Is Age of Enlightenment product of Confucius influence undermining Christian value?

 

Confucius and the Age of Enlightenment

While many westerns think Asia have no influence on the west. According to a paper published in Columbia University by Dr. Derk Bodde argue, Confucius and Chinese influence, is solely responsible for the initiation of the Age of Enlightenment, which bring about modern western values, modern western political and economic system and modern western civil service exam system and without it, the west would still be in the dark and middle ages and provided many evidence that support the argument.

After the fall of Roman Empire, China gradually become a myth in Europe, till Europeans ships arrived to China in the 17 century. However, prior to the fall of Rome, trade between China, Rome, Persia, Egypt and India was very frequent, using the silk road and people migrate back and forward between these places frequently, some even became social elites. For example, the second Emperor of China's Tang dynasty, his mother is a white western woman. After Europe fall to dark ages, such exchange between Egypt, India, Persia and China, continue and was just as frequent. Even after the Ottoman Empire decide they won't let foreign state conduct direct trade through their nation, thus, people can't trade via the silk road, anymore, the Chinese, Indian and Arab traders, just simply create a new trade route that connect them via water and keep on trading and while at it also create a new route to trade with East Africa, after helping them to establish city states, along their ports and adding South Asia nations into the trade route. Despite been a myth, Chinese goods such as magnetic compass was still been sold into dark ages Europe, after Chinese ships reached Arab ports. They drew the Christian cross onto the compass been sold to Europe, because originally many Europeans thought the compass is made by Satan, because they don't understand the science and during the early day, Europeans kill people using compass, thinking they associate with the devil. Also, despite China was a myth to dark ages Europe, Europeans was still migrating to China, through the established trade route. White European girls was even been preferred by Chinese elite, because they find white European girls been liberated from the church, after coming to Asia, to be more exotic and erotic. For example China's Emperor Zehngde who lived between late 15th to early 16th century, is well known to have a thing for white girls and took a lot of European girls as his concubine. Emperor Xuanzong's who lived during the 7th and 8th century, his second favor concubine, is also a white European woman name Anna. Their daughter was known as Princess Shouan. It can be argue, although China is a myth to dark ages Europe, Europe most likely is no stranger to dark ages China, but then Chinese are simply not interest in going there, probably because how Europe was, during that time. However, since the dark ages, Chinese ideology was never been spread to the west, until the 17th century and if any was been spread to the west during the Roman era, it would have been lost, just like how all other knowledge that contradict the church, was lost to Europe.

According to Dr. Bodde, Chinese influence on the west, first began in the 17th century, when Europeans ships first reached China. The Catholic Church also sent many Catholic priests to serve as missionaries, to convert Chinese to be Catholics. However, after arriving in China, many priests was shocked by the technological level of China, which was centuries ahead of Europe and after spending over 1000 years in dark ages, the 1st world economy of China, amazed the priests. Many of these priests later converted to Confucianism and try promote Eastern values to the west. Because priests been send to China are usually highly educated, they also earn the respect of the Chinese and some was even been given position in the than Chinese government. Many of these priests first tried introducing Chinese ideology to the west, by writing books to be published in the west. Some of these books include, "Confucius, the Philosopher of the Chinese (1687)", "the Description of China (1735)" in four volumes, "the long series of Edifying and Curious Letters" in 34 volumes, "the General History of China in 13 volumes (1777-85)" and "the lengthy Memoirs on the History, Sciences, Arts, etc., of the Chinese", in 16 volumes (1776-1814). These writing gave the west for the first time an accurate view of China.

The coming of Confucius ideology, come in an era of Renaissance where people of the west become more fascinated with their pre Christian era roots, in the Roman and Greek era and started to question established system, of the then modern west, dominated by feudal society, "King is god's given right" and the great power and influence of the church. The coming of Confucius ideology gave many then Europeans educated who ask these questions answer. Many of these educated become the first western Confucius followers, including German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), Christian Wolff (1679-1754), US founding fathers including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. These western Confucius followers become the people who initiated the push for the Age of Enlightenment. Their ideas are frequently based on Confucius' teaching and other existing Eastern values. According to Bodde, the father of the Age of Enlightenment is Frenchman, Voltaire (1694- 1778), who is also a follower of Confucius. In 1697 Voltarie wrote in his book "Novissima Sinica" "I almost think it necessary that Chinese missionaries should be sent to us to teach the aims and practice of natural theology, as we send missionaries to them to instruct them in revealed religion."

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

The push to initiate the Age of Enlightenment was in fact a dangerous process, during its time. Confucius ideology frequently contradicts the teaching of the bible. For example Confucius ideology teach the principle of politeness, is determine base on, whether you cause disturbance to peace and harmony. Thus, even if a person act in a manner that is a sin or not moral, if he/she didn't disturb peace and harmony, he did nothing contradict politeness. Thus base on this principle, Confucius preach tolerance to those who are not moral and those who are sinners. This have great similarity to modern western liberal value of a person should have the freedom to do anything he wants, if he doesn't affect another's freedom and to show tolerance to the behavior of others, if they don't violate such principle. However, such ideas greatly contradict the teaching of the bible, for example the bible said

 Benjamin Franklin

But if the thing is true, that evidence of virginity was not found in the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done an outrageous thing in Israel by whoring in her father's house. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21)

And

If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones. (Deuteronomy 17:2~5)

Thomas Jefferson

As a result, the ideas these 17th century western Confucius followers, are pushing for, within the Age of Enlightenment, their idea was frequently been seen as dangerous and evolutionary, by the established authorities and it is true, some was even been persecuted for their beliefs. For example, Christian Wolff suffered persecution because in a lecture he gave in University of Halle in 1721, he praised Chinese system for successfully harmonizing individual happiness with state's welfare and praise Confucius way of life and it have no real conflict with Christianity. He was been accused for atheism by the then authority and force to resign his position in the university.

Christian Wolff

Another reason why so many 17th century western educated are seduced to become a Confucius follower, is because, despite been totally independent of Christ, China demonstrate significant greater peace, harmony, liberation, advancement in knowledge and technology and prosperity, then the west. A first world economy, is unknown to dark and middle ages Europeans, even today, there are many westerners finding it hard to image a first world economy, in pre-industrial revolution era. Also, despite also been ruled by an absolute King, the Emperor of China doesn't practice the concept of "Divine right of the King" instead, he exercise his power with great restraint, by focusing on ruling for the people, much like a modern President.

This is despite the fact, till date many modern western church still preach the belief that life can only be of maximum benefit, by following of the Christian doctrine, without it, a society would fall. For example, the bible wrote

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. (John 2:22 )

And

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. (John 1:7)

And

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for
many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every
spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that
does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was
coming and now is in the world already. (John 4:1~3)

Yet in China, these educated see evidence that not only contradict such Christian teaching, but reverse it completely.

In 1755 Voltaire, the father of the Age of Enlightenment, produce the play "the Chinese orphan" set in 13th century China. During Voltaire's time, Rousseau wanted people to return to nature movement, arguing that science, arts and human institutions are harmful, by corrupting the goodness of human nature. In his play Voltaire show, how China, through been a society of human arts and culture is able to pushed the Mongols out of China. However, such action of Voltaire is also a risky move in than Europe, because it is a sin in Christianity, because the bible wrote

The person who acts arrogantly, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there serving
the Lord your God or to the judge, must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. Then all the
people will hear about it, be afraid, and no longer behave arrogantly. (Deuteronomy 17:12~13)

And

If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of
God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his son (John 5:9~10)

Voltaire

Yet, as we know today, many truth we learn through science, art and human institution, contradict the teaching of the bible and such bible teaching, we now know for certain to be false. Voltaire died eleven years before the French revolution.

The influence of Confucius ideology is also responsible for the revival of democracy and separating the church from school in the west and it also have an influence on modern western economic theories, through a group of French politicians and economics known as Physiocrats. The Physiocrats are also followers of Confucius their leader is Francis Quesnay, of the French royal court.

François Quesnay

However, Confucius should not be confused with democracy. Confucius does accept the governing of an absolute authority King, but argue the King should not use his power abusively.As a result, many early western French Confucius followers did accept the absolute rule of the King Louis XIV who is a good King, but when the corrupt King Louis XV came into power, it lead the Physiocrats, to think about establishing a new system that can ensure the government to rule in the benefit of all people, this leads to the revival of democracy, from the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Another thing that the Physiocrats also pushed for is to separate education and the church and make it universal arguing this is the only way to bring forward the true talent of a nation, to be trained for benefiting the nation.

Economically Physiocrats introduce the idea of "nature order". It believes all of a nation's wealth comes from the land, through agriculture, mining and lumbering. Manufacturing and trade are secondary. Therefore the state should encourage industry such as agriculture, mining and lumbering and not care about manufacturing and trade.

Physiocrats' idea is completely the same as those system been established in East Asia and those been spoken by Confucius, except for in one aspect of economic, China do have concern in manufacturing and trade and is sometime a highly regulated industry. In Taiwan for example, this remain the case, till date, where the oil price is regulated by the government, to prevent oil company from rising the price too high and there are rules, in regards to selling industrial goods to overseas, some of the nation's most high tech technology cannot be sold overseas, while some others, can only be sold to certain nations. There was a time where price of renting farmland was also regulated by the government, to prevent landlord for raising the rent so high, that farmer would struggle to pay their rent. And currently, to deal with the continue rise of house prices and more and more young people can't afford to buy a home as a result, a new law is been put in place, that after purchasing a set number of property, if you purchase more, there would be dramatic increase in property ownership tax for such person. We also seem to be seen some modern western nations, doing the same. For example, most modern western nations outlaw the trade of drugs that can lead a person to cause serious harm to self and others and further discourage the trade, by making the consumption of such substance, without doctor prescription, illegal. In some nations, even doctors are not allowed to prescribe it. According to Bodde the most significant evidence is within Quesnay's book "The Despotism of China" which he wrote in 1767, where he presents his doctrine in Physioctrats. The first seven chapter is a studying of the political and economy of China and then in chapter eight draw his own theories, from the system been used in China.

Another influence of Confucius upon the west, is the creation of the civil service examination system, which exist in many modern western nations, a system where a person applying to become a public servant must passed a test, to prove they are the right person for the job. The civil service examination system, was first been established in China in 581AD~605AD, by Emperor Wen of the Sui dynasty, inspire by Confucius idea of promoting the best person to the right post and to established the best human resource system possible to achieve that goal. It become the standard way to appoint government officials between 690AC~705AC, by Empress Wu Zetian, the only female Emperor in China's history.

Emperor Wen of Sui dynasty

The civil service examination system was been established in France in 1791, but soon seized, but was later re-established in 1840. In the US the civil service examination system was established in 1883, because during the first one hundred year of US' history, the civil service was extremely corrupt. The British civil service examination system is established in 1855. However, by the time, civil service examination system was been established in the US and UK, it was already in the 19th century, it was an era, where, firstly, the west, is no longer in need of Asia influence to modernized from the horror of dark and middle ages and secondly, due to the Manchurian Empire who rule Taiwan, Manchuria, China, Mongolia, Tibet and Xian Jiang, since the 18th century's ill policy to secure their power, which is to centralized all power to the executive branch of the government, operated by the Emperor, the entire Empire include China, saw complete collapsed, by the 19th century, due to increase corruption with the executive government, by late 18th century, due to the Emperor relying on his chief of staff, who turns out to be corrupt, to operate the executive government, by the time the Manchurian Empire thought of, solving the corruption problem, by giving local government and other branch of the federal government more power, it is too late. As a result, the introduction of civil service examination into the US and UK, met great resistance from the western conservatives, like all western conservatives, these conservatives are against none western influence, upon the west and believe white people are supposed to be superior. Despite strong opposition from conservatives within the British parliament and angry protest from US conservatives, due to the fact introducing civil service examination system, means none western influence on the west, it was quickly made into law, by both the UK and US.

Empress Wu Zetian of Tang dynasty

According to Bodde, the last western Confucius follower that become an social elite that have a major influence, is Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803~1882), through using Confucius’s teaching, he draw his conclusion that good government must be based on sound moral foundation and responsibility to each individuals of the society. Bodde argue Emerson's theories have a dramatic influence on modern western values.

Confucius might even have an influence on modern Christianity. The modern version of Christianity, have increasingly become, what this book would refer to as Selective Christianity or New Christianity, where people ignore or contradict aspect of the bible, they believe to be problematic. However, aspect of the bible that New Christianity have a problem with, are also bible values that contradict Confucius. For example New Christianity and Confucius both disagree with the bible teaching of non virgin and non believer murdering. It can be argue New Christianity isn't Real Christianity, because it sometime ignore or contradict the bible. But this book believe, if one want to be a Christian, it is better to follow New Christianity, then Real Christianity, because action such as non virgin and non believer murdering, is evil. However, some modern Christian also follow some Christian value that contradict Confucius. For example, prior to 1980s, Ireland's Catholic Church is allowed to throw women into its private prison, name Catholic Church Home for Unwed Mothers, for life, for been unwed mothers and confiscate their baby, because of bible teachings, that is frowned upon by Confucius.

Rralph Waldo Emerson

The origin of the Age of Enlightenment, is a very important part of western history. There could many reason in regards to why, the mainstream forgotten it. However, this article would theorist it was been forced to be forgotten by conservative western value. Psychologist points out sometime, when a person believe in something badly enough, they look for example and construct opinion in favor of their belief and ignore all else, to sustain their belief and traditional western value believe white people are supposed to be superior. When China collapsed in the 19th century and the west is no longer in need of Asia's influence to get out of the horror of the dark ages, it give the conservatives a good chance to push this memory out of mainstream western history, to sustain their believe of white superiority and considering these ideas that came due to none western influence, are now a part of western value, the west can function without knowing where this value come from. In addition the misconception of these is all invented by the west, without outside influence, is great boost for the belief of white men are superior. Thus, the article argues that this part of western history, is intentionally been pushed out of mainstream western history, by conservatives.

Sadly, important people like Voltarie, Leibniz, Christian Wolff and Francis Quesnay have also been forgotten by mainstream western history. But without these people, the Age of Enlightenment, would never have taken place, thus the revival of democracy, industrial revolution and modern western value would never have emerged and the west would still be living in the dark and middle ages and people would still be executed for saying the earth is over 6000 years old, yet instead of honoring these people by setting their birthday as a public holiday, building status and memorials to remember them or putting their face on money, few in the modern western world, even know of these important men's existence.

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Reference

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