Confucianism

Confucianism 

    According to Strayer (2011), "For Confucianism, Family life had long been central to Chinese 

popular culture, expressed in the practice of ancestors veneration, including visiting the graves of 

the deceased, presenting them with offerings, and erecting commemorative tablets and shrines in 

their honor"(p.171) and "Confucius emphasized education as the key to moral betterment. He 

prescribed a broad liberal arts education emphasizing language, literature, history,philosophy and 

ethics, all applied to political problems of the government. Rituals and ceremonies were also 

important, for they conveyed the rules of appropriate behavior in the many and varying 

circumstances of life. For the "superior person," or "gentleman" in Confucian terms, this process of 

improvement involved serious personal reflection and a willingness to strive continuously to perfect 

his moral character."(p.170)       

    My grandmother is from Shanghai, China.  She was born in a time where Shanghai was not 

only a part of China but also a nationality, Shanghainese.  My grandmother would tell us stories 

about China and how it was growing up there.  To be honest, I am truly embarrassed on not 

knowing enough about Confucianism and Taoism when that is one of my heritage backgrounds.  I 

felt as if I should have paid more attention to my grandmother and her religious beliefs.  My 

grandmother would practice Confucianism and Taoism but believed in Jesus Christ which 

confused me.  She would have a shrine in her house and worship the lives of her loved ones.  She 

would always say, “Don’t do to others that you don’t want done to you”.  My grandmother, I felt 

had so much pride but it wasn’t pride, it was morals and values that the people of China had.  It 

didn’t matter what she was going through, she always believed in being harmonious and made a 

point to achieve social harmony with others.  Her thoughts always showed positive actions to her 

family and friends.  Everyone seemed to love my grandmother, she had so many friends that she 

would see every day.  She felt like respect and love was the key to all relationships. People all 

around the world would send her cards and she kept all of them!

    Confucianism is about being a superior person, man or woman.  It goes above and beyond

the inner self.  You have to respect yourself enough to be righteous so that others can always see

positive verses the negative.  Here in the United States we are told to respect our elders but 

Confucianism teaches you to respect and appreciate everyone's life. Being kind to others is the 

way of life.

     

Religion since the First Civilization

Religion:

     

     It is amazing how religion and religious beliefs have been around for centuries. It

does not matter if it was Egypt or Asia. All of the different parts of the first civilization

believed or worship a higher reasoning. It didn’t necessarily need to be a specific king

or God that they had to worship. However, it was about what was important to them and

their values.   

     The Egyptians believed in the after life and that their bodies were only the beginning

for what was in store for them. According to The Ways of the World author Strayer

(2011), “The rebirth of the sun everyday and of the river every year seemed to assure

Egyptians that life would prevail over death. The amazing pyramids, constructed during

Egypt’s Old Kingdom (2663-2195 B.C.E.), reflected the firm belief that at least the

pharaohs and other high- ranking people could successfully make the journey to the

eternal life in the Land of the West. Incantations for the dead describes an afterlife of

abundance and tranquility that Gilgamesh could only have envied.”(p.81)  

     As for China, they believed in bronze, tigers, stone, bones, ceramic and jade for

ritual use as well as being religious. The Shang Dynasty Bronze were based on not only

spiritual ancestry or deceased kings that were now gods but linked to heaven. Strayer

(2011), says, “The bronze tiger, created around 1100 B.C.E., illustrates Chinese Skill in

working with bronze and the mythological or religious significance of the tiger as a

messenger between heaven and the human world.”(p.67)

     I personally think that believing in something that we’re unsure of, gives us a

world of possibilities. Wishful thinking, hoping, and being positive creates future and

history. I believe that it is because of history why I am so religious. It truly does not matter

if there is a God or a Devil, a Heaven and Hell. What matters most is our actions and

what we believe in that get us through our daily life. For the Egyptians and the Chinese,

after life gave them their guidance.    

Yay - Im done!