Confucian Philosophy Of Imperial China
Confucianism is dangerous. It promotes people into blind agreements, pettiness, and ignores your reasonings in favor of piety towards your seniors and people of higher status. It's submissiveness that Confucius symbolizes when he created this philosophy. I saw a completely different reading from how I viewed this philosophy, as well as not particularly being a religious person myself, from the all the readings like from Week 1’s De Bary 764-767 from “The Confucian Revival and Neo-Confucianism”. There's almost next to no reasonings in Confucian texts.
In Confucianism, the master mandates the orders and the followers follow without questioning, just as the text upholds the rules. So, there are no real philosophical foundations and should really be read as one of the men collected "words-of-wisdoms" that even people of all generations would speak of towards the elderly due to their age. Its influence on the people is ridiculous though. From the early feudal systems to Mao Zedong’s rule. Every Chinese dictatorship has tried to appease them self with Confucianism, which as it turns out is a wonderful way to discipline the populace.
Take Kublai Khan for example. Kublai was a well-educated man in both practices of Confucius and Daoist practice. Kublai was mentored by Xu Heng at an early age. From his early age, Xu Heng stressed towards Kublai, “telling Khubilai that China can be governed only through traditional Han Chinese institutions and methods, not Mongol ones.” (De Bary, 767) For Kublai Khan, his plan of governing over China was a much more reasonable long-term-plan than his plan to incorporate it into a much larger Mongolian empire in which, at that point in history, no longer existed with any real unity. Kublai Khan most definitely saw himself as Mongolian ruler, but also as a Chinese emperor. China was the new nation that he had conquered. He was eager and able to ride the fine line between both of the two identities, Mongol and Chinese, and in doing so had produced a new status altogether.
In both “The Peach Blossom Springs” and “A Scholar-Painter’s Diary” both main characters were asked to take drinks of wine with the other people. “The visitors all asked him to come in their houses in turn, and at every house, he had wine and food.” (Mair Peach Blossom Springs, 579) “Staying at Xing-Hua. Mr. Zanh Derun invited me for dinner. The guests were the same as yesterday.” (Ebrey 199)
From my view, both the main protagonist saw the other people as someone that are their superiors, in “Peach Blossoms” case he was a guest to the villagers. From the philosophy of Confucianism, the superior man's respect is comprehensive. Wherein that the greatest in respect is the respect that is in for himself. The point of view from both protagonists in “Peach Blossom Springs” and “Scholar-Painter’s Diary” they did not want to be disrespectful towards the others when they were asked/offered drinks and a meal.
Filial piety is not something that is uncomplicated in where the obedience towards the will of one’s own parents, but it is a part of the practices for a humanistic character. The same sort of practice that is a part of the processes of 'self-cultivation,' and the symbol of Taoist nature. Furthermore, the practices of devotion between parent and child is a necessary respect, in fact, reciprocation is the very essence of all the five relationships that is a part of Confucianism.
Indeed, Confucianism traditionally insisted on educational learning, for learning is a central element towards Confucian philosophy, and the most notable aspect of it as well. The very basic concepts of learning, which is self-cultivation, is not separate from that of education for others. I found it ironic how the passage was titled “A Scholar-Painter’s Diary” when Guo Bi had spent most of his days drinking and spending time with others, even if he does indulge himself with painting and calligraphy.
