Education in the Pursuit of Truth Good Beauty- Disseminating Truth in Confucius' Philosophy of Education, Good Beauty as Self-Cultivation & Its Enlightenment in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

The Confucian primary educational goal 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, which include 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). Confucius’ educational aim, curriculum, and methods reflect the characteristics of the educational system in ancient China.   Confucian pedagogy focuses on three major instructions: connecting knowing and acting, teaching students based on their aptitude, and skillful directing. Confucius’ educational aim, curriculum, and methods reflect the characteristics of the educational system in ancient China.  This study examines Confucius' educational goal of cultivating the whole development of self from the standpoint of truth, good, and beauty as self-cultivation. There is an introduction to current issues in early childhood education. Confucius' education is explored in order to offer insight on the importance of current educational studies.