Confucianism A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #395

by Daniel K. Gardner

Daniel K. Gardner explores the major philosophical ideas of the Confucian tradition, showing the profound social and political impact it had and continues to have in China.

Genres: Philosophy, China, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Asia, Spirituality

Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Riku Sayuj · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Adaptive Disciples

Robert Bellah has said that "every religion tries to remake the world in its own image, but is always to some extent remade in the image of the world." This is true of most religions, but how they are remade reflects also the extent to which, and the manner in which, they themselves actually try to remake the world.

In this VSI, Gardner takes us through the beginnings of the Confucian movement where we see Confucius transmit an idealized sociopolitical vision from the early Zhou past to a select group of followers, who then keep the light alive even though the Master did not get much popular acclaim in his own day. Then we follow along as the faithful followers and their disciples, over the centuries, elaborate on this vision, some emphasizing one aspect, others another, such as Mencius and Xunzi — sometimes even managing to take a common tradition in entirely opposite directions.

Later we encounter the Neo-Confucian movement, now almost a millennium after the Master’s time, reacting to new developments by interpreting his core ideas from the stand point of new metaphysical concepts (such as qi, li, yin and yang, among others) — converting the original practical vision into a universal vision that is meant to explain the how and why of the original thoughts… and to explain everything else too since they are at it, all with the help of philosophical terms and concepts that would have meant little to Confucius himself.

Gardner maintains a firm focus on this realm of ideas, showing us how the original vision of the Master has been adapted into such a variety of interpretative shapes over the centuries. And this adaptability is the primary reason why confucianism has managed to stay relevant for such an astoundingly long time. It is a religious/philosophical tradition that has managed to continuously adapt and remain relevant over time.

And I would venture that while Confucius himself deserves our respect for creating a philosophy with such an encompassing vision so suited to his people, no small credit is due to the fact that the keepers of the tradition were the very top brass of this wide country -- and it was their capacity for innovation and creative adaption that has allowed the tradition to reinvent itself so elegantly and relevantly every time. They have shown a unique capacity to hold fast to tradition without slipping into a dogmatic slumber that would let modernity pass them by, and even if they did occasionally they have been alert enough to pick up on it and take positive action in defense of their philosophy, shaping its message to address the pressing issues of the day.

If only every religious and philosophical tradition was in such capable hands, we would have fewer dogmatic religions and more enlightened ones. And a less dangerous world.

[Owen Hatherley · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the good ones in this series, patiently explaining why what can seem like a fairly unappealing body of thought is important and interesting.

[jzthompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was really good, exactly the right level of detail for an introduction and as pacey and involving as a thriller. At times I found it hard not to draw lazy parallels with more familiar territory; 'Oh so he's kind of like the Chinese Hobbes' I thought when reading the chapter on Xunzi, but Gardner steers the reader past that, and the even lazier temptation of just shrugging 'oh man, it's just so different,' with ease. Really recommended.

[Igor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to broad subject.

[Zohal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this to use as a source for my essay on Confucianism in Ancient East Asian societies.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I found this book riveting. It was concise and well written. It didn't cover everything, but it certainly whetted my appetite for more. It gave a basic introduction to Confucius' ideas, the developments of Mencius and Xunzi, the philosophies of Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism, and the practical realities for Confucianism through the twentieth and twenty first centuries. The story made connections and made all sorts of pennies drop into place for me. Is it too nerdy to say it was exciting?! So many 'ah!' moments that made my heart race. I can't wait to learn more. I thoroughly recommend it as a first toe into the subject. Sigh, there is not enough time in one lifetime to read all the books I want to read!

[Aldwin Susantio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confucius core beliefs :
1. Man can become a sage
2. Moral goodness results from self cultivation
3. Learning is self cultivation process
4. Vanguard elite is essential in promoting morality among the people
5. Good governance depends on the virtue of the ruler, to create a condition where people can become good and society can become harmonious

Another good point :
(+)Confusius emphasize the importance of learning. He once said "in a hamlet of ten households, there are sure to be those who in loyalty and trustworthiness are my equal, but none who are my equal in love of learning".
(+) Ritual in every activity to make you focus on what you are doing.

[Brendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wanted a really basic and easy to understand overview, and this was exactly that.

[Cameron Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely good primer on Confucianism.

Particularly interesting was the history of Confucianism and the way that it adapted to social circumstances--the shift from classical Confucianism to neo-Confucianism; the decline of Confucianism during the Chinese communist era; and the resurgence of Confucianism in the last half-century to fill the ideological vaccuum as communism has fallen out of favor.

I also learned a lot about the civil service examination system that seems to have played a huge rule in so deeply entrenching Confucianism in Chinese culture.

This book covered Confucianism more as a political ideology and a system of governance. It really emphasized the Confucian idea that a virtuous leader is the key to a well-functioning society. His virtuous conduct is supposed to set an example for the people, causing virtue to permeate throughout society. (It's not as simple as that--Confucianism does recognize that a virtuous leader is not sufficient and that laws are still needed. It's just that they should be used to regulate conduct as a last resort and that the better the government with the more virtuous a leader, the less necessary regulating conduct by law will be). Correspondingly, a vicious leader leads to a vicious populus and society. This seems especially timely given that many have suggested Trump gave a lot of people a moral license to act more racistly, corruptly, etc.

It was interesting, on the other hand, to think about the relationship between promoting stability and virtue, brainwashing, and the civil service examination system China had throughout much of history, which encouraged much of the population to engage in rote memorization of classic texts.

Also interesting: the lack of belief in an an omipotent deity, in contrast to Western society. Tellingly, though, there is a still a belief in the protective force of ancestral spirits.

I found fascinating the status hierarchy that existed throughout much of China's history and how different it is from Western society: politicians were highest, followed by farmers, followed by artisans, and then merchants at the bottom. Merchants were held in low esteem as they were considered "parasites" who didn't produce anything themselves.

Confucianism (at least throughout most of its history) was a deeply sexist philosophy that allowed women to exercise political power only by influencing the men in their lives, not directly. The one notable exception was Empress Wu, who would be an interesting historical figure to study.

There does seem to be a divide between contemporary Western society, which tends to defend against corruption and bad government through systems and structures that provide for accountability and checks and balances, and China, which defended against this by a heavy emphasis on virtue in government leaders. This emphasis on virtue seems to have worked better than it did in some other cases, e.g. revolutionary France.

Although this doesn't seem to have been a part of classic Confucianism, neo-Confucianism shares with many other ancient philosophies like Buddhism the idea that our moral obligations come from our oneness with others and with the rest of the universe. In Neo-Confucianism, it's that the whole universe is composed of qi/chi energy,

My only complaint about this book is that because it focuses so heavily on Confucianism as a political ideology, it neglects the normative ethics of Confucianism to some extent. What I did get out of the book was an understanding of Confucianism's emphasis on family and hierarchy: one should play his proper role (often involving subordination) as a part of certain relationships (e.g. parent-child, friend-friend, husband-wife). I also understand that Confucian virtues include compassion, empathy, courage, trustworthiness, respect for elders and superiors. I also learned about the importance of performing rituals in maintaining a good character. But the book neglects to explain how the Confucian virtues would translate into normative ethical guidance any more specific than that. It mentions that some of the classic Confucian texts contain examples of how the good person would act in certain situations but it doesn't go into those examples. I might read some of those texts to get a better idea.

[Naz · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب يجب أن يطلع عليه كل من يريد التعرف على كونفوشيوسية و تطوراتها التاريخية اليوم و موقف السلطات منها منذ الهيمنة في القرن الثاني إلى الهجوم عليها اواخر القرن العشرين و ذروتها في الثورة الثقافية التي دمرت كل ما يتعلق بالكونفوشيوسية و من ثم في القرن الحالي تمجيد الحكومة لها


تنقسم الفصول إلى 7 فصول و هن

الفصل الاول
تحدث عن الظروف التي نشاء بها كونفوشيوس و تاريخ فلسفته من المزدريه من قبل الممالك إلى السيطرة على شرق آسيا

الفصل الثاني

يطرح الفلسفة الأخلاقية فا يطرح شروط الاخلاق و اسسها هي الطقوس أي موروثات الأجداد في كيفية التصرف بكل شي من الولادة إلى الوفاة و هنا اشوف انه يجعل الانسان غير حر بالإضافة الى ذالك هذه الاشياء تعيق المجتمع من التقدم الأخلاقي و علاقة الاسرة بتربية الفرد

الفصل الثالث

الفلسفة السياسية يقول كونفوشيوس ان الرعية تتأثر بالراعي فاذا الراعي كان تقي فالشعب سيصبح تقي و العكس صحيح و إذا حدث أي اظطراب في المجتمع يجب أن يسال الملك نفسه ماذا فعلت لكي يحدث هذا

حيث يقول

( إذا حكمت العامة بالأوامر الملكية و ضبطتهم بالعقوبات فستمنعهم من إثارة المتاعب لكنك لن تجعلهم يشعرون بالعار مما اقترافته أيديهم و إذا حكمتهم بالفضيلة و جعلت الطقوس وازعا و رقيبا فستجعلهم يصلحون من أنفسهم بالإضافة الى شعورهم بالعار مما ارتكبوه من متاعب )

و إنه يجب أن يختار اولياء المقاطعات و خدم البلاط وفق للفضيلة لاجل ذالك اتجهت الصين منذ عام مئتين ميلادي إلى القرن العشرين الى وضع اختبار عن الفضيلة يتم اختيار فمن خلاله يتم اختيار اولياء المقاطعات و خدم البلاط

نظرته الميتافيزيق عن دعم السماء يقول أن الحاكم الذي يحكم بالفضيلة و الاحسان السماء تدعم عرشه و ان حكم بغير فضيلة و لا احسان ستسحب السماء دعمها و سيطيح به من العرش اي السماء لا تسحب او تدعم عبطا و بناء على تصرف الحاكم مع الشعب هي التي تجعل السماء تدعمه ام لا

و هذا مخالف للفكر الاسلامي و المسيحي ذا الحق الالهي ان تصرف الحاكم بشكل خاطى يجب أن تسكت و لا تخرج عليه بل يحرم ذالك اسمع و اطع فقط و احتسب اجر الصبر


الفصل الرابع

هذا الباب يتكلم عن تطور التعاليم الكونفوشوسية من خلال مدرستين هامتين و هم

مدرسة منشيوس التي ترى ان الفرد طبيعته خيره

و مدرسة شون تسي الذي ترى ان الفرد طبيعته شريره

و يتناول 3 محاور يتكلم عنها عند كل مدرسة و هن ؛

1- طرح فلسفته حول الطبيعية البشرية و كيفية تهذيبها

2- دور الحاكم في التهذيب

3 - الانسان و السماء


الفصل الخامس

الكونفوشوسية الجديدة هي غرس القيم و المبادى الكلاسيكية لكل من كونفوشيوس ، منشيوس و شون تسي من خلال نظام ميتافيزيقي و ايضا تأسيس منهج يعلم الناس كيف يصبحون حكماء خطوة بخطوة

و يشرح ما هي الاسباب التي جعلت الكونفوشوسية الجديدة تهتم بالميتافيزيق و انشاء منهج و ما هو ميتافيزيقيتها



الباب السادس

عبارة عن تأثير الكونفوشوسية في الصين من خلال الأسرة ، المرأة ، التعليم ، الحاكم و المجتمع

التعليم كان دمار ما بعده دمار كل الي عليك ان تحفظ النصوص زي اسمك و تعال سمع تخطئ بحرف تقدم حرف تنضرب بالعصا و ترجع تحفظها يعني نظام استحمار


الفصل الخاتمة

تاريخ الكونفوشوسية منذ القرن العشرين لوقتنا الحاضر من القرن العشرين ذا الهجوم على التراث و قطعه عن الحياة من القرن الحالي الاستفادة من التراث و الاطلاع عليه جانب مع العلوم الحديثة

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction by Daniel K. Gardner offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the profound impact of Confucius' teachings on Chinese society over the last twenty-six centuries. Gardner skillfully delves into the major ideas of the Confucian tradition, focusing particularly on the fundamental questions of what makes a good person and what constitutes good government. Through a well-crafted historical and philosophical lens, Gardner guides readers through the responses of key thinkers within the Confucian tradition, providing a nuanced understanding of the diverse perspectives that have shaped this influential philosophy. The book's effectiveness lies in its ability to present the broad strokes of Confucian history and philosophy, making it accessible for both those new to the subject and those seeking a refresher. In a world where Confucianism remains relevant, Gardner's exploration of its enduring influence, from politics to ethics, proves invaluable. Overall, this Very Short Introduction lives up to its title, delivering an excellent overview of Confucianism that is informative and engaging.

[Jitse · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would have been better to have read this slim but insightful book a few years back when moving to the more confucian side of the world.

In a world where so much seems to evolve around personal growth and nurturing oneself (blah), a world in which the self-help section of book stores outgrows all other sections combined, especially the one where fiction houses, the confucianist ideas of self-cultivation and lifelong learning did not yet gain a lot of traction. Too far removed from the individualist center of the world? I guess when Confucius said, “Women and petty men (xiaoren) are especially hard to handle” (17.23), he wasn’t aware what damage this may do to his image in the year 2024.

The ‘very short introductions’ often make for a good low diving board to jump in a new pool. So does this book. Food for thought and for more confucianist oriented reads. Let’s hope the capitalist gurus don’t catch on in the meantime.

“Zigong asked, ‘Is there one word that can be practiced for the whole of one’s life?’ The Master said, ‘That would be ‘empathy’ perhaps: what you do not wish yourself do not do unto others’” (15.24).

[Mohab Hariry · Rating 4 out of 5]

كنت اعتقد ان الكونفوشيوسية هو مذهب ديني وثني قبل قرائتي لهذا الكتاب من باب الفضول
الا اني اكتشفت مع بداية القراءة انه مذهب أخلاقي فلسفي اكتر منه معتقد ديني .. و لكنه رسخ في الوجدان الصيني رسوخ الاديان بسبب غياب الفكر الديني نفسه
و لا يمكن القراءة عن ذلك المذهب بمعزل عن تاريخ الصين .. إذ ارتبطت الكونفوشيوسية بالحكم الإمبراطوري الصيني ارتباطا لصيقا وثيقا طوال اكثر من الفي عام حتي بداية القرن العشرين و انشاء الحزب الشيوعي الصيني ثم قيام جمهورية الصين الشعبية في منتصف نفس القرن

افكار كونفوشيوس و تلاميذه منشيوس و شون تسي حول فطرة الإنسان و تقويمها و تعريف الفضيلة و اختيار الحاكم هي بالتأكيد مثيرة للتأمل و ذكرتني كثيرا بأفكار الفلاسفة اليونانيين ذائعي الشهرة

"حكم كونفوشيوس وأتباعه الأفراد أن يكونوا أسوة حسنة. فهم يدفعون الآخرين لاتباع السلوك القويم احتذاء بهم. فعندما يمارسون الطقوس ويحترمون الحقوق المتبادلة لتوطيد ما يُسمى بالعلاقات الخمسة، وهي علاقة الوالد بالابن والحاكم بالمحكوم، والزوج بالزوجة، والأخ الكبير بالأخ الصغير، والصديق بالصديق، فإنهم يقدمون نموذجا مثاليا لكل من حولهم للاقتداء به، وبناءً على هذا، يسود الوئام في العائلة وفي المجتمع والإمبراطورية."

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brief guide to Confucianism from the early life of Confucius (孔子) to the ups and downs the philosophy experienced in the twentieth century. It has chapters exploring the system's thinking with respect to personal development as well as with respect to governance and also discusses how later thinkers (most notably Mencius and Xunzi) expanded on Confucius's ideas -- but also created schisms. The book examines the laudable elements of the philosophy such as its sanction of benevolence among leaders, but also its less laudable elements such as its unenlightened views on women and what they are capable of [and, of course, the many ideas in between that could be seen in varied lights.)

As with other books in this series, it has a few graphics as well as a bibliography and further reading section.

I found this book to be readable, well-organized, and of a level appropriate for its intended purpose. I'd highly recommend it for individuals looking for a concise introduction to Confucianism.

[Eyad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didnt find what I was looking for in this book, nor in this subject, but the fact that it was brief and straightforward is why I chose to read it. Now I know that I have to look elsewhere, and I didnt waste much time and effort on it. Going through this book was interesting and satisfying too, and it can easily guide you into deciding whether you want to dive deeper into the topic.

I admire the way of writing for not showing any biased opinions. At all times when various religions, cultures, social behaviors, and schools of thought were brought up there was absolutely no sign of comparing or proving which is "better", even if you actually try to look for clues that might indicate the author's opinion, you won't find any. The author imo did a good job here. By stating facts about things clearly, there was nothing to argue against nor take offense from, and there were no discussions either in the book, whatsoever, saving us the headaches of unending philosophy.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a concise but informative introduction to Confucianism, and this was the perfect book.

My aim in reading the book was to supplement my current thinking on religion and morality in modern Western society (secularism is increasing, but aspects of organized religion have, throughout history, grounded societies in a morality necessary for social cohesion and civic life... so can we find that moral grounding again without religion, and am I doing a disservice to society and my children by raising them as a secular father?) with exposure to (1) a non-Western ancient philosophy that is/was (2) mostly secular by nature but like a religion in practice and (3) was all about grounding society in a morality necessary for social cohesion.

I can say I came out the other side more hopeful and with a much-broadened perspective.

[Peter Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this work partly as a prelude to another work in this overall collection of very brief histories and partly out of my current attempt to gain a better understanding of the current state of modern China.

In seeking to further appreciate that Confucianism was much greater than a solely a system of belief in China until the early 21st century, I therefore picked up this work which I found to be very well structured and achieves well it’s stated intended outcome.

Therefore, be it an introduction or an addition to your appreciation of a belief system that truly determined the multitude of factors it determined and controlled for centuries pre very early in 21st century, this is an wonderful pocket sized, single palm held work that will likely be of interest

3.5

[Rusmir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very solid intro to Confucianism, which I picked up after seeing all the temples in Vietnam. It skips a little bit of the intro of who he was and how he came to be. But after that picks up both the philosophy and the history of that philosophy very well. Ends with how modern Chinese state sees Confucianism now. And oh boy, I feel like I understand some tenants of Chinese society much better now! The family as the cornerstone of society, not the individual, and honoring the past by repeating what they did. Absolutely fascinating and quite different to the ethos of the American experiment.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended especially for those living in or wishing to understand the Confucian belt of countries in the Far East. The section on women is particularly instructive (albeit depressing), whereas the ways in which education in China has been centred around examinations explains so much about the approach to learning that typifies China and Korea in particular.

An instructive and illuminating read. As a method of social control and enshrining an inherent acceptance of hierarchy, Confucianism is a multifaceted beast. This is a great way in to begin to understand it.

[Jenny Jaakkola · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and informative read. I definitely recommend this book as part of reading up on Chinese history and culture. It mainly focused on Confucianism in ancient times, and only a 'few pages' were devoted to its modern application, evolution, and impact. I would have enjoyed a bit more focus on Confucianism in modern times and more of a socio-cultural analysis on the subject. The middle section of the book felt at times a bit repetitive and dry, but as a whole this is a good introduction to the subject.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of what I’ve read on Confucius, this was succinct enough to be seriously interesting, really readable and very good at making the reader want to know more.

I like that it focussed on 3 areas in detail and didn’t go off on tangents, which can be left to the reader for later:

1. Confucius himself

2. His ideas and those who developed them

3. How it actually is applied in society.

Only 120 pages, so really quick read, and definitely worth it for anyone whether they have ever heard of Confucius or read a fair amount.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written history and analysis of Confucianism, lots of new perspectives to consider for even those those who are familiar.
The belief of Confucius that rituals purify morals, that society is best organized a hierarchy, where one man sits on top, that there is no opinionated God/ power, and its influence on Chinese society, to the point it's hard to differentiate what are Chinese characteristics and what are Confucian.

[Kate G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it

In a time of competing and conflicting visions of a healthy society around the world this summary of confucian thinking bears noting. The idea that we are better when we focus on our intellectual and social emotional development is compelliing. The idea that we judge our outcomes by creating a stronger community is very much worth considering.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am taking a course on East Asia and this is one of the many books they gave to me. I learned so much about Confucianism. I wish that the print were a little larger on this book, older-aged eye complaints. :) I have several other books related to this class that I hope to complete this week!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and clear. It's not really a four-star book, except by comparison to some of the other books in the VSI series. It does exactly what it's supposed to do--give the key elements of the thing in an accessibly introductory way.

[Roo Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Short Introduction books are hit and miss. This was on the hit side. A great way to get a high level history of Confucianism and its traditions. This is saying a lot seeing how its roots date back to around 2000 BCE, and continues to be a major influence to this day.

[Rodrigo Padilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

whenever new to Chinese culture this is the fist step

I traveled for the first time to China and I was afraid of the cultural shock. The great explanations from Daniel K. Gardner help me understanding in the big context and set a reference framework.

[chance nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

good stuff, I'd believe in it. I'm not a spiritual guy but Confucianism doesn't have to be if you don't want it to. overlaps well with a lot of my pre-existing ethics, very digestible. Mencius Confucianism for the win.

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summary on Confucianism. Just ordered Yu Dan’s Confucius from the Heart as a follow up.

[Aldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me dio una introducción valiosa para aprender lo básico del confusianismo.