2. Weaknesses in the Confucian View of Value
In Confucianism there are such virtues as the following:
The Five Moral Rules Governing the Five Human Relationships
The five moral rules, since ancient times, have been described as follows: “Affection should mark the relations between father and son; justice and righteousness should mark the relations between sovereign and subject; distinction should mark the relations between husband and wife; order should mark the relations between elder and younger brothers; trust should mark the relations among friends.” These have been regarded as the basis for human relationships, and were especially emphasized by Mencius.
The Four Virtues
Mencius preached four virtues, namely, jen (benevolence), righteousness, propriety, and knowledge. Later, Tung Chung-shu, of the Han dynasty, added “faith,” establishing the Way of the Five Cardinal Virtues (jen, righteousness, propriety, knowledge, and faith).
The Four Beginnings
According to Mencius, the feeling of commiseration, the feeling of shame and dislike, the feeling of modesty and complaisance, and the feeling of approving and disapproving, are the Four Beginnings. Each of these was thought to be the beginning of one of the Four Virtues, jen, righteousness, propriety, and knowledge, respectively.
The Eight Articles
In order to govern the world peacefully, an official must do the following:
(a) investigate many things;
(b) extend his knowledge;
(c) be guided by sincere thoughts;
(d) rectify his heart;
(e) cultivate his personality;
(f) regulate his own family;
(g) govern the state well; and
(h) bring peace to the world. 8
Loyalty and Filial Piety
Loyalty and filial piety are the virtues with which one serves one’s superiors and one’s parents. The basis for all these virtues is jen, and the basis for jen is Heaven. 9 However, Confucianism does not explain clearly what Heaven is.
Communists have criticized Confucianism by applying the Communist theory of “basis and superstructure,” saying that the Confucian teaching is nothing more than a means of justifying the existing rules. They argue that Confucian values were coined by the ruling class during the feudal period in order to make the people follow obediently and that, therefore, Confucian teachings are not appropriate for a modern, democratic society, which follows the principles of equal rights and majority rule. Consequently, Confucian virtues are all but neglected today. Furthermore, as communities have become urbanized and families have divided into nuclear families, the Confucian view of value is increasingly collapsing and, as a result, there has been an acceleration of disorder and confusion in many communities.