Confucianism as a religion

Confucianism as a religion arose more than two and a half thousand years ago. At the very beginning of its development, it was just an ethical-political teaching that only after the death of Confucius turned into a real religion, which, despite the technical and ethical revolution, is still the foundation of the Chinese and Japanese way of life.

Confucianism: a general characteristic

In fact, when creating his rules and writing his works, Confucius did not come up with anything new. He just remembered the ancient traditions and gave them a completely new breath and meaning.

Ancient Chinese philosophers praised the beauty and harmony of nature. They believed that nature and the whole surrounding world were created perfect. And it was nature that man had to learn the rules of behavior. It was believed that only having achieved harmony with the environment, fully sensing its power, a person can achieve peace with himself.

Confucius never rejected this idea. But he considered important and human life among other people, their interaction and joint survival. It was society that he considered the most important link, since he learned to live in society, a person could sow the seeds of good in the world. That is why this famous scientist believed that people need rules that would solve the problems of communication. A person must have become so used to these rules that they become a part of himself. It was then that he could become an ideal being.

Confucianism: basic ideas

Confucianism as a religion has some basic principles. For example, this teaching examines the so-called ideal person. Every inhabitant of the planet should strive for this state.

The ideal person was to have the Five Basic Virtues, which were meant to be for people as natural as breathing. The first virtue was that people should always be in harmony with other people. It was believed that good is hidden in every newborn person, so you just need to develop it. Simply put, here the main focus was on self-control, the absence of any negative emotions in relation to other people.

The second rule applied to the rules of etiquette. The ideal person should necessarily know all the rituals, rules of good taste and do not give up on them. It is interesting that the teaching did not force people to violently follow these rules. The man had to understand for himself their importance and meaning.

The third rule was that a person must necessarily be educated. That is why philosophy, history, civil law, literature and art - this is what the ideal person was free to own. Only educated people are able to comprehend the truth, since knowledge trains the mind, extends its boundaries.

The Fourth Virtue was a state of the human spirit. Confucianism as a religion implied that every human being had to develop in himself a state in which it could be in harmony with himself and others around him.

When the previous four rules were reached, people could go on to acquire the Fifth Principal Virtue. This meant that all the rules should become so familiar that people no longer force themselves to follow the rules - they are in his blood, and his behavior is embedded in the subconscious. Having reached this state, a man could finally create and sow good.

It is worth noting also the great respect of the Chinese people for their ancestors and parents. Confucianism as a religion required blind love, respect and submission to parents, even after their death. That is why the children were brought up fairly rigidly and there was no question of any disobedience to the father or mother. It was believed that parents and ancestors are a source of wisdom and they know much better what is good for their child.

Confucianism was not recognized as a universal teaching either during the life of Confucius, or after his death. And only many years later, the rules described in the works of this scientist have acquired immense significance, not only for China, but also for Japan.