Confucius
Confucius lived between 551 B.C. and 479 B.C. in a time when political turmoil caused a deterioration in China’s moral and ethical standards. Confucius traveled the country teaching the people of China about the importance of respect and tradition. His teachings and moral standards helped create a lasting unifying force for China. His philosophical principles have had a profound and lasting influence on China and Asia.
beliefs & teachings
Confucius’s teachings mainly focused on the interactions between people. He believed in treating others with kindness and respect, and in having humility and integrity. He also stressed the importance of education, not only as learning about facts and skills, but also learning how to be a good person Following are some of his well known teachings.
• Relationships between a ruler and a subject, family members, and friends should be treated with respect and honored in public events.
• Virtues like the golden rule, justice, tradition, knowledge, and integrity, also known as the Five Constants, should be practiced.
• The government and ruler of a country should rule with true compassion and justice.
• Everyone has a part in society and should do their best to fulfill its requirements.
• “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others,” -Confucius
Teachers & Learning
In China, education is seen as the best way to
improve one’s life, and school is taken very
seriously. The current school system in China is a
state-run public school system that requires
everyone to receive at least 9 years of free
education.
Teaching is one of the most respected professions.
Likely stemming from the importance Confucius
put on education and learning, China’s respect for
education and teachers has never truly faltered.
Teachers are always respected by their students,
and are remembered long after the students have
graduated.
TEACHER’S APPRECIATION DAY
Teacher’s Appreciation Day is a holiday in China and many other countries on which students thank and honor their teachers by giving gifts and visiting past teachers. In China, it’s celebrated in September, first month of the new school year, and the month of Confucius’s birthday. In Cleveland, the Confucius Institute of Cleveland State University celebrates it on the last Friday of September.
Chinese Culture
With heavy influence from Confucius’s teachings, Chinese culture has come to be built around familial and societal responsibilities. Most celebrations and traditions are to honor the relationships within a family or within the society.
SPRING FESTIVAL
The Spring Festival is also known as Chinese New Year. It is the largest celebration in China, lasting two weeks, and represents new beginnings.
MOON FESTIVAL
The Moon Festival is an annual celebration of a full
moon in Fall. It is also a day for family reunions because the full moon symbolizes a complete family.