Religions of China

p The Importance of Ren in Maintaining Social

When Confucius taught his disciples , he apparently did not intend to start an intellectual school ' or movement , and although it is still a subject of debate whether to classify Confucianism as a religion or not his followers regard him as a god . Aside from his other titles , he was named the Co-Assessor with the deities of Heaven and Earth ' and in 1907 , the emperor Kuang-Hsu ranked him next to God and has given him the title Shiang-ti ' - meaning that he should be another Son

of Heaven (Brown 19 . Throughout his career as an educator , Confucius taught about the concept of Ren , or humanity ' humaneness ' or benevolence which includes individual duties to society and all virtues which help maintain social harmony and peace . He taught that ren is a quality that every human should strive to achieve but since it is so exalted that he also taught a good life is an endless aspiration for ethical perfection ( Confucianism . His teachings were a great influence in Chinese government , education and attitudes toward correct personal behavior that his precepts and principles were incorporated into the Chinese Law in 210 B .C . The concept of ren , like any other ethical and moral teaching , through the self-perfection of virtues , is a valuable guide to maintaining social and prosperity

Ren is viewed as a combination of reverence , tolerance , trustworthiness keenness and kindness , or of reverence in private life , respect when entrusted with a task , and benevolence when dealing with others . It is an ensemble of of virtuous behavior which encompasses , among other things , justice , solidarity , impariality , and harmony . It is said that if one achieves ren , one at the same time masters other virtues including , but not limited to , courage , prudence , cautiousness in speaking , and propriety (Roetz 120

Confucius believed that every normal human being aspires to become a superior man which might not only include being superior to his fellows but surely includes being superior to one 's own past and present self (Dawson 1 . It could be said , then , that one 's goal in life should be to achieve self-perfection , which , as it has already been stipulated , is an endless process of discovery and evolution . It requires one to cultivate higher and more useful traits and qualities and would offer a substantial reward not only for one 's self , but also for the society in which the person belongs . The aim to excel , approved and accepted by common consent , would , of course , appeal to every member of the society Thus , enforced by universal recognition of its validity , would become a part of everyday individual and social life . A society where people altogether , strive for the perfection of its goals would ultimately progress itself into perfection as well . Confucius incorporated individual virtues with the individual 's role to family , society and government (Huang 7 . If every individual is cultivated in the virtues family relations will surely become harmonious if every family is harmonious , then the...