Oral tradition is information which is not written down and is passed by mouth from one generation to the other. It includes such as law, cultural traditions, history and literature. Oral tradition in customs includes throwing a baby shower for a mother to be, tipping a service provider for good services among others. In superstition, oral traditions include such as the belief that on Christmas Eve, animals can talk. On wedding beliefs, it includes chastity symbolization for the bride by wearing a white gown. Literature and prose oral traditions include story creation, ghost stories and even riddles. These are examples of oral traditions among much more that exists. This paper is, therefore, going to examine the various African and Confucian oral traditions and how well the human beings practice them in the present times.
Confucianism Oral Tradition
Confucianism is also called Ru Jiao in the Chinese language, and it is a teaching by Confucius (Kong Fuzi) about the way of life in China in the 5th-6th Century BCE. He taught the traditions and rituals associated with him. Confucianism is viewed both as a religion and philosophy (Yao, 2013). It is seen to be compatible with other religion forms.
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Confucianism has significantly influenced the practical and spiritual life in China, and this has surpassed to other areas like Vietnam, Japan and Korea.
Confucianism does not look into many religious, traditional beliefs rather it concerns itself with ethical principles. The religious beliefs are catered for by the Chinese religion which includes Buddhism, Taoism or any other religion that the Confucians follow (Yong, 2012).
A Confucius has an emphasis on social harmony and the importance of family as opposed to otherworldly values of spirits. Humanity is the main core of Confucianism. Confucianism regards the manifestation of the sacred as the normal human life activities especially in relationships concerning human beings. This is because they are our moral nature expression, which has anchorage transcendent in Heaven and shows respect for the gods (she’n) or the spirits (Yao, 2013). The main focus of the Confucian is the Tia’n awareness and the practical order it gives. It also looks at its liturgy which means “Orthodox” ritual which is usually led by their priests or “rites sages” to worship gods in ancestral Chinese temples or in public which comes up as a result of the different occasions by the religious groups of the Confucian.
Confucianism in this worldly belief is that human beings can be taught, made to improve using self-creation and self-cultivation. The main thought of the Confucian is the maintenance of ethics and virtue cultivation.
East Asian cultural and sphere cultures have been greatly influenced by Confucianism. For instance; Japan, Korea, China, Hong among others, however in the 20th Century Confucianism influence diminished.
A Theme from Confucianism Oral Tradition
From the Confucian ethical traditions; the theme of humaneness or goodness is evident and is translated from the word Jen or Ren and is seen to be a virtue from the observation of ritual or by knowledge. This virtue can, however, be only possessed by a few individuals since it lays out the attitude and moral character that only a selected few can have. For this main reason, it can take long to acquire and even more years of re-polishing it and practice it in one’s character.
African Oral Tradition
Oral tradition in Africa is associated with their way of living (Russell, 2001). Oral traditions in Africa are held considerably by the African societies as this is the means by which culture is relayed from one generation to the next. It also portrays the attitudes and the feelings of oneself. Oral traditions have been used for Centuries to teach morals of a real life and important traditional values. Oral tradition has spoken the word only and is non-written history. Most African people passed information by word of mouth from one generation to the next (Smith, 2015).
Oral traditions guide human and social morals and give people a sense of purpose and place. Grandparents, relatives and parents pass knowledge to generations by the act of storytelling. Storytelling is entertaining and makes the listener develop a sense of imagination hence teaching valuable life lessons on everyday issues. A storyteller uses facial expressions, gestures, acting and even body language to relay information. The story teller can do an epic performance that relates to gene ology and history.
Oral history is an oral tradition related to West African, and it includes the interpretation, preservation and recording of historical information which is based on the storyteller’s opinion and experience. It includes folklore, myths, stories and songs passed by mouth down the generations.
Theme of African Oral Tradition
The idea of love is greatly emphasized especially to a child by use of family tales in the African culture. The fairy tales create images to the child and gives the child a better life solution. It makes difficult situations to be presented by positive solutions.
Oral traditions within family
Oral history with my family has continued to survive by the use of songs and poems recited by the adults in the family to the family members to relay love messages among the siblings as we grow up. The storytelling act by our grandparents about our ancestors helps us as a family to know more about our origin.
In conclusion, oral traditions in both the African and Confucian ethical traditions have helped us in a wider scope of the cultural understanding through the various means used to rely on it. It has helped instil important values in life which are love, humanness and goodness among others, and hence oral traditions play an important role in our lives.
References
Ce, C., & Smith, C. (Eds.). (2015). Oral Tradition in African Literature . Handel Books.
Chen, Y. (2012). Confucianism as religion: controversies and consequences. Brill.
Kaschula, R. (2001). African oral literature: Functions in contemporary contexts. New Africa Books.
Yao, X. (2013). Wisdom in early Confucian and Israelite traditions. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
