Ancient China

1. Ancient China Beliefs and Philosophies

2. Effort to make sense of chaos led to creation of many new Chinese philosophies, or ways of looking at the world • Of many philosophies created during late Zhou period, two became influential in later Chinese history: • Confucianism • Daoism New Philosophies The conflicts of the late Zhou period led many Chinese thinkers to question the nature of society and people’s roles in it.

3. Confucianism • Confucius • Confucianism based on teachings of scholar named Kongfuzi, better known as Confucius, who thought people should treat one another humanely • Should express love, respect for others, honor one’s ancestors • Love and Respect • Believed that love, respect had disappeared and was responsible for violence in society; restoring respect for tradition would make society stable • Thoughts on how to improve society collected in book, Analects • Analects • Ruler should treat subjects fairly; subjects reward ruler with respect, loyalty • People should respect members of family, devote selves to public service • Confucian ideas spread elsewhere in Asia, including Korea, Japan, Vietnam

4. Confucianism • K’ung Fu Tze • Born in 551 BC • Lived during Zhou/Chou dynasty • Time of lax morality • Wandered through many states, advising rulers • Writing • Dealt with individual morality • Political power of rulers • Social ethics • Afterlife • Similar to Buddhist or Taoist

5. Confucianism • The Five Relationships • ruler and people • parent and child • older brother and younger brother • husband and wife • between friend and friend

6. Confucianism • Parts of teaching • Li: includes ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc • Hsiao: love within the family • love of parents for their children • Love of children for their parents • Yi: righteousness • Xin: honesty and trustworthiness • Jen: benevolence, humaneness towards others; the highest Confucian virtue • Chung: loyalty to the state • Important texts – the Si Shu • Lun Yu: the analects of Confucius • Chung Yung: doctrine of the mean • Ta Hsuech: the greatest learning • Meng Tzu: analects of philosopher Meng Tzu

7. Yin and Yang Definition • Daoism embraced Chinese concept of yin and yang, representing balancing aspect of nature—male, female; dark, light; hot, cold • Neither can exist without other • Important for two to remain balanced for perfect harmony • Origins of Daoist teachings attributed to philosopher named Laozi • Wrote book called Dao De Jing • Laozi worshipped by some as a god • Unlike Confucianism, which focuses on improving society, Daoism encourages people to retreat from laws of society, yield to law of nature • Heart of Daoism is concept of the dao, or the way • Dao is the limitless force that is part of all creation • Through the dao, all things in nature connected • Finding one’s place in nature allows person to achieve harmony with universe Daoism

9. Taoism • Loa Tsu (Lao Tzu, Laozi, Loatze) • Lived approx. 604-531 BC • Lived in a feudal society with lots of warfare • Wrote book: Tao-te-Chine (the way of virtue) • Tao (Dao) • The path or the way (undefinable) • Way to avoid conflict (esp feudal conflict) • Power which surrounds and flows through all things

10. Taoism • Balance – between 2 extremes • no love with out hate • no peace without war • no male without female • no light without dark • Believers goal: be one with the Tao • Gods are manifestations of the Tao • Time is cyclical, not linear • Yin & Yang • Yin formed breath of earth • Yang formed the breath of heaven • Pair of opposites seen through out the universe • Intervention of human civilization has upset balance

11. Taoism • Chi (air, breath) • Life force that has been entrusted to each person • Developing one’s virtues nurtures the Chi • Being nice to another means they will reciprocate the kindness • Believe people are compassionate by nature • Feng Shui (wind & water) • Consult Chinese calendar for birth sign • Use I-Ching (book of changes) • Creates balance between ying/yang, 5 elements and environment • Seeks to maximize balance of Chi • Simple balance – no clutter • Sharp angles bad – cut the Chi

12. Some Lasting Effects Daoism eventually proved less influential than Confucianism in Chinese history • Still played major role in later dynasties • Idea of balance key concept in China for centuries as result of Daoist teaching • Daoist philosophy led many followers to work for preservation, protection of natural environment

13. Buddhism • Gautama Siddhartha (63-483 BC) • Born a prince, raised in luxury • Took 3 trips outside the palace • Saw old, sick, and dead • Becomes an ascetic (abandons worldly pleasures) • Search for enlightenment • Medidates under Bodhi tree • God Mara (death and desire) tries to prevent • Finds the ‘middle way’ – between deprivation and gratification • 4 noble truths and 8 fold path

14. Buddhism • 4 noble truths • 1 – all life is characterized by suffering • 2 – suffering is caused by desire/craving • 3 – suffering can be stopped if you stop desire/craving • 4 – stop desire/craving w/8–fold path • 8 fold path • Right:

15. Buddhism • Important concepts • Karma: for every action there is a moral reaction • Dharma: fulfilling your social role – avoids bad karma • Samsara: cycle of death and rebirth • Nirvana: enlightenment – breaking out of samsara • Bodhisattvas: people who have achieved enlightenment, stay on earth to help others • Buddha • Not a god, a man (role model) • Koans – illogical riddles used to gain insight

16. Legalism • Han Feizi, Shangzi • Founders, lived 340-230BC • Han Feizi – student who taught Confucianism • Wrote main text of legalism • Shangzi traced the cause of chaos to growing population • Strong government is a solution • Philosophy • The law is the supreme authority • Humans are inherently evil – education cannot make them better • Only punishment and reward will get people to act correctly

17. Legalism • Elements of legalism • Fa: the law; should be made public and rule the state (not the whims of rulers) • Shi: legitimacy of rule; the power comes from the position, not the person • Shu: methods; laws should be strict, there is no place for benevolence, people need a strong hand to rule them • Conflicts with other philosophies • Dislikes Confucianism way of praising the past • Believes that people should be working rather than philosophizing • Persecuted all followers of Confucianism – even the prince • Banned and burned Confucian texts

18. Legalism • Parts of legalism • Everyone has the same laws – regardless of origin • Land was privatized and feudalism was done away with • If you refuse to denounce a criminal, you would be cut in half at the waist; if you identified a criminal you got a reward • Families would share the reward or punishment of an individual • Only the farmers and food producers would be free – everyone should be slaves

19. Contrast What is one difference between Confucianism and Daoism?

20. Answer(s): Daoism—retreat from society and commune with nature; Confucianism—improve society Activity: Take a look at the following situations. For each situation apply the philosophies you have just lok at and determine the behavior that should follow:

21. Activity: Comparing Philosophies • A student knows that they are failing a class. Students from each of these doctrines know they will be in trouble when their parents find out. How do they handle this situation?) • A student's friends smoke and are trying to get them to start. How do they handle this situation? • A student has just found $20 in the hall. What should they do? • A student's parents have just spent a lot of money on a new outfit. The student has been playing around and has gotten ink all over it. What should they tell their parents, or should they? • A student really likes a new student in school, but all the other students are making fun of the new student's clothes. How should the first student act? • A student knows that an older brother or sister is cheating on tests. How should the student act? • A student sees an opportunity to take something they have really wanted, without being caught. How should that student act?