Confucianism:
the cult of departed ancestors

The founder of the Tao doctrine is considered the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, almost simultaneously with this doctrine, the philosophy of Confucius arose. One of its main components is the cult of ancestors, and not only recently departed, but also more distant ones - even the 4th generation. After the death of a family member, a doll is constructed that personifies the deceased, and they are symbolically fed. It is believed that the soul moves into it after death, so this doll must be read in every way.

Each of the deceased ancestors is dedicated to a special plate stored in a cabinet designed for this purpose. Every morning, all family members bow before the tablets, light smoking candles, and offer sacrifices in the form of drinks and dishes on the appointed days. In front of the signs, you should make a report on what is happening in the family and how this or that household behaves. The Chinese have no doubt that the souls of their ancestors hear all this and will certainly give advice.

Following the principles of the Tao teachings, the physical body must be considered as a combination of spirits and divine principles. If a person wants to ensure immortality for himself, he must try to live so that the spirits do not leave the body as long as possible. There are several ways to achieve this. One of them - you need to limit yourself to food, especially not of plant origin, as well as perform certain breathing and physical exercises. Well, and, importantly, according to the apologists of the teachings of Confucianism, immortality can be achieved only by committing at least 1200 specious acts. It should be borne in mind that even one bad deed will nullify everything previously achieved.

The Chinese were convinced that two souls enter the native baby: one material, which appears immediately after conception, and the other - spiritual, which is absorbed into the body after the person is born. The first soul goes to the underworld, the second - after death, ascends to heaven.

The sacred duty of a relative is to take care of the afterlife of souls: after all, according to the Chinese, they will influence the lives of descendants. Confucius said: “When mother and father die, they must be buried in accordance with the laws of their ancestors and sacrificed to them” (Lun Yu, 2.5).

However, according to Confucianism, honor should be given only to the deceased’s relatives, and not to strangers’ dead: otherwise, “to pay tribute as a sacrifice to spirits of non-native ancestors is flattering” (Lun Yu, 2.23). Honoring the ancestors and respect for their memory will help to realize the meaning of life and avoid serious mistakes.