James Powell: An Overview of Confucianism

Here Powell will look at key features of that most curmudgeonly of cultural "super heroes", Master Kong, a.k.a. Confucius, foremost exemplar of Chinese culture.

[@pamelamarek2309]

Thank You✨✨🇺🇸✨✨

[@opensourceworldviews]

You are most welcome!

[@rayellis75]

I am a Religious Study major at Clemson University. Due to illness I have had to miss the past few classes and have an exam on Monday on Confucianism, Daoism/Taoism and Buddhism from the similar area. This Video series, along with the Professors power points, and the study of our texts give me confidence in my skills to pass the exam. Having missed some key lectures I was very concerned. Thanks to the publisher.

[@opensourceworldviews]

I am so glad! I hope you do well on the exam!

[@joylove8693]

this is a very interesting channel, many thanks.

[@kokostillwell4034]

Confucius was a philosopher, he taught the people respect, filial piety, reverence for the ancestors, unity and harmony; treat other people the way you want to be treated.

[@juiweiyang1033]

The analect of Confucius (English Translation Video Book) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXvUpYiGqpiqpac&list=PL--zit2ZibNZxLT6IibG5t1Gd0RAH8ZxK&index=3

[@bomjam2590]

I'm a firm believer in that Confucianism is not a religion. I base it on the definition in some dictionaries that a religion is a belief in a deity or "supernatural" being. Confucianism, in my opinion, is a success in maintaining orderly societies. Only in communist Asian societies is it not at its best--for example, modern China and Vietnam. In Japan, Thailand, and S. Korea, I find it very pleasant to see how it functions.

[@opensourceworldviews]

that is simply, no offence, an outdated definition of religiion. if we go with that one, half the world is not religious, half is, meaning, half the eurasian continent historically. neither Daoism nor Buddhism qualifty. also, communist cults would not qualify, yet they are clearly religious, witness the Mao cult and the like.

[@bomjam2590]

Actually, that is one of the definitions in most modern dictionaries--including Merriam-Webster and Oxford. I have no problem saying that "half the world is not religious" based on that definition. But that is only on my interpretation of the word/definition and my disdain for beliefs in "gods". I understand that many people, including you, view the word differently. I respect that. I live in Asia and love how people's beliefs are at a more earthy level and within the realm of reality.

[@opensourceworldviews]

in fact, i like this definition of "religion": "a primary worldview based on a psychological idea of the 'sacred' that binds together directs the thoughts and actions of individuals and societies." With that one, everyone is included, even atheist communists and the like. I understand and respect your view..

[@opensourceworldviews]

far enough, but then we must ask this question: why is it that half the world believes in "religion" as you define it and the other half does not? It seems to me that the belief in ancestors is "other-worldly" also, right?

[@yingzhu8465]

The video got so many things wrong at all different levels. There 2 foundamental ones. 1. No. Confucianism is not a religion. It is very clear to Chinese, but it seems a myth to westerners. The defination of religion "the belief in a god or in a group of gods. / an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods." No. The confucianism doesnt worship gods. If you read his work carefully, you would realize that he actually opposes to the idea of gods / spirits / afterlife. 2. This gentleman confused Chinese culure and Japanese customs. So many argumemts he made appear Korean or Japanese but not Chinese.

[@opensourceworldviews]

You missed my definition of religion: a primary worldview that dictates the thoughts and actions of individuals and whole societies. Confucianism is a worldview no? If you count only belief in "god"as "relgiion" then neither are Buddhism or Daoism "religions". If so, that makes "religion' a western phenomenon only. That would be odd. Point two: the video is not about China but Confucianism. Did you happen to know Confucianism spread to Korea and Japan also? Perhaps you did not, now you do.

[@quqbalam5089]

I disagree that Confucius is the foremost exemplar of Chinese culture. For starters, this essentializes the Chinese people and erases their many complexities and different attitudes throughout history. Not all Chinese are like Confucius nor do they think that they should be like Confucius; in fact, a good majority don't really think he is that important. Daoists, who far outnumber self-declared Confucians by the way, hold Laozi, the founder of Daoism, as more important than Confucius, even being one of the highest gods of their pantheon, unlike Confucius who is just a mere minor spirit for Daoist worshipers who can't be compared to even the lower Xians (Immortals) or a deified human like Guan Yu (a general during the Three Kingdoms period who came to be worshiped as the god of war after his death) who has far more temples dedicated to him than Confucius (although Confucian "temples" are not really temples, they're more like memorials or graveyards). Chinese Buddhists also hold Buddha in higher esteem and hold him to be a better exemplar of Chinese culture than Confucius, and again, they outnumber self-declared Confucians by a lot. Many Westerners for far too long have over-Confucianized China to ridiculous extremes, ignoring the fact that most Chinese do not consider themselves Confucians, and while many do hold him in high regard, there is a reason why Chinese migrants don't really care all that much about him (as can be seen in Chinatowns, for example, where Confucius barely figures) and why anti-Confucian ideologies and movements like the White Lotus sect, the Taiping rebels, the May 4th reformers, Christian converts and, of course, modern Maoism, came to have massive followers and even managed to overthrow Confucianism in the case of the latter. Attempts at Confucian revivals, such as the creation of Confucian "churches", have also largely failed and still remain marginal movements (notwithstanding hyperbolic rhetoric that exaggerates the influence of said revivals, mostly for anti-Communist purposes).

[@opensourceworldviews]

fair enough. then really you are saying there are no exemplars of any cultures, not Muhammad, not Jesus, not Buddha. there will be dissentors in every culture right? on an ultimate level, you would be right, but on that ultimate level, all words obscure the truth of things that is beyond any words. I am sure I prefer Laozi's view in the end over that of Confucius, but many see Confucius as the architect of the Chinese economy, education and government. Indeed, he is not so popular with the masses historically as the popular movements you mention. Finally, one of my teachers will disagree with you. He has many articles here and is native Chinese. I respect your opinion of course! tuweiming.net/

[@quqbalam5089]

JAMES K POWELL II I didn't say there weren't Chinese people who hold Confucius to be the quintessential Chinese and the main representative of their civilization and culture, just that those Chinese, like Tu Weiming, are really in the minority, mostly coming from the elite.

[@opensourceworldviews]

I do not disagree with these points, though I will note that you say yourself "managed to overthrow Confucianism", indicating to me, that it was powerful enough to be "overthrown". No one here is saying Chinese culture is not complex, but just as Jesus Christ can be said to be a major cultural icon for Europeans, I think the same can be said of Confucius for China. No one isn't saying there aren't Jews in Europe, and all generalities by necessity blur specifics, but in a general way, Confucius - and Lao-zi - embody what people think of when they think of Chinese culture.

[@wankee888]

when China is at peace Confucious will be respected., In early 20 century, they desert him.

[@吳正虹]

Jesus is a big lie creator . He created a God which is an abstract hallucination . Confucius has been the best instructor who guide us the way to reach the Eternal Heaven .

[@user-hh2is9kg9j]

Since you are a believer I am very interested in asking you a few questions I have come from a very different world and I want to understand Eastern religions.

[@adric137]

interestomg!