China’s Ancient Philosophies

Legalism

Confucianism

Daoism

What is a philosophy? A study of basic truths and ideas about the

universe

Christina Thomas:

Christina Thomas:

Legalism

• What is it? Why did it come about?

• Legalism stresses the strict use of laws to control behavior – Beliefs:

• Humans are innately wicked

• Humans are only good when forced

• Harsh punishments

• Strict laws

Legalism Government

• Shang Yang wanted to forced people to report lawbreakers

• People that didn’t report should be chopped in two

• Reward those that do well (token economy)

• Ruled for a short time in Qin Dynasty

• Many scholars were killed and many books were destroyed, especially those that represented Confucianism thought

Confucianism

• respect between all people

• Recorded all ideas in Analects which tells his teachings ( beliefs)

•Belief that government should set an example

• http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/filial.html

Five Relationships each have TWO basic components: conduct in family and

society

• Father and Son• Elder brother and

junior brother• Husband and wife• Friend and friend• Ruler and subject

Daoism AKA Taoism

• Teachings of Laozi from the book Dao de Jing (The book of the Way and Virtue)

• Very different from Legalism and Confucianism

• The Dao or the Way guides all things

• All but humans live in harmony with this force

• Humans have to learn with nature and inner feelings

• Yin and Yang – Black stands for all that is cold, dark,

mysterious– White stands for warm, bright and light– Always changing and evolving