Synopsis

In the final episode, Bettany travels to China on the trail of Confucius, a great sage of Chinese history whose ideas have fundamentally shaped the country of his birth for around 2,500 years.

Further Information

More clips from Genius of the Ancient World

Belief of cosmic forces | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 2'17''

Confucius grew up around the ancient belief of two cosmic forces, that, combined with human ritual, kept the world and ...

Confucius and followers | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 2'23''

Confucius was open to instruct anyone no matter their circumstance, as long as they were willing and the care for other...

Confucius and legacy | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'00''

Despite dying before fulfilling his destiny, Confucius' pupils pushed his teachings and emperors after his death channelle...

Confucius and modern day | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'40''

After Chairman Mao denounced Confucius' teachings in the 1960s, Confucianism has had a 21st century resurgence.

Confucius and Music | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 1'18''

Confucius was a big proponent of music with rituals and endorsed it as a form of early art therapy.

Confucius origins | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'53''

Confucius was born into gentile poverty and was said to not play with toys but enact spiritual rituals with certain objects.

Confucius' appeal | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 50''

Confucianism had wide appeal as it applied to everyone no matter the class or background, as long as you were "a lover of wis...

Confucius' rituals | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 2'37''

Descendants of Confucius explain the importance of ritual and social morality.

First writings | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 1'47''

Early writings and thoughts found on bamboo sticks in a nobleman's grave were a key signal to Confucius' philosophy.

Importance of family | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'05''

Confucius thought family provided a pivotal moral compass for existence, with the hierarchical structure being able to dis...

Reinterpreting ritual | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'52''

Confucius took the ideas of ancient ritual and applied his modern thinking to it, moulding it to his philosophy.

Ruling and philosophy | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'31''

Confucius likened ruling to a father-son relationship; you must rule with love for your people as if they are your children.

Taoism | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'31''

A brief explanation of Taoism and "The Way" as well as a telling of a folklorish tale about Confucius meeting the founding father of Tao...

The virtue of Ren | Genius of the Ancient World

BBC Four | 2015 | 3'23''

Ren is a foundational virtue of Confucianism and in the simplest of terms denotes humanity.

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The path of self denial | Genius of the Ancient World

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Before developing the Middle Way, the Buddha spent six years pursuing a life of self denial with other ascetics.

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03: Confucius | Genius of the Ancient World

Synopsis

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