ABSTRACT
Confucianism, at its core, is a way of achieving the full potential of human life and attaining harmony in society and the world through moral self-cultivation. This chapter explores the foundations of the Confucian way through an examination of the teachings of Confucius. Kong Zhongni is better known in the West as Confucius, the Latin form of his well-known Chinese title Kong Fuzi. As a member of the scholarly tradition, Ru jia, Confucius probably studied the classics, immersing himself in the ancient texts, learning the ideals and practices of early Zhou and Shang thinkers and rulers. The key philosophical concepts of Confucianism are those of human goodness (ren), propriety (li), filiality (xiao), and rightness (yi). According to Confucius, what makes human beings uniquely human is ren. Xiao, or filiality, is the virtue of reverence and respect for family. Yi is morally right action. Some actions must be performed for the sole reason that they are right.
