Abstract

[Objective] The purpose of this study is to examine the concept of shen (神) in pre-Qin period Confucianism through the use of shen in the writings of Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi, and to consider its educational meaning.
 [Contents] Confucius showed the attitude that we should prioritize humans over transcendent beings. He emphasized the virtues acquired by honoring. In Mencius, shen was not often used, but Mencius’ usage shows the beginning of its meaning being humanized. Mencius humanized shen by using it to explain the highest stage of personality. Xunzi further expanded the humanistic meaning of shen shown in Mencius. Xunzi provided various clues to understand 
 shen as a human virtue, suggested the possibility of acquiring shenming (神明), and identified the virtues related to the acquisition of ‘spirit-like power’ in detail. In addition, he saw it as the quality of an educator or the utility of education.
 [Conclusions] Pre-Qin period Confucianism thinkers focused on cultivating virtue through reverence for gods or humanizing divinity. Through their discussion, it was possible to find the humanizing of the concept of shen, and discover religious educational attempts to acquire transcendence as a virtue.

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