Confucius and the Hundred Schools of Thought

Before understanding the Confucius philosophy we must briefly look into Confucius and Confucianism. Let us first answer the question: who was Confucius? 

Confucius was a famous Chinese philosopher, teacher, and politician who was noted for his popular aphorisms and social interaction models. He was also known as Kong Qiu or K'ung Fu-Tzu. His Analects teachings centred on developing ethical models of family and public interaction as well as establishing educational standards. Confucius became the official imperial philosophy of China after his death, and his teachings were enormously influential under the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties.

His beliefs established the core of Confucius philosophy during the second century B.C., during China's first Han Dynasty. Today, Confucius and the hundred schools of thought is widely regarded as one of China's most prominent instructors. Many people in China still embrace these views, and they have affected thought in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

The article is focused on the discussion of Confucius and the hundred schools of thought, the article provides with Confucianism definition, it summarizes Confucius philosophy, apart from the discussion of Confucius and Confucianism the article enlists some interesting facts like the names of the Confucius books which are important from a historical point of view. 

What is Confucianism?

According to Confucianism definition, Confucianism is an ancient Chinese philosophy and belief system that set the groundwork for much of Chinese culture. Confucius lived from 551 to 479 B.C.E. and was a philosopher and teacher. His students recorded his opinions on ethics, ethical behaviour, and moral character in various writings, the most notable of which being the Lunyu.

Confucianism is a system of ethics devised in the sixth century BC China, emphasising the value of good behaviour, devotion, and obedience to hierarchy. Confucius (551–479 BC) effectively systematised parts of ancient Chinese philosophy, which were later assembled by his pupils in two official volumes known as the Four Books and the Five Classics by his disciples. Confucianism was accepted as an official philosophical school by Han Emperor Wu Ti in the second century BC, and it concentrated on education as a method of achieving worth and rank. 

Confucius and Confucianism had become revered figures in China by the first century AD. With the arrival of the Chinese, Confucianism expanded throughout Vietnam. Vietnam's earliest university, founded in 1070 in Hanoi, is housed in a Confucius temple known to English-speaking visitors as 'the Temple of Literature.'

It's debatable whether Confucianism is a religion. Confucianism is best viewed as a moral code for living a good life and having a good character. Confucianism, on the other hand, began as a rebirth of an older religious tradition. Confucianism's core notion is the significance of having a good moral character, which can subsequently change the environment around you through the concept of "cosmic harmony."

Confucius thought that education was crucial in developing this moral character. He believed that humans are inherently good, but that they may have strayed from the right behaviour. Confucianism and Confucius philosophy is still one of China's most influential philosophies. Emperor Wu Di (reigned 141–87 B.C.E.) declared Confucianism the official state doctrine during the Han Dynasty. 

Confucius schools were formed at this period to teach Confucian ideals. For millennia, Confucianism coexisted with Buddhism and Taoism as one of the most important Chinese religions. The impact of Buddhism and Taoism on the Song Dynasty (960–1279 C.E.) resulted in "Neo-Confucianism," which incorporated principles from all three religions. 

However, throughout the Qing era (1644–1912 C.E. ), many scholars sought restoration to Confucianism's earlier beliefs, resulting in a Confucian resurgence.

The Hundred Schools of Thought

Since we have learnt about Confucius philosophy, let us look comprehensively into Confucius and the hundred schools of thought. Before understanding the impact of the hundred schools of thought on Confucianism, let us look into the meaning of the hundred schools of thought. 

From 770 to 222 BCE, China had a period of immense cultural and intellectual progress known as the Hundred Schools of Thought. The Golden Age of Chinese thinking, also known as The Contention of a Hundred Schools of Thought, coincided with the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods and saw the birth of many diverse schools of thought. Many of the major Chinese classic writings written during this time have had tremendous influences on Chinese culture and social consciousness that have lasted to this day.

Itinerant intellectuals defined the intellectual society of this era, who were frequently hired as counsellors on administration, war, and diplomacy by various state rulers. The concepts and thoughts of the time have had a significant impact on lifestyles and social consciousness in East Asian countries to this day.

History of the Hundred Schools of Thoughts 

China entered the Iron Age during the Zhou Dynasty, transitioning from a tribal civilization to a land-based feudal social structure and economy. Rather than depending solely on prayers to their ancestors, people began to actively seek real solutions to their problems.

The old Shang belief of an anthropomorphic "Ti," or supreme deity, was progressively superseded by the concept of Heaven (T'ien) as the supreme spiritual reality, as well as the notion that human affairs were governed by an absolute and permanent "Mandate of Heaven." 

The Chou came to believe that by performing virtuously, a person could earn Heaven's rewards and so influence his future (ming). From the sixth to the third century B.C.E., the Hundred Schools of Thought arose from this intellectual foundation.

Despite the fact that the Spring and Autumn periods and the Warring States periods were characterised by division and civil strife, they were China's "golden age" of affluence and cultural growth. Regional warlords competed constantly to strengthen and improve their armies, as well as to boost the output of their territories in order to collect more taxes. Because these advancements necessitated a large number of skilled, literate officials, education spread across the country.

Because so many various ideas emerged during this time, it is commonly referred to as the "Age of the Hundred Schools of Thought" (/). Many of the great classical books were written, which would serve as the foundation for Chinese thought for the following two and a half millennia. Itinerant intellectuals defined the intellectual society of this era, who were frequently hired as counsellors on administration, war, and diplomacy by various state rulers.

Philosophies Categorized Under the Hundred Schools of Thoughts

Since we have learnt about the history and the origin of the hundred schools of thought we can now look briefly at the different philosophies categorized under it. We have already learnt about Confucius and Confucianism including the Confucius philosophy earlier in the article, let us look into some of the other important schools of thought.

The list of such philosophies is mentioned below. 

• Confucianism and its derivatives

• Legalism

• Taoism

• School of Yin-yang

• Mohism

Legalism

The School of Law, also known as Legalism, was a reaction to Xunzi's authoritarian and unsentimental philosophy. Han Feizi and Li Si developed the doctrine, arguing that human nature is inherently selfish and that the only way to maintain social order is to impose discipline from high and severely executed regulations. The Legalists exalted the state above all else, prioritising its riches and military power over the common people's wellbeing.

The imperial government was largely influenced by legalism. The most practical components of Confucianism and Legalism were merged during the Han Dynasty to produce a new type of administration that remains virtually intact till the 19th century

Taoism

Taoism, also known as Daoism, has grown to be China's second most influential school of philosophy. Laozi, the fabled sage, is often credited with its creation. Taoism focuses on the individual inside the natural realm rather than the individual within society; as a result, each person's aim in life is to adjust and adapt to the natural world's rhythms, to follow the Way (Tao or Dao, Dou) of the cosmos, and to live in peace. Taoism was a complement to many believers' regulated daily lives, in many respects the polar opposite of stringent Confucian morality.

School of Yin-yang

The School of Naturalists, often known as Yin-yang, was a Warring States period ideology that combined yin-yang and the Five Elements. The Ying-Yang School emphasised yin and yang, the Five Elements, astrological calendars, and fortune-telling, and was based on The Book of Changes. The founder of this school is Zou Yan, whose theories aimed to explain the universe in terms of basic natural forces: the complementary agents of yin (dark, cold, female, positive) and yang (light, hot, masculine, negative), as well as the Five Elements or Five Phases (water, fire, wood, metal, and earth). These theories were first most closely associated with the Yan and Qi regimes.

Mohism

Mohism was created by Mozi's disciples. Though it did not outlast the Qin Dynasty, Mohism was regarded as a key opponent to Confucianism throughout the Hundred Schools of Thought period. The philosophy of the organisation was based on the concept of universal love. "Everyone is equal before heaven," Mozi said, adding that humanity should strive to mimic heaven by practising communal love. Primitive materialist empiricism can be described as his epistemology.

Mozi preached frugality, criticising Confucianism's emphasis on ceremony and song, which he saw as excessive. He saw combat as a waste of time and campaigned for pacifism. According to Mozi, achieving societal goals needed the integration of intellect and action.

His political theory was that the people should always obey their leaders and that leaders should always follow God's will. Mozi argued that kings should appoint officials based on their abilities rather than their familial ties.

Although Mohism had faded as a philosophical school by the end of the Qin Dynasty, its principles are considered to have been powerfully mirrored in Legalist thought.

In conclusion, we have learnt about Confucius and the hundred schools of thought, we have also learnt in detail about Confucius's philosophy and how it was a major part of the hundred schools of thought.