Elements of Confucianism.
Confucianism is not a religion, but rather a way of life. The teaching included these values:
Li: prospriety, etiquette.
Hsiao: love within the family -- love of parents for their children and of children for their parents.
Yi: righteousness.
Xin: honesty and trustworthiness.
Jen: benevolence, humaneness towards others; the highest Confucian virtue.
Chung: loyalty to the state.
Jen -- Main Idea of Confucianism.
Confucius had one outstanding message: if we are to achieve a state of orderliness and peace, we need to return to traditional values of virtue. The word Jen , which can be best translated as "humaneness," also meaning "humanity," "benevolence," "goodness," or "virtue," is best used to describe the main idea of Confucianism.
Attainting Self-Development.
This Symbol means complete harmony and righteousness both in your own life and in your relations with your neighbor. During the "Great Learning" Confucius revealed a step-by-step process, obtained through self-development and how it flows over into the common life to serve the state and bless mankind. The order of development which Confucius discovered is:
Investigation of phenomena, Learning,
Sincerity, Self-development,
Family-discipline, Local self-government,
Rectitude of purpose, and Universal self-government.
Other Elements -- Relationships & the Book of Confucianism.
The Five Relationships.
Confucius held that Society was made up of five relationships: Those of husband and wife, of parent and child, of elder and younger brother, or generally of elders and youngsters, of Ruler and Minister or subject, and of friend and friend.
Lunyu or Analects.
Confucius' teachings and his conversations and exchanges with his disciples are recorded in the Lunyu or Analects, a collection that probably achieved something like its present form around the second century BCE