Traditional Values of Confuciu
In the Analects, Confucius gives readers certain guidelines regarding how government and kingship should conduct itself. Through his descriptive text Confucius breaks down many aspects of the expectations of ruling forces. Confucius embodies a sense of traditional and moral values that shine through in his writings. His conservative view appears throughout the Analects as Confucius outlines his guidelines regarding a legitimate, successful government, and the qualities of a good king. Confucius outlines the government as consisting of three major practices: filiality, humaneness, and ritual decorum. These practices which Confucius describes traditionally contain very conservative and moral ideologies. All three practices stress the importance of moral values such as peaceful, egalitarian interactions, respect and concern for others, and dignity. Confucius stems out to expand his definitions of the three practices, but the main traditional concepts remain the same. Filiality involves placing great importance on the care one has of their family members, and treating non-family members as if they were part of their family. Confucius found this practice extremely important in society, and believed that if everyone was "fi
While some governments rely on enforcing strict, unfair rules to achieve a successful government, they often result in unrest and violence. Confucius promotes ethical goodness for a perfect government, reiterating his beliefs of traditional values. Throughout the Analects, Confucius attributes many problems with society to the lack of moral values. Confucius also stresses care for one another in a society, and explains the importance of humaneness along with other moral values. Confucius explains "one who is not humane is able neither to abide for long in hardship nor to abide for long in joy. Confucius intertwines his moral values into his views on kingship. You want to develop yourself; then help others to develop themselves. Confucius emphasizes the moral significance of filiality and humaneness, but the most important aspect of a society he regards as ritual. The humane find peace in humaneness; the knowing derive profit from humaneness" ( 48). To properly achieve a harmonious government, the society also requires humaneness. Confucius expresses his moral standpoint throughout the Analects, making the reading both a literary masterpiece and an inspiration to those who read it. Many parts of kingship relate back to Confucius's standpoints on government. Confucius places great importance upon moral values, so it would only make sense that in a society, the king would reward those who demonstrated moral characteristics, and place them higher than those who do not demonstrate such admirable qualities. As Confucius explained, "the ruler should employ the ministers according to ritual; the ministers should serve the ruler with loyalty" (48). Being able to recognize oneself in others, one is on the way to become humane" ( 50).
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