Confucius
by Christopher Caile
Author's Note: Confucianism was central to Asian cultures which spawned Karate, Japanese classical and modern martial arts as well as Chinese martial arts. While it had little direct effect on technique itself, it did provide a framework for the philosophy and operational exercise of many arts.
Confucius was called Chung Mi in his boyhood and is also known as Kuang
Fu Tsu. A famous Chinese philosopher, and frustrated administrator and
advisor to various feudal lords within the Federation of the Chow (that
followed Sung) dynasty. His Chinese name Kong-zi (or, Kong fu zi) has
been Romanticized into western name of Confucius (551-473 B.C.). Some
authorities say he was a contemporary of Lao-Tsu. Although he never wrote
down his teachings, his disciples (who followed his travels throughout
the Federation), upon his death gathered his sayings and beliefs they
had memorized into a book known as the Analects of Confucius. The book
served as the basis of his philosophy which had a profound and pervasive
effect on people in later generations when every school pupil was required
to memorize his teachings and educated adults were expected to be well
versed in his philosophy. Based on a belief in the inherent goodness of
man, Confucius philosophy taught (obligation) devotion to family, loyalty
to the constituted authority (personal loyalty to immediate superiors
and to those above) as well as ethical behavior, a ridged code of honor
and courtesy - conduct based on good example and higher principles - which
he believed were the most effective means of control over personal action.
Confucius believed that law failed on two fronts: It could be circumvented
and it could not evoke a sense of shame (a powerful self regulator) over
those who it sought to control. He was a teacher of ethics and morals
as well as an proponent of ancient rites, ceremonies and songs. His own
life served as an example to those who followed. He lived in a time of
political and military anarchy during which central authority had been
eroded by political efforts to usurp power and control within the Federation
(which now comprises the provinces of Shantung, Honen and Shensei in modern
day China). The distress of the Federation was not seen as a result of
the political structure or doctrines, but the faulty functioning of people
- the loss of principles, ethics and standards of behavior. Thus his teachings
stressed the inculcation of gentlemanly conduct, morals, sets of obligations
and ethics within the population to set a standard for conduct. His general
rule of conduct was, "Do not unto others what you would not have others
do unto you." His teachings were propagated by his grandson, who wrote
The Doctrine of The Mean.
About The Author:
Christopher Caile is the founder and editor of FightingArts.com |
