Chinese Philosophies - Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism

​Chinese Philosophies

​Learning Objective: Compare and contrast the different religions and philosophies in Ancient China

​Vocabulary

• Civil Servant (noun): a person who works for a government

• Confucianism (proper noun): a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes proper behavior

• Taoism/Daoism (proper noun): a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with nature

• Feudalism (noun): A system of government based on landowners and tenants (renters)

​Vocabulary

• Legalism (proper noun): a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes strict obedience to laws

• Mandate of Heaven (proper noun): a power or law believed to be granted by the heavens

• Yin and yang (proper noun/adjective): the Daoist concept of opposing forces of nature

• Zhou Dynasty​ (proper noun): a line of rulers in China that ruled after the Shang dynasty

• Buddhism (proper noun): religion where belief is that the human life is one of suffering and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve nirvana, or enlightenment

Match

Match the following definitions to the correct terms

• A system of government based on landowners and tenants

• A power or law believed to be granted by the heavens

• A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with nature

• A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes proper behavior

• A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes strict obedience

Feudalism

Mandate of Heaven

Taoism

Confucianism

Legalism

• Feudalism

• Mandate of Heaven

• Taoism

• Confucianism

• Legalism

Zhou Dynasty and Mandate of Heaven

• Zhou Dynasty 1045-256 BCE

• Overthrew Shang dynasty

• Claimed they had divine right to rule China

  • Known as the Mandate of Heaven

• Mandate of Heaven

  • As long as he ruled well, Heaven gives him the right to rule

  • If he rules poorly, Heaven would send "signs of displeasure"

    • e.i. Earthquakes, floods, etc.

  • When king loses support of Heaven, others have the right to overthrow him

Zhou Dynasty and Feudalism

• Government used feudalism, which increased stability

• Feudalism

  • King owns all land and distributes large chunks to lords (supporters)

  • In exchange, lords send soldiers to fight for the king

  • Lords have absolute power over peasant farmers

  • Lords give peasants protection, peasants give portion of their crops to the lord in exchange

• By 700 BCE - feudalism began to break down

  • Lords became more powerful and ambitious, with as much power as the king

• 770 - 476 BCE - Zhou dynasty divided into smaller states with lords ruling independently of Zhou

Warring States Period (475ish - 221 BCE)

• Smaller states in Zhou Dynasty grouped together to form larger states

• Country thrown into disorder

  • Between 535 and 286 BCE - 358 wars between states

• Caused people to theorize about the best way to keep peace and order in society

Multiple Choice

Which dynasty did the Zhou conquer?

• The Shang Dynasty

• The Qin Dynasty

• The Han Dynasty

• The Xia Dynasty

Multiple Choice

Mandate of _________: Authority granted by heaven to deserving rulers

• yin yang

• religions

• Heaven

• self

Multiple Choice

In the later years of the Zhou dynasty, what condition led to new philosophies?

• Wealth

• The Warring States period

• Feudalism

• Mandate of Heaven

Confucianism

• Creator: Kongfuzi aka Confucius (551 - 479 BCE)

• Where and when: China in 5th Century BCE

• Why it was created:

  • To return to traditional values and end Warring States period

  • Achieve a just (fair) and peaceful society

Confucianism

• What is it? - Teachings focused on proper behavior and respect

• Five Basic Relationships

  • ruler/subject

  • husband/wife

  • father/son - filial piety (respecting your parents) = most important

  • older sibling/younger sibling

  • friend/friend

    • All must respect and obey those above them in status

    • Those with higher status must set a good example by being kind, honest, wise, and faithful

• Golden Rule

  • "Do not do to others what you would not want done to you"

Influence of Confucianism

• The Analects - text of Confucius teachings created after his death

  • Helps spread his ideas

• Influence on the Han dynasty

  • Civil servants hired based on ability, not noble birth

    • Had to take exams to prove they had the knowledge, tests sometimes graded by the emperor

• Deeply-rooted Chinese values

  • Respect for elders

  • Proper behavior

  • Love of scholarship (learning)

Multiple Choice

Confucius urged all people, no matter the social class to...

• Talk to one another

• Respect each other

• Kick each other

• Hug each other

Multiple Choice

Which of these was NOT a value of Chinese culture?

• Respect of Elders

• Proper Behavior

• Love of Scholarship

• Doing Good, Always

Multiple Choice

According to Confucius, rulers should govern by

_____________.

• the law

• Military might

• a monopoly on natural resources

• setting a good example

Daoism/Taoism

• Creator: Laozi aka Lao Tzu (unknown)

• Where and when: ~500 BCE in China

  • Laozi wrote the Dao De Jing or The Classic of the Way and its Power

• Why it was created:

  • Attempt to provide answers to life's difficulties

  • Worked in gov. until 90 & Grew tired of corruption as it caused people pain and misery

  • Tried to go into exile but was stopped at the border and asked to write down his thoughts before he left civilization

Laotzu riding an ox through a pass on his way to leave civilization. Created during Ming dynasty (1368-1644)

Daoism/Taoism

• What is it?

  • Both a philosophy and religion

  • Emphasizes doing what is natural, living simply, and going with the flow in accordance with the Dao (the Way)

    • Dao = the force that gave order to the Universe

  • True harmony can only be achieved through a balance of good and bad or yin and yang

  • Believed that people should not work to gain riches or wealth, but instead take whatever comes their way

  • Good rulers are those who do not intervene with its people and leave it all alone

Yin and yang symbol with white representing Yang (Male/Active/Positive) and black represent Yin (Female/Passive/Negative).

Multiple Choice

Which is true about Yin and Yang?

• It is the balance of Good and Evil

• Yang is the darker element, Ying is the lighter element

• If balanced, you can achieve Nirvana

• The two are opposites forces of nature, not just good and evil.

Multiple Choice

Which idea is important to Taoism?

• Serving your government

• Living in harmony with nature

• Enforcing laws with harsh punishments

• Humans are naturally evil

Legalism

• Creator: Han Fei Zi aka Han Fei (280-233 BCE)

• Where and when: China, 200s BCE and used as the government philosophy of the Qin dynasty (221-207 BCE)

  • Lots of people were executed due to this

• Why it was created:

  • Hanfezi lived during Warring States Period

  • Wanted to restore peace and order but did not agree with Confucianism

Legalism

• What is it?

  • Han Fei Zi believed people were naturally selfish and evil and if left unchecked would always pursue their own interests before the betterment of society

  • Rulers must rule with absolute power and be supported by strong military

    • Remember: war was a part of every day life and legalism is about controlling people's worst impulses through threat of severe punishment

  • Good rulers need strict laws with enforcements of either rewards for good behavior or punishments for bad behavior

    • Examples:

      • anyone who opposes the government should be banished

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is NOT true about the teachings of Legalism?

• People are naturally selfish

• The emperor should have absolute power

• The pursuit of self-interest is good

• There should be harsh punishments for bad behavior

Multiple Choice

Legalism is a philosophy that tries to stop...

• Disorder and Revolts

• Peace and Order

• Trade and Profits

• Christianity and Columbus

Multiple Choice

How is legalism different from Taoism?

• They both believed people were good

• They both wanted war

• Legalism used punishments, while Taoists believed the government should not interfere in the lives of people

• Legalism used rewards, while Taoism used punishments

Multiple Choice

Which statement would Han Fei agree with?

• "Legalism is a philosophy based on freedom."

• "People can be trusted to be kind to others."

• "Legalism should not be used by rulers in unstable kingdoms."

• "Legalism is a philosphy based on control."

Buddhism

• Creator: Siddartha Gautama aka Buddha or "Enlightened One"

• When and Where: India, Fifth Century BCE (400s)

• How and why it was created:

  • Questioning rigid caste system in India

  • Siddhartha left home, discovered human suffering, got upset, left his life behind

  • While meditating under a tree, he achieved enlightenment

Buddhism - Beliefs, Teachings, and trainings

• Beliefs

  • Reincarnation - rebirth of the soul

  • Karma - Soul carries the effects of past deeds (good or bad)

  • Dharma - Lifelong duty to teachings of Buddha

  • Nirvana - Enlightenment; no suffering, desire, sense of self, and the person is released from effects of karma and reincarnation. It is the final goal of Buddhism

  • Equality - everyone is able to achieve nirvana

Buddhism - Beliefs, Teachings, Trainings

• Teachings found in Tripitaka (Buddhist holy book) or Sutras

  • Four Noble Truths

    • Dukka - All life is suffering

    • Samudaya - There is a cause for suffering

    • Niodha - There is an end to suffering

    • Magga - In order to end suffering you must follow the Eightfold Path

​Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra depicting Shadakshari Lokesvara, early 12th century, Opaque watercolor on palm leaf.

Buddhism - Beliefs, Teachings, Trainings

• Trainings: Eightfold Path - divided into 3 mindful practices

  • Virtue

    • Right speech (no lying, criticism, gossip, harsh language)

    • Right conduct (by following 5 precepts)

    • Right livelihood (support yourself without harming others)

  • Concentration

    • Right effort (good thoughts conquer evil thoughts)

    • Right mindfulness (be aware of body, mind, feelings)

    • Right concentration (meditate to achieve higher consciousness)

  • Wisdom

    • Right understanding (of the 4 noble truths)

    • Right thinking (following the right path in life)

Buddhism - Influence on China

• Silk Road (network of trade routes) brought Buddhism from India to China during Han dynasty (~150 CE)

• Influenced every thing from values, ideas, and architecture

• Use of tea

• Current day, despite being an atheist country, Buddhism is the most popular religion

  • ~245 million Chinese Buddhists

​Video: Impact of Buddha on China

​Yuhua Pavillion in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China. Yuhua Pavilion was a Tibetan Buddhist hall. Buddhist architecture styles had a massive impact on traditional Chinese architecture.

Multiple Choice

The essential teaching of Buddhism is known as

• The Ten Commandments

• The Wheel of Life

• The Circle of Karma

• The Four Noble Truths

Multiple Choice

The goal of Buddhists is to reach Enlightenment or _____ which is the release from desire and suffering.

• Moksha

• Nirvana

• Heaven

• Karma

Open Ended

Compare and contrast Legalism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism?