EDUCATION IN SEARCH OF TRUTH GOOD BEAUTY - DICUSSING TRUTH GOOD BEAUTY AS SELF-CULTIVATION IN CONFUCIUS’ PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION & ITS ENLIGHTENMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Abstract

The Confucian primary educational aim centres on the concept of ren (benevolent), which is to cultivate the person of ren or exemplary person (human quality of truth, good, and beauty); Its curriculum consists of teaching the Six Arts including li or rites (good), yue or music (beauty), she or archery (truth), yu or charioteering (truth), shu or reading (truth), and *shu or mathematics (truth). The Confucian pedagogy focuses on three major instructions such as connecting knowing and acting, teaching students according to their aptitude, and skillful directing. This study, from the perspective of truth, good and beauty as self-cultivation, analyzes Confucius’ educational aim of cultivating the whole development of self. Current issues in early childhood education are introduced. The enlightenment of Confucius’ education is discussed to shed lights on the significance of the current educational studies.