Confucianism:
An Overview
Introduction
Confucious taught that to be fully human is to be humane, which requires choosing vegan to protect people, animals, and the planet. Confucian stories present other species as powerful individuals and as morally important. Nonetheless, some practice blood sacrifice and use traditional medicines that harm and destroy other species. Contemporary animal activists, following the model of Confucious, exemplify core Confucian ethics of benevolence and kindness as they work to bring change on behalf of nonhuman animals.
Texts & Teachings
Confucian philosophy holds that all species are equal and offers a core moral expectation that human beings be humane.
All minds and all beings come from one source, connecting and equalizing all.
To be fully human, human beings must be benevolent and altruistic (ren).
Diet
Confucian ethics require choosing vegan.
One cannot be fully human without being humane (ren).
Both right action (yi) and proper conduct (li) require respect for life.
Proper familial relations require protecting human beings now and in the future.
Sacred Stories
Confucian stories remind that to be fully human is to treat animals humanely.
Compassion compelled Confucius to ask that an ox be spared from slaughter.
Chinese stories portray cranes as sentient, thinking, intentional, and powerful.
Abusive Traditions
In addition to eating animal products, some followers of Confucius harm and destroy animals by using them as ritual offerings and for medicinal purposes.
Many followers of Confucious fail to extend ethics to other species.
Some followers of Confucious make ritual offerings and participate in festivities that include animal parts, particularly the Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping) Festival.
Traditional Chinese medicines use the body parts of animals, including rare and endangered species.
Activism
The moral ideal of humane action inspires contemporary Confucian animal activists to work for change.
Confucius emphasized the importance of right action and of being humane.
Confucius chose to teach, inspiring contemporary animal activists who to educate and change legislation in China.
Relevant Publication by Tapestry:
AMORE
Vegan Ethics
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