Chinese Schools of Thought: Confucianism ( 儒 ) , Daoism ( 道 教 ) , and Legalism ( 法家 )

Chinese Schools of Thought:

Confucianism (儒 ), Daoism (道教 ), and Legalism (法家 )Ms. Catsos

World History

Review: Timeline of Ancient Dynasties

Shang Dynasty: 1650-1027 BC (Section 3.3)Zhou Dynasty: 1027-256 BC (Section 3.3)Warring States Period: 475-221 BC (Section 4.4)Qin Dynasty: 221- 210 BC (Section 4.5)Han Dynasty: 206 BC- 220 AD (Section 4.5)

Warring States Period (475-221 BC)• Period of competition between local clan

leaders for control of China• Overlapped with the end of the Zhou

Dynasty because the Zhou were technically in charge, but had little control for the last 200 years of their Dynasty

• Many thinkers developed competing philosophies, attempting to bring stability and peace to China

• Competing clan leaders often developed their own philosophies

What is a philosophy?• Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism are

not religions. They have no gods or description of the afterlife.

• They are “philosophies” (systems of ideas) and are also called “schools of thought.”

Confucianism• Founder was Confucius

(born 551 BC)• Part of a noble but poor

family• Wandered to local courts

advising rulers on how to govern

• He attracted many students who wrote down his ideas after his death in a book called the Analects

Confucius’ Five Relationships• Harmony occurs when people accept

their place in society and have correct relationships:• Father to son• Elder brother to younger brother• Husband to wife• Ruler to subject• Friend to friend

Five Relationships Partner Activity• With a partner, read the sayings of

Confucius from the Analects. Based on the sayings, decide what Confucius believes is the proper roles of both people in each of the five relationships:• Father to son• Elder brother to younger brother• Husband to wife• Ruler to subject• Friend to friend

Five relationships In Depth: Father and Son

• Filial piety = respect for parents• Should be put above all other duties

Five relationships In Depth: Ruler and Subject

• Should be similar to the relationship between a father and son, in which a father loves and protects the son while the son obeys the father

• A ruler should be virtuous and well-educated

Five Relationships Writing Reflection- Answer each in 2-3 sentences:

1. What do you think about the Five Relationships? Do any of them seem fair to you?

2. Do you think we have anything similar to the five relationships today?

3. Which of these relationships were shown in the clips we watched from Mulan?

Legalism• Founder was Hanfeizi (died

233 BC)• Believed that all people

were naturally evil• The only way to achieve

order was strict laws and harsh punishments

• The best ruler was strict and merciless

Legalism and Government• “The love of the early kings for their

children could not surpass the love of parents' for their children, so if parents love does not inevitably result in their children not being unruly, how can the love of kings make their people orderly?”

• How were Hanfeizi’s ideas different from those of Confucius?

Legalism and Government • Many clan leaders chose legalism- why?• Official policy of the Qin Emperor, Shi

Huangdi, who united China after the Warring States Period.

• Qin Shi Huangdi was cruel and many later Chinese people hated legalism because of him.

Daoism/ Taoism

• Founder was Laozi- contemporary of Confucius

• Little is known about his life

• He is credited with writing The Way of Virtue

Daoism and “The Way”• Daoists sought to live in harmony

with nature and Dao, or “the way” of the universe.

• Tried to avoid conflict and simply “go with the flow”

• Daoists believed government was unnatural and should be as small as possible

Daoism and Government• “A leader is best when people barely

know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”

• How were Laozi’s ideas different from those of Confucius and Hanfeizi?

The Tao of Pooh• "While Eeyore frets ... 

... and Piglet hesitates

... and Rabbit calculates 

... and Owl pontificates

...Pooh just is.”• Tao of Pooh Video Clip

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?“

"What's for breakfast? said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?“

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.