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100
Confucius is born
551? BCE- Confucius was born in the small town of Lu, as an answer to his parents prayers. His original name was Kong (which referenced his parents' thankfulness), Qui (a taboo name), and Zhongni (his social name). -
100
Confucius in his younger years
540?-525? BCE- Confucius was said to have had a childhood riddled with poverty and struggle, where he was limited to jobs like accounting and raising livestock. However, he had an enlightened education, and is said to have studied with Daoist Master (Lao Doan) and two music masters (Chang Hong and Xiang). -
100
Confucius develops as a young man
525? BCE (age 25) - Confucius is said to have developed "extreme inquisitiveness," forming the habit of questioning everything, including religion. Specifically, he questioned why so much knowledge had been lost or uncertain bout the reign of heaven, yet the subject was still studied across China and beyond. -
100
Confucius develops as a young man
522? BCE- Confucius is said to have developed a judgemental complex, seeing people for their actions, words, and behaviors. Prime example, when Confucius criticized the Duke Jing of Qi for becoming angry with one of his servants who would rather have fulfilled the responsibilies of hs job, even if it went against his leader's wishes. -
100
Confucius is an established philosopher
518? BCE- Confucius is described as "if a sage possessed of bright virtue does not fit the age in which he lives then surely among his descendants there will be one who is successful." -
120
Influence for The Analects
The pupils of Confucius took his philosophies and combined them into a collection called The Analects. Confucius' belief that "the ruler should be a ruler, his subjects subjects, the father should be a father, and his son a son (Lunyu 12.11)" can be found here, which developed when he realized power was corrupt and misdirected in his hometown. -
120
Influence for the Analects
509? BCE- Confucius held office as Director of Crime, during which he developed an aversion to fines and corporal punishments. From the Analects, he states,"If they are led by virtue, and uniformity sought ang them through the practice of ritual propriety, the people will possess a sense of shame and come to you of their own accord (Lunyu 2.3). -
120
Influence for the Analects
500? BCE Confucius told his followers when they were so weak and poor they could not even rise to their feet: "A superior man remains steadfast in the face of poverty; the small man, when impoverished, loses all restraint." -
140
Mencius
350? BCE - Mencius Mencius becomes a pupil of Confucius' grandson, Zisi. During his time as an official and scholar at the Jexia Academy, he was known as the "Second Sage" of Confucianism. He was best known for believing that human nature was innately good. -
140
Mencius has influence
360? BCE- Mencius writes the Mengzi (which were seven books related to the confucianist way of thinking). He also developed four innate ethical dispositions of benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, and propriety (ren, yi, zhi, li) which were prospective ways to live right. -
160
Mencius is better known and is criticized
330? BCE - Mencius is criticized by the Daoist Zhuangzi, who believed that human nature is not innately good--" the sprouts of benevolence and righteousness and the pathways of right and wrong are all snarled and jumbled," (Zhuangzi 2). -
160
Mencius becomes better known and is criticized
330? BCE - Mencius is criticized by his fellow Confucian Xunzi, who describes human nature as selfish--"as for the way tthat the eyes like pretty colors, the ear like beautiful sounds . . .the heart likes what is beneficial. . . . these are produced from people's inborn dispositions and nature." -
Jan 1, 1130
The Four Books are created.
1130-1200 A.D. - The Four Books are created by combining The Great Learning, Analects, Mean, and the Mengzi into a clear and focused selection. -
Confucianism suffers
1898- The Late Qing Reform occured when China realized the superiority of the West, and attempted to modernize. One of the main changes included an education system that strayed away from Cofucian texts. -
Confucianism is fuedal past.
1945-1976- rule of Mao Zedong, who ostracized Confucianism as being a part of China's fuedal past. His campaign against Confucianism was known as "Criticize Lin, Criticize Confucius." However, another movement (New Confucianism) kept the beliefs of Confucius and Mencius alive in Hong Kong and Taiwan. -
Confucianism Returns
1976 Marks the death of Mao zedong and a resurgence of Confucianism in the mainland. "Confucian rivival [is] an ongoing development of tradition . . . [that navigates] the pressures of modernization." -
Han Dynasty spreads Confucianism
202-220 BCE - Han Dynasty introduced a rule that incorporated elements of Confucianism, Daoism, Yin-Yang, Legalism, and the Five Phases. Because of the Confucian aspect of it's government, this time period was characterized by a "clear heirarchy" and "social obedience." -
Tang Dynasty and Neo Confucianism
618-907 A.D.- During the Tang Dynasty Buddhism became increasingly influential in China, as well as Daoism. As a response, this caused a Confucian revivalist movement, called Neo-Confucianism. -
Neo-Confucianism is refined
960-1279 A.D. - Neo-Confucianism becomes philosophically mature, and focused on the "humaneness," "piety," and incorporated the "Dao" (the right way).
