The Concept of Society From Confucian Point of View

The Chinese society of the time of Confucius was worn out bycontinuous civil wars, wickness of the government, cruelties,unsecurity, break up of family relations, and ethical corruption. Toreform this “natural society”, Confucius proposed a culturalexample for an ideal society which was once realized by themythical, ancient emperors “Yao”, “Shu” and “Yu” in about 3000B.C., and again by king “Wan” and his son “Wu” at the beginningof the Chu dynasty.Confucius viewed society as a great family, founded on ahierarchical structure of fivefold familial relations. Such a society,with the celestial family – Heaven (father), earth (mother), ruler(son) – as its archetype, prospers through the filial piety of the ruler,and its benefits permeate to the lower ranks and even to theancestral souls in heaven. So, the society is the field ofmanifestation of the will of Heaven (T’ien), embracing the mysteryof life, and therefore, it is considered sacred. In such an idealsociety,preforming the social duties and rituals cultivates humanity,which in its turn brings about harmony of Heaven, earth and man,and prevents the society from any calamities.