WorldHistory
Logan
Unit3:NatureofEmpire
Name__________________________________________________
“TheMasterSaid…”
TheTeachingsofConfucius
Background:
Confuciuswasateacher/philosopherwholivedinChinafrom551‐479BCE.Heworkedasalow‐levelofficialfortheZhou
Dynastybutwatchedtheempiredisintegrateasvariousstatesbeganbattlingforpower.Heenvisionedawayforsociety
toreturntopeaceandorderandgraduallygainedafollowing.Histeachingswerelaterrecordedbyhisfollowersina
bookcalledtheAnalects.Belowareseveralselectionsofwhat“themastersaid.”
1. Ayoungmanistobefilialwithinhisfamilyandrespectfuloutsideofit.Heistobeearnestandfaithful,overflowinginhis
loveforlivingbeingsandintimatewiththosewhoarehumane.Ifaftersuchpracticehehasstrengthtospare,hemayuse
itinthestudyofculture.
Whatshouldbeaperson’spriorities?
2. Onewhogovernsthroughvirtuemaybecomparedtothepolestar,whichoccupiesitsplacewhilethehostofotherstars
payhomagetoit…
Leadthembymeansofregulationsandkeeporderamongthemthroughpunishments,andthepeoplewillevadethem
andwilllackanysenseofshame.Leadthemthroughmoralforceandkeeporderamongthemthroughrites,andthey
willhaveasenseofshameandwillalsocorrectthemselves.
Whatdoyouthinkismeantby“shame”?
Howdoesagoodrulerrule?
3. Wealthandhonorarewhatpeopledesire,butoneshouldnotabideinthemifitcannotbedoneinaccordancewiththe
Way.Povertyandlowlinessarewhatpeopledislike,butoneshouldnotavoidthemifitcannotbedoneinaccordance
withtheWay…
Thenoblepersonisconcernedwithrightness;thesmallpersonisconcernedwithprofit.
Havingcoarsericetoeat,watertodrink,abentarmforapillow—joyliesinthemidstofthisaswell.Wealthandhonor
thatarenotrightfullygainedaretomeasfloatingclouds.
Basedonthistext,whatdoyouthinkthe“Way”is?
WhatistheConfucianviewofmaterialwealth?
4. Iamnotonewhowasbornwithknowledge;Iamonewholovesthepastandisdiligentinseekingit.
Howdoesonegainknowledge?