Confucianism History

The five key relationships was and still is a major part of Confucianism. They are put in order from most important to least important. It goes ruler and subject, oldest brother and younger brother, father and son, husband and wife, and finally friend and friend. Confucius stressed these relationships because he strongly believed that these people had to have respect for each other in order to keep family life peaceful and that filial piety (respect for your family and elders) was key in life. In these relationships, one person always has more power over the other, for example husband over wife, ruler over subject, and for friend and friend, the older friend has more power in the relationship.