Winfield, Mizuno Takeya, and Beaudoin, Christopher E.. "Confucianism, collectivism and constitutions: Press systems in China and Japan." (Communication Law and Policy 5, no. 3, 2000), 323-347.]
Although he was a very clever and wise teacher, Confucius never thought of himself as anything beyond the human ability such as a saint, god or miracle performer. He made description of himself as a transmitter of ancient thought and teachings, which was able to combine and come up with a superb structure of life, society and the art of being human.
Confucianism
Confucianism comes from the dominant philosophy in china which is based from the teachings of Confucius. Confucius is a Chinese most renowned philosopher and who had a universal vision in his teachings. Teaching of the philosopher had a great impact on the Chinese people. The teachings gave means on transforming families, communities and nations into a harmonious international society. The main goal of Confucius was educating people in order for them to have intrinsic motivation, be able to have self control and take over their responsibilities. In making an individual a better person by improving on their ability, skill and thinking then he believe that this way there would be the ideal type of society that lives harmoniously. Confucius notion was that when there was equality in the society then there will be no competition and life would not have limit as there will be equality on every aspect and thus there would be no chaos and conflicts of interest.[Daniel A, Bell. China's New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society (Princeton University Press, 2010), 19.]
The only way that equality can be achieved is when individuals have a fixed station in life and where they have a person in control (master) to be working for so as happiness to prevail. Therefore, Confucius stated, "As soon as there was heaven and earth, there was the distinction of above and below (superior and inferior); when the first wise king arose, the country he occupied had the division of classes. The ancient kings established the rules of proper conduct and divided the people into nobles and commoners, so that everybody would be under someone's control" .[Daniel A, Bell. China's New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society (Princeton University Press, 2010), 57.]
The natural setting of things in the Yi society wanted inequality and a clear boundary between the inferior and the superior. The doctrine of Confucian divides the community into two classifications: those who are in power and those who are being ruled. The authority and responsibility belong to the virtuous people; therefore the person in power, the ruler is chosen for his superiority in virtue.[Daniel A, Bell. China's New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society (Princeton University Press, 2010), 55.]
When every person is under someone’s control, then there if a flow of responsibilities and benevolence from the above (from the heaven and the king) and therefore one must be obedient, loyal and respectful to the powers above. In the utopia of a Confucian state, when each person acts according to these principles then a peaceful and harmonious society will prevail. There is no room for the voice below and there is only a flow from above descending downwards and thus in a Confucian state there was a paternalistic government and was just a government of the authority in power, by the authority and for the authority.
The virtues of love, proper conduct, faithfulness, wisdom, righteousness and benevolent sum up to the principles of Confucianism. Therefore, how people conduct themselves is the main tenet of Confucianism. Confucianism also upholds 5 basic relationships, these are; husband to wife, father to the son, elderly to young, sovereign to subject, and lastly friend to friend. Confucius also came with five elements that guide society in these relationships. These elements include; Righteousness, Intimacy, distinction, faithfulness and obedience.[James F Paradise. "China and international harmony: The role of Confucius Institutes in bolstering Beijing's soft power." (Asian Survey 49, no. 4, 2009), 647-669]
The ethical principles of Confucianism are based on the virtues of benevolent love, righteousness, proper conduct, wisdom, and faithfulness. Conduct, or ceremony, is the cardinal tenet of Confucianism. Confucianism also extols five fundamental relationships:  father to son, sovereign to subject, husband to wife, old to young, and friend to friend. Confucius laid down five articles of morality to properly maintain these relationships:  intimacy, righteousness, distinction, obedience, and faithfulness.[Shaun, O'Dwyer. "Democracy and Confucian values." (Philosophy East and West 53, no. 1, 2003),39-63.]
Confucianism and Government
The governing philosophy in China, Confucianism is based on the teaching of Confucius. Confucius lived more than 1,000 before the Sony dynasty and his teaching thoughts and ideas had a long and dramatic effect on the Chinese Song system of government. Looking at Confucianism as a political philosophy, it can be sum up in 8 stages of becoming "true man or gentleman" these steps are; "investigate nature, extend the boundary of knowledge, make your purpose sincere, regulate the mind, cultivate personal virtue, rule the family, govern the state, and pacify the world." regrettably, even governments built up under such ideal conditions and tenets are governments of men and thus in practice Yi kings were often rigid and autocratic rules.
The Yi dynasty was born indebted to a big and diverse group of men. Each held a political position in the dynasty. The new dynasty existence and survival was ultimately dependant on manner in which the debt was paid. Yi song-gye and the founders of the Yi dynasty were reliant on two paradoxical strategies to ensure continuity of the new royal house. The political security motivated King Taejo who formed the Dynasty establishment. There was a particular group of men selected and were given extraordinary rewards for their services which were meritorious to the state as they were offering help to put Yi Song –gye on the throne. The method of reward to royal supporters came to be known as Kongsin system.[Joseph Richmond, Levenson. Confucian China and its modern fate: A trilogy. (Vol. 1. University of California Press, 1968),78]
The number one merit subject was inclusive of names belonging to 44 men who were classified under three merit classes and each class contained at least eleven more names which were added to the list later. The first class merit subjects were receiving land grants of about 350-500 acres and 15 to 30 slaves to till their lands. The second cla...