Schools of Thought

Chinese Schools of Thought

Mr. Mains

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Be ready for a series of questions right away​

Multiple Choice

Buddhism review: Which of the following is NOT true about Buddhism?

• believe in karma & reincarnation

• believe that education can fix all problems

• believe that the only way to end suffering is by giving up worldly desires

• hope to achieve enlightenment

Multiple Choice

Confucianism review: Which of the following is NOT true about Confucianism?

• believe that everyone should act fairly towards one another

• you should treat others as you want to be treated

• believe that you should respect your elders & put the family before yourself

• belief that all problems can be resolved by connecting to nature

Objectives:

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• Understand how other "Chinese Schools of Thought" rose and how they were similar or different than Confucianism

• The main ones are Buddhism, Confucianism, Legalism, Taoism/Daoism and Mohism

Multiple Choice

Why do you think so many different "Schools of Thought" (competing philosophies) began to rise so quickly?

• comfort from the civil war within China

• each promised having a lot of power and wealth

Open Ended

Follow up question: How could civil war cause such people to seek after these different belief systems and philosophies?

Legalism

• not a religion but gov. ruling philosophy

• preferred by dictators/emperors

• harsh rules, harsh punishments, keeping people in line, maintain control

• they saw people as naturally evil

• founded by Hangfezi in 280BC

• early life-he was part of a weaker state and wanted to show dominance over the others

• text: any pro-legalist books

• ​Hammurabi ruled according to "Code of Hammurabi"

• That is, "eye an for an eye, tooth for a tooth"

• Punishments are eq​ual to the crime

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​Example: Hammurabi

• Harsh rules, harsh punishments ruler of China

• ​would have ​government only keep books about Legalism

• ​Would squash any and all signs of rebellions

• told everyone what to do and believe...or else

Example: Qin Shi Huangdi

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Open Ended

What would be the name of another dictator or ruler today from another country that would rule according to the idea of harsh rules, harsh punishments?

Daoism/Taoism

• 8th most popular religion

• 12 million followers

• focus on inner peace/inaction, connecting with nature & living simply

• retreat from laws of society & focus on laws of nature

• opposite to Confucianism

Open Ended

Daoist/Taoists believe in the idea of "yin-yang". How would you describe "yin-yang"

• Yin-yang can be also described as things that can not live without the other & having balance

• Ex: female-male, light-​dark, old-young, etc

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That's right! Yin-Yang is the idea that complementary forces make up all aspects of life

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• Was believed to be connected to Confucius

• ​Took the basic​s of Confucianism (simplicity) but added in the Tao

• Tao: created all things, bound them, moved them and brought them back to their original state

• founded in 500BC

• early life: saw that people didn't seek the path to a natural goodness; wanted to change that

• Text: Deo de Jing

Lao-Tzu​

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Mohism

• not a religion but a philosophy

• focus on universal love, loving equally, maximizing happiness and self-independence

• using logic, rational thought & science

• believed that having impartial love & compassion was best

• avoids war & conflict (self-defense was okay)

• ​Against Confucianism & Daoism/Taoism

• Mohism rose quickly until Legalist rulers took control

• Felt that activities, ceremonies & rituals were a waste of money by the elite

• Believed in universal love, doing good for society & removing the bad

• founded in 475BC

• early life: saw the irony of selfishness & wanted to promote love

• text-Six Books of Mozi

Mozi

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Poll

Poll: If you were in China, which School of Thought do you think that you would follow or appeals to you most?

• Confucianism (morality, Golden Rule & education focused)

• Legalism (harsh rules, harsh punishments)

• Daoism/Taoism (connecting to laws of nature, not man & yin/yang)

• Mohism (universal love/peace, rational thought & science)

• Buddhism (ending suffering by giving up worldly desires)

Multiple Choice

Which of these Schools of Thought became the LEADING and is the most popular philosophy throughout China (ancient and present)?

• Confucianism (morality, Golden Rule & education focused)

• Legalism (harsh rules, harsh punishments)

• Daoism/Taoism (connecting to laws of nature, not man & yin/yang)

• Mohism (universal love/peace, rational thought & science)

Review

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• Legalism, Daoism/Taoism and Mohism were also very popular Schools of Thought that were contradictory to Confucianism

Your task

• Complete the Edpuzzle on Google Classroom-will give a greater overview of 100 Schools of Thought-be sure to answer the open-ended question

• Be sure you are present in class. We will begin our introduction into the Winnie ​of the Pooh project tomorrow

• It is important that you are present in class as it will assist in your completion of the project (the preparation & the execution)