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INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND

BELIEF SYSTEMS
QUARTER 2 – MODULE 5
DAOIC RELIGION-CONFUCIANISM

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INTRODUCTION (What I Need to Know)

On the previous lesson you have learned how two dharmic religions-Hinduism and
Buddhism- share some similarities with regard their fundamental teachings. You have also
learned about how dharmic religions played significant roles in the lives of their followers in the
society they live in. The next lesson will discuss about religions that emerged just beyond the
border of India-in China-Which are called Daoic Religions such as Confucianism and Daoism as
well as Shintoism from Japan.
This module will guide you to analyze and understand the Daoic Religion which focus on
Confucianism

(MELC) Most Essential Learning Competency

Analyze the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related
issues of Confucianism.

At the end of this module you should be able to;

a. discuss the Life of Confucius and how Confucianism begin;
b. compare the Confucianism belief and some Chinese traditions;
c. explain the issues involving Confucianism practices.

DISCUSSIONS AND ACTIVITIES (What is It)

CONFUCIANISM
There are always been a debate whether Confucianism should be regarded as a religion or
philosophy. Those who argue that Confucianism is a philosophy assert that when Kung Fuzi
founded Confucianism, he never meant to establish a new religion; he merely wanted to interpret
and revive the ancient religion of Zhou Dynasty.
Confucianism emphasizes the ethical dimension of the world, it gives primary attention to
human relationship, thus advocating social values and ideals which should serve as the
foundation of Chinese society.
Symbols of Confucianism
Two symbols which are important to Confucianism are the symbols for scholar and water.
 The Scholar, as represented by the Chinese symbols above (The Ru), is an important
symbol of Confucianism. It contains the symbols of a person, as well as the character for
need and desire.
 Water is one of the five important elements in Chinese philosophy, alongside wood, fire,
earth, and metal. Water is considered as the source of life, valued for its significance in
the natural world and for sustaining life.

BRIEF HISTORY
 The proliferation of Chinese classical thought happened within the reign of the Zhou
Dynasty, the second historical dynasty in China.
 It was result of several factors such as technological and economic advancement,
stronger, and political units, political and social improvements, and even military
development.
 During the Zhou period, technological growth led to trading development, which led to a
remarkable increase of wealth.

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  Alongside the technological and economic growth was development of stronger political
units, which led to the emergence of four vassal states that competed against each other’s
for political supremacy. (Ong, Jose 2016)
 These vassal states were Qin in the west, Jin in the North, Yan in the northeast, and Qi in
the east.
 Amidst the development and chaos, China was faced with a dilemma; the failure of old
authority made it necessary for new guiding values to restore social order.

THE LIFE OF CONFUCIUS

 Confucius is the latinized version of Kongzi and the honorific Kong Fuzi both meaning
“Master Kong.”
 He was born on September 28 on 551 B.C.E – hence it is considered a day of celebration
in East Asia- an official holiday in Taiwan (Teacher’s Day), and a day of cultural
celebration in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
 Confucius was born in a small feudal state of Lu (now Shantung Province) in Qufu.
 His personal name was Qiu and his family name was Kong.
 He came from a noble family, but the time of his birth, they had already lost much of their
wealth.
 His first teacher was his mother, and at the age of 15 he set his heart upon learning, thus
love of learning became one of the highest virtues in Confucian Ethics.
 He married at the age of 19 and had a son at the age of 20.
 He served in minor government posts and had already gained a reputation as an all-
around scholar.
 He often considered as the first person to devote his whole life to learning and teaching for
the purpose of social transformation and improvement.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
The five classics are a group books which was regarded as early Confucianism’s basic texts.
Five Classic Description
Books
Book of Changes It focuses on short predict following the type of divination called
cleromancy wherein six random numbers are picked and arranged under
sixty-four hexagrams.
Book of History Consist of Chronological accounts of imperials achievements and rules of
government.
Book of Poetry Collection of three hundred and five songs compiled which includes four
sections of various themes such as love, courtship, abandonment, and
dances.
Classic of Rites Compilation of ceremonial rituals, administration, and social forms.
Analects Collection of saying and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher
Confucius and his contemporaries, traditionally believed to have been
written by Confucius follower.
CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES AND BELIEF
Confucius is more often celebrated for his Golden Rule; “Do not do unto others what you
would not have them do unto you.” Found in the Analects, this saying teaches the ethics of
mutuality and reciprocity.
Some of the most important Confucians doctrines are the following.
1. Belief in Tian

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  “When you have offended against heaven, there is nowhere you can turn to your prayer.”
(Analects 3.13)
 Tians may also refer to that which is beyond human control. (Ong, Jose 2016)

 He believed Tian is analogous with moral order but dependent upon human intervention
to bring its will into action.
2. Rectification of Names
 Confucius believed that to return to the ancient Dao, people must play their assigned role
in the society.
 The Relationship includes;
1. Ruler Subjects
2. Father-Son
3. Husband-Wife
4. Elder and Younger
5. Friend and Friend
 The responsibilities originating from these relationships are shared and reciprocal.
3. Human Nature as Originally Good or Evil
 Confucius himself was silent on the concept of human nature, but there were two
philosophers who had different interpretation about human nature based on the
Analects.
 Their views on human nature were opposed to one another.
 For Mencius, renxing or human nature is naturally disposed ren, virtue of the superior
man.
 For Mengzi, he believed that all human being is born with innates goodness which, on
one hand, can be cultivated through proper education and self-discipline or be thrown
away through neglect and bas influence, on the other.
4. The Five Constants
Also known as the Five Classical Virtues, or Wuchang, are the five most important
Confucian ethics mentioned in the Analects and the Book of Mencius. These includes the
following;
 Ren or benevolence – can be achieved by returning to the traditional Chinese rituals
such as extending one’s filial love for parents and siblings to fellow human being and
avoiding envy or harm.
a. Yi or righteousness – can be achieved by having the moral disposition to do good,
which can only be possible after recognizing what is right and good.
b. Li or propriety – considered as the concrete guide to human action and social order,
it can be achieved by following the guide to human relationship (rectification of names,
doctrines of the means, the five relationships).
c. Zhi or knowledge/wisdom- can be achieved by knowing what is right and what is
wrong, which innates in people who are basically good according to Mencius.
d. Rin or fidelity – can be achieved by keeping one’s word and being faithful for Kung
Fuzi believed that only people who are faithful can be trusted with important task.
5. Filial Piety as an Important Virtue
 For Confucius, family relations provide a model for social behavior.
 Respect for elders, whether your own or others, is emphasized, as well as kindness to
your own children and juniors, including those of others.
 Ancestors worship is a manifestation of filial piety, or respect for one’s parents, which is
directed toward elder relatives and ancestors.

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  The idea of ancestors’ worships is based on the key Confucian idea that expected of
children to respect and obey their parents in life, and to continue remembering them after
they have died through the proper observance of rituals. (Ong, Jose 2016)

WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCE

The Book of Rites recorded the rituals practiced by the Chinese for many centuries. Some
of these have been classified under Family Rituals, also known as the “Four Rites”, which are
rituals ceremonies that characterized a person’s growth and maturity, namely; coming the age
rites, marriage ceremonies, mourning rites, and sacrificial rituals. Many of these are no longer
observed, but they offer functional proof of the religious nature of Confucianism.
FOUR RITES’
1. Coming of Age Rites – held to signify that a young person has reached the marriageable
age could join the different activities of his/her clan as an adult. Two important coming of
age rites among the Chinese are the following.
a. Capping Ceremonies - This is a ritual that male teenagers must go through sometime
between the age of 15 to 20. In this occasion, a male Chinese receives his formal hat and
ceremonial gown, as well as his formal name.
b. Hair Pinning – refers to the gathering of a girl’s hair into knot, and securing it using a
hairpin or a hairclip; often done by 16 years old women after engagement and before the
wedding day.
2. Mourning Rites – often involve intricate practice which include the following steps.
a. there should be public announcement of grief through weeping and the wearing of
white funeral clothes by the family of the deceased.
b. mourning also constitutes the offering of symbolic goods like money and food from the
living to the dead, preparation and setting up of a spirit tablet, payment of ritual experts,
the playing of music and chanting of scriptures to accompany the corpse and to pacify the
spirit, the sealing of the corpse in a coffin, and the removal of the coffin from the
community.
3. Marriage Ceremonies – This is an important aspect of Chinese culture since marriage is
considered as a central feature of society; through marriage, patience and love are
cultivated to promote the right virtue. Traditionally, marriage is decided by the parents of
the couple, with wealth and social status as the primary considerations.
4. Sacrificial Rituals – are performed regularly by the descendants of the deceased
ancestors. Sacrifices are often given at festivals.

SELECTED ISSUES

1. Female Subordination
It is often said that a woman’s life under Confucianism can be summed up in three
periods, also known as the “Three Obedience:” obedience to her father while at home; obedience
to her husband, when married; and obedience to her son when widowed. Women, being at the
bottom of the Confucian hierarchy, are expected to display ideal behavior and accommodation.
They are expected to demonstrate obedience before all other virtues and are not expected to act
as independent beings. Women lived separately from men by custom.

2. Authoritarianism

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 Another challenge that Confucianism still faces at present. Confucianism stresses that
hierarchy between relationships, this has reinforced top-down values and hierarchical
systems by encouraging deference to one’s superiors-ruler, father, teachers, or anyone older.
Confucianism has been criticized on the issue of father son relationship, especially on the
aspect of allowing the bad behavior of a father and requiring the son to accept when this
occurs. (Ong, Jose 2016)

3. Environmental Ethics
Confucianism advocates respect for the environment, its acceptance of people’s
dominance of nature poses a threat to the issue. The Analects mention the subordination of
animals to social interest. Confucian logic would give priority to defense of social duties over
environmental protections. (Ong, Jose 2016)

ACTIVITY 1: THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN?

Directions: Read the following statements. Write UP in your answer sheet if the statement is
correct and DOWN if incorrect.
1. The Confucianism is considered as Dharmic Religion.
2. The water and scholar are two important elements of Confucianism.
3. Confucianism emphasizes the ethical dimension of the world.
4. Confucius believed that to return to the ancient Dao, people must play their assigned role
in the society.
5. Confucius is the Greek version of Kongzi and the honorific Kong Fuzi both meaning
“Master Kong.”

ACTIVITY 2: FILL ME IN!

Directions: Fill out the graphic organizer by giving examples of Chinese tradition that still reflect
the following Confucian Doctrine. Write your answer in your answer sheet.

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 Filial Piety

Rectification of Name Ancestor Worship

Confucian
Doctrines

ACTIVITY 3: MY POINT OF VIEW

Directions: Explain briefly your insights regarding the selected issues in Confucianism. Write
your answer in your answer sheet.
1. Female Subordination
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Authoritarianism
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Environmental Ethics
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

ASSESSMENT
I. Directions: Read and analyze the statement. Write the letter of the correct answer in your
answer sheet.
1. Which of the following is NOT belong to the group?
A. Confucianism B. Buddhism C. Daoism D. Shintoism

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2. The Golden Rule of Confucius that found in Analects.
A. “Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.”
B. "To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle."
C. "Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles."
D. "What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in
others."
3. He is the Founder of Confucianism?
A. Laozi B. Mencius C. Mengzi D. Kung Fuzi
4. He believed that all human being is born with innates goodness which can be cultivated
through proper education and self-discipline.
A. Mencius B. Mengzi C. Confucius D. Laozi
5. The idea of ancestors’ worships is based on the key Confucian idea that expected of children
to respect and obey their parents in life.
A. Tian B. Renxing C. Filial Piety D. Dao

II. A) Directions: Match Column A which defines the five classical virtues of Confucianism in
Column B. Write the correct letter in your answer sheet.

Column A Column B

1. Returning to the traditional Chinese rituals. A. Wisdom

2. Having the moral disposition to do good. B. Righteousness
3. Considered as the concrete guide to human C. Propriety
action and social order. D. Benevolence
4. Knowing what is right and what is wrong. E. Fidelity
5. Keeping one’s word and being faithful.

II. B) Directions: Match Column A which pertains to the five classic books in Column B. Write
the correct letter in your answer sheet.

Column A Column B

1. Compilation of ceremonial rituals, A. Book of History

administration and social forms. B. Classic Rites
2. Consist of chronological accounts of C. Book of Poetry
imperials achievements and rules D. Analects
of government. E. Book of Changes
3. Following the type of divination called
cleromancy.
4. Collection of three hundred five songs which
includes four sections of various themes.
5. Collections of saying and ideas attributed to
Chinese philosopher Confucius.

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III. Directions: Explain your stand in the given statement by providing clear examples. Use the
rubric as your guide.

1.) What role does virtue play in achieving harmony in society?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

RUBRICS FOR ESSAY

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION POINTS

Organization The concept was clearly and creatively conveyed. 5

Content The content was clearly discussed. 5

Presentation The idea was clearly presented based on the work 5

used.

Total: 15

ANSWER KEY FOR ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 1 ACTIVITY 2 ACTIVITY 3

1. DOWN  Answers may vary  Answers may vary

2. UP Refer to rubrics Refer to rubrics
3. UP 
4. UP
5. DOWN

References:
A. Book
Ong, J., Jose, M.D., Government of the Philippines, Department of Education,
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems, Textbook-First Edition 2016, Vibal
Group, Inc. pp. 178-193

B. Online Resources
https://study.com/academy/lesson/confucianism-definition-beliefs-history.html
https://www2.slideshare.net/Juliewulf/taoism-confucianism-shinto-lecture

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 DIVISION QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT TEAM IN HUMSS

WRITER: MELODY G. GENESE

VALIDATORS:
DR. MARILEX A. TERCIAS DR. EUGENE M. TORALBA
DR. ALBERTO O. RABANG DR. VIRGINIA B. FREGILLANA
JEANNEROSE M. ACOSTA ZOSIMA IRENE H. FERNANDEZ
MA. JOCELYN J. SOTONG DANILO T. SIBLAG
VICTOR B. ABAN JAMELIE M. CRISPINO

CONSULTANTS:
DR. DANILO C. SISON DR. TEODORA V. NABOR
DR. CORNELIO R. AQUINO DR. JEROME S. PARAS
DR. MAYBELENE C. BAUTISTA

ANSWER KEY FOR ASSESSMENT

I. Multiple Choice II.A Matching Type III. Essay

1. B 1. D  Answer may
2. A 2. B vary
3. A 3. C  Refer to rubrics
4. B 4. A
5. C 5. E

II. B Matching Type

1. B
2. A
3. E
4. C 10
5. D
6.