The five social relationships that Confucianism emphasizes, which are between ruler and subject, father and son, elder and younger brother, husband and wife, and friend and friend.
Confucianism: An overview of the ancient Chinese philosophy, its history, beliefs, and key tenets.
The Five Relationships: Understanding the five social relationships outlined by Confucius: ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger brothers, and friend and friend.
Filial Piety: The concept of respecting and taking care of one's parents and elders in the family, as a key Confucian value.
Rectification of Names: The idea that proper naming and role identification is crucial to maintaining social order, and how it relates to the Five Relationships.
The Analects: A collection of Confucius's teachings and sayings, which provide insights into the Five Relationships and other Confucian concepts.
The Mandate of Heaven: The belief that rulers are granted power by the divine and must govern justly, and how it relates to the ruler-subject relationship.
Ren: The virtue of humaneness or benevolence, which encourages individuals to treat others with kindness and respect, and how it relates to the Five Relationships.
Li: The concept of propriety, encompassing proper behavior, customs, and manners, and how it relates to the Five Relationships.
Yin and Yang: The complementary forces of balance and harmony in Chinese philosophy, and how they relate to the Five Relationships.
Neo-Confucianism: A later development of Confucianism that focused on integrating Confucianism with Taoism and Buddhism.
Ruler and Subject: This relationship involves the political hierarchy in which a ruler governs and controls the subject. The ruler must be just and benevolent, while the subject must show loyalty and obedience to the ruler.
Father and Son: This relationship involves the family hierarchy where the father is the head of the household and is responsible for providing for and protecting his family. The son must show respect, obedience, and filial piety towards his father.
Husband and Wife: This relationship involves the mutual respect and love between a husband and wife. The husband must provide for and protect his wife, while the wife must show obedience, respect, and devotion towards her husband.
Older and Younger brother: This relationship involves the hierarchy within a family among siblings. The older brother must act as a role model for the younger brother and protect him, while the younger brother must show respect and obedience towards the older brother.
Friend and Friend: This relationship involves the mutual respect and trust between friends. Both friends must be loyal, trustworthy and help each other during times of need.