SG's limits: An unthinking and unquestioning Confucian society

[temasekreview]

MM Lee has always emphasized to the West that Singapore is a “Confucian” society, whose embodied values enabled us to build a stable, prosperous and successful country in the span of four decades.

Confucianism can be considered as a teaching, a philosophy or as a form of governance based on the teachings of the ancient Chinese sage, Confucius.

What exactly is Confucianism and how does it manifest in our society? Before we begin, let us examine the background of the founder himself and its subsequent development in China’s history.

Confucius is born in 551 BC in or near the city of Qufu in modern day Shandong province in China during the Spring and Autumn period which is marked by great social upheavals and endless warfare in China.

Technically speaking, China is still ruled by a King under the Zhou dynasty, founded in 1045B.C. by King Wen (Zhou Wen Wang) and his son King Wu (Zhou Wu Wang) who conquered the preceding Shang dynasty.

After more than 500 years, the Zhou dynasty fell into disarray and split into over a hundred feudal states. It existed only in name only.

Read rest of article here:

http://temasekreview.com/?p=11830

 

[Watchman]

 

[scroobal]

You really running out of ideas. Why is this relevant at all.

 

[Shi Jin]

As Confucianism tend to regard rulers highly, my preference is for Mencius version who emphasized the significance of the common citizens.

"It is acceptable for the subjects to overthrow or even kill a ruler who ignores the people's needs and rules harshly. This is because a ruler who does not rule justly is no longer a true ruler."

 

[TeeKee]

"It is acceptable for the subjects to overthrow or even kill a ruler who ignores the people's needs and rules harshly. This is because a ruler who does not rule justly is no longer a true ruler."

this one i likey...

Proverbs 14:11King James Bible
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.