Confucianism

Religious Diversity Resource

eCALD Supplementary Resources

Origins

Confucianism developed from the teachings of the philosopher Confucius during the 5th and 6th centuries BCE. His teachings were adopted as China's State Philosophy and as a code of ethics for Chinese during the 1st century BCE. It has been the philosophic ground of much of the East and Southeast Asian cultures.

"East Asians may profess themselves to be Shintoists, Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims, or Christians - but seldom do they cease to be Confucians" (Religion Facts, 2005).

Confucian teachings provide principles for political and social interaction, individual morality and ethics. Confucianism is regarded by some as a religion, and by others as a philosophy or as a branch of ethics. It has been the most influential of the Three Teachings in shaping behaviour patterns and structure of the family and community (Park & Cho, cited in Park & Chesla, 2007).

It is a highly complex doctrine and very difficult to abstract since the primary text (the Analects) have no specific order and all texts are interrelated. For the purposes of this resource, a very brief version of principles directly related to East Asian cultures and their impact on behaviour in healthcare, is presented.

Whilst the values and principles of Confucianism are pervasive throughout Chinese and other East Asian cultures, it is not common for people to identify themselves as Confucian. Many do not associate their daily practices and beliefs with any formal system.

Core Concepts and Beliefs

The family is seen as the fundamental unit of society, and family cohesion and the concept of community is paramount in sustaining both the community and the state. Harmony is a central organising principle of Confucianism.

Five Virtues

Quintessential to Confucianism are the five basic virtues of:

benevolence (ren)
integrity/uprightness (yi)
rite and propriety (li)
moral understanding (chi)
trust (shin).

There are dependent virtues such as filial piety, loyalty, and respectfulness. People are enjoined to strive towards these virtues in their everyday lives and in their relationships.

Five Relationships

Confucianism is grounded in the five principle relationships for which clear and detailed guidelines are provided. Harmony in society is achieved by the observance of these:

Principle	Relationship description
Ruler to subject	Peace, harmony and social order are dependent on each person upholding their responsibilities and knowing their place in society. The importance is in the reciprocity between members of the relationships. Park & Chesla (2007) point out however, that the responsibilities incumbent on the superior in each relationship became neglected over time resulting in a rigid justification of social hierarchy. Nevertheless, these are valued at least in principle.
Parent to child	The relationship between parents and children should be built on closeness. Children are expected to obey and respect their parents (filial piety), and to reciprocate the gifts and services given them by their parents, during their lives and into the next life; parents rely on their children to look after them in their old age. Near total obedience to parents is a traditional value. Parents in turn are expected to set an example that provides the socialisation for morality in life, to provide a good education and assist their children to become good citizens. Guidance and discipline should be based on love and care.
Husband to wife	The relationship between husband and wife should be based on mutuality. The underlying spirit is division of labour rather than dominance. There is a hierarchy of values, and if children are involved, the role of mother takes precedence over the role of wife.
Sibling to sibling	Younger siblings are expected to obey older siblings who stand as role models. The oldest siblings will act as surrogate in the absence of parents. When resources are limited, the oldest son is favoured in terms of education and younger siblings are expected to support the rest of the family. In turn the oldest son would be expected to become the support and representative for the family (Park & Chesla, 2007).
Friend to friend	Respect by the younger for the older is very important and applies in friendship and all social networks. Respect is earned also through the demonstration of benevolence and care.

Over time Confucianism has placed greater importance and emphasis on ritual. The value of education and learning is also of paramount importance.