Write an essay about Neo-Confucianism

Neo-Confucianism

Neo-Confucianism is a somewhat modified version of traditional Confucianism . It appeared during the Song dynasty , which stretched between the tenth and thirteenth century A .D . At that time , some Buddhist precepts were integrated into Confucianism , as well as beliefs from other forms of Eastern ways of thinking , such as Taoism and the I Ching . This will be used to discuss Neo-Confucianism , the effects it had on Chinese civilization , and some of its benefits and drawbacks In addition , I will attempt to apply the belief to my own life

What is

Neo-Confucianism

Neo-Confucianism is a form of traditional Confucianism that has been modified to incorporate values from other Eastern belief systems During the twelfth century , during the Song dynasty , Zhu Xi synthesized Confucianism with ideals from Buddhism , Taoism , and the I Ching , as well as other similar ways of believing . Zhu Xi did so despite the Song contention that Buddhism offered little philosophy that had practical application . And , despite the concerns over the practical applications of Buddhism , Zhu Xi integrated these beliefs into the Confucian Classics . As part of the Confucian Classics , Neo-Confucianism was part of the Chinese civil service exam until 1905 (Murphey page

Effects on Chinese Civilization

During the creation of Neo-Confucianism , Zhu Xi created a series of works that set forth a strict code of behavior . This code of behavior according to Chinavoc .com

became the official imperial ideology from late Song times to the late nineteenth century . As incorporated into the examination system , Zhu Xi 's philosophy evolved into a rigid official creed , which stressed the one-sided obligations of obedience and compliance of subject to ruler child to father , wife to husband , and younger brother to elder brother (par . 5

The effect of this strict code was such that China 's society was essentially made static , with behavior that sought to comply with restrictive feudal ideals . The few changes that were made to the society were made slowly , over generations . This lack of societal growth extended into the nineteenth century , which effectively created cultural stagnation for that period

However , in addition to this cultural stagnation , Neo-Confucianism radically changed the austere and practical nature of traditional Confucianism to reflect the other , less physically grounded , ways of thinking . Regardless , these changes did no have a major , lasting effect on the public mind . Instead , as Murphey points out , Neo-Confucianism contributed to a stagnation of ideas and resistance to change and reform a period of centuries (Murphey date

My Life and Neo-Confucianism

According to Zhu Xi 's philosophy that which is inborn to the child is the child 's nature ' This human nature is essentially good in all people , which I fundamentally believe , although I question how to reconcile this belief with people like serial killers and child molesters . Perhaps that is because I have a hard time separating human nature ' from what Zhu Xi describes as passions ' However , I suppose it is possible for an essentially good person to have a bad temper , so in that way I...