Final answer:
Tianming in Confucian thought evolved from being a divine mandate for rulers to a basis for calling individuals towards moral self-cultivation, with this interpretation changing through the teachings of various scholars such as Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming, reflecting societal changes during the Ming dynasty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of Tianming, which Confucius interpreted creatively, refers to the belief in a 'mandate of heaven'—a divine authority given to worthy rulers and withdrawn from those who rule unjustly. Over time, as reflected in the teachings of Confucian scholars during various Chinese dynasties, this concept also embraced the idea of moral cultivation for the improvement of society.
For instance, Zhu Xi, who was influential at the beginning of the Ming dynasty, believed that although everyone possessed the ability to lead moral lives, intensive education was necessary to bring this morality to the forefront.
Later, in the Ming dynasty, Wang Yangming challenged this teaching, suggesting instead that morality was intuitive. He believed that everyone, including the uneducated, could cultivate their moral nature through everyday life activities. This period also saw critiques of the traditional family structure and assertions that one did not need to conform strictly to society's 'proper' modes of behavior, as suggested by Confucius.
In summary, Confucianism asserted that individual character development was crucial for an ethical and harmonious society. It was believed that through personal development and adherence to moral and social norms, exemplified by the concept of ren (humane virtue) and li (proper conduct), society would improve.
However, these views evolved, with figures like Han Yu advocating for Confucian ethics that emphasized personal moral responsibility rather than highly educated literati, and later scholars like Wang Yangming promoting an innate, intuitive understanding of morality.