Susan Lankam, age 17, of Decatur, I11., for her question:
CAN YOU DEFINE CONFUCIANISM?
Confucianism is a major system of thought in China that developed from the teachings of Confucius and his disciples. It is concerned with the principles of good conduct, practical wisdom and proper social relationships.
Confucianism has influenced the Chinese attitude toward life, set the patterns of living and standards of social value and provided the background for Chinese political theories and institutions. The system of thought has spread from China to Korea, Japan and Vietnam and has also aroused interest among Western scholars.
The principles of Confucianism are contained in the nine ancient Chinese works handed down by Confucius and his followers. Confucius lived from 551 to 479 B. C.
Although Confucianism became the official ideology of the Chinese state, it has never existed as an established religion with a church and priesthood. Chinese scholars honored Confucius as a great teacher and sage but did not worship has a a personal god. Nor did Confucius himself ever claim divinity.
Unlike Christian churches, the temples built to Confucius were not places in which organized community groups gathered to worship, but public edifices designed for annual ceremonies, especially on the philosophers birthday.
Several attempts to deify Confucius failed because of the essentially secular nature of his philosophy.
Scholars say Confucian virtues, embodied for countless generations, will remain the cornerstone of ethics. It is doubtful, however, that Confucianism ever again will play the dominant role in Chinese political life and institutions that it did in past centuries.
The Chinese Communist victory of 1949 undermined the uncertain future of Confucianism. Many Confucian based traditions were put aside. The old family system was deemphasized.
Today, the Chinese government opposes Confucianism because the philosophy encourages people to look to the past rather than to the future. Confucian ideas, however, remain widespread in other countries in East Asia today.
Confucius' real name was Kung Chin. The name "Confucius" is a Latin form of a title which means "Great Master K'ung."
Confucius' parents died when he was a child and he failed in an attempt to become an adviser to a wise ruler. He had wanted the position so he could put into practice his ideas for reforming society.
Confucius received some minor official appointments but at his death he was largely unknown throughout China. His disciples spread his teachings.
No book exists that was definitely written by Confucius. His conversations and sayings were recorded by his disciples in a book called the "Analects."