Confucianism in Modern China   Term Paper ID:27563 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Discusses the historical foundations of Confucianism. Examines the role of Confucianism in Chinese socio-political life since the mid-19th century.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Discusses the historical foundations of Confucianism. Examines the role of Confucianism in Chinese socio-political life since the mid-19th century. Paper Introduction: China made an intellectual journey from Confucianism to Communism in the century between the middle of the nineteenth century and the middle of the twentieth century. In the Taiping era, Confucianism prevailed, while by the middle of the next century Confucianism was rejected in favor of a new and foreign (though modified to the Chinese situation) ideology, that of Marxism. Confucianism was long the primary influence in Chinese thought, challenged by different strains of religious and philosophical thought at different times, but hardy enough to persist. It would be a major target for the Communist regime after 1949, being seen then as an unnecessary remnant from the past and as an ideology that conflicted with the Communist thought promoted by Mao and his followers. Confucius introduced a strong and lasting philosophical syste Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. For Yeh Te-Hui, Confucianism is anessential element in Chinese life: An examination of the causes of success and failure in government reveals that in general the upholding of Confucianism leads to good government while the adoption of foreignism leads to disorder. Confucianism was long the primary influence in Chinesethought, challenged by different strains of religious and philosophicalthought at different times, but hardy enough to persist. More and more, a Western influence hadcrept into Chinese life, and the reformers had tried to make China morelike the West in certain respects. He thus married the traditionaland the modern: Consequently his ideas were formed much more within the Chinese tradition, and found their most typical expression in the language and formulas of the past (134).Nationalism was the principle that most infused his era, but he also foundConfucian ethics to be a vital element, as had Dr. Sun: The latter, in his long struggle to organize and lead a national revolution, had come to a new appreciation of the traditional Confucian virtues for which earlier he had found little use. The newintellectual class would become part of the effort to change, as with theNew Culture Movement. If one keeps to kingly rule [relying on virtue], there will be order; if one follows the way of the overlord [relying on power], there will be disorder (8 ). The leaders themselves were in many cases Western educated. During and after the First World War, a culturalrevolution was undertaken with six major phases: 1) the attack onConfucianism; 2) the Literary Revolution; 3) the proclaiming of a newphilosophy of life; 4) the debate on science and the philosophy of life; 5)the "doubting of antiquity" movement; and 6) the debate on Chinese andWestern cultural values: From its anti-traditionalist character one may infer that the leaders of the movement looked very much to the West. Sources of Chinese Tradition: Volume II. By the time of Mao, there was a strong Western influence in China.After 1895, the Western invasion increased with the establishment of newschools that combined both Western and Chinese subjects. In the Taiping era, Confucianism prevailed, whileby the middle of the next century Confucianism was rejected in favor of anew and foreign (though modified to the Chinese situation) ideology, thatof Marxism. (152). . They could serve as a means of achieving social discipline and national cohesion among a people who were otherwise just a "heap of loose sand" (135).This is why the Republican Revolution of 1911 did not create a cohesivenation-state--at that time, Sun Yat-Sen did not mesh his revolution withthe Confucianism he later saw as necessary to bind together the Chinesepeople. Confucius introduced a strong and lasting philosophical system, onethat would have importance not only in China but in Japan and other partsof the world. He wrote his Analects as guides for living, and Confucianismwould infuse the writings and thinking of other philosophers, rulers, andreligious leaders through the ages. Be harmonious and united as one body, Blessings will shower down upon you from Heaven (3 ). Confucianism differs from religioussystems in that it is a philosophy of ethics and morals rather than areligious system in the usual sense, though Confucius derived his ethicaland moral principles from earlier religious and philosophical writings andtraditions. . The superiority of Confucianism was explained by Yeh Te-Hui, showinghow Confucianism was still strong in the early years of this century afterreformist moves in the 189 s. The importance of filialpiety was emphasized in the Taiping era in the official text called "APrimer in Verse." The Taipings opposed Confucianism, but in fact theyadopted many elements of Confucianism, as can be seen in "The Way of theFamily": Kinsfolk within the household-- Be cheerful and happy! The changes that came over China helps explain therise of Mao and the changes he was able to institute in this century,changes that in many ways were more massive than any that had been broughtto China as a whole for centuries. Theodore, Wing-Tsit Chin, and Chester Tan. Under Chiang Kai-Shek, who carried on the ideas ofSun Yat-Sen, there was some distortion of these foreignisms because he wasdependent on others to interpret them for him, since he had no formaleducation and knew no foreign language. . The New Culture Movementaddressed the remnants after the political elements of Confucianism hadcollapsed after 1916. The acceptance of foreignisms would continue to be a threat toConfucianism in China. . Work CitedDe Bary, Wm. Yet efforts to eliminate Confucian principles continued, with otherforeign elements being brought in as a counter. It would be amajor target for the Communist regime after 1949, being seen then as anunnecessary remnant from the past and as an ideology that conflicted withthe Communist thought promoted by Mao and his followers. Confucian cultivation had attempted a delicate adjustment between the claims of the individual and those of his society. Positivism was their great inspiration, science and materialism were their great slogans, and--in the early years especially-- John Dewey and Bertrand Russell were their great idols. New York: Columbia University Press, 196 . China made an intellectual journey from Confucianism to Communism inthe century between the middle of the nineteenth century and the middle ofthe twentieth century. At times, even these changes werelinked to Confucianism, as when Liu Shao-ch'i in his How to Be a GoodCommunist includes Confucian sources to explain the nature and significanceof Communist self-cultivation: While obviously Liu adapts traditional concepts to a most untraditional purpose. the concepts are still half- recognizable. With Liu the adjustment is subtle and it involves the individual, but the balance is totally destroyed (281).The Chinese have used Confucianism again and again as a means of achievingsocial cohesion, and Confucianism has been adapted to different regimes,ideologies, and realities. The author defended Confucian ethical idealsand existing institutions alike. Perfection is achieved through following the Analects ofConfucius, concerned primarily with the individual's relationship to hisfellow man and to the ethical and moral problems that will ensue, andfilial piety is a major tenet of Confucianism. . If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.