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Chinese Humanism (from 1751B.C.)
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Chinese Humanism (from 1751B.C.) From Chan s A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy What is Chinese Humanism? Does not deny the importance of Supreme Power. – PowerPoint PPT presentation
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Title: Chinese Humanism (from 1751B.C.)
1
Chinese Humanism(from 1751B.C.)
- From Chans
- A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy
2
What is Chinese Humanism?
- Does not deny the importance of Supreme Power.
- Does profess the unity of man and Heaven.
3
Core Doctrine The Mandate of Heaven
- A self-existent moral law whose constant reliable
factor was virtue. - Mans destiny is determined by his own good words
and his own good deeds. - Therefore, mandates of rule and rights are passed
on through the results of our own actions here on
earthour virtue. - Heaven (Tien) is the Supreme Spiritual Reality,
but mans destiny is totally the result of his
own virtue, effort, and moral deeds.
4
Ancestor Worship
- Great ancestors, therefore, pass down their moral
example and inspiration to each new generation. - In this way the Mandate of Heaven (and all of its
material rewards) is passed downor lost.
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The Great Norm(12th c. B.C.)
- The Lord (Heaven) passes this down to those whose
actions are virtuous. - It has Nine Categories and the various virtues
that accompany it.
6
The Nine Categories
- I The Five Agents
- Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, Earth
- These correspond with their separate human
activities. - II The Five Activities
- Appearance, Speech, Hearing, Seeing, Thinking
- These correspond with their separate human
virtues
7
The Nine Categories continued
- The Five Activities explained
- The virtue of Appearance is respectfulness
- That of Speech is reason
- That of Seeing is clearness.
- That of Hearing is distinctness
- That of Thinking is profundity
8
Nine Categories continued
- The Five Activities and their results
- Respectfulness leads to gravity.
- Reason leads to orderliness.
- Clearness leads to wisdom.
- Distinctness leads to deliberation
- Profundity leads to sageliness
- All of the above must be cultivated by the Ruler
9
Nine Categories continued
- III The Eight Government Offices
- Food
- Commodities
- Sacrifices
- Public Works
- Education
- Justice
- Reception of Guests
- Army
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Nine Categories continued
- IV The Five Arrangements of Time
- Year
- Month
- Day
- Stars, planets, and zodiacal signs
- Calendric Calculations
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Nine Categories continued
- V The Supreme Standard
- The Sovereign, having established the Highest
Standard, gathers in him the Five Blessings, and
spreads them over the people.
12
Nine Categories continued
- VI The Three Virtues
- Correctness and Uprightness
- In times of peace
- Strong Government
- In times of violence and disorder
- Weak Government
- In times of harmony and order
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Nine Categories continued
- VII The Examination of Doubts
- Select officers with the use of experts
- Consult your conscience
- Consult with the common people
- If all agree, your decision is correct, and there
will be great prosperity.
14
Nine Categories continued
- VIII The General Verifications
- Government must be in balance with rain,
sunshine, heat, cold, wind and seasonableness. - If all are in balance, there will be great
prosperity.
15
Nine Categories continued
- IX The Five Blessings
- Longevity
- Wealth
- Physical and mental health
- Cultivation of excellent virtue
- An end crowning a good life
- Each of these has its opposite, the punishment
for evil conduct.
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Spirits, Soul, and Immortality
- The spiritual realm is only attracted to the
influence of human virtuous action. - A virtuous person cultivates a strong soul, and
this is passed down through generations. - If virtue, achievement and words are established,
and these are not abandoned through time, a
person will be considered immortal.
17
The Four Books
- The Confucius
- The Mencius
- The Great Learning
- The Doctrine of the Mean
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Confucius Molder of Chinese Civilization
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Confucius Human Nature is Good
- Man can make the Way great.
- A good society is based upon good government and
harmonious human relations. - Rule by virtue and moral example (not punishment
or force) creates good government. - Righteous rule is the criterion for goodness (in
family or government).
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Confucius II
- All people are perfectible, and capable of
becoming superior. - Superiority is a moral concept.
- Nobility is a quality of character.
(virtue)
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Confucius Fundamental Concepts
- Rectification of Names
- Be your name.
- The Mean
- Act in moderation.
- The Way
- All substance and function must be in harmony.
- Heaven
- Moral Law operates by itself.
- Humanity (jen)
- The central virtue of helping others.
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Confucius Rectification of Names
- Social order is dependent upon regulation of
names and ranks. - A persons name should imply what he is, morally.
(good manners)
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Confucius The Mean
- All human action should be in balance.
- Its result should be one thread
- Establish your character by establishing the
character of others. - This is known as the Confucian Golden Rule
- Do not do to others what you would not want them
to do to you. 1523
24
The Analects
- If you set your mind on humanity you will be free
from evil. - He who learns but does not think is lost he who
thinks but does not learn is in danger. - The superior man in dealing with the world is not
for anything or against anything. He follows
righteousness as the standard.
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Mencius Human Nature is Originally Good
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Mencius Core Principles I
- Man has the innate ability to do good.
- Utmost mental development will ensure a good
destiny. - We must beware of evil influences.
- We must sincerely strive to recover our original
good nature. - The goal is to recover our lost mind.
27
Mencius Core Principles II
- The practice of love must begin with family
righteousness. - Humanity and righteousness will create good
government. - Everyone has equal moral potential and is capable
of becoming a sage.
28
The Book of Mencius
- If you let people follow their true nature they
will do good. - Parents are the foundation of life and ones
first moral obligation is to them. - He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his
true nature. - The superior person is most watchful over herself.
29
The Great Learning I
- Its core principles
- Conscientiousness
- Altruism
- Its Three Items
- Manifesting clear character
- Loving the people
- Abiding in the highest good
30
The Great Learning II
- The Eight Steps
- Investigation of things
- Extension of knowledge
- Sincerity of the will
- Rectification of the mind
- Cultivation of the personal life
- Regulation of the family
- National order
- World peace
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The Doctrine of the Mean
- Nature and Man form a unity.
- The universe is harmonious.
- Mans nature is harmonious.
- Sincerity is the quality that brings both man and
nature together.
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Doctrine of the Mean Subjects
- The relation between man and nature.
- The relations between people.
- Knowledge and conduct.
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Exemplary Doctrines
- The superior man is watchful over himself when he
is alone. - The way of the superior man is seen in the simple
relations between a man and a woman. - What you do not want others to do to you, do not
do to them.
34
The Five Universal Relations
- Ruler and minister
- Father and son
- Husband and wife
- Elder and younger brothers
- Friends
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The Three Universal Virtues
- Wisdom (from the love of learning)
- Humanity (from vigorous practice)
- Courage (from knowing shame)
- He who knows these three things cultivates his
personal life, others, and the world.
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The Nine Standards of Sincerity
- Cultivate the personal life.
- Honor the worthy.
- Love your relatives.
- Respect your superiors.
- Relate with your peers.
- Nurture your inferiors.
- Attract various artisans.
- Welcome strangers.
- Influence kindly those with great power.
37
Five Steps of Sincere Study
- Study extensively.
- Inquire accurately.
- Think carefully.
- Sift clearly.
- Practice earnestly.
