Confucius Thought Piece: Who's Your Daddy
“And surely proper behavior towards parents and elder brothers is the trunk of Goodness?” (Book 1 Analectic 2)
“A young man’s duty is to behave well to his parents at home and to his elders abroad…” (Book 1 Analectic 6)
“A man who treats his betters as betters, wears an air of respect, who into serving father and mother knows how to put his whole strength, who in the service of his prince will lat down his life, who in intercourse with friends is true to his word – others may say of him that he still lacks education, but I for my part should certainly call him an educated man.” (Book 1 Analectic 7)
Many of Confucius’ analects are concerned with what makes a good man. Throughout Book 1, and some of Books 2 and 3, a main ingredient of his recipe for this good man is the proper treatment of parents and elders. In fact, in the second analectic, he says that “proper behavior towards parents” is surely “the trunk of Goodness.” It seems that perhaps this trunk is more complex than he makes it out to be.
Confucius emphasizes the proper treatment of parents, saying in the second book that this is comprised of much more than simply ensuring that parents are well fed and housed, for even horses and dogs are cared for as much. Honor and respect with one’s “whole strength” put into serving one’s parents are Confucius’ requirements. This parental respect leads to Goodness, as he assumes when he says in Book 1 Analectic 2, “Those who in private life behave well towards their parents and elder brothers, in public life seldom show a disposition to resist the authority of their superiors. And as for such men starting a revolution, no instance of it has ever occurred.” In this passage, we begin to see that the respect of one’s parents is perhaps more involved than simply that, as Confucius mentioned in Book 2 Analectic 8 (that it is much more than feeding and housing).
In the 6th analectic of Book 1, elders abroad are mentioned, and in the 7th one’s prince is considered as well. This leads one to consider that by parents, Confucius may have meant more than one’s biological mother and father, but perhaps all those who watch over and provide for one’s life. This opens the door for many more people to be considered, as is implied by “elders,” and makes it clearer as to why Confucius endorses proper behavior towards one’s parents as the “trunk of Goodness.”
In considering this newly opened view of who is encompassed when Confucius mentions parents, many different possibilities are brought to mind. Clearly familial ties are important to Confucius, so it would likely be safe to say that most of one’s family is included in “parents.” Elders are mentioned, so that would likely encompass teachers, societal leaders, and other adults in one’s immediate area. One’s Prince is also mentioned, so respect for one’s government and the ensuing branches would seem to be implied in parents, including all authority, as he mentions in Book 1 Analectic 2. The final possibility that seems to come to mind is the Father of all.
Did Confucius have in mind the Father of the universe? Was (a) God one of the parents Confucius meant his followers to respect and serve? Could this be a Spiritual message?
451 Words
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