The Analects

The Analects

In the Analects, Confucius gives readers certain guidelines regarding how government and kingship should conduct itself. Through his descriptive text Confucius breaks down many aspects of the expectations of ruling forces. Confucius embodies a sense of traditional and moral values that shine through in his writings. His conservative view appears throughout the Analects as Confucius outlines his guidelines regarding a legitimate, successful government, and the qualities of a good king.

Confucius says that the governments are consisting of three major practices: filiality, humaneness, and ritual decorum. These practices contain very conservative and moral ideologies. All three practices show the importance of moral values such as peaceful, respect and concern for others, and dignity. Confucius stems out to expand his definitions of the three practices, but the main traditional concepts remain the same.

Filiality involves placing great importance on the care one has of their family members, and treating non-family members as if they were part of their family. Filiality, according to Confucius was a very important key to a harmonious government. This embraces the moral ideologies that Confucius sought after. While some governments rely on enforcing strict, unfair rules to achieve a successful government, they often result in unrest and violence.

According to Confucius, in order for society as a whole to benefit, we must act humanely toward others. The humane find peace in humaneness; the knowing derive profit from humaneness you want to develop yourself; then help others to develop themselves. Being able to recognize oneself in others, one is on the way to become humane. Five qualities in becoming humane were described by Confucius; they included respect, liberality, trustworthiness, earnestness and kindness.

Although Confucius speaks of humaneness and filiality, ritual decorum is a very important component of the message he is sending. He remains vague on describing why and how it could benefit. Perhaps he feels this way because repetition will instill a consistency for society, eventually leading to a routine which would not include deconstructive things such as violence, abuse, and other malevolence. Confucius also though that shame needed to be part of society's daily rituals. He thought that people were not born with shame, and without a sense of shame people do not know what is right or wrong. And so the leaders in government are responsible for teaching shame.