revised June 24, 2023

Confucianism, a Chinese religion, was one of the San Jiao (三教) or the three teachings. Throughout Asia, the unity of teaching is key even though one might claim to be more important than the others. However, something was lost along the way. Chinese men seems to say that they were superior to the matriarchy but ruled in an inferior method.

Basically, Neo-Confucianism or New Confucianism helped to enforce the patriarchy system of Asian society. Filial piety, respect for authority of the men in family, becomes of importance in Confucianism. This is the foundation to the patriarchal respect for men who rule as generals, warlords, criminals, kings, and leaders. Confucianism set up a sort of moral foundation on society. Buddhism and Daoism were often concerned with a sort of eternal cosmology.

Bao, karmic retribution or justice, is key aspect of Asian culture. If someone is nice to you, you must be nice to them. If someone dies a violent death, even in death that act can have karmic repercussions. Bad things happen to bad people. This made Confucianism connected to the other eternal worlds. Therefore, even ghosts and demons could demand social justice.

Korea and Confucianism

During the Joseon Dynasty, the neo-Confucian view began to dominate as Buddhism became a less powerful religion. Hong Gildong, the first novel of Korea, is about a Robin Hood character, who is a demon fighter, a super hero, born from low society. He rises up demanding justice and charity for the poor. However, Neo-Confucianism isn’t about equality. Women were not treated equally because of Neo-Confucianism. Thus, its misogynistic nature can be seen as oppressive to women. Today, women are reversing the population growth by refusing to give birth. China, Korea and Japan are losing in population growth.

Japan and Confucianism

The Confucian theme of filial piety is more pronounced in some Japanese zombie films, like Stacy, where the relationship between father and daughter is examined.

In Japan, Momotaro is one of the famous folk tales of filial piety. It means Peach Boy or Peach Taro, Taro being his name. Born from a giant peach, he grows up to defeat the oni or demons from the island of devils,  Onigashima.  He returns to take care of his parents. 

China and Confucianism

In China, the stories of Hwa Mulan and Wong Fei Kong, in a sense, helped to reinforce the rule of the patriarchy. An important part of Confucianism is xiao or filial piety. Actually, Mulan is Mongolian in origins, not about Chinese.

Confucius (551-479 B.C.), the wise master, sought to maintain the ancient traditions and wrote The Analects. Filial piety was a key part, based on the relationships within society: ruler-subject, husband-wife, parents-children, older siblings-younger siblings, and  friend-friend. 

All of these relationships are based on right rule and obedience, except for the friend-friend, which is on an equal footing.  

Places such as Taiwan celebrates Confucius’ birthday as Teacher’s Day, when all teachers are respected for the efforts they put forth. As Confucian became part of other nations like Japan and Korea, the social laws of matriarchy that once existed became suppressed as the rule of patriarchy became dominate.

-Doc Nirvana

AKA Dr. Wayne Stein