Synopsis
Descendants of Confucius explain the importance of ritual and social morality.
- Programme: Genius of the Ancient World
- Episode: Confucius
- Channel: BBC Four
- Broadcast year: 2015
- Philosophy
Licence: ERA Licence required
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
Add Notes
More clips from Genius of the Ancient World
3: Confucius | Genius of the Ancient World
3: Confucius | Genius of the Ancient World
In the final episode, Bettany travels to China on the trail of Confucius, a great sage of Chinese history whose ideas have fundame...
Belief of cosmic forces | Genius of the Ancient World
Belief of cosmic forces | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius grew up around the ancient belief of two cosmic forces, that, combined with human ritual, kept the world and ...
Confucius and followers | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius and followers | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius was open to instruct anyone no matter their circumstance, as long as they were willing and the care for other...
Confucius and legacy | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius and legacy | Genius of the Ancient World
Despite dying before fulfilling his destiny, Confucius' pupils pushed his teachings and emperors after his death channelle...
Confucius and modern day | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius and modern day | Genius of the Ancient World
After Chairman Mao denounced Confucius' teachings in the 1960s, Confucianism has had a 21st century resurgence.
Confucius and Music | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius and Music | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius was a big proponent of music with rituals and endorsed it as a form of early art therapy.
Confucius origins | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius origins | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius was born into gentile poverty and was said to not play with toys but enact spiritual rituals with certain objects.
Confucius' appeal | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius' appeal | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucianism had wide appeal as it applied to everyone no matter the class or background, as long as you were "a lover of wis...
First writings | Genius of the Ancient World
First writings | Genius of the Ancient World
Early writings and thoughts found on bamboo sticks in a nobleman's grave were a key signal to Confucius' philosophy.
Importance of family | Genius of the Ancient World
Importance of family | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius thought family provided a pivotal moral compass for existence, with the hierarchical structure being able to dis...
Reinterpreting ritual | Genius of the Ancient World
Reinterpreting ritual | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius took the ideas of ancient ritual and applied his modern thinking to it, moulding it to his philosophy.
Ruling and philosophy | Genius of the Ancient World
Ruling and philosophy | Genius of the Ancient World
Confucius likened ruling to a father-son relationship; you must rule with love for your people as if they are your children.
Taoism | Genius of the Ancient World
Taoism | Genius of the Ancient World
A brief explanation of Taoism and "The Way" as well as a telling of a folklorish tale about Confucius meeting the founding father of Tao...
The virtue of Ren | Genius of the Ancient World
The virtue of Ren | Genius of the Ancient World
Ren is a foundational virtue of Confucianism and in the simplest of terms denotes humanity.
More resources about Philosophy and Ethics
1: Brands | Do Black Lives Still Matter?
1: Brands | Do Black Lives Still Matter?
Following the death of George Floyd, major brands pledged to address racial inequalities across their businesses. Grime artist Saski...
1: Buddha | Genius of the Ancient World
1: Buddha | Genius of the Ancient World
Historian Bettany Hughes travels to India, Greece and China on the trail of three giants of ancient philosophy. To begin, she investi...
1: Execution | Life and Death Row
1: Execution | Life and Death Row
Series telling the story of capital punishment through the eyes of young people whose lives have been shaped by it. It looks at two of the ...
1: Marx | Genius of the Modern World
1: Marx | Genius of the Modern World
Bettany Hughes retraces the lives of thinkers whose ideas shaped the modern world. Drawing on expert opinion and new evidence, she looks...
1: The Moral Side to Murder | Justice
1: The Moral Side to Murder | Justice
Professor Michael Sandel presents the first in a series of lectures from his Harvard undergraduate course in Political Philosophy. He e...
2: Fighting For Survival | The Baby Makers
2: Fighting For Survival | The Baby Makers
The technology, ethics and human stories of the assisted fertilization revolution.
2: Football | Do Black Lives Still Matter?
2: Football | Do Black Lives Still Matter?
George Floyd's death drew attention to problems with diversity in football. Grime artist Saskilla meets people from across the gam...
2: Judgement | Life and Death Row
2: Judgement | Life and Death Row
Following the trial of Guy Heinze Jr, with access to jury members charged with reaching a verdict on allegations that he beat his father an...
2: Nietzsche | Genius of the Modern World
2: Nietzsche | Genius of the Modern World
Bettany Hughes retraces the lives of great modern thinkers. Nietzsche's uncompromising ideas smashed the safe presuppositions and a...
2: Socrates | Genius of the Ancient World
2: Socrates | Genius of the Ancient World
Historian Bettany Hughes is in Greece, on the trail of the hugely influential maverick thinker Socrates, who was executed for his b...
2: The Case for Cannibalism | Justice
2: The Case for Cannibalism | Justice
Michael Sandel presents a lecture from his Harvard course on justice, exploring Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian philosophy with reference ...
24 week limit | Abortion On Trial
24 week limit | Abortion On Trial
A discussion of the UK's 24 week limit on having an abortion.
3: Confucius | Genius of the Ancient World
3: Confucius | Genius of the Ancient World
In the final episode, Bettany travels to China on the trail of Confucius, a great sage of Chinese history whose ideas have fundame...
3: Crisis Stage | Life and Death Row
3: Crisis Stage | Life and Death Row
Film following students from the Death Penalty Clinic at the University of Houston as they fight last-ditch appeals for two of the young...
3: How to Measure Pleasure | Justice
3: How to Measure Pleasure | Justice
Michael Sandel's lecture uses Hamlet and The Simpsons to explore John Stuart Mill's theory that utilitarianism can make room for a disti...
3: Music | Do Black Lives Still Matter?
3: Music | Do Black Lives Still Matter?
The music industry pledged millions in support of people of colour. But will the money help to fix its own problems with diversity? G...
3: Unnatural Practices | The Baby Makers
3: Unnatural Practices | The Baby Makers
The technology, ethics and human stories of the assisted fertilization revolution.
4: A Lesson in Lying | Justice
4: A Lesson in Lying | Justice
Harvard professor Michael Sandel examines Immanuel Kant's stringent theory of morality, which says that telling any type of lie is a violation...
5: What's a Fair Start? | Justice
5: What's a Fair Start? | Justice
Michael Sandel's lecture looks at John Rawls, who argued that for a fair social system one must start from an imaginary position where ever...
6: Should We Close Our Zoos? | Horizon
6: Should We Close Our Zoos? | Horizon
Liz Bonnin investigates how and why zoos keep animals and looks at whether they need to change to keep up with modern science.
More from Bettany Hughes
1: When God was a Girl | Divine Women
1: When God was a Girl | Divine Women
Bettany Hughes investigates goddess worship across the world and ancient conceptions of the divine.
Evaluation of Freud's theories | Genius of the Modern World
Evaluation of Freud's theories | Genius of the Modern World
Evaluations of Freud's work, was he too subjective or is there an element of truth in his theories of the subcons...
Socrates, youth and beauty | Genius of the Ancient World
Socrates, youth and beauty | Genius of the Ancient World
Many young men took to Socrates, who preached that the beauty of the mind is superior to that of the body.
The Roman Empire | Learning Zone
The Roman Empire | Learning Zone
Bettany Hughes explains why the Romans were keen to invade Britain.
South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission | What's the Point of Forgiveness?
South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission | What's the Point of Forgiveness?
How forgiveness was used in the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Seven Wonders of the Buddhist World
Seven Wonders of the Buddhist World
Bettany Hughes visits seven of the most famous ancient and modern Buddhist locations in the world: seven wonders that give an insight int...