On The Image Of Confucian Teachers In The Song Dynasty

Confucian teachers in the Song dynasty are one of the representatives of traditional images among Chinese ancient teachers. Under the atmosphere of revitalizing Confucianism and reforming ethics and cardinal guides and constant virtues, the Confucian teachers’life value turned to upholding the ethics and morals from that of chasing honor and fame in Han and Tang dynasties. Their images, which affect the spirit of intellectuals and the style of study, are regarded as hidden curriculum.They had gentle complexion with harmonious temper and courteous behaviors, which revealed teachers’appearance image. They were delighted to talking about "Dao", staying at poverty and loyal to their life principles, which set up lofty teachers’moral image. They resolved to realize their ambition and keep striving to study, while they established schools and pass on knowledge, which showed their professional image of taking education as their mission.In the end of Bei Song and in the late of Nan Song, some of the Confucian teachers began to struggle for the contribution and wealth, some of them were living a luxurious life and gradually corrupted, some of them go after power and profit, and for the sake of protecting themselves, others were to be hermits. However, in the long history of nearly300years in the Song dynasty, such images sustained short period, which is the product of specific historical background. During the beginning and middle of Bei Song dynasty and Nan Song dynasty, the whole image of Confucian teachers influence the spirit of intellectuals and the style of study:intellectuals start to care about the country and the world, studying something in order to apply it. Some people initiated schools and devoted themselves to teaching to inherit academy; some people concerned about building noble character; some people pursued simple, leisurable and comfortable spiritual life; some people conducted as hermits to realize their political ideals. No matter who you are a common people or an official, they all could carry forward lofty moral spirit. The purpose of studying on the image of Confucian teachers is to take history as a mirror and call on today’s teachers to take on the essence of image of Confucian teachers to establish correct value and maintain active life attitude so that the active and positive role of hidden curriculum can play a part in preserving good self-image.