12

Introduction to World
Religions and Belief Systems
Quarter 2 – Module 12:
Confucianism
Introduction to World Religions and Belief System – Grade 12
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 – Module 12: Confucianism
First Edition, 2020

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 12

Introduction to
World Religions
and Belief
Systems
Quarter 2 – Module 12:
Confucianism
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions and Belief System – 12

Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Confucianism!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by

educators both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher
or facilitator in helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12
Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic
constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and
independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this
also aims to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking
into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box
in the body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use

this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected
to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included in the
module.

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For the learner:

Welcome to the Introduction to World Religions and Belief System-

Grade 12 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Confucianism!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time.
You will be enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while
being an active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

This will give you an idea of the skills or

What I Need to Know competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.

This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
What I Know
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.
This is a brief drill or review to help you link
What’s In the current lesson with the previous one.

In this portion, the new lesson will be

What’s New introduced to you in various ways; a story, a
song, a poem, a problem opener, an activity
or a situation.
This section provides a brief discussion of the
What is It lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.

This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
What’s More
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.
This includes questions or blank
What I Have Learned sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.
This section provides an activity which will
What I Can Do help you transfer your new knowledge or skill
into real life situations or concerns.

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 This is a task which aims to evaluate your
Assessment level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.
In this portion, another activity will be given
Additional Activities to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of the
lesson learned.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part
of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other
activities included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through
with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do
not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that
you are not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful

learning and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You
can do it!

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 What I Need to Know

Good day, this is Teacher Tina. Take a moment and ponder about
this question, “What can be done to achieve harmony in society according
to Confucianism?”

This is quite a challenging question, right? But don’t worry, because

the learning activities in this module will guide you in finding out the answer
to the above-mentioned question. Are you up for it? Then, let’s go!

https://bit.ly/2CTRcJs

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY:

Analyze the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related
issues of Confucianism

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

K: identify the essential elements of Confucianism such as its founder, sacred texts,
core teaching, and related issues;

S: presents a character sketch of a person who personifies the Confucian

virtues; and

A: show importance to Confucianism’s legacy to world culture.

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 What I Know

Direction: Match Column A with Column B. Read each item carefully and use
your notebook to write the letter of the correct answer.

Column A Column B
___1. It is the Latinized version of Kongzi and the a. The Book of
honorific Kong Fuzi both meaning “Master Kong. Changes
___2. These are a group of books which was regarded
as early Confucianism’s basic texts. b. Analects
___3. It is also known as the I-Ching, and is believed to c. Coming of Age
have existed at the time of Confucius and is the Rites
oldest of the Classics. d. rectification of
___4. It is a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to names
Confucius and his contemporaries, traditionally
believed to have been written by Confucius' e. Environmental
followers. Ethics
___5. According to Confucius, people must play their f. Five Constants
assigned roles in society which was called the
g. Authoritarianism
zhengming or _____________.
___6. Also known as the Five Classical Virtues, or h. Female
Wuchang, these are the five most important Subordination
Confucian ethics mentioned in the Analects and the
i. Confucius
Book of Mencius.
___7. These are ceremonies held to signify that a young j. The Five
person has reached the marriageable age and could Classics
join the different activities of his/her clan as an adult.
___8. An issue in Confucianism where women, being at
the bottom of the Confucian hierarchy, are expected
to display ideal behavior and accommodation.
___9. Another issue in Confucianism which encourages
deference to one’s superiors—ruler, father, teacher,
or anyone older.
___10. Confucianism’s acceptance of people’s dominance
of nature poses a threat to this religion’s selected
issue.

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 What’s In

In module 11, you have learned how the two Buddhist sects- Theravada and
Mahayana Buddhism- share some similarities with regard to their belief in dharma,
origin, morality, purpose and views on women.

In this module, we will discuss about a religion that emerged just beyond the
border of India-in China- which is known as Confucianism.
Before proceeding to this new lesson, though, answer the task below in your
activity notebook which serves as a review of your learning in Module 11.
Enumeration:
1. What are the two (2) major sects of Buddhism?
2.
3.
4. List down three (3) aspects/ fields where these two religions share some
commonalities and differences
5.

What’s New

Directions: List down at least three (3) relationships you are involved in right now and
identify the power relations in these relationships by stating if you are a subordinate,
superior, or equal position in each relationship. Explain the pros and cons of the said
relationships. Copy the table below in your notebook to accomplish this task.

Relationships Power relations Advantages/

(subordinate, superior, Disadvantages of this
equal) Relationship
1.
2.
3.

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 What is It

CONFUCIANISM

Life and Times of Confucius

Confucius is the Latinized version of Kongzi
and the honorific Kong Fuzi both meaning “Master
Kong.” He was born on September 28 on 551 B.C.E.
Hence, it is considered a day of celebration in East
Asia—an official holiday in Taiwan (Teacher’s Day),
and a day of cultural celebration in mainland China,
Hong Kong, and Singapore. Confucius was born in a
small feudal state of Lu (now Shantung province) in
Qufu. His personal name was Qiu and his family
name was Kong. He came from a noble family, but
by the time of his birth, they had already lost much of
their wealth. His first teacher was his mother, and at
the age of 15 he set his heart upon learning, thus love https://bit.ly/3c6fcpQ
of learning became one of the highest virtues in Confucian
ethics. He married at the age of 19 and had a son at the age of 20. At this point in his
life he had already served in minor government posts and had already gained a
reputation as an all-around scholar. When he was in his 30s he had already started a
brilliant teaching career because of his mastery of the arts of ritual, music, archery,
charioteering, calligraphy, and arithmetic. He was also familiar with classical tradition,
particularly in poetry and history. He is often considered as the first person to devote
his whole life to learning and teaching for the purpose of social transformation and
improvement. He held several government positions including as arbiter, assistant
minister of public works, and minister of justice in the state of Lu. Frustrated that his
ideals and policies were brushed off by his superiors, he soon left Lu. For 13 years,
he wandered from state to state, trying to put his theories to practice. At 67, he returned
home to teach (where he gained more disciples) and to preserve his classical
traditions by writing and editing. He died in 479 B.C.E at the age of 73 and he left
around 3,000 followers who preserved and put his other teachings to writing. It is
believed that his ideas were documented in writing by a successor known as Mencius
Confucius lived during a critical time in Chinese history called the Warring
States period (475–221 BCE) during which several states fought against each other
in an attempt to expand their influence over what is now China. It was out of this period
that the China known today emerged in the third century BCE under the unification of
the Qin Empire. While several important schools of thought emerged at this time, the
ideas developed by Confucius had lasting impact for China and the entire region. After
his death, varying successors and adherents contributed to the spread of the
Confucian tradition. As with many great schools of thought, continued debate and
discussion about Confucius’ ideas have kept his teachings alive.

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SACRED SCRIPTURES: THE CONFUCIAN CLASSICS
The Five Classics are a group of books which was regarded as early
Confucianism’s basic texts. This includes the Book of Changes, the Book of History,
the Book of Poetry, the Classic of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. The
Analects is also considered an important source of Confucian teachings since it
contains a record of his conversations with his disciples. Let us now take a look at
what these classics are all about.
Confucius has often been considered as the author or editor of the Classics,
but contemporary scholarship has shown that even though many of these texts can
be traced back to Confucius, they have undergone a long period of development.
Moreover, these Classics were burned during the reign of the Qin dynasty and was
restored only during the Han dynasty. It was Confucius’ followers who exerted effort
in writing and collating his teachings and philosophies.
Book of Changes
Also known as the I-Ching, the Book of Changes is believed to have existed at
the time of Confucius and is the oldest of the Classics. It focuses on short predictions
following a type of divination called cleromancy wherein six random numbers are
picked and arranged under sixty-four hexagrams.
Book of History
Also known as the Book of Documents or Shangshu, the Book of History is
conventionally attributed to Confucius by early scholars. It is composed of speeches
(or prose) of royalty and ministers mainly from the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

Book of Poetry
The Book of Poetry, also known as the Book of Songs/Odes/Shijing, is a
collection of three hundred and five songs compiled around 600 B.C.E. which includes
four sections of various themes such as love, courtship, abandonment and dances. It
also includes feast songs or state chants.

Classic of Rites
Originally the Three Li/Three Rites/San Li, the Classic of Rites is a compilation
of ceremonial rituals, administration, and social forms of the Zhou Dynasty. It is
considered as a complete body of work which includes the Ceremonials (I-li/Yili), an
early manual of protocol for the nobility, describing such occasions as marriages and
funerals, sacrifices and even archery competitions.

Analects
The Analects, or Lunyu (“conversations” or “sayings”), is also known as the
Analects of Confucius. It is a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese
philosopher Confucius and his contemporaries, traditionally believed to have been
written by Confucius' followers. It is believed to have been written during the Warring
States period (475 B.C.E.-221 B.C.E.) and finalized during the middle of the Han
dynasty. At first it was considered as merely a commentary on the Five Classics, but

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later on acquired tremendous significance that it has been classified as one of the Four
Books along with Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, and Book of Mencius. Among
other important Confucian works, it has become an influential canonical resource in
Chinese and East Asian philosophy.

CONFUCIAN DOCTRINES/BELIEFS
Perhaps Confucius is more often celebrated for his Golden Rule: “Do not do
unto others what you would not have them do unto you.” Found in the Analects, this
saying teaches the ethics of mutuality and reciprocity. Thus, it requires people to treat
others equal to themselves and in equally the same manner as they would have
wanted to be treated. Some of the most important Confucian doctrines include the idea
of Tian or heaven; human nature; rectification of names; the five constants; filial piety;
and ancestor worship.

Rectification of Names
Confucius believed that to return to the ancient Dao, people must play their
assigned roles in society. This was later called the rectification of names, or
zhengming, The Five Relationships include: 1) ruler-subject; 2) father-son; 3)
husband-wife; 4) elder and younger brother; and 5) friend and friend. The
responsibilities originating from these relationships are shared and reciprocal. For
example, a minister owes loyalty to his ruler, and a child owes filial respect to the
parent. In return, rulers must care for their subjects, and parents must care for their
children. The Five Relationships emphasize the upright sense of hierarchy. Among
friends, for example, seniority of age requires a certain deference. Zhengming helps
bring social order for it advocates the idea that every person has a particular role at a
particular time in life, and that by abiding to this particular role, one is able to fulfil one’s
social duties and responsibilities, thus creating social harmony.

The Five Constants

The Five Constants, also known as the Five Classical Virtues, or Wuchang,
are the five most important Confucian ethics mentioned in the Analects and the Book
of Mencius. These include the following: ren or benevolence; yi or righteousness; li
or propriety; zhi or knowledge/wisdom; and xin or fidelity. Ren, or benevolence, can
be achieved by returning to li, or the traditional Chinese rituals. It means following the
social hierarchy patterned after family relationships. Ren can also be achieved by
extending one’s filial love for parents and siblings to fellow human beings. It can also
be achieved by avoiding envy or harm. Yi, or righteousness, can be achieved by
having the moral disposition to do good, which can only be possible after recognizing
what is right and good. It can also be achieved through the ability to feel what is the
right thing to do. Li, or propriety, which is considered as the concrete guide to human
action and social order, can be achieved by following the guide to human relationships
(rectification of names, doctrine of the mean, The Five Relationships); it can also be
achieved by following the norms of ren, or righteousness. Zhi, or knowledge/wisdom,
can be achieved by knowing what is right and what is wrong, which is innate in people
who are basically good according to Mencius. Lastly, xin, or fidelity can be achieved
by keeping one’s word and being faithful, for Kung Fuzi believed that only people who

6
are faithful can be trusted with important tasks. Fidelity is also seen as the key to
nation-building.

Filial Piety as an Important Virtue

For Confucius, family relations provide a model for social behavior. Respect
for elders, whether your own or others, is emphasized, as well as kindness to your
own children and juniors, including those of others. These were said to be instructed
by Mencius and have provided inspiration for generations of Confucians. Filial piety is
said to have provided China with a strong sense of solidarity not only in the Chinese
family, but also in Confucian social organizations and even among Chinese
communities in different parts of the world. Ancestor worship is a manifestation of filial
piety, or respect for one’s parents, which is directed toward older relatives and
ancestors. The idea of ancestor worship is based on the key Confucian idea that it is
expected of children to respect and obey their parents in life, and to continue
remembering them after they have died through the proper observance of rituals. One
way to remember them is by worshipping ancestral tablets which can be kept at home.
These ancestral tablets contain the information regarding the place where the family
originated and the names of the ancestors. Another way to remember ancestors is to
worship them in their graves. People occasionally visit the graves of their loved ones,
clean the graves, offer food and wine. The ancestors were believed to have tasted the
food before the whole family eat the meal being offered. Ancestor worship is an
expression of a union between the living and the loved one, clearly a manifestation of
filial piety.
The concept of hun-po or soul is important in Chinese cosmology and early
concept of dualism. Accordingly, the human being is made up of two souls: an upper
or intellectual soul (hun) which becomes the spirit (shen) and climbs to the world
above; and a lower soul (po), which becomes the ghost and goes down with the body
into the grave. Thus, ancestor worship is important because of the belief that even the
bodies of the dead ancestors possess souls which need to be worshipped and revered
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

The Book of Rites recorded the rituals practiced by the Chinese for many
centuries. Some of these rituals have been classified under Family Rituals, also known
as the “Four Rites,” which are rituals or ceremonies that characterize a person’s
growth and maturity, namely: coming of age rites, marriage ceremonies, mourning
rites, and sacrificial rituals. Many of these rituals are no longer observed, but they offer
functional proof of the religious nature of Confucianism.

Four Rites

COMING OF AGE RITES are ceremonies held to signify that a young person
has reached the marriageable age and could join the different activities of his/her clan
as an adult. Two important coming of age rites among the Chinese are capping and
hair pinning ceremonies.

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 Capping refers to doing the male teenager’s hair in a bun/coil and wearing a
cap. This is a ritual that male teenagers have to go through sometime between the
ages of 15 and 20. In this occasion, a male Chinese receives his formal hat and
ceremonial gown, as well as his formal name. Also, a wine libation (a drink poured out
as an offering to the deity) is made and the young man is formally introduced to his
ancestors.

Hair Pinning refers to the gathering of a girl’s hair into a knot, and securing it
using a hairpin or a hairclip; often done by 16-year old women after engagement and
before their wedding day.

MOURNING RITES often involve intricate practices, which include the following
steps: First, there should be public announcement of grief through weeping, and the
wearing of white funeral clothes by the family of the deceased. Mourning also
constitutes the offering of symbolic goods like money and food from the living to the
dead, preparation and setting up of a spirit tablet, payment of ritual experts, the playing
of music and chanting of scriptures to accompany the corpse and to pacify the spirit,
the sealing of the corpse in a coffin, and the removal of the coffin from the community.
There is also a tradition of exerting effort to recover the deceased, which is being
practiced to avoid false death. They do this by trying to call or shout over the wandering
soul through the person’s clothes, in case the soul just lost its way back to the body of
the person.

MARRIAGE CEREMONIES are an important aspect of Chinese culture since

marriage is considered as a central feature of society; through marriage, patience and
love are cultivated to promote the right virtue. Traditionally, a marriage is decided by
the parents of the couple, with wealth and social status as the primary considerations.
Monogamy is preferred, which means married couples should be loyal to their partners
for the rest of their lives. Marriage rituals include giving of gifts and following the
necessary etiquettes, from marriage proposal to the wedding ceremony itself, in which
the groom and his family meet the bride at her home, after the bride sent the dowry to
the groom’s house; on the wedding day, rites include carrying the bride to the sedan
and the couple leading the festivity at the bridal chamber; on the wedding night,
friends, and relatives are supposed to banter the couple; and on the third day, the
couple would go back to the bride’s parents’ home to pay respect.

SACRIFICIAL RITUALS are performed regularly by the descendants of the

deceased ancestors. Sacrifices are often given at festivals. One such festival is the
Qingming Festival celebrated annually by Chinese all over the world to honor their
dead. Qing Ming means “clear and bright” which describes the weather on that
particular day of the year. It is observed by visiting the ancestor’s grave to clean and
repair it, and through offertories, such as food, fruit, wine, incense, or candles.
Descendants of the deceased normally bury their ancestors with belongings that they
wanted to be transported to the spirit world with the dead. During ancient times, some

8
royal families put bronze vessels, oracle bones, and human or animal sacrifices in the
grave. These were considered as things one may need in the spirit world and as a
form of continued filial piety. It is the oldest and most enduring Confucian ritual still
observed today.

SELECTED ISSUES
Certain issues arise when we try to reconsider the relevance of Confucianism
and Neo-Confucianism. One characteristic of the Confucian social order is the fixed
and strict hierarchy, with the higher partners being composed of men—fathers,
husbands, and rulers exercising more right and privilege over women who are placed
in a subordinate position. Another issue related to hierarchy would be authoritarianism,
which was an influence of the philosophy of Legalism and which became the guiding
principle of the Chinese government during the Qin dynasty. Still, the issue of
Confucianism’s incompatibility with environmentalism is another aspect being
analyzed by scholars.
Female Subordination
It is often said that a woman’s life under Confucianism can be summed up in
three periods, also known as the “Three Obediences:” obedience to her father while
at home; obedience to her husband when married; and obedience to her son when
widowed. Women, being at the bottom of the Confucian hierarchy, are expected to
display ideal behavior and accommodation. They are expected to demonstrate
obedience before all other virtues and are not expected to act as independent beings.
Women lived separately from men by custom. Women were also assigned the role of
providing a male heir to ensure the continuation of the tradition that male children
should perform the ancestral rites. This also excuses the husband to take on
secondary wives if the first wife failed to provide him with a son, while women were
not allowed to see other men other than their husbands and close male relatives. In
the “Five Relationships,” it is very clear that the relationship between husband and
wife should be based on male supremacy. In the Book of Changes, the male-female
relationship is represented in terms of the superiority of heaven over inferior earth. The
patriarchal nature of Confucianism is manifested in certain beliefs like preference for
male children. Men are expected to inherit the family names and property, and are
responsible for the care of their parents, that is why having male children is preferred.
For one, women are the ones expected to give dowry to the family of their groom when
they get married, and among poor families, having female children has become a
burden rather than a blessing. This also paved the way for more cases of female
infanticide and abortion every year (although abortion is prohibited in Confucianism
except in cases when the life of the mother is at risk). Implementation of the one-child
policy by the Chinese government in the 1970s and the 1980s made it even worse for
women. Some would say that despite the elevation of the status of women in China
during the time of communist rule, the one-child policy paved the way for the return of
Confucian values and made it once again trendy not to have girls. If the parents have

9
a daughter for a first born, they would often try to have a son. If the first three children
were girls, it is not unusual to keep the first girl, give away the second girl, and abort
the third girl. For critics, it is obvious that the more Confucian the society became, the
less freedom the women enjoyed.
Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism is another challenge that Confucianism still faces at present.

Because Confucianism stresses the hierarchy between relationships, this has
reinforced top-down values and hierarchical systems by encouraging deference to
one’s superiors—ruler, father, teacher, or anyone older. When Confucian values are
used to suppress opposition, thwart fresh ideas to surface, or to protect apathy, then
Confucianism poses a serious threat to the development of society and the flourishing
of democracy. Confucianism has been criticized on the issue of father-son
relationship, especially on the aspect of allowing the bad behavior of a father and
requiring the son to accept it when this occurs. After all, Confucianism teaches that a
father must be respected at all costs and a son must obey his father no matter what.
This suggests that children must not question the authority of their parents and simply
accept their subordinate status. When they become parents, the son will become a
father hence that is the time that he will enjoy a superior status over his son.
Meanwhile, the daughter, when she becomes a mother, will continue to be in an
inferior position, this time to her husband.
Environmental Ethics
One more issue that Confucianism faces today is that of environmentalism.
While it is true that Confucianism advocates respect for the environment, its
acceptance of people’s dominance of nature poses a threat to the issue. The Analects
mentioned the subordination of animals to social interests. Some experts also say that
when faced with the dilemma between maintaining social duties and the environment,
Confucianism would lead one to choose the former than the latter. Confucian logic
would give priority to defense of social duties over environmental protection.

What Role Does Confucianism Play Today?

Confucius is one of the world's most influential philosophers. Today, his
philosophy continues to influence large groups of people across Asia and throughout
the world. Countries that show the most significant imprint of Confucianism are China,
Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Confucianism manifests itself in the way children defer to
their elders and parents (filial piety) and in the hierarchical structure within offices
among employees of different ages and levels of experience. Confucianism also plays
a role in the expectations people place upon government and upon its legitimacy.

Hi! You have learned from this module about the following
concepts: the founder, brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Confucianism. Moreover, this philosophy
has greatly shaped the world’s culture by advocating each person’s role
in bringing about social harmony.

10
 What’s More

Task 1: Copy the given diagram in your notebook and supply it with the missing
concepts.

THE FIVE RELATIONSHIPS

(Zhengming)

What I Have Learned

Copy and answer the following phrases in your activity notebook.

11
 What I Can Do

Create a character sketch of a person who personifies the Confucian virtues.

Your ouptput should be written in your activity notebook and it will be graded according
to the following rubric below.

Rubric adopted from www.edb.gov.h

The sketch shown below may serve as a guide for you to draft your character
sketch.

https://pageintraining.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/character-sketches/

12
The reading below may also help you create your character.
HOW TO WRITE A CHARACTER SKETCH
Get inside your character's head
A character sketch is a quick rendering of a character, and writing a sketch is
about asking and answering questions. In order to write a character sketch, you must
ask yourself questions about your character.
Who is your character physically?
Physical characteristics are the first things we notice when we meet someone.
Therefore, this is a good starting point when writing a character sketch. Is your
character a woman or a man? Is he or she tall or short? Is your character bald? How
old is your character? Does he or she have a disability?
What is your character doing?
This is the next question to ask because it brings into account other aspects of
story writing such as setting and time. The answer to this question will also affect other
aspects of your sketch, such as what your character is wearing or how he or she is
feeling. Is your character walking down the street? Is he or she sitting in a park? Is
your character working on a boat? Asking what your character is doing will not only
help you understand your character, but also his or her relationship to the setting in
your story.
What is your character feeling?
This is probably one of the more complex questions you can ask about your
character. Is your character angry? Is he or she happy, sad, tired, or depressed? Does
your character love something or someone? Asking questions about your character's
emotional life might evolve into the production of a character history.

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 Assessment

Match Column A with Column B. Read each item carefully and write your chosen letter of the
correct answer in your notebook.

Column A Column B

___1. It is the Latinized version of Kongzi and the

k. The Book of Changes
honorific Kong Fuzi both meaning “Master Kong.
l. Analects
___2. These are a group of books which was regarded m. Coming of Age Rites
as early Confucianism’s basic texts. n. rectification of names
___3. It is also known as the I-Ching, and is believed to o. Environmental Ethics
have existed at the time of Confucius and is the p. Five Constants
oldest of the Classics. q. Authoritarianism
___4. It is a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to r. Female Subordination
Confucius and his contemporaries, traditionally s. Confucius
believed to have been written by Confucius' t. The Five Classics
followers.
___5. According to Confucius, people must play their
assigned roles in society which was called the
zhengming or _____________.
___6. Also known as the Five Classical Virtues, or
Wuchang, these are the five most important
Confucian ethics mentioned in the Analects and the
Book of Mencius.
___7. These are ceremonies held to signify that a young
person has reached the marriageable age and could
join the different activities of his/her clan as an adult.
___8. An issue in Confucianism where women, being at
the bottom of the Confucian hierarchy, are expected
to display ideal behavior and accommodation.
___9. Another issue in Confucianism which encourages
deference to one’s superiors—ruler, father, teacher,
or anyone older.
___10. Confucianism’s acceptance of people’s dominance
of nature poses a threat to this religion’s selected
issue.

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 Additional Activities

Draw the matrix in your activity notebook, then fill in the needed information
about the Five Constants.

Five English Ways of Achieving It Ways You Can

Constants equivalent Demonstrate/ Show
These Virtues in
Your Personal Life

15
 16
WHAT I KNOW & ASSESSMENT
1.I 3. A 5. D 7.C 9. G
2. J 4. B 6. F 8. H 10. E
WHAT’S IN
Enumeration
1-2 Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
3-5 Origin, Morality, Purpose, Destiny, Views on Women
WHAT’S NEW
Learners’ responses to this table may vary according to the types of relationships they have
WHAT’S MORE
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
Learning and realizations of learners may vary
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
Five English Equivalent Ways of Achieving It Ways You Can Demonstrate/
Constants Show These Virtues in Your
Personal Life
1. ren benevolence returning to li, or the traditional Chinese Learners’ responses may vary
rituals /Following the social hierarchy
patterned after family relationships/
extending one’s filial love for parents and
siblings to fellow human beings/ avoiding
envy or harm
2. yi righteousness having the moral disposition to do good/ Learners’ responses may vary
ability to feel what is the right thing to do
3. li propriety following the guide to human Learners’ responses may vary
relationships (rectification of names,
doctrine of the mean/ following the
norms of ren, or righteousness
4. zhi knowledge/ wisdom knowing what is right and what is wrong Learners’ responses may vary
5. xin fidelity keeping one’s word and being faithful Learners’ responses may vary
Answer Key
References

BOOK
Jose, Mary Dorothy dL. and Jerome Ong. Introduction to World Religions and
Belief Systems Textbook. Quezon City: Vibal Group Inc., Haus of Serah Printing
and Trading Corp, 2016.

INTERNET SOURCES/PICTURES
McDevitt, Rachel. “Confucianism Understanding and Applying TheAnalects of
Confucius.” Eagle.pitt.edu.
https://www.eagle.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/Confucianism_Handouts.pdf.
(accessed September 10, 2020).

“How to Write a Character Sketch.” scribendi.com. https://www.scribendi.com/

academy/articles/how_to_write_a_character_sketch.en.html. (accessed
September 17, 2020).

TEACHERS GUIDE
Most Essential Learning Competencies

17
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