Above all, Confucianism emphasizes living a moral, ethical and fulfilling
life. While spirituality is important, it is not a person’s only duty;
involvement in political and economic processes is equally beneficial.
Confucianism doesn’t favor withdrawing from society to seek spiritual
enlightenment or a higher state of consciousness. Priority is placed on being
an active, contributing member of society.
Confucianism also stresses the importance of addressing material and
physical needs like food, shelter, clothing and the relationship with one’s
spouse. These needs are important, Confucianism teaches, and should be
fulfilled, with the welfare of the family and the community always the foremost
concern. Even wealth and success aren’t necessarily evil, because they cannot
corrupt someone with a strong sense of morals. The Doctrine of the Mean
outlined what it meant to live according to one’s place in life, saying that
people should do whatever is proper to their station, whether they are wealthy
and privileged, poor or even in danger.
Confucianism is especially concerned with the behavior of people in
authority, because it is they who set the tone for all of society. If a ruler
is corrupt or evil, he will undermine his subjects’ innate goodness, and anarchy
and chaos will result. If a ruler is kind and just, however, he will nurture
his subjects’ innate goodness, creating a morally healthy society. Confucius
felt that strict laws and harsh punishment were actually detrimental to
society, creating a populace that obeyed the laws, but only out of fear and
self-preservation, rather than out of honor or virtue.