SHRINE
CONFUCIANISM
Kung Hsien Ho, Shanghal
Spoken at the Parliament of Religions
Chicago, 1893
FOLLOW THE WILL OF HEAVEN
The book of Yih King: "In the changes of the
world, there's a great Supreme which produces two
principles and these two principles are Yin and
Yang. By Supreme is meant the spring of all activity.
Our sages regard Yin and Yang and the five elements
as acting and reacting on each other without ceasing,
and this doctrine is all important, like as the
hinge of a door."
The incessant production of all things depends
on this as the tree does on the root.
Even all human affairs and all goods are dependent
on it; therefore it's called the Supreme, just as
we speak of the extreme points of the the earth
as north and south poles.
THE GREAT SUPREME PRODUCES THE YIN AND YANG
When Yin and Yang unite they produce water, fire,
wood, metal, earth. When these five forces operate
in harmony the four seasons come to pass. The essences
of the infinite, of Yin and Yang, and of the five
elements, combine and the heavenly become male,
and the earthly become female. When these powers
act on each other all things are produced and reproduced
and developed without end.
OUR SPIRITUAL NATURE IS LAW
The Book of Chung Yung: Spiritual nature is law.
All are thus born and have this law. Chung Yung
says, "To follow nature (the spiritual) is
the right way."
OUR FUNDAMENTAL NATURE'S ARE ORIGINALLY ALIKE,
BUT IN PRACTICE WE ARE DIFFERENT
However, if there is nothing to fix it, then desires
arise and passions rule, and people are not far
from being like beasts; hence Confucius says: "Humanity’s
nature is originally alike, but in practice people
become very different."
The principles of moderation, uprightness, benevolence,
and righteousness.
WE ARE ONE FAMILY
Great rulers are elder branches in their parent's
clan; great ministers are chief officers of this
clan, and people at large are brothers and sisters
of the same parents;
And the commandment of the Confucian is, "Fear
greatly lest ye offend against heaven."
FIVE RELATIONS AND FIVE CONSTRAINTS
THE FIVE RELATIONS
The ruler is the son of heaven, to be honored above
all others, therefore in serving him there has to
be loyalty. The parent's goodness to their children
is boundless; therefore the parents should be served
filially. Brothers are branches from the same root;
therefore, mutual respect is important. The marriage
relation is the origin of all human relations, therefore
mutual gentleness is important. As to friends, though
as if strangers to our homes, it is important to
be very affectionate.
When one desires to make progress in the practice
of virtue
as ruler or minister, as parent or child, as elder
or younger brother, or as husband or wife, if anyone
wishes to be perfect in any relation, how can it
be done without a friend to exhort one to good and
check one in evil? Therefore, one should seek to
increase his friends.
THE FIVE CONSTRAINTS
Benevolence, righteousness, worship, wisdom, faithfulness.
Benevolence is love, righteousness is fitness, worship
is principle, wisdom is thorough knowledge, and
faithfulness is what one can depend on. He who is
able to restore the original good nature and to
hold fast to it is called a worthy. He who has got
hold of the spiritual nature and is at peace and
rest is called a sage. He who sends forth unseen
and infinite influences throughout all things is
called divine. The influence of five constants is
very great, and all living things are subject to
them.
Mencius: "They who have no pity are not human
beings; they who have no sense of shame for wrong
are not human beings; they who have no yielding
disposition are not human beings, and they who do
not have the sense of right and wrong are not human
beings.
The sense of pity is the beginning of benevolence,
the sense of shame for wrong is the beginning of
righteousness, a yielding disposition is the beginning
of religion; the sense of right and wrong is the
beginning of wisdom. Faithfulness is not spoken
of, as it is what makes the other four real; like
the earth element among the five elements, without
it the other four manifestly can not be placed.
The Chung Yung says,
"There is no such thing as supreme sincerity
without action.
This is the use of faithfulness."
Benevolence, righteousness, worship, wisdom, faithfulness.
The most important thing is to get benevolence,
gentleness and liberal mindedness; of righteousness
the most important thing is to get is clear duty;
of religion the most important thing is to get is
showing forth; of wisdom the most important thing
is to get is to gather silently. When there is gentleness,
clear duty, showing forth and silent gathering constantly
going on, then everything naturally falls to its
proper place, just like the four seasons; e.g. the
spring influences are gentle and liberal and are
life-giving ones; in summer life-giving things grow,
in autumn those show themselves in harvest, and
in winter they are nothing; so it is said the benevolent
man is the life. Extend and develop this benevolence
and all under heaven may be benefited thereby. This
is how to observe human relation.
