The Study On The 'Jing' Idea In The Thought System Of Confucius

There is one important issue that should not be ignored on researches about the Confucius's thoughts, that is, how to make a proper understanding about the function, position, value and significance of the idea of'Jing'in Confucian thought system. Before Spring and Autumn Period, the idea of'Jing'mainly indicates solemnity, earnestness, caution, industriousness, cordiality and aspiring attitudes toward business. The meaning of'Jing'incarnates basic moral principles which originate and develop from the respect for'God'and'Ghost'on the premise of the acceptance of existence of the Supernatural and presents the essential requests for the monarch and liegeman on morals which are pervasively acceptable for each social class.Confucius attaches great importance to the traditional idea of'Jing'by inheriting the previous emotions, attitudes and normative significance of'Jing'. However, Confucius lays more emphasis on personal relation, family love, equal respect for ordinary citizens and the value and role the idea of'Jing'plays on self-cultivation. Confucius practises and implements his Benevolence Thought by making use of the idea of'Jing'.The ides of'Jing'has intimate relationship with Filial Piety, Benevolence, Propriety and other moral principles. The three will be expatiated in detail in the following analysis.Viewing from the relationship between'Jing'and'Filial Piety', traditional idea on Piety lays more emphasis on memorizing the ancestors showing gratitude for them, and the relation between father and son catches less attention. However, Confucius centers the filial comprehensive emotion for parents in the ides of filial piety and stresses the respecting emotion for parents in order to emphasize the authoritative position of parents in the family. The standpoints of Confucius insists on family love and reinforces the family moral relation in which'Jing'plays a role of practicing and refining the filial piety.Viewing from the relationship between'Jing'and'Benevolence', the value properties of love and respect embodied by the idea of Benevolence are the same, that is, both of them are from natural calmness, courtesy, sincerity and piety from the bottom of one's heart. This will be explained from three aspects. The first is on self-cultivation. The idea of'Jing'is the request of one's own nature and the request of attitudes toward carrying out the principles of Benevolence. The second is about the political activities. Respect is the general, universal spiritual character on respecting and caring for others owned by noble gentlemen and benevolent men. It is the solemn, cautioned, sincere and endeavoring social attitude which shows love and respect both for the king and elders and the citizens and guarantees the efficient political order. The third is on the social communal interactions. Confucius's idea of'Jing'is universal principle for social interaction. The implement of'Jing'softens the hard and bland relation among men under a rigid class-existing social order, injects some energy and warmth for the harmonization of social interaction and shows the respect and humanism care for the whole men.Viewing from the relation between'Jing'and'Propriety', the presentation of'Jing'regains energy and power for the basic procedures, ceremonies and routine principles of previous'Propriety'under the condition of the collapse of Patriarchalism system. Thereby, social orders regulated by'Propriety'obtain respect and appreciation from people. Meanwhile,'Propriety'related only with the aristocracy in class-existing society extends its popularity among the commoners. The requests of'Jing'impenetrate all of the propriety of the king and liegemen, father and son and common people claimed by Confucius. Except for the relationship with Filial Piety, Benevolence and Propriety, the idea of'Jing'is the same on its spiritual core and pursuit with the other virtues such as loyalty, faithfulness, wisdom, respectfulness, sincerity and tolerance, all of which embody the greatest moral realm aspired by Confucius. The spiritual characteristic of'Jing'is the basic demand of the implement of Confucius's moral value pursuit. The whole significance and meaning of Confucius's thought system lies in the practical activities, that is, to transform the moral principles into the power which molds personal characteristics and stimulates the social revolution. Thereby, the noble moral faith will be practised in specific action and the ethic instruction and humanism solicitude of Confucius will boost the social civilization greatly. By doing this, the dreams of Confucius, to inherit and meanwhile reconstruct the tradition can be fulfilled successfully.In the thought system of Confucius, the idea of'Jing'is a kind of spirit and an attitude which not only has moral principle significance but also can be carried out realistically. It is the key medium in implementing all of Confucius's ethic moral principle system.