Confucius had to follow the only avenue open to a young man at that time - he took political office, and His theories was put to public use only when he was 52 years old. He was appointed the magistrate of Chung-tu. The very next year, he became Minister of Justice (大 司 寇 ) of the state and he proved his capability as His administration was successful; reforms were introduced, justice was fairly dispensed, and crime almost eliminated.
But after only four years he was forced to leave his position of influence because Lu started becoming very powerful under Confucius. So the ruler of a neighbouring state maneuvered to sabotage Lu's reforms. Confucius left his office as well as his state in 496 BC,as an administrator, he had the reputation of being a zealous reformer, who did not hesitate to attack and sweep away old established abuses and outdated customs.
Confucius' political philosophy is also rooted in his belief that a ruler should learn self-discipline, should govern his subjects by his own example, and should treat them with love and concern
His political principle is based upon his ethical thought. He argues that the best government is one that rules through "rites" and people's natural morality, rather than by using bribery and coercion. "If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given to them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, it will invoke the sense of shame. If they be led by virtue, and uniformity is applied by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of the shame, and motive to become good."
He urged the Chinese, particularly those with political power, to model themselves on earlier examples. In times of division, chaos, and endless wars between feudal states, he wanted to restore the Mandate of Heaven (天 命) that could unify the "world" (天 下, "all under Heaven") and bestow peace and prosperity on the people. Because his vision of personal and social perfections was framed as a revival of the ordered society of earlier times, Confucius is often considered a great proponent of conservatism, but a closer look at what he proposes often shows that he used (and perhaps twisted) past institutions and rites to push a new political agenda of his own: a revival of a unified royal state, whose rulers would succeed to power on the basis of their moral merits instead of lineage. These would be rulers devoted to their people, striving for personal and social perfection, and such a ruler would spread his own virtues to the people instead of imposing proper behavior with laws and rules.
He believes that when people are lead on with correctness, who will dare not to be correct? The need of killing will not be necessary if the desires for what is good are a convinced one, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend when the wind blows across it.
To be a proper government official one must maintain a sense of shame in his conduct, and when sent to any quarter, he will not disgrace his leader's commission, deserves to be called an official.
In dealing with those placed in the next rank he should treat them filial and to be fraternal to them. To that even lower rank, they must be treated with sincerity in whatever told to them, and to ask them to carry out what they have to do.
His political principle is based upon his ethical thought. He argues that the best government is one that rules through "rites" and people's natural morality, rather than by using bribery and coercion. "If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given to them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, it will invoke the sense of shame. If they be led by virtue, and uniformity is applied by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of the shame, and motive to become good."
He urged the Chinese, particularly those with political power, to model themselves on earlier examples. In times of division, chaos, and endless wars between feudal states, he wanted to restore the Mandate of Heaven (天 命) that could unify the "world" (天 下, "all under Heaven") and bestow peace and prosperity on the people. Because his vision of personal and social perfections was framed as a revival of the ordered society of earlier times, Confucius is often considered a great proponent of conservatism, but a closer look at what he proposes often shows that he used (and perhaps twisted) past institutions and rites to push a new political agenda of his own: a revival of a unified royal state, whose rulers would succeed to power on the basis of their moral merits instead of lineage. These would be rulers devoted to their people, striving for personal and social perfection, and such a ruler would spread his own virtues to the people instead of imposing proper behavior with laws and rules.
He believes that when people are lead on with correctness, who will dare not to be correct? The need of killing will not be necessary if the desires for what is good are a convinced one, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend when the wind blows across it.
To be a proper government official one must maintain a sense of shame in his conduct, and when sent to any quarter, he will not disgrace his leader's commission, deserves to be called an official.
In dealing with those placed in the next rank he should treat them filial and to be fraternal to them. To that even lower rank, they must be treated with sincerity in whatever told to them, and to ask them to carry out what they have to do.
While he supported the idea of government by an all-powerful sage, ruling as an Emperor, his ideas contained a number of elements to limit the power of rulers. He argued for according language with truth, and honesty was of paramount importance. Even in facial expression, truth must always be represented. Confucius believed that if a ruler were to lead correctly, by action, that orders would be deemed unnecessary in that others will follow the proper actions of their ruler.
In discussing the relationship between a king and his subject (or a father and his son), he underlined the need to give due respect to superiors. This demanded that the inferior must give advice to his superior if the superior was considered to be taking the course of action that was wrong. Confucius believed in ruling by example, if you lead correctly, orders are unnecessary and useless.
