Confucianism Neo-Confucianism

Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism Confucianism in Chinese Society Ju Dou is one of the films that depict the culture of the Chinese society from ancient to modern times. A highly comprehensible film, Ju Dou is powerful in teaching the traditional values of the Chinese culture to international viewers.

China, historically, is a nation of philosophy in which the teachings and values of Confucius is one of the conventional and adhered ideas in way of living, and this particularly are conveyed, in some way or another, by the characters in the story of the film Ju Dou. Among the philosophers from the previous times, the most influential to the Chinese culture are the philosophies of Confucius. His teachings are usually represented in many Asian films.

As in most of the Chinese films, Ju Dou attempts to re-define and portrays the Chinese culture based on various literatures and Chinese identity such as Confucianism. The influence of Confucianism to the Chinese majorities has led to the economic and political success of their nation. This only proves that the ancient culture of the Chinese are still part of their modern society, and that it helps in molding a better life for them. Confucianism teaches the proper way of living a life.

It is a "code of conduct" that has influenced most part of the Chinese lives, from their government and political sectors to the personal and individual behavior. Confucianism lectures the right attitude towards every life's episode. Its impact in the living nature of the Chinese is fundamentally visible in the teachings of their previous generation as well as today's generation. In the film Ju Dou, the characters depicted the idea of Confucianism in morality and relationships where established persons are respected and a wife obeys her husband.

This culture is observed of the characters Ju Dou and Yang Jin-Shan. Yang Jin-Shan is a rich and old man who purchased Ju Dou to become his bride. Ju Dou on the other hand is an obedient wife who is mistreated by Yang Jin-Shan for failing to bear a son. Another instance in the film that accentuates the impact of Confucianism to Chinese culture is the role portrayed by Yang Tian-qing, a factory worker, to his employer Yang Jin-Shan.

Yang Tian-qing, despite of being his employer's relative and treated like a slave, and despite of being hateful to his employer, displays an example of a Confucianism teaching that established persons are to be obeyed. As taught by Confucius, the obligations of every individual are not determined by relationships. Instead, the moral actions define relationship. Through obedience, the authority of a person is recognized. Such influence to the Chinese culture is obedience to elders and upholding the power of authorities.

The "code of conduct" of Confucianism regarding morality and relationships are quite conservative. The treatment to women it emphasizes are somehow repressive, less humane, and makes the female genders less dignified. As illustrated in Ju Dou, the female character is dominated by her husband and must follow all his wills. The film demonstrates the oppressions suffered by the Chinese women during the past. Confucianism teaches that human relationships are basic to human life. The nature of society and the relationship to it provides the moral principles of living.

Ju Dou, Yang Tian-qing, and Yang Jin-shan portray the examples of obtaining the moral values from relationships with other individuals. The influence of such Confucianism doctrine has been part of the Chinese way of life since Confucius' time. His philosophies have manifested code of conducts, although some may not agree with his teachings. Neo-Confucianism also highlights interpersonal relationships. It involves concern to the government and the society. However, it supports the combination of Confucianism with the western philosophies.

Somehow, this philosophy is related in the Ju Dou film on the part of Ju Dou and Yang Tian-qing. Ju Dou and Yang Tian-qing are victims of the cruelty of Yang Jin-shan. The traditional Confucianist philosophy that their situation depicts is metaphorically turning to the Neo-Confucianism philosophy. Where their lives were influenced with Confucianism, Confucianism only shows the great impact of its teachings to the Chinese tradition. Nonethelsess, neo-confucianism can.