The Main Beliefs of Confucianism
There are six main groups of beliefs in Confucianism, these include:
- Yi - Righteousness
- Xin - Honesty and Trustworthiness
- Chung - Loyalty to the state, etc.
- Li - includes ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc.
- Hsiao - love within the family, love of parents for their children, and love of children for their parents
- Jen - benevolence, humanness towards one another (the most important Confucianism virtue)
The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.
- Confucius
Practices and Rituals
Although Confucianism does not brag to have all the clear cut answers of the universe, the ones who practice have a strong belief in rituals. They believe that participation in ritual serves uniting people, and strengthening the community. However, Confucianism does not hold all the aspects of a religion (such as Christianity or Islam), nor do they hold regular practices and rituals. Instead they symbolize four important times in ones life. These are: birth, reaching maturity, marriage and death. The Practices that go along with these stages are;
Birth
The Tai-Shen (spirit of the fetus) protects the expectant mother, and deals harshly with anyone/thing that harasses or harms the woman. She receives a special diet and is given one month to rest after the delivery of the baby. Her parents are responsible for everything that is needed to support the child, on the first, fourth, and twelfth month anniversary of the child's birth.
Marriage
There are six separate things that happen during the marriage rituals, these include:
Proposal: Both sides of the relationship share the hour, day, month, and year of their birth. If any upsetting events happens within the bride-to-be's family within the next three days, it is believed that she has rejected the proposal.
Engagement: After the couple decides the date of the wedding, the bride announces the wedding with invitations and gifts of cookies shaped like the moon.
Dowry: A dowry is a transfer of parental belongings when their daughter is getting married. Gifts equal in value after given to the bride and groom.
Procession: The groom proceeds to the brides home, and brings her back to his place, with much happiness and excitement.
Marriage: The couple recites their vows that will bond them together for a lifetime, toast each other with wine, and then take center stage at a banquet consisting of friends, and the families of both bride and groom.
Morning After: The bride serves breakfast to the grooms parents, and then the parents do the same.
Death
After the death of a loved one, the family cry aloud to inform the neighbors of the tragic news. The family begin to mourn by making clothes made of course material, and wearing them. The corpse is placed in a coffin, and many family and friends bring money to help with the cost of the funeral. Food and objects important to the deceased are placed into the coffin with him/her. A priest or minister of any religion performs the burial ritual. The guests follow the coffin carrying a large willow tree branch. This is meant to symbolize the soul of the person who has died. Later on, the branch is carried back to the family altar where is used to "install" the spirit of the deceased. A public worship (called a Liturgy) is performed on the seventh, ninth, and forty-ninth days after the burial, along with the first and third year anniversary of the death.
Birth
The Tai-Shen (spirit of the fetus) protects the expectant mother, and deals harshly with anyone/thing that harasses or harms the woman. She receives a special diet and is given one month to rest after the delivery of the baby. Her parents are responsible for everything that is needed to support the child, on the first, fourth, and twelfth month anniversary of the child's birth.
Marriage
There are six separate things that happen during the marriage rituals, these include:
Proposal: Both sides of the relationship share the hour, day, month, and year of their birth. If any upsetting events happens within the bride-to-be's family within the next three days, it is believed that she has rejected the proposal.
Engagement: After the couple decides the date of the wedding, the bride announces the wedding with invitations and gifts of cookies shaped like the moon.
Dowry: A dowry is a transfer of parental belongings when their daughter is getting married. Gifts equal in value after given to the bride and groom.
Procession: The groom proceeds to the brides home, and brings her back to his place, with much happiness and excitement.
Marriage: The couple recites their vows that will bond them together for a lifetime, toast each other with wine, and then take center stage at a banquet consisting of friends, and the families of both bride and groom.
Morning After: The bride serves breakfast to the grooms parents, and then the parents do the same.
Death
After the death of a loved one, the family cry aloud to inform the neighbors of the tragic news. The family begin to mourn by making clothes made of course material, and wearing them. The corpse is placed in a coffin, and many family and friends bring money to help with the cost of the funeral. Food and objects important to the deceased are placed into the coffin with him/her. A priest or minister of any religion performs the burial ritual. The guests follow the coffin carrying a large willow tree branch. This is meant to symbolize the soul of the person who has died. Later on, the branch is carried back to the family altar where is used to "install" the spirit of the deceased. A public worship (called a Liturgy) is performed on the seventh, ninth, and forty-ninth days after the burial, along with the first and third year anniversary of the death.