Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AB Philosophy 2-1
Chinese Philosophy
Confucius
I. Short Biography of Confucius (K'ung Fu Tz= added to names of most
philosophers during the Chou period, Master Kung)
According to Shi Chi (Historical Records) he was born in 551 B.C (during the Chou
dynasty) in the state of Luwhere the Chou culture is in abundance or flourishing.
Six Disciplines
the basis of Confucian learning; Confucius brought it down to the common people
In learning, there should be no class distinction; the aim of Confucius in teaching
was to nurture a person so that he might become someone who would be useful to his
state, rather than to produce a scholar belonging to any one philosophic school--Shih
(Book of Odes) talks about aims; Shu (Book of History) events; Li (Rites) directs
conduct; Yeh (Music) harmony; I (Book of Changes) principles of Yin and Yang;
Chun Chiu (Spring and Autumn Annals) distinctions and duties.
This is the ethical theory of Confucius which plays an important part for his vision of
social order.
This is achieved through the teachings and learning of the Six Disciplines.
'' Do not do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you.''
--This is fulfilling one's duties to another person and to his society and not usurping
a different position
'' Let the ruler be ruler, the minister a minister; let the father be father and son be
son.''
-- If you are a leader/superior, act like it and so your subjects obey.