The historical figure that I am choosing for the final project is Confucius (孔子). He is an influential Chinese philosopher and politician whose philosophies were popularized during Spring and Autumn period (c. 772-476 BCE) as well as the Warring States period (c. 481-221 BCE). His teachings continue to resonate throughout Chinese culture and are often referenced when discussing traditional Chinese thought. He is often considered one of the most famous Chinese philosophers in history and one of the founders of Chinese philosophy, much like how in Western culture, Aristotle and Plato are considered the founders of philosophy. Confucius is mainly known for his ideas surrounding ethical code and rituals which during his time, changed cultural norms and politics.
Some of his most prominent works include the The Analects of Confucius, The Classics of Rites, and The Book of Rites. Amongst these works are universal and timeless concepts such as filial piety or 孝, which depicts having respect for one’s parents or elders. This Confucian concept remains relevant in modern parenting as many Asian parents educate their children on being respectful to their elders.
I chose Confucius as the focus of my final project because I believe that individuals who are of Chinese heritage often disregard or are indifferent towards Confucian teachings, despite being exposed to them at a young age. I want to emphasize how his teachings have shaped generations of Chinese culture and illustrate how his ideas remain applicable to modern rituals and ethics. Confucius’ concept of filial piety is one that continues to influence the way I act around elders and my parents, as I tend to show respect to those who are older than me.
My project will outline Confucius’ teachings, specifically his concept of filial piety and rituals and briefly compare them to Western culture, then I will follow by depicting these concepts and their relevance to modern-day society, finally I will illustrate how his teachings have shaped by behaviour and actions.
Although many of his concepts are traditional, they have nonetheless remained influential and highly respected today. I plan to discuss his teachings as well as add some of my personal insight and interpretation to his written works. Despite Asian studies not being my major, I am interested in Chinese culture and have taken some courses exploring Confucius and many other influential Chinese philosophers including Mencius (孟子), Laozi (老子), and Dong Zhongshu.
For this project, I will be filming on my iPhone and editing using iMovie, I will also be gathering information regarding his teachings through scholarly articles.
