Why Is Confucianism So Important To The Chinese Government?

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Confucianism began as a teaching or training of young men "to be wise and altruistic public servants" (Fisher, 2014) during a time of complete government chaos. Prior to Confusious training the young men to become good leaders, he had attempted to find rulers who would be willing to follow his teachings. However, the Zhou dynasty had collapsed, with no traditional law or order to be found. Confuscious continued to teach those young men the Confusious Classics, only much later after his death did his lessons become important to the Chinese government. The Chinese government adapted Confusious teachings of obligations and responsibilities within relationships of order, as they attempted to bring more class and higher levels of educated people to rulership. Government mandated that rulers follow these teachings of respect and to lead their people by example, not by force. The belief was that the ruler was the link between Heaven and their people, therefore the rulers' responsibility to not only communicate to the gods on their people's behalf but additionally follow the chain of hierarchy. Meaning the ruler is to be the …show more content…

It is a way of life for them, living within nature as one, recognizing spiritual strength in all things placed on this earth as well as the goodness of man. The Japanese especially pay homage to the sun goddess Amaterasu and the wind god Susanoo, with the belief that the priests were direct descendants of this god and goddess through the generations. In 1868 Emporer Meiji brought forth the Meiji Restoration within Japan, emphasizing worshiping the emperor, not nature or Amaterasu nor Susanoo. Prior to this Meiji Restoration, Shinto priests were religious leaders, performing special rights, rituals, and the like. Only to be replaced and banned from religious activities by state-appointed