Classical China:

1
Classical China

• Philosophy Shapes Culture

2
Peace Through Thinking

• During the Time of the Warring States, warlords
  and kings fight for land
• In response, Chinese scholars develop three ways
  of thinking all with the same goal to bring
  peace to China
• Confucianism
• Daoism
• Legalism
• Philosophy A study of basic truths ideas about
  the universe

3
Confucius Seeks Peace

• Sought end to the Time of the Warring States
• Peace fundamental to all relationships
• Believed respect preceded peace, harmony
• Confucius ideas collected into a book The
  Analects
• Together, these teachings form the belief system
  of Confucianism

Confucius Teacher, Scholar, Thinker 551 479 BCE
4
Confucius The Analects

• Knowing what he knows and knowing what he doesnt
  know, are characteristics of the person who
  knows.
• Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making
  another mistake.
• The superior man blames himself the inferior man
  blames others.
• To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.

5
The Five Relationships

• Confucius taught code of proper conduct
• Proper conduct in family, proper conduct in
  society
• Ruler Subject
• Father Son
• Husband Wife
• Older Brother Younger Brother
• Older Friend Younger Friend
• Filial Piety Respect for your elders

6
Impact of Confucianism

• Confucianism set out family and social roles
• Following these roles help Chinese to avoid
  conflict and live peacefully
• People must respect authorityBUTrulers must
  live right and respect the people
• Subjects have the duty to obey ruler IF the ruler
  lived in a right and moral way
• Confucius encourages education, creating fair and
  skilled government officials (Bureaucracy, Civil
  Service)

7
Daoism (Taoism)

• Laozis ideas in Dao De Jing (The Book of the Way
  of Virtue)
• Daoists believe that a universal force, the Dao
  (the Way), guides all things
• All creatures live in harmony with the Dao EXCEPT
  humans
• Humans must find their own way (Dao) to relate to
  nature and each other
• Each person must learn to live in harmony with
  nature, each other, and their inner feelings

8
Following the Way

• Daoists did not argue over good and bad, or try
  to change things
• Accepted things as they were did not get
  involved in government
• To escape the social, political, cultural
  traps of life, one must
• 1. Reject formal knowledge and learning
• 2. Rely on the senses and instincts
• 3. Discover the nature and rhythm of the
  universe
• 4. Ignore political and social laws

9
Yin Yang

• Forces of yin, yang interact, complement each
  other change evolve
• Yin (black) Cold, Dark, Mysterious
• Yang (white) Warm, Bright
• Understanding yin and yang help people find place
  in the world

http//www.youtube.com/watch?v-gZY4i4Kg3s
10
Legalism

• Strong government would end the Time of the
  Warring States
• Rulers must use legal system to force people to
  obey laws
• Legalists believe human nature is wicked
• As a result, government must pass strict laws to
  control peoples behavior
• Harsh punishments for those who violate law,
  would make people afraid to commit crimes

11
Legalist Principles

• Human nature is naturally selfish
• Intellectualism and literacy are discouraged
• Law is the supreme authority and replaces
  morality
• The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing hand
• 5. War is the means of strengthening a rulers
  power

12
Think About It

• Based on what you know about the three Classical
  Chinese philosophies, who would you rather have
  as a teacher a Confucianist, a Daoist, or a
  Legalist? Why?