BELIEFS OF CONFUCIANISM

Ren (Jen)
• Acting kindly, compassionately, and lovingly to and for others.
• Idea expanded by Mencius.
• Composed of zhong and shu
• Shu: to walk in another person's shoes
• Zhong: to act kindly to someone the best as you can
• Together: to try to see things from other people's perspectives, and do one's best for them with that in mind
• Can also be the burden someone bears through life, usually for someone they love.

Li
• proper way to live calling for courtesy, etiquette, formality, and respect
• 5 relationships:
• father-son: loving and reverential
• husband-wife: leadership and obidience
• elder brother-younger brother: responsible and respectful
• Friend-friend: kind and respectful
• emperor-subject: exemplary and following

Doctrine of the Mean
• universal path called "Path of Duty" that everyone should try to follow, but no human can follow perfectly
• Equilibrium (when there are no emotions) and Harmony (when someone acts on their feelings) should exist in perfection
• Every person, regardless of rank, is held to a standard of behavior in every situation
Shun: wisdom
- King Wu and the duke of Chau: filial piety
- Lists virtues and qualities of a good leader
- Wisdom, kindness, and courage are stressed

REFERENCES

• http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/kurtis.hagen/keyterms_ren.html
• Exploring the Religions of Our World by Nancy Clemmons, SNJM
• http://philosophy.lander.edu/oriental/main.html
• http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Classics/zhongyong.html
• http://www.sacred-texts.com/cfu/conf3.htm