Society and Culture in Ancient China

Ancient China: Three Chinese Philosophies
& Chinese Social Structure

History Lesson

Objective

I will be able to examine the differences, similarities, and roles among major beliefs by describing the key ideas among three schools of thought and how these beliefs were used to encourage peaceful societies.

Chinese Philosophies

Between 500 b.c. and 200 b.c. Chinese thinkers developed three major philosophies. They were Confucianism, Daoism, and legalism. The philosophies were different from each other. However, they had the same goal. Each philosophy aimed to create a well-run and peaceful society.

Multiple Select

Select the three Chinese philosophies.

• Confucianism

• Mandate of Heaven

• Daoism

• Legalism

• Buddhism

Multiple Choice

What was the key idea of Confucianism?

• People should give up worldly desires in favor of nature and the Dao, the force that guides all

  things.

• Society needs a system of harsh laws and strict punishment.

• People should put the needs of their family and community first.

Multiple Choice

What was the key idea of Daoism?

• People should give up worldly desires in favor of nature and the Dao, the force that guides all

  things.

• Society needs a system of harsh laws and strict punishment.

• People should put the needs of their family and community first.

Multiple Choice

What was the key idea of Legalism?

• People should give up worldly desires in favor of nature and the Dao, the force that guides all

  things.

• Society needs a system of harsh laws and strict punishment.

• People should put the needs of their family and community first.

Confucius

Confucius was born about 550 b.c. to a farming family. He lived during a time when kings were often fighting each other. Confucius believed people should follow the beliefs of their ancestors.

He also taught that everyone had a duty. Rulers had a duty to lead their people wisely. Children had a duty to respect their parents. Parents had a duty to love their children.

Confucius believed that if everyone did their duty and followed traditional beliefs, there would be peace. He also believed that all men should be able to serve in the government.

This led to a system of examinations to choose government officials. Confucius was honored as a great teacher. After his death, his teachings, called Confucianism, spread across China.

Multiple Select

Select all of Confucius' beliefs.

• people should follow the beliefs of their ancestors

• following duty would lead to peace

• men should serve in government

• everyone had a duty

• people should live with nature

Laozi

Like Confucianism, Daoism aimed to create a peaceful society. It began with the ideas of Laozi. Confucius thought people should work hard to make the world better. Daoism taught people to turn away from society and live in harmony with nature. Dao means "the Way." Laozi and his followers believed Daoism was the way, or path, to a better life. Many Chinese followed both Confucianism and Daoism.

Multiple Select

Select all things that are true about Daoism.

• people should turn away from society

• people should live in harmony with nature

• Dao means "the Way"

• Dao means "The Path"

• It was founded by Laozi

Hanfeizi

Hanfeizi introduced the ideas of legalism during the 200s b.c. Unlike Confucious and Laozi, he believed that humans are naturally evil. He thought only strict laws and harsh punishment would get people to do what they should do.

Many aristocrats supported legalism because it emphasized force. Under legalism, rulers did not have to think of the needs or wishes of their people. The ideas led to harsh punishments for even small crimes.

Multiple Select

Select all things that are true about Legalism.

• it was founded under the belief all humans are naturally evil

• it was founded by Hanfeizi

• it focused on strict laws

• it focused on harsh punishments

• it focused on in living in nature

Multiple Choice

What is a social class?

• a group of people in the same social, economic, or educational system

• a type of education

• a class you take on social skills

• a group of people who are farmers

Aristocratic Families

Aristocratic families in China were wealthy. They lived on estates with walls surrounding their homes for protection. They owned large amounts of land. After a father died, his estate was divided equally among his sons. This meant that sons and grandsons ended up with much less land.

Multiple Select

Select all things true about aristocratic families.

• They were wealthy.

• They rented land from farmers.

• They lived on estates.

• The land was divided among the sons in the families.

• They had high mud walls surrounding them.

Farmers

Most Chinese were farmers. They lived in villages surrounded by mud walls. Outside these walls were the fields that farmers rented from aristocrats. They paid rent by giving some of their harvest to the aristocrats.

Multiple Choice

Farmers paid rent to aristocrats through their harvests so they could farm the land.

• True

• False

Artisans and Merchants

Artisans are skilled workers who make useful objects. Merchants provided goods and services to the aristocrats. Some merchants grew wealthy, but they were not respected. People believed that merchants acted only for their own gain and not for the good of society.

Multiple Choice

Why weren't merchants respected?

• People thought they only cared about themselves.

• People didn't like that they made so much money.

• They were best friends with artisans, who were not respected.

• They weren't strong warriors.

Family Roles

The family was at the center of Chinese society. Chinese families practiced filial piety. Filial piety is the responsibility children have to respect, obey, and take care of their parents.

Men and women had very different roles in early China. Men grew crops, ran the government, and fought wars. Women raised children and saw to their education. They also managed the household and family finances.

Multiple Choice

Men handled family finances and received educations.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is filial piety?

• a belief that children are head of the household

• the responsibility of men to protect their women

• the responsibility of children to respect and obey their parents

• the responsibility of the government to protect families

Multiple Choice

Chinese societies believed in filial piety.

• True

• Fale