The Analects

The Analects

In Chinese culture, during the time of Confucius (551-479b.c.), many forms of Philosophy were taught in Chinese schools. Confucius taught a moral philosophy that centered around man himself, believing that one must think for himself. The ideal moral characteristic for a man was to be a gentleman, but one was not expected to achieve this without much hard work, or as the Chinese called it, “Cultivation”. In The Analects, Confucius says, that the virtues of being a gentleman are exemplified by morality, trustworthiness, and benevolence.

The Master’s ideal gentleman held many traits, one of the most valued being morality. Confucius believed one’s rules and relationships defined a person, not one’s individual self or soul. “The Master said, ‘Observe what a man has in mind to do when his father is living, and then observe what he does when his father is dead. If, for three years, he makes no change to his father’s ways, he can be said to be a good son.’” ( I:2 ) Morality is, by definition, one’s conformity to perceived ideals of acceptable human conduct. This was especially evident in the aspect of respect to one’s mother and father.

The father was considered the family’s key member, and his example for the sons was chief among his duties. The son’s duties, meanwhile, were to obey the father without question, and to honor him even beyond death. The family’s most crucial relationship was that between the father and the eldest son. Secondary to this lays the relationship between the two oldest sons. This is evidenced by the passing of obedience from father to oldest brother upon the fathers passing. “Meng I Tzu asked about being filial. The Master answered, ‘Never fail to comply… When your parents are alive, comply with the rites in serving them; when they die, comply with the rites in burying them; comply with the rites in sacrificing to them.’” ( II:5 ) Obviously, these are views and virtues that the Chinese still hold sacred today.

Of equal...