Confucius and Chinese Philosophical Impact on Modern Korea and Japan

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to understand the role of Confucianism Chinese philosophy in influencing modern Korea and Japan. This paper found that Confucianism had a significant impact on current modern world. However, it has been a selective application. Confucianism still has vital value within the modern times; this paper examined to expound the modern significance of Confucianism, In particular, it is clear that Confucianism has had profound influence on world politics and foreign policy. The major focus was on the impact of Confucianism on modern world politics and foreign policy. In the field of international relations and foreign policy analysis, it is well known that ideas are always critical to any changes of a country’s foreign policy. The author examined the influence of Confucianism Chinese philosophy on Chinese domestic politics and modern politics. The analysis covered recent arguments about the role of Confucianism from several leading contemporary thinkers. Korea and Japan spent much time culturally and politically under the influence of China, Which brought Confucianism to these countries? Korean, as well as Japanese communication is heavily influenced by Confucian traditional values. It is demonstrated that those values are changing. But they seem to be better preserved in Korean society based upon the educational system of teaching moral values, nationalism, and arrested Cultural Revolution.


Introduction
Chan, a scholar of Confucianism, said, "What heaven imparts to human is called human nature. To follow our nature is called the Way. Cultivating the Way is called education [1]. "Confucianism Chinese philosophy is a spiritual and philosophical tradition dating back 2500 years in by China, that later unfold throughout East Asia. Although the person we all know as Confucius said he wasn't a creator however rather a transmitter of older values and traditions, it's honest to think about him the founder [2]. Confucius (551-479 B. C. E.) was born a couple of centuries before Socrates' teachings on ethics and logic, and half a millennium before the beginning of our modern calendar and therefore the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. He established a faculty with the specific purpose of educating the subsequent generation for political leadership. He was the primary great thinker of the independent intellectual class, and is considered China's first self-conscious thinker who may be traditionally verified. He's further recognized as China's first teacher, and his ideas have traveled on the far side its borders to influence Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and now Western civilizations [3]. Leonard Shihlien Hsu suggests that Confucianism should have the capacity to breed advances in economic development, because Confucianism strives for the betterment of society [4]. A Confucian society serves to distribute its national wealth justly and treat all individuals with equality, which supports the regulation of competition. Also, Confucianism promotes the growth of wealth in the society, leading to the development of the production of goods [5]. Confucianism reflects the historical and cultural experience of the "Chinese cultural sphere," including the use of Chinese characters as well as the system of philosophy led by Confucius and Mencius that emerged in the spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, which produced a political culture dominated by Confucianism from the Han Dynasty onwards. Furthermore, Chinese culture and Confucianism exerted a powerful influence on neighboring countries [6]. Confucianism stressed the idea of the moral teacher and was characterized by a flourishing literati culture. This is of course related to the tradition of the moral teacher in the works of Confucius and Mencius and the emergence of the imperial examination for political recruitment in China. But societies that were strongly influenced by Confucian culture such as Korea and Japan have historically also had a tradition of the moral teacher and literati culture [7]. Confucius Teachings were developed and advanced by various disciples such as Mencius (371. 289 ADBC). The most important and significant contribution of Mencius to Confucianism was the idea that human nature is good at birth. As an extension, Mencius suggested that evil is a consequence of the resignation of the goodness people were born with, and is inherent to the body. That is why according to Mencius, the aim of human beings was to maintain the natural goodness of humankind. In terms of politics we can define Mencius as a being more aggressive than Confucius. As an example, he stated that when a citizen does not respect the rules of the country, he should be removed or re-educated, or possibly even executed [8]. According to Chen Hongxing, a Chinese researcher from the Academy of Social Sciences of Tianjin, the most important notion to be attributed to Confucius was the idea of humaneness [9]. Confucianism has been predominant for 2000 years within the ancient Chinese culture, and it had a good influence on the Chinese politics, economy, culture and also the psychology. Importance of the Confucianism will offer a good perspective to solve environmental issues; the social problems; the peacekeeping problems and also the temperament cultivation problems [10]. A modern way forward for Confucianism is to become part of daily life, and it seems that only by doing this can it free itself from the system and regain its influence on spiritual values. Confucianism can still play an important role on the level of self-cultivation and maintaining order in the family; however, in terms of governing the country and pacifying the world, Confucianism can only project indirect influence as a "cultural backdrop" [11][12].

Method
Sample and procedures. This is an analytical study. The data thus collected from library, books, journals, other internet sources to depict the result. All data have been studied critically and analyzed carefully to achieve the objectives of the study. Therefore, the results have been presented descriptively. Approach to facts finding and gathering knowledge the researcher was engaged concerning scholarly books, journal and internet with a broad base of application and added the knowledge logically. Historical evidence and facts developed a discipline thinking and bent of mind objectively observing the research topic. The results obtained by using already existing facts and information considered the powerful evidence for the topic.

Discussion
Confucius was a philosopher and his collective teachings became what are known today as Confucianism. Confucianism focuses on two issues. One is the governing of the self, or ethics, and the second is the governing of others, or politics. The study of these two aspects of the philosophy naturally leads Confucianism to have features of both philosophical and realistic thinking. [13]. As an introduction to the notion of Confucianism in modern Korea and Japan, we have first to discuss the compatibility between Confucianism and the notion of modern society. The following question arises: Is it possible to reconcile a Confucian vision of heavenly and human nature with the modern world with its ethics and political system? According to Jonghwan Lee, a South Korean researcher, it seems so, because many people are disappointed with Western values and have thus returned to their roots, to the Confucian model [14]. In these kinds of societies, each person born dissolve into a collective entity, either the family or the group. In both countries, more emphasis is placed on group orientation and loyalty to the group, for it is the group that gives one a social identity, provides a feeling of security, and receives the rewards of service [15].
However after the rebirth of Confucianism in the late 1990s, a growing interest in Korean Confucianism reemerged in many countries of the Far East, albeit for different reasons in each country [16]. an important legacy of Confucian philosophy derives from the history of modern Japan. This was apparent in the transition from the Tokugawa period to the Meiji period (1868. 1912) the political transformation giving rise to the Meiji imperial regime was in a way a return to an ancient mode, and Confucianism had already served as a kind of state philosophy during the Edo era (1603. 1868). Some researchers underlined that the Confucianism of the Edo period is ultimately responsible for the modernization of Japan by Underlining the role of harmony between employees. This harmony led to an increase in Productivity per employee, and to an overall growth of the Japanese economy [17 -19].
As of nowadays, Neo-Confucian temples and academic establishments are competitive with a range of contemporary practices [20]. But when the rebirth of philosophical doctrine within the late Nineteen Nineties, a growing interest in Korean philosophical doctrine reemerged in several countries of the Far East, albeit for various reasons in every country [16]. A very important inheritance of Confucian philosophy derives from the history of contemporary Japan. This was apparent within the transition from the Tokugawa amount to the Meiji period (1868. 1912), i.e. the restoration of imperial rule. Philosophical doctrine may be thought of as Associate in nursing ideology that tends to see ideals within the past. This ideology advocates a come back to a golden age. As an excellent way to improve conditions within the present. The political transformation giving rise to the Meiji imperial regime was in a way return to an ancient mode, and philosophical doctrine had already served as a kind of state philosophy throughout the Edo era (1603. 1868). Some researchers underlined that the Confucianism of the Edo amount is ultimately answerable for the modernization of Japan by underlining the role of harmony between staff. This harmony semiconductor diode to a rise in productivity per worker, Associate in Nursing to an overall growth of the Japanese economy. [17][18][19]. Korean society, and an idea that has helped to form each Korean Peninsula and Japan's political cultures. Any style of open conflict is avoided. In line with Torbjörn Lodén, harmony can be thought-about because the guiding philosophy for the Japanese and Korean civilizations in familial and business relations. Torbjörn Lodén additionally mentions that Korean and Japanese children are instructed to act harmonized with the encompassing order, ranging from the pre-school period. Thus in each countries there's an excellent stress on politeness, on working together for the universal, instead of on a private basis. The thought of education in Korean and Japanese civilizations is dominated by the fundamental principles of Confucian education. Each the Korean and Japanese systems are terribly similar [21][22][23]. Several Confucian texts seek advice from the sector of education.
The educator instructor isn't solely gift in academic establishments alone however additionally in numerous reasonably societies and administrations? The title of chief educator is thus quite common in Japan and Korea. As we've seen, human civilization within the twenty first century confronts several necessary issues, its prospect won't be the conflict of civilizations and also the disaster caused by such conflicts as some western students have foreseen, however rather a co-existence of varied civilizations that is claimed by philosophical doctrine as harmony however no assimilation and can accord to the aspiration of the peoples from everywhere the planet. Chinese philosophy ought to acquire way more esteem and therefore the equal communication, dialogues, and fusion between Chinese and western philosophical traditions may be expected to enter into a brand new nice section [10].

Conclusion
Confucian philosophy has been closely associated with the Chinese imperial system as associate philosophic tool for rulers. It has played a serious role in unifying China and has become a force in molding the mentality and temperament of the Chinese folks. Confucian philosophy is an inexhaustible supply of values, knowledge and rules permanently conduct, and have succeeded to find an area within the modern times of leadership and followership. The Confucian approach begins with the formation of self by cultivating intelligence, compassion, service, trust, and fidelity. An individual is rarely isolated however an integral a part of society, and it is imperative to increase the virtues of self to any or all different social relationships. The final word task is to develop concern and consciousness for the welfare of man, solely then might one be a successful leader. The magnitude of philosophical doctrine lies in its resilience and power of adaptation. What modern theories portray as virtues in leadership and followership isn't any completely different from what philosopher perceived them to be. Philosophical doctrine so maintains its place in new social organizations, and therefore the Confucian approach of life continues to be alive in nice men and women of advantage.