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Essay / The Importance of Confucianism Concepts
Confucianism, being a way of life that can be considered a philosophy and sometimes a religion, has been followed by the Chinese for approximately two millennia. Although the school of thought has transformed over time, it remains a platform of knowledge, the foundation of Chinese people's morals and societal policies. The influence of Confucianism spread to other countries where kingdoms vied for power and wars were widespread. Confucianism was based on the traditional culture of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, dominating feudal societies that had lasted essentially for 2000 years. The influence of Confucianism on Chinese history, social structure and people cannot therefore be neglected. The concepts of Confucianism are essential in giving our kings the right political leadership because they embrace human cordiality, kindness, benevolence, the distinctive nature of human beings as well as the principles of gain, benefit, order and a concrete guide to human nature (Yao 246).Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay With a clear understanding of the political philosophies and theories of my time, it is essential that leaders embrace the concept of the virtue of virtues as described by Confucius. When describing the distinctive nature of human beings, Confucius mentioned that he did not see the expression of the concept of virtue in virtues. In his description, he stated that it is from virtue that other virtues arise, although he failed to give a clear definition of virtue (Yao 251). Critically, anyone could understand the virtue Confucius meant by analyzing the characteristics associated with virtue. The virtue that the concept of Confucianism speaks of is probably that of the human heart. It is from virtue that all other virtues derive. As a king, the virtue of virtues; the human heart is very important because a personality as a king must understand all the needs of the society whether political or social. It is from the virtue of the human heart that a king can define all the other attributes that could aid in a clear understanding of the kingdom. In his definition of the process of becoming a human being, Confucius described true human beings as those who are capable of being disciplined and can return to judgment. His definition of being human centered on self-transformation. It is a necessity for a king to maintain a high level of discipline in order to gain the respect and loyalty of the members of the kingdom. Self-discipline is one of the leadership skills that should be adopted by leaders across the world. During his dynasty, Confucius would have freed himself from his opinions, thus facilitating the understanding of the Confucian “golden rule” which states: “Do not do to others what you would have others do to you”. (Chai and Chai). A king must respect the Confucian Golden Rule even when engaging in wars with enemies. The actions a kingdom must take against its enemies must be reasonable enough to demonstrate a certain level of ethics in its governance. Considering the availability of women and children alongside other vulnerable groups in society should be key to a king's leadership. Confucius' legacy created by the "Golden Rule" is fraught with ethical implications; thus conveying his “clear and real” appreciation that learning to become human is a business enterprise. In his description of humanity, Confucius asserted that people of human nature who wish to establish themselves must also establish others. Those whowish to expand must also expand others. The method of humanity derived from Confucius is essential for leaders such as kings who will always aim to impose themselves. It is necessary for a king to take full responsibility for the kingdom in order to benefit the members of society as a whole. A competent ruler must make available public resources that are important to the normal functioning of a kingdom. Some kings may prefer to divert funds for their own benefit rather than expand their kingdom. The development of the Kingdom would also lead to the growth of the economy; hence an improvement in the lifestyle of many people. A king who demonstrates the kind of responsibility described can be assured of the full support and loyalty of the people he rules. Confucianism states that a real man will sacrifice himself to preserve his "jen", a sense of dignity of human life. Conversely, an individual's sacrifice is what makes life worth living. It is important to note that these sentiments apply to all men and not just to one nation. As a king, it is therefore important to sacrifice oneself in order to lay the foundation for all human relationships in the kingdom. It is the concept of the meaning of the dignity of human life that gives human beings their humanity; thus, as a king, there is no doubt that the personality must be in oneself for effective control of humanity and nature. Being guided by meaning toward human life is the ultimate goal of human action. A king is required to demonstrate his respect for humanity through actions that demonstrate kindness, generosity, and other behaviors that make man appear as a unique creature on the planet (Cline). The principle of “ren” speaks of benevolence, signifying excellent character in accordance with the ritual norms of society. The Chinese believed that the principle of humanity constitutes the virtue of fidelity to one's true nature. Those he leads expect A to be true to his nature and not try to adapt to a personality that does not suit him best. The concept of Confucianism is therefore characterized by a very optimistic view of human nature. Additionally, the school of thought holds that human beings have faith in the likelihood of ordinary human beings becoming highly inspiring creatures, as this is deeply rooted in Confucian heritage. From the story of Confucius himself, he managed to live an ordinary life, proving that the assertion that human beings are teachable, improvable, and perfectible through personal and community effort is distinctively Confucian (Hoobler and Hoobler ). Any ordinary human being would understand the argument of the Confucian concept that human beings should not be fixated on their thinking but rather be willing to listen to the point of view of others. As a king, it would be necessary for the advisors who should be from the kingdom to always be ready to give their opinion on matters affecting society. As a king, taking advice from others would be the best option as they face the daily challenges of society, unlike the king who will always lead a comfortable life in the palace. In Confucianism, there are no specific rituals or rituals. practices that are followed outside of ethical principles that recognize human dignity. Confucianism therefore observes the practices followed by the existing religion that Confucians follow. It would be desirable for the king to follow the same concept and join those he leads in exercising religious practices. A king is required to embrace all religions that exist in his kingdom as a sign of equality among people despite their religious differences. THEConfucianism is not a religion since there are no Confucian deities or teachings about life after death. The Confucian was a strong believer in ritual; however, some state rituals were associated with Confucianism, indicating that the Confucian tradition was instrumental in shaping Chinese social relations and moral thought. In other cultural contexts, Confucianism plays the same role as religion; therefore it would not be necessary for a king to be limited to a particular religion. The king has a role to play in ensuring that the cultural practices of the society he rules are maintained. Being present during state cultural practices, as was the case in Confucianism, would make it easier for the king to see that the culture and practices of the community are being maintained. As a king, he can be part of the program planned by the advisors to create personal time during which the king can practice the religion of his choice. It is advisable that all state meetings be conducted according to rituals and practices that the majority of citizens follow. The king should have the responsibility to seek ways to extend the virtue of the sense of dignity of human life to other people in the nation. . Since the king is the head of a sovereign state, it is his duty to ensure that citizens are educated and influenced on how to demonstrate dignity in human life. The dignity of human life involves reducing crime in society. Offenders should be transferred to rehabilitation centers where they would be taught the importance of showing some respect towards nature. Rehabilitation centers and other facilities that can be used by the state to combat crimes such as murder should be run by the king to show his efforts towards the concept of dignity of humanity (Cline). The concept of "Li" in Confucianism brings out the meaning of a concrete guide to human relationships as well as rules that guarantee appropriate action which, in the true sense of the term, embodies the concept of "Jen" which implies a feeling dignity in human life. Although the king is responsible for respecting human life, it is also crucial that he creates an environment that reinforces a concrete guide to human relationships. It is the relationships between individuals that will determine, in the long term, the type of respect people have for each other. Poor relationships between individuals in society will likely create a lack of brotherhood in which each individual defends themselves. By ensuring good relations in society, it would have been a great achievement for the nation as the dignity of human life would have been embraced. Creating concrete guides to human relations in a nation is part of the general principle of social order as required by the school of thought of Confucianism (Chai and Chai). According to Confucius, a well-organized society is necessary for perfect self-expression. . It is therefore the duty of a king to look for different strategies that would ensure an economically stable society. Disorder in society can be caused by several factors, including economic instability which would result in high cost of living; thus creating disorder. The high cost of living can also force poor individuals to engage in crimes such as murder, even as they seek ways to survive a difficult economy. A king faces the challenge of ensuring total order by resolving all the factors that could create the disorder seen in many parts of the world. Political reasons can also be a cause of disorder, especially when the leadership of a king is notsatisfactory. As a king, it is therefore necessary to adopt uniformity in the distribution of resources and jobs, without favoritism. A solution to all the mentioned factors would make it very easy for the state to observe Confucianism in the conduct of its operations. Things in a state should be done positively rather than negatively, with the aim of improving human relations. When a king ensures that every aspect of his leadership is exercised in a positive manner, emphasis is also placed on the importance of people being open to each other. All leadership requires a certain element of trust in its people, as they are the ones who provide the right information about current trends in society. The type of language chosen by a king's leadership should depend on the truth of things as it is presented. outside by citizens. Citizens' failure to disclose the right information can mislead a king's government; therefore, it may be involved in using bad language. A king has the role of assigning different people the role of spying on society in order to obtain the right knowledge about the status of the nation. By obtaining the right information, a king can create a concrete guide to human relationships; hence the maintenance of order. Confucianism is also based on the doctrine of the golden mean whereby appropriate action is taken between two extremes. A king needs to obtain precise information on the two extremes of the State; hence the discovery of the average of the calculated aspect. The Confucian canon of the average guarantees appropriate action without siding with the extremes. As a king of a sovereign nation where political pressure often poses a challenge, one would be advised to follow the canon of wickedness to find the best remedy for a problem at hand (Rubin). Any king of a country should be well informed about the types of relationships mentioned in the Confucian school of thought. Relations highlight how things should be done in social life, even though none of the relations are transitive. These relationships also involve the family as the basic unit of society. Besides family relationships, Confucianism involves the relationship between a ruler and his subject. A king must acquire real knowledge of how the subject, namely the citizens, should be governed. As a king, it is advisable to note that every action affects someone else, directly or indirectly. A king should therefore keep in mind that it is necessary to set limits on individuality, as some people may want to abuse their freedom to affect the well-being of their colleagues. Even the actions of a king can affect the citizens who are subject to his power. It is recommended that a king set the perfect example by being at the forefront in setting the limits of his individuality. By putting limits on individuality, there would be order as Confucius defined an entire way of life. Confucius noted that no individual should be left alone to improvise responses, as people may not know how to behave. It is noted in literary works that well-conducted people do not face problems due to the order of events in their lives. The Confucian school of thought recommends the application of “Yi”; justice to do well as a superior man. The concept evokes a moral sense by emphasizing the ability to do what is right and good. A king must be in possession of moral wisdom, even if that means persisting in consulting his advisors on the state of the nation. Wisdom is a gift believed to come from supernatural powers, according to religion,.