Born around the year 551 BC in the small town of Lu, now enter Shantung province in the northeast mainland China. In the younger age widowed father, making life miserable on her mother's side. Time to go up he become civil servants petty but after the lapse of several years, he decided passable dislodged alone. Throughout the next sixteen years Kong Hu Cu to be a teacher, little by little for influence and followers fad philosophies. Stepping on the age of fifty years of his star began to shine because she can perch at the city administration Lu.
The good fortune apparently not always friendly for people who envy with this act and the act was dragged to court, which not only managed to remove him from office chairs but also made him leave the city. No less than thirteen years Kong Hu Cu ventured into which the foot step, so itinerant teachers, new home to come home five years before his death in 479 BC.
Kong Hu Cu is often regarded as the founder of a religion; This assumption of course misses. He rarely associate with a deity teachings, rejecting talk of the afterlife, and dodged every waffle firmly associated with matters metaflsika. He -not more and no less-a secular philosopher, just dealing with the problems of political morality and private morality and behavior.
There are two very important values, said Kong Hu Cu, which is "Yen" and "Li:" "Yen" is often translated with the word "Love," but they are more subject to defined "Hospitality in a relationship with someone." "Li" is described as a combination of behavioral, worship, customs, manners and courtesy.
Ancestor worship, the basic bin basically trust the Chinese even before the birth of Kong Hu Cu, is confirmed again with emphasis on loyalty to relatives and respect for parents. Doctrine Kong Hu Cu also underlines the importance of a wife's obligation respectful and obedient to her husband and a similar obligation of a citizen to his government. This is somewhat different from the stories of the Chinese people who always oppose every form of tyranny. Kong Hu Cu sure, the state was none other than to serve the interests of the people and not distorted. Not lose jemunya Kong Hu Cu stressed that the authorities should command based first of all give exemplary moral and instead of passing around hard and kemplang. And one of the legal doctrine bit similar to the "Golden Rule" of his Christian who says "What you do not like others to do to you, do not do."
The main points of view Kong Hu Cu basically very conservative. In his opinion, the golden age is already past, and he urged both the authorities and the people to return home, adhering to the moral genah size, do not digress. The fact that there is not an easy task at hand. Desire Kong Hu Cu in order to govern not play snapped, but by show a good example is not so smoothly in the early era. Therefore, Kong Hu Cu closer a reformer, an innovator rather than what is actually so dreams.
Kong Hu Cu living Chou Dynasty, a period menyuburnya intellectual life in China, while the rulers at that time ignored the advice-petuahnya altogether. Only after he wafatlah his teachings spread to all corners of China.
Berbetulan with the advent of the Ch'in dynasty in 221 BC, suffered a very bleak future. Emperor Shih Huang Ti, the first emperor of the Ch'ing dynasty resolute lick up adherents Kong Hu Cu and cut the chain contacting past. Issuing daily orders bullying creamed teachings Kong Hu Cu and stir well rearview and bouncer and vandals professionals to conduct search massive, seized all the books containing the teachings of Kong Hu Cu and plunged into the campfire until it is destroyed to ashes. Depravity plan is apparently not too effective. When the Ch'ing dynasty neared collapse, the adherents Kong Hu Cu resurgent coal spirits and kindle again the doctrine of Kong Hu Cu. In the next dynasty (Han dynasty in 206 BC - 220 AD). Confucianism became the official philosophy of the Chinese state.
Starting from the Han dynasty, the emperors of China level by level to develop a system of selection for those who want to become civil servants to the road through a test in order to become civil servants who do not vote haphazard but has good quality standards and moral skills. Over time the more directed and weighted selection: eye exam includes basic philosophy Kong Hu Cu. Because so pegawal the country are a ladder to prosperity keterangkatan material and social status, please understand if among the enthusiasts of a fight fierce fighting for a place. The next result, air-generations-frontman frontman Chinese intellectuals in the massive amount pursue until dizzy eyes treasures of classical writings Khong Hu Cu. And, for centuries throughout the Chinese civil servants made up of people gaze rests on a philosophy of Kong Hu Cu. This system (with only a slight distraction) lasted nearly two thousand years, from 100 BC to 1900 AD
But, the official philosophy of Confucianism is not only government of China, but also accepted and lived by the majority of Chinese people, influential to the basics of their hearts, be guided towards thinking during a period of more than two thousand years.
There are several reasons why Confucianism had a tremendous influence on Chinese people. First, honesty and innocence Kong Hu Cu can not be doubted. Second, he was a moderate and exceedingly practical and do not ask a lot of things that are not manageable to handle people. If the Kong Hu Cu want someone to be honored, the person does not have to bother to become a saint in advance. In this case, as in the case of other teachings, he reflects and simultaneously translate the practical character of the Chinese. This aspect of the possibility of most principal factor in the success of the teachings of Kong Hu Cu. Kong Hu Cu not ask exceedingly much. For example he did not ask the Chinese to exchange their fundamental beliefs ever. Actually the opposite, Kong Hu Cu join support with clear language clean so that they do not need to be stirred. Apparently, no one anywhere in the world philosophers were so close contact in the case of views that are fundamental to the population as well as Kong Hu Cu.
Confucianism that emphasizes a series of obligations addressed to individuals rather than accentuate their rights -rasanya stodgy and less attractive to the size of the Western world. As a philosophy of statehood looked amazingly effective. Measured in terms of ability to maintain harmony and prosperity in the country of China in a period of no less than two thousand years, it is clear can be equated with other forms of government best in the world.
The idea Kong Hu Cu philosophy rooted in Chinese culture, it is not much effect outside the East Asian region. In Korea and Japan indeed obvious influence, and this is due to the two countries is heavily influenced by Chinese culture.
Currently in a state Guram Confucianism in China. The problem is, the Communist government trying hard to link the minds of the population with the past is lost altogether. Persistently and systematically pounded Confucianisme runs out so likely a time not so far away from Earth Chinese Confucianism. But as in the past, taproot Confilcianisme so deep in the earth menghunjam China, is not impossible-whether a hundred or a hundred and fifty lahun to come - some Chinese philosophers could marry the two big ideas: Confucianism and the teachings of Mao Tse-Tung.
-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Hundred Most Influential People in History
Michael H. Hart, 1978
Translation H. Mahbub Djunaidi, 1982
PT. World Pustaka Jaya
Jln. Kramat II, No. 31A
Central Jakarta