1、Confucius and Ren Unit2 Video Time What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others. Set a good example, and others will follow. Keep what you say and carry out what you do. Is he not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure though men may take no note of him? 己所不欲，勿施于人。己所不欲，勿施于
2、人。 其身正，不令而行。其身正，不令而行。 言必信，行必果。言必信，行必果。 人不知而不愠，不亦君子乎？人不知而不愠，不亦君子乎？ Where are they from? 论语论语颜渊颜渊 论语论语子路子路 论语论语子路子路 论语论语学而学而 They are from the works of Confucius and his disciples. The teachings of Confucius, one of the most respected teachers of ancient China, are still known and studied around the w
3、orld today. Confucius identified the concept ren as the most important principle in life, a principle which is still relevant in modern society. Confucius and Ren BEFORE YOU WATCH 1. The teachings of Confucius have been an important part of Chinese culture for more than _ years. 2. His teachings are
4、 all about the most basic _ of life. 3. Confucius thought that _ was the most important moral principle. 4. According to Confucius, this highest principle begins with love for _. 5. Confucius said, “Whatever you dont like done to yourself, dont _.” Complete each sentence with your best guess. 1. The
5、 teachings of Confucius have been an important part of Chinese culture for more than _ years. 2. His teachings are all about the most basic _ of life. 3. Confucius thought that _ was the most important moral principle. 4. According to Confucius, this highest principle begins with love for _. 5. Conf
6、ucius said, “Whatever you dont like done to yourself, dont _.” WHILE YOU WATCH 1. Check your answers in Before You Watch. 2,000 values ren parents do it to others 1. Confucian thought is still greatly valued in China and in other East/Southeast Asian countries. 2. If students really understood Confu
7、cian ideas, it could change society/their lives. 3. In English, only a few/many different words can be used to translate Confuciuss highest moral principle. 4. Mencius/Zigong explained this principle as “loving ones parents, loving people, loving everything in the world”. 5. Confucius taught Zigong
8、that the one single concept to take as a guide for all actions in life is happiness/fairness. 2. Circle the correct words to complete the sentences below. WHILE YOU WATCH 1. In what ways do you think Confucian thought still influences education and society in China? 2. Do you think that your life wo
9、uld change if you understood and practised ren every day? 3. How would the Confucian idea of fairness change society around you if everybody started practising fairness in everything? AFTER YOU WATCH Work in groups. Discuss the questions. Confucian thought has a great influence on Chinese education,
10、 because it teaches people to show great respect for teachers and the thinkers of the past. In Chinese society, Confucian thought has kept the family and respect for parents as a focal point. I have been trying to practise the principle of ren, but Im not sure that my life would change that much. It
11、 would result in a more egalitarian society, where people treated everyone with kindness and respect regardless of status. Tapescript Narrator: For more than 2,000 years, the teachings of Confucius have been an important part of Chinese culture. Scholars in ancient China were expected to be well-edu
12、cated in the philosophy and moral values of Confucius. Even today, Confucian thought is still greatly valued in education and in society both in China and in other East Asian countries. Question: Why do you think todays students should study the teachings of Confucius? Professor Guan: The teachings
13、of Confucius are all about the most basic values of life. Confucius talks about things like how to become a better person, how to get along with other people, how to live a happy, meaningful life If our students really understand these ideas, it could change their life. Narrator: When you read the w
14、ritings of Confucius, you will see a constantly recurring word, a Chinese character that represents the heart of Confucian thought: the character ren. Whal is ren? If you look closely at the written character, you can understand what it means. The left- hand element of the character represents a per
15、son, a human being; the element on the right stands for the number two. The two elements, when joined, indicate relationships between individuals, or with all of society. Confucius taught that ren was the highest moral principle, the standard by which all other morals were measured. In English, many
16、 different words have been used to translate ren: benevolence, love, kindheartedness, goodness, and humanity, to name a few. Question: Where does ren come from? Professor Lei: Confucius said that this kind of love, ren, begins with the love to ones own parents. Confucius believed that if someone can
17、not love his own parents, he also cannot love other people. If we can show this love to our own family, we can also show this love to other people around us, to the country, and to the whole world. Narrator: One of the greatest scholars who studied Confucian thinking, a man named Mencius, explained
18、ren like this: “love ones parents, loving people, loving everything in the world.” Zigong asked, “Is lhere one single concept that we can take as a guide for all actions in our lives?” Confucius said, “What about fairness? Whatever you dont like done to yourself, dont do it to others.” This kind of love should direct everything we do. It leads the way to all other virtues in life. “Do not do to others anything that you would not want done to you.” This truth from the time of Confucius still holds true today.
