1、Confucius and RenUnit2 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，勿施于人。
2、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 world today.
3、 Confucius identified the concept ren as the most important principle in life, a principle which is still relevant in modern society. Confucius and RenBEFORE YOU WATCH1. The teachings of Confucius have been an important part of Chinese culture for more than _ years.2. His teachings are all about the
4、 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 teachings of Confu
5、cius 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. Confucius said, “Whatever y
6、ou dont like done to yourself, dont _.”WHILE YOU WATCH1. Check your answers in Before You Watch.2,000valuesrenparentsdo it to others1. Confucian thought is still greatly valued in China and in other East/Southeast Asian countries.2. If students really understood Confucian ideas, it could change soci
7、ety/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 that the one single concept to take
8、 as a guide for all actions in life is happiness/fairness.2. Circle the correct words to complete the sentences below.WHILE YOU WATCH1. In what ways do you think Confucian thought still influences education and society in China?2. Do you think that your life would change if you understood and practi
9、sed ren every day?3. How would the Confucian idea of fairness change society around you if everybody started practising fairness in everything?AFTER YOU WATCHWork in groups. Discuss the questions.Confucian thought has a great influence on Chinese education, because it teaches people to show great re
10、spect 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 would result in a more egalitarian society,
11、 where people treated everyone with kindness and respect regardless of status.TapescriptNarrator: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-educated in the philosophy and moral values of Con
12、fucius. 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 of Confucius are all about the most basic values o
13、f 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 writings of Confucius, you will see a constantly recu
14、rring 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 person, a human being; the element on the right stands f
15、or 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 different words have been used to translate ren: bene
16、volence, 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 cannot love his own parents, he also cannot love other peopl
17、e. 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 ren like this: “love ones parents, loving people, loving ev
18、erything 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.
