(a) Confucianism: Confucianism is based on the teachings and writings of the philosopher Confucius. It is an ethical belief system rather than a religion, and is based upon the concept of relationships. In Confucianism every relationship has the dual aspect of responsibility and obligation. Therefore the relationship between mother and child, husband and wife, brother and sister all have responsibilities and obligations. However, Confucianism goes beyond the family, and encorporates the relationship of individuals with the state, subject and ruler, bureaucrat and civilian. If these responsibilities and obligations are observed, then society will be a just and harmonious one.

Foundations of Confucianism

Three Principles:

The king is the master of the minister; the husband is the master of the wife; the father is the master of the son. These three relationships represent all the relationships in a highly hierarchical society.

Five Constant Virtues: Goodness, Rightness, Ritual, Wisdom, Credibility

Goodness--literally , "love of people"

The Chinese character Ren consists of two morphemes: person, human and two, hence the "Ren" actually means "two persons" and ��Ren�� therefore includes everything that is good when peple get along with each other and includes such connotations as tolerance, forgiveness, deference, filial obedience (to parents), faithfulness (to the master), wisdom, honesty, and so on. It is the core of five norms of Confucianism.

Rightness--friendship, fraternity.

Rightness pronounced as "yi" overlap with goodness but is above all other relationships. Confucius says that a gentleman takes as much trouble to discover what is rights as lesser men to discover what will pay. An often used compliment when praising a man who is willing to give up his own interests to help a friend is "yiqi": personal loyalty. Friendship is to some degree a kind of blind obligation.

Ritual--ethical norms

In the Analects, Confucius says that one should regulated by ritual. He believes that governing the people by political force, keep order among them by chastisements and they will not do wrong things, but they will lose all self-respect. Governing people by moral force, keep order among them b ritual, and they will keep their self-respect and understand. Therefore, according to Confucian teaching, in the use of ritual, harmony is prized. A harmonious relationship is most important element of governance and therefore should be retained at any cost.

Wisdom--cleverness and knowledge.

When you have knowledge, you have wisdom. Confucius says in the Analects that the good are not worried, the wise are not confused, and the brave are not afraid.

Credibility--believability, reliability, trustworthy

This involves doing what you say you will do.