“Always keep in mind the age of your parents. Let this thought be both your joy and your worry,” writes Confucius, explaining to his disciple the responsibility of one’s relationship and dedication to parents (Analects 4:21). Confucius was a well respected and influential person in Chinese history. His parents died when he was a child, and he experienced severe hardships as an orphan during his childhood. As a result of the hardships he underwent, he started working at a much earlier age as an accountant and a livestock caretaker to support himself. He was a native son of duchy Lu, known today as Shandong Province, China (“Confucius” Current Event). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Confucius cites that Confucius, being self-motivated and passionate about learning, taught himself in music and ancient history. He started teaching a group of disciples at age 20, and at 50 he became involved in politics. He served during the Duke Ding regime as Minister of Public Work and later Minister of Crime. However, he served a short term as a Minister of Crime and was forced into exile due to some political conflict between him and other government officials. His teachings are referred to today as Confucianism, which centers on the teaching that people should treat others with respect—Confucius’s golden rule—and they must not only better themselves, but also work to enrich the lives of others around them (“Confucius” The Stanford). Despite all the struggles that Confucius underwent during his early childhood, he devoted the remainder of his life teaching the moral and the social philosophical ideas of love, peace, wisdom and respect.
The “Analects,” which contains his teachings, conversations and exchanges with his disciples, was compiled by several generations of his students. It contains his teachings on subjects such as government, personal conduct, warfare, family values and the spirit. The original text was first translated into Latin and published in Paris in 1687, under the title “Confucius Sinarum Philosophus” (Spencer 1). Confucius’s teachings in the “Analects,” such as his emphasis on respecting and obeying parents and elders and education and study, are significant in understanding his ideology or philosophy.
Devotion to parents is one of the major hallmarks of Confucius’ teaching that is outlined in the “Analects.” He regards respect to parents and other family members as the most basic form of promoting the interest of others before one’s self interest. According to Confucius, “A man who respects his parents and his elderly would hardly be inclined to defy his superior” (Analects 1.2). Confucius also believed that parents and elderly persons are wiser and more experienced; therefore, having respect for them is the “root of humanity” (Analects 1.2). The phrase “root of humanity” possibly implies that being respectful to parents and elders forms the foundation of treating others with respect and love and self-discipline. This root of humanity starts from home because if one treats his or her parents and older siblings at home with respect, he or she will treat others the same way. The root of humanity also forms the basics of living in peace and harmony because respect brings love, which fosters peace.
Confucius also stressed the importance of family values with respect to obeying parents. For instance, when one of his disciples asked him about filial piety, which relates to family values, Confucius responded by saying, “Never disobey,” meaning be a servant to your parents; do whatever they tell you to do. He went on to say that “when your parents are alive, serve them according to the ritual” (Analects 2.5). The ritual he is referring to is Li, which is the ritual forms and rules of prosperity through which one expresses respect for parents and the elderly and behave accordingly so that his role in society is worthy of respect and admiration. The Stanford Encyclopedia on Confucius argued a similar point toward serving parents, that being submissive does not mean subjecting oneself to ritual; rather it gives one the ability to learn “how to reconcile one’s own desires with the needs of one’s family and community” (“Confucius,” The Stanford). Being humble does not mean being subject to others, but it shows that one is disciplined and respectful. Confucius mentioned that filial piety is about attitude, and he stressed that an individual, especially youths, should always offer to help when there is work (Analects 2.8). Being respectful and obedient to parents and elders brings prosperity and joy because it is the basis of how one would treat others around in a society.
Education and study are also other major hallmarks of Confucius’ teachings. He disagrees with those who believe in intuition and holds that the understanding of subjects originates from long and careful study. According to Confucius, “a gentleman enlarges his learning through literature” (Analects 6:27). This is to say the more one reads, the broader his knowledge becomes. He also emphasizes the effectiveness and characteristics of a good teacher. For Confucius, a good teacher is one who studies the past to make informed decision about the future (Analects 2.11). He sees study as thinking critically and finding a right teacher and following his or her footsteps. Confucius believes that “studying without thinking is futile” (Analects 2.15). He defines knowledge as taking “…what you know for what you know, and what you do not know for what you do not know” (Analects 2:17). This statement implies that one must critically explore beyond the mere understanding of something that one has a little knowledge about in order to get a better understanding.
Robin Wittermore, author of the article “To Know is to Act Knowledge,” argued that acting knowledge requires dedication, being creative, detail oriented and intellectually inclined (Wittermore 1). To act knowledge is to practically demonstrate with integrity and enthusiasm what one has studied. Confucius would possibly agree with Wittermore too because he himself made it clear that he only teaches those who are willing to learn and individuals should practice what they preach. “I only enlighten the enthusiastic; I guide only the fervent,” Confucius writes (Analects 7.8). The Phrase “I only enlighten the enthusiastic” implies that Confucius was an instructor who was willing to teach anyone that was ambitious to learn. He also made it clear that he only “guided” those that are passionate and serious about learning.
Confucius' teaching is important to the social orders of a society. His teachings, such as filial piety and the significance of education, create an ideal moral society that fosters love, peace and harmony, respect, obedience and a learning community that promotes disciplined scholars. His philosophy or ideology creates a gentleman that demonstrates integrity, respect for humanity and family values. Some of his ideologies, such as filial piety, are still relevant in some parts of the world. Even though all of Confucius' teachings might not be relevant today in modern society, putting to practice some of his major teachings such as respecting and obeying parents and treating others with love and respect and promoting education foster an ideal society.
Work Cited
“Confucius.” Current Events, a Weekly Reader Publication. 29 Sept 2006: SS2. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 4 Oct. 2010
“Confucius.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 5 Sept. 2006. Web.5 Oct. 2010
Page duBois et al. “The Analects.” The Longman Anthology of World Literature. Editors David Damrosch and David L. Pike. New York: Pearson Publication 2009.1046-1050. Print.
Spence, Jonathan. "What Confucius Said." The New York Review of Books (1997): 10-13. Rpt. in Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Literature Resource Center. Web. 5 Nov. 2010.
Wittermore, Robin. “To Know Is To Act Knowledge (2.17).” Journal of Nursing Scholarship 31.4 (1999): 365. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 4 Oct. 2010.
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