Chinese Humanism (from 1751B.C.)

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Chinese Humanism(from 1751B.C.)

• From Chans
• A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy

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What is Chinese Humanism?

• Does not deny the importance of Supreme Power.
• Does profess the unity of man and Heaven.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Great Learning I

• Its core principles
• Conscientiousness
• Altruism
• Its Three Items
• Manifesting clear character
• Loving the people
• Abiding in the highest good

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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.

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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.

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Five Steps of Sincere Study

• Study extensively.
• Inquire accurately.
• Think carefully.
• Sift clearly.
• Practice earnestly.