Chapter 9 Section 9: Personal Beliefs

In the broad and general sense of the word, I say that Confucianism is as much a religion as Christianity or Buddhism.You should remember that I said that Confucianism is not a religion in the European sense.What, then, distinguishes Confucianism from religion in the European sense of the word?The difference is of course that one has a supernatural origin and element in it and the other does not.But apart from this supernatural and non-supernatural difference, there is another difference between Confucianism and religions in the European sense of the word, such as Christianity and Buddhism, and this difference is that religion in the European sense teaches people to be a good person.And Confucianism does more; Confucianism teaches a person to be a good citizen.Of a man, not alone, but in relation to his fellow-men and the state, the Christian catechism asks: "What is the chief aim of man?" and the Confucian catechism asks: "The citizen's What is the main goal?".The Christian Answers Question and Answer says: "Man's main goal is to praise God." Confucius replied in his question and answer: "Man's main goal is to be a dutiful son and a good citizen." Ziyou, a disciple of Confucius, Confucius He is quoted in speeches and discourses where he said: "The wise man concentrates on the foundation of life - the main purpose of man. When the foundation is laid, there comes wisdom, religion. To live as a dutiful son and a good citizen, is not right Is this the basis—the main goal of man as a moral being?" In short, the goal of religion in the European sense is to make oneself a perfect ideal man, a saint, a Buddha, an angel, And Confucianism is limited to making people a good citizen -- living like a dutiful son and a good citizen.In other words, religion in the European sense says: "If you want to have faith, you must be a saint, a Buddha, an angel;" while Confucianism says: "If you are a dutiful son and a good citizen, you must Have faith." (z-60)

In fact, the real difference between Confucianism and religions in the European sense, such as Christianity or Buddhism, is that one is a personal belief, or may be called a church belief, while the other is a social belief, or may be called a national belief.I said that the greatest work Confucius has done for the Chinese nation is that he gave them a real national concept.By giving the true idea of ​​the state, Confucius made this idea a religion.In Europe, politics is a science, but in China, since the time of Confucius, politics is a religion.In short, I say that the greatest work Confucius has done for the Chinese nation is that he gave them a social or national belief.Confucius described this state belief in a book he wrote towards the end of his life, which he called The Spring and Autumn Annals.Confucius named the book "Spring and Autumn" because the book's goal was to give the real moral reasons that govern rise and fall—the spring and autumn of nations.This book could also be called a Chronicle of Modern Times, similar to Carlyle's Pamphlets of Modern Times.In this book, Confucius gave a historical overview of the disordered and decadent state of society and civilization, and traced back the hardships and misfortunes of the disordered and decadent state of the entire society and civilization, pointing out that the real reason is that people do not have a real national concept; Without a proper conception of the true nature of their responsibilities to the state, to the head of state, to their rulers and sovereigns.In a way, Confucius taught the divine right of kings in this book.Now I know that all of you, or at least most of you, don't believe in the divine right of kings these days.I don't want to argue with you here.I just ask you not to judge immediately, but to listen to me first.Also allow me to quote a quote from Carlyle here."The king's power over us," said Carlyle, "is either a divine right or a diabolical error".I beseech you now, on the subject of the divine right of kings, to recall and reflect upon these words of Carlyle. (s-6)

In this book, Confucius taught that, as in all ordinary relations and actions of men in human society, besides the basic motives of interest and fear, there is a nobler and nobler motive which influences their actions, a the higher and nobler motive above all interests and fears, and this motive is duty; and thus in this vital relation of all human societies, the relationship between the people of a state or nation and the head of the state or nation There is also a higher and nobler motive of duty to influence and animate their actions.So what is the rational basis for the responsibility of the people of a country or nation to be loyal to the leader of the country or nation?In feudal times before the time of Confucius, the country was more or less a family due to the semi-familial social order and form of government, and people did not particularly feel that their responsibilities to the head of the country required a very clear and firm basis, since they all are members of a clan or family, and blood ties or natural affections have bound them in some way to the head of the state, who is also a senior member of their clan or family.As I have said, but in the time of Confucius, feudalism had come to an end; by then the state was far from being comparable to the family, and the citizens of the state were no longer members of a clan or family.Therefore, it is necessary to find a new, clear, rational, and solid basis for the responsibility of the people of the state or nation to be loyal to the head of state—their ruler or monarch.What was the new basis that Confucius found for this responsibility?Confucius found a new basis for this responsibility in the word honor. (z-27)