The Teachings Of Confucius, A Fair And Balanced Feminist...

There is much to be gained from studying the teachings of Confucius, but a fair and balanced feminist interpretation is not one of them. Confucious covers a large variety of topics in his anelects. These writings go deep into the nuances of life, but somehow he fails to mention women in any meaningful way. If mentioned they are as a distraction to followers or of little importance. This imbalance in the treatment of women and men is embedded throughout the Analects. In the teachings of Confucius, the ideals he encourages such as devotion, and respect are represented in men and show them as loyal followers of the Way. However, in the writings of Lady Hyegyeong, these same traits that she exemplifies do not garner her respect. Instead she is seen as passive and lesser than the men that surround her. A feminist reading of confucius would be irresponsible because it encourages an imbalanced power dynamic, placing men above women. Confucius lays out a wide and diverse system of values and ideals to uphold in the Analects. Mainstays of this system include the importance of devotion and loyalty to the vital people in one’s life. In this Confucian anelect, this kind of commitment is introduced â€Å"The gentlemen applies himself to the roots. ‘Once the roots are firmly established, the Way will grow.’ Might we not say that filial piety and respect for elders constitute the root of Goodness† (1.3). Here it is established that devotion and respect are pillars for the â€Å"perfect