Greg, Hannah, James Social Structure

Social Structure: Buddhism and Confucianism

By: Gregory Muir, Hannah Ornatowski, James Fraser

Beliefs of Confucianism • System of thought based on Confucius who lived from 551to 479 B.C. • Had a moral code based on ethics • Emphasized the ideas of order, humanity, and harmony • Believed that good government would bring happiness to all people • Believed in five human relationships: o 1. Father to son o 2. Husband to wife o 3. Older brother to younger brother o 4. Friend to Friend o 5. Ruler to subject

Beliefs of Confucianism (Continued) • System of examinations were developed for government service o The goal was to make jobs available to all with equal opportunity without regards to class o Tests to get jobs were strongly based on the ideas of Confucianism o The ability to do well on test required lots of previous schooling (which favored the rich)

Confucius

Beliefs of Buddhism • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama • objective of Buddhism is to attain Nirvana, which is a state of total spiritual satisfaction • The Buddhist teaching revolves around human suffering and man can solve this problem without the aid of any external or super natural force • Buddha means the enlightened or awakened one • Basic structure of beliefs include the four noble truths: o 1. The truth that suffering exists o 2.The truth that there is a cause a that suffering o 3. The truth that suffering can end o 4. The truth of the way that leads to the cessation of suffering

Beliefs of Buddhism Continued • The Eightfold Path- the way to the end of suffering, as laid out by the Buddha • the right view • the right intention • the right speech • the right action • the right livelihood • the right effort • the right mindfulness • the right concentration

Spread of Buddhism

Caste System of Confucianism • Private schools funneled students for the examinations students • Those who’s families who could afford the money for schooling were favored • While originally the system was trying to equalize the caste systems when taking the exams, previous schooling was required to do well which only the rich could afford • Proximity to the capital and connection to the imperial court helped in gaining position to becoming an elite • Village communities might sponsor the education of a boy from a commoner family which would enable him to become an elite • The examination system sometimes provided someone of social inability to rise above

Confucianism

Caste System of Buddhism • Siddhartha addressed himself to anyone; the rich and powerful, or the poor and weak • Disregarded class destinations and helped all of them equally • During the time of the Buddha there was a major caste system consisting of: o Priest- the top class claiming their authority o Warriors-upper middle class which the Buddha was born into o Traders-lower middle o Laborers-bottom of the caste system o Outside the caste system were the sudra who were considered so impure that they did not even deserve to be in the caste system • Buddhism brought all people of all castes together

Caste System of Buddhism

Caste System of Buddhism Continued • Siddhartha was a strong critic of the caste system • He did not believe that your place should be based on what level you were born into, but what you have done in your life • He did not like how preists claimed total control • He accepted all, even the sudra, which at that time was unheard of • Present day caste systems are beginning to be less severe and are diminishing

Differences of Two Religions According to Caste Systems • While both religions tried to equalize the availability of conversion to all, Buddhism was more successful. • Success in Confucianism was expressed in examinations and how well you did while in Buddhism it was expressed by the end of suffering • Buddhism questioned the authority of the original religious leaders

Bibliography • • • • • •

Saiddhatissa “The Buddha’s Way” "Confucianism-World Religions" http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/dharmadata/fdd53.htm http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsReviewTopic/HinduismBuddhism-Confucianism-and-Taoism.topicArticleId-26957,articleId26930.html Stearns, Peter "Experiencing World History" Stearns, Peter "World Civilizations: The Global Experience"