China’s Ancient Philosophies

LEGALISM

CONFUCIANISM

DAOISM

PHILOSOPHY-an investigation of basic truths about the universe, based on logical reasoning

CONFUCIANISM

A PHILOSOPHY TAUGHT BY CONFUCIUS THAT STRESSES PROPER RELATIONSHIPS

A PHILOSOPHY BASED ON THE TEACHINGS OF CONFUCIUS, AS RECORDED IN THE COLLECTION CALLED THE ANALECTS

DAOISM

AN ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY BASED ON THE TEACHINGS OF LAOZI

DAOISM IS A BELIEF SYSTEM SAID TO HAVE BEGUN WITH THE SIXTH-CENTURY~B.C. PHILOSOPHER

LAOZI. DAOISM EMPHASIZES LIVING IN

HARMONY WITH NATURE.

LEGALISM

A PHILOSOPHY STRESSING THE STRICT USE OF LAWS TO CONTROL BEHAVIOR

LEGALISM IS THE BELIEF THAT A RULER SHOULD USE THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO FORCE PEOPLE TO OBEY LAWS

FILIAL PIETY- respect for one’s parents and ancestors---an important teaching of Confucianism

CONDUCT – the way someone acts; behavior

FLAG OF CHINAFLAG OF CHINA

Let’s Read about

Confucius

Turn to page 250

Three ways of thinking were developed by scholars to try and bring peace to the land after

many years of turmoil and disorder.

The three ways of thinking

included Legalism, Confucianism,

and Daoism.

Each was it’s own philosophy, or study of basic truths and ideas about the universe

LEGALISM

Those who saw disorder in China thought…

Rulers should force the people to obey the laws.

A strong government would answer China’s problems

Master Han Fei wrote some of the most well thought out writings about Legalism.

Han Fei’s ideas were greatly different than that of Confucius’ ideas.

He did not believe that a government based of virtues and respect would work

Strict Laws – Harsh Punishments

People were forced to do good as a result of harsh punishments being put into place instead of doing good out of respect

Legalists felt that by making harsh punishments people would be afraid to do wrong

it was illegal to teach ideas different from that of the government

books that included ideas unlike the governments were burned

SOME PUNISHMENTS INCLUDED

BEING CUT IN TWO

ARRESTED

JAILED

TORTURED

WHY DID THEY DO THIS?

THE LEGALISTS DIDN’T WANT PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OR QUESTION THE GOVERNMENT.

CONFUCIANISM

Confucianism was the first and the most prominent of philosophies

Confucius lived during the time of the warring states

Confucius believed that respect for others was necessary for peace and harmony

Five Relationships

1-Confucius taught a code of proper conduct for the people

2-their were five basic relationships that were placed into Confucianism

3-each of the five relationships had its own code of proper conduct

Proper Conduct

1-Good conduct and respect begins at home

NOTE: Confucius thought that this idea of respect began at home

2-filial piety society… treating parents with respect

3-authorities should be respected and set a good example and respect his subjects

Relationships were separated into two categories

They included:a-proper conduct in the family

*father and son- treating parents with respect

*elder brother and junior brother-had to be kind to each other, but the younger

brother had to follow the wishes of his older brother

*husband and wife-husbands had to be good to their wives and, and wives had to obey their husbands

b-proper conduct in society

*friend and friend-

*ruler and subject- ruler’s responsibility in society was to live correctly, i.e. treating people with respect --obeying the laws just as anyone else would-fulfilling their duties as a ruler, and to treat his subjects with respect.

If he did these things and led in a right and moral way, than there would be peace in the society

Impact of Confucianism

Through Confucianism people were able to avoid conflict and promote a peaceful environment

Confucius helped to guide many rulers to encourage education, and run a fair and skilled gov’t

DAOISM

THE WAY DAOISTS BELIEVED IN A UNIVERSAL

FORCE CALLED THE DAO, THE WAY THAT GUIDES ALL THINGS

BELIEVE ALL CREATURES, EXCEPT HUMANS LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE DAO

BELIEVED THAT HUMANS HAD TO LEARN TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE AND WITH INNER FEELINGS.

FOLLOWING THE WAYDAOISTS DO NOT ARGUE ABOUT GOOD

AND BAD AND THEY DID NOT TRY TO CHANGE THINGS

• THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH GOV’T • TRIED TO UNDERSTAND NATURE AND LIVE IN

HARMONY W/ITS RYTHMS INCLUDING THE IDEA OF YIN AND YANG

QIN

SHEE HWANHNG DEE (spelled phonetically) would unify and expand China

King of Qin at age 13

WAS A VERY LEGALISTIC RULER460 CRITICS AND CONFUCIANISTS KILLEDCON’T WITH BURNING OF BOOKS

SET HIGH TAXES TO PAY FOR PROJECTS AND FORCED THE PEASANTS TO WORK ON THEM

THE GREAT WALL BUILT KEEP INVADERS OUT FORCED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEASANTS AND

CRIMINALS TO BUILT THE WALL CREATED LOTS OF RESENTMENT B/C MANY OF THE

WORKERS DIED FROM HARD LABOR EARLIEST WALLS BUILT OF EARTH AND LATER STONE AND

BRICK EXTENDED AND REBUILT MANY TIMESOriginal dimensions-Built in just seven years, it stood 30 ft.

tall with 40 ft. towers, over 1,500 miles long

QIN wanted standardization to make things simple and equal

Standardization means making things alike

Meant to help unify China and make it easier for trade and communication

Shi Haungdi did away with fiefs—small fiefs became counties and larger fiefs became provinces run by government officials

Provinces are small political regions of a country

END OF QIN

Many did not like the way Shi Haungdi ruled, but were too afraid to rebel

After his death his second and favorite son became ruler, but a very weak one and soon a civil war broke out

Shi Haungdi’s son less effective ruler

People rebelled Civil war breaks out

HAN

Born a peasantMilitary general Liu Bang defeated Qin forces

and reunified China in 202 B.C. Liu developed the Han dynasty which lasted a

little more than 400 yearsAfter claiming control Liu changed his name to

Han Gaozu which means high ancestorIt was during the same time period as the

Roman Empire

The Han kept some of the basic policies of the Qin, but used a more Confucianism approach

The Han used bureaucracy to rule China Bureaucracy is the network of officials that

assist in providing government They tested people on their knowledge of

Confucianism to find the most skilled and qualified to build the most effective bureaucracy

Han did away with the provinces and restored the kingdoms of the Zhou dynasty

Used bureaucracy to rule and used both Legalistic and Confucian ideas

After Liu Bang’s death in 195 B.C. his wife took rule for their infant son and con’t to place infants on the throne so that she would retain power

When she died in 180 B.C. they executed all of her relatives so that none of them would take over the throne

A descendant of Liu Bang named Wudi ruled the empire from 141 to 87 B.C.

Called the Martial Emporer because he used war to expand China

Many military conquestsThrough his conquests, Wudi was able to

bring multiple southern Chinese provinces under his control as well as northern Korea and northern Vietnam

By the end of Wudi’s rule, China had greatly expanded

In fact it was almost as big as we know China to be today

The Han faced many obstacles, but con’t to rule until 220 A.D.

Many of the Han lived in rural villages and worked as farmers

Some lived in cities and worked in business and government

Today in China many people associate themselves with the Han people because the ancient Chinese were industrious people who civilization did very well

In many ways the Han way of life is reflected in Chinese life today

Legacy of China

Silk- it was a discovery of China

At the time of the Han dynasty, only the Chinese knew how to make it.

It was a much desired product by the people of China as well as those outside of China.

You might ask: How did others know about the silk?…….well……

Silk was important in opening the trading routes to the west.

We had talked about silk roads when we first began this chapter and this is where the name developed

Silk roads were the overland trade routes to the west. Traders carried silk and other goods on caravan trails.

The trails crossed over two continents and therefore were called the trans-Eurasian

China had become a part of a wide spread trading network

By 100 B.C. the silk roads were well established ( This was during which dynasty?).

Goods that the Chinese produced and traded included: pottery, paper, and silk.

They received goods from the west such as: seeds and oils, metal, and precious stones.

One specific item that was of value and very special were Central Asian horses.

Cultural Diffusion

With the new trade routes in place many customs were spread as well as religion, military techniques, and art.

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Inventions and DiscoveriesInventions and Discoveries

With such a large and growing population, With such a large and growing population, the Chinese were developing products the Chinese were developing products pertaining to agriculture.pertaining to agriculture.

The new items helped ease the work of The new items helped ease the work of farmersfarmers

Collar Harness-allowed horses to pull Collar Harness-allowed horses to pull heavy loadsheavy loads

Wheelbarrow-made it easier to move Wheelbarrow-made it easier to move large loads by hand large loads by hand

Watermills-used river power to grind grainWatermills-used river power to grind grain

PAPERPAPER

Paper was originally made of expensive Paper was originally made of expensive silksilk

Inexpensive paper was made of old Inexpensive paper was made of old rags, tree bark, and fibers from the rags, tree bark, and fibers from the hemp planthemp plant

Inexpensive books were made widely Inexpensive books were made widely available to those who valued educationavailable to those who valued education

Paper was important for the gov’t to Paper was important for the gov’t to keep records.keep records.

SILKSILK

Very rare and could be changed into Very rare and could be changed into a variety of colorsa variety of colors

Allowed the Chinese to obtain silver Allowed the Chinese to obtain silver and gold and gold

This was important to China since This was important to China since there are no rich deposits of either there are no rich deposits of either mineral. mineral.