Confucianism, Legalism, Buddhism, and Taoism in China

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Confucianism,Legalism, Buddhism, and Taoismin
China
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Confucianism

• Founded by Kongfuzi (Reverend Master Kong)-
  became Westernized into Confucius
• About 500 BCE
• Family is the center of all social relationships

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Confucianism

• Five Basic Relationships Ruler-Subject
  Father-Son Husband-Wife Older Brother-Younger
  Brother Friend-Friend
• Reverence for the past and ancestors

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Confucianism

• Reciprocity (Negative Golden Rule)

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Legalism

• Based on the premise that humans are, by their
  nature, evil creatures
• Government power is needed to force obedience
• Severe punishment of wrongdoers
• Sharp contrast with Confucianism
• Confucianism focuses on internal motivation,
  while Legalism focuses on external motivation

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Buddhism in China

• Offered an escape from the suffering of life on
  earth
• Promised salvation to the good and punishment for
  the wicked
• By giving up desire, one can reach nirvana

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Buddhism in China

• Entered China during the first century C.E.
• One of the few influences from outside China to
  have an impact on China

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Taoism - Basic Beliefs

• Founded by Lao Zi
• Civilization is corrupt and has too many
  artificial rules
• People need to return to simplicity and nature

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Taoism - Basic Beliefs

• Tao means The Way - attain the Tao through nature
  worship

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Taoism and Chinese society

• The best govt is the one with the fewest rules
  (rules are artificial)
• Confucian rules for society are useless because
  theyre artificial (not natural!)

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Taoism and the supernatural

• There is a belief in a spirit world
• Spirits inhabit the world around us
• Ancestors can have a strong influence on you and
  your relatives--remember dead relatives in a
  special way

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Taoism - Quotes

• Water is the softest and weakest thing on earth.
• Rock is the hardest and strongest thing on earth
• Yet nothings better for wearing down rock than
  water

• Relax and go with the flow
• If you let muddy water alone, It will clear up
  by itself
• A tree too big to stretch your arms around grew
  from the tiniest sprout

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The Yin and Yang

• Harmony happens when theyre kept in balance
• Yin - quiet energy, nightime, feminine
• Yang - active energy, daytime, masculine