Sages Who WORSHIP HEAVEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY
It is paradoxical that today many people use Confucius or Mencius as an excuse to deny the existence of God. But the ancient sages – including Confucius and Mencius – revered “Heaven”, that is, the Supreme Being, the Ruler of the universe.
“Heaven” in ancient culture – not just the sky
The word “Heaven” (Heaven) in Chinese contains both the meaning of space and the meaning of a Supreme Being. The ancient Chinese believed that Heaven was the Creator of man, the One who established moral laws and governed all things. In the Book of Records of Yi Yin, it is written:
“Only Heaven is extraordinary. Doing good deeds will bring blessings, not doing good deeds will bring disaster.”
Belief in Heaven is not a human religion, but an innate awareness planted in the human conscience – something that many peoples share.
King Thanh Thang prays to Heaven
When the country suffered a 7-year drought, King Thanh Thang (Shang Dynasty) repented, put on sackcloth, and confessed the nation’s sins before Heaven. He prayed for God to forgive the people, and asked to take the punishment himself. After that prayer, heavy rain came – recorded in ancient history books such as Shang Shu. This shows the faith and humility of this king before the Supreme Being.
Confucius believed in Heaven, always lived in awe of Heaven
Confucius’ parents prayed to Heaven on Mount Niqiu to have a son, and named him Zhong Ni to remember Heaven’s grace. Confucius himself mentioned Heaven many times:
When he was seriously ill, he said: “I have been praying for a long time.”
When his life was threatened, he said: “Heaven created me to be virtuous, who can do anything to me?”
When his student died, he lamented: “Heaven kills me.”
He taught that people should offer sacrifices as if Heaven were present. Clearly, Heaven in Confucius’s thought was not a vague concept, but the real God.
Mencius feared Heaven and taught to please Heaven
Mencius said:
“He who pleases Heaven will preserve the world. He who fears Heaven will preserve the country.”
He believed that all suffering and hardship were Heaven’s way of training people for important responsibilities.
When he said “Heaven gives great responsibility” – he was not talking about an abstract concept, but about a Sovereign who has intentions and plans for people.
Confucius did not deny God
Some people use Confucius’s saying that he did not discuss “extraordinary, mysterious things” to say that he did not believe in Heaven. But in fact, it only shows that he avoided saying superstitious and untrue things – just as believers in God today avoid witchcraft and superstition. His faith was practical, solemn and full of awe.
The One Whom the Sages Worship Is God
Throughout history, the sages of many nations – from the East to the West – have recognized and feared a Supreme Being. That Being is not a product of Jewish culture or any religion, but the living God – Who has placed the knowledge of Him in the conscience of every person.
My friend, if both Confucius and Mencius lived in the fear of God, how dare we today reject Him?