Role of Emperor Confucius

History 8 China Review 100 Schools of Thought

Confucius’s role of an emperor is defined by civic piety and is told in the Confucius Classics. Confucius says that for a king or ruler to rule correctly he also must be virtuous. He believed that you can only having a well working government by having good ethical values. To have good ethical values you must follow the 5 human relationships. The five human relationships are filial piety (father to son), fraternal piety(Elder brother to Younger brother), matrimonial piety (husband to wife), civic piety (Emperor to subject), and mutual piety (friend to friend). All people had to live by these relationships because everyone tended to have them. Civic Piety means that an emperor may only rule if he can fulfill the Will of Heaven, bringing prosperity, safety, and cultural excellence to his country. If the emperor is not able to do this, a new emperor is needed. This personal virtue is based on respect, honesty, education, kindness and strong family bonds. Without these virtues you cannot be a good emperor and fulfill the mandate of heaven. The role of the emperor, according to Confucius, is that an emperor must create a just and stable society to be able fulfill the mandate of heaven; this being accomplished from living through his life virtuously along with using the five human relationships.

Manual Pages 181-182

Class Notes on 4/23/13

http://www.china-family-adventure.com/who-was-confucius.html

Mary Ann Enerson