CHINA

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CHINA Chapter 5-2
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Confucius and His TeachingsObjectives

• Learn about the life of Confucius
• Find out about the teachings of Confucius
• Understand the influence of Confucianism
• Contrast Confucianism with two other Ancient
  Chinese philosophies

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• He lived during the Zhou dynasty.

Who is Confucius?

• Chinas first and greatest teacher and
  philosopher.

• He believed people could get along peacefully if
  they followed a code of behavior where people
  should be sincere, loyal and respectful.

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THE PHILOSOPHY of Confucianism

• A philosophy is a system of beliefs and values.

• Confucianists believed in passing on teachings
  in order for rulers to reform (change).

• Confucius hoped to bring peace, stability, and
  prosperity to China, because the Zhou period was
  a time of war and chaos.

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• Confucius liked to teach students who were eager
  to learn.

What kind of students did Confucius like to teach?
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What are The Analects?
The Analects is a book containing Confuciuss
ideas and a record of conversations with his
pupils. It was written long after his death.
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• Order in Society-
• People need to behave properly towards one
  another and ORDER and PEACE will result.

Confucianism/ Teachings of Confucius

• Respect-
• Know your place in the family and in society.
• Respect the people above and below you.

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Confucianism Continued..

• Established 5 relationships to create an ordered
  society

• Ruler and ruled.

• Father and son

• Husband and wife

• Older brother and younger brother

• Friend and friend

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CONFUCIANISTS ALSO FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE-

• WHAT IS THIS?

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CONFUCIUS had a tremendous impact on China in the
years following his death, and many of his ideas
continue today!
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Civil Service
Confucius teachings became part of the training
for the group of people who carry out the work of
the government.
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Merit System/ Meritocracy
A policy in which each worker is appointed to a
job and is trained for that job based on his
merit or qualifications.
Candidates had to pass an official examination
based on Confucius teachings.
They get a salary, follow strict rules, and
answer to a superior.
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Why was it difficult for poor men to work in the
civil service?

• Civil servants had to know how to read. Many
  poor men did not possess that ability!

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Not everyone agreed with Confucius teachings.
Some thought that there was a better way to
peace...
Laozi
He was a Chinese thinker whose writings started
the Taoist philosophy, leading a simple and
selfless life and loving nature.
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It is a religious philosophy that supports these
ideas

• Treat others justly

• Observe nature and try to live in HARMONY with it!

• Nature cannot be defined, it can only be
  experienced (meditation)

• Happiness comes from balancing opposite forces of
  nature- this will lead to the goal of life
  Achieve oneness with the DAO (the Way)

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TO MAINTAIN PEACE, TAOISTS BELIEVE IN KEEPING A
BALANCE BETWEEN YIN YANG- WHAT ARE THESE?
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They are the opposites of all things...But can
not exclude or exist without each other.

• Happy/ Sad
• Good/ Bad
• Pleasure/ Pain
• Male(white)/
• female(dark)
• Sunny/ Dark

What do the dots represent?
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ANOTHER PHILOSOPHER ARGUED THAT THERE WAS AN EVEN
BETTER WAY TO BRING PEACE
Hanfezi
He was a Chinese thinker whose writings started
the Legalist philosophy, based on rewards and
punishments!
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It is a religious philosophy that supports these
ideas

• Respect and obey authority

• Follow all laws of the government/ your family

• Receive rewards for obedience and punishments for
  disobedience
• Would be embraced during the QIN dynasty

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PHILOSOPHIES IN ACTION!
Imagine that a friend offers you a cigarette and
you dont know what to do! You go to sleep at
night and dream that you run into the 3 ancient
Chinese philosophers- Confucius, Laozi, and
Hanfezi. What different advice would each one
probably have for you?
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Confucius Respect your elders and your
government. They wouldnt want you to smoke. You
should refer your friend to a wise adult, like a
teacher.
Laozi Smoking could be harmful to your body-
ingesting chemicals is not staying in harmony
with nature. Tell your friend to spend time
meditating to find his way
Hanfezi Smoking under the age of 18 is against
the law! Tell on your friend- he he should be
punished! In fact, you should be punished for not
telling right away!
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What other moral dilemmas might the philosophers
be able to help us with?

• Choose one of the problems we mentioned and write
  out the advice that each philosopher would
  probably give for handling the situation.

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ZHOU RELIGION

• Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism are all
  PHILSOPHIES (systems of beliefs and values), but
  not necessarily religions
• Many Chinese still maintained traditional
  religions, but followed one of the philosophies
  as well

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Describe the religious traditions of ancient
China
Ancient China was home to a variety of religious
traditions, including ancestor worship, honoring
gods, and belief in spirits.
Most people believed that life should be lived in
harmony with nature, the idea that the Taoists
stressed