Classical China:Classical China:Philosophy Shapes CulturePhilosophy Shapes Culture

Peace Through Peace Through ThinkingThinking

• During the During the Time of the Warring StatesTime of the Warring States, , warlords and kings fight for landwarlords and kings fight for land

• In response, Chinese scholars develop three In response, Chinese scholars develop three ways of thinking all with the same goal: to ways of thinking all with the same goal: to bring bring peacepeace to China to China– ConfucianismConfucianism– DaoismDaoism– LegalismLegalism

• Philosophy: Philosophy: A study of basic truths; ideas A study of basic truths; ideas about the universeabout the universe

Confucius Seeks Confucius Seeks PeacePeace

• Sought end to the Sought end to the Time of Time of the Warring Statesthe Warring States

• Peace fundamental to all Peace fundamental to all relationshipsrelationships

• Believed Believed respectrespect preceded preceded peace, harmonypeace, harmony

• Confucius’ ideas collected Confucius’ ideas collected into a book: into a book: The AnalectsThe Analects– Together, these Together, these

teachings form the belief teachings form the belief system of Confucianismsystem of Confucianism

Confucius: Confucius: Teacher, Scholar, Teacher, Scholar,

ThinkerThinker551 – 479 BCE551 – 479 BCE

Confucius: Confucius: The The AnalectsAnalects

Knowing what he knows Knowing what he knows and knowing what he and knowing what he doesn’t know, are doesn’t know, are characteristics of the characteristics of the person who knows.person who knows.Making a mistake and not correcting Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake.it, is making another mistake.

The superior man blames The superior man blames himself; the inferior man himself; the inferior man blames others.blames others.To go too far is as wrong as to fall To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.short.

The Five The Five RelationshipsRelationships

• Confucius taught code of proper conductConfucius taught code of proper conduct– Proper conduct in family, proper Proper conduct in family, proper

conduct in societyconduct in society

1.1. Ruler Ruler SubjectSubject

2.2. FatherFather SonSon

3.3. HusbandHusband WifeWife

4.4. Older BrotherOlder Brother Younger BrotherYounger Brother

5.5. Older FriendOlder Friend Younger FriendYounger Friend– Filial Piety: Filial Piety: Respect for your eldersRespect for your elders

Impact of Impact of ConfucianismConfucianism

• Confucianism set out Confucianism set out familyfamily and and socialsocial roles roles• Following these roles help Chinese to avoid Following these roles help Chinese to avoid

conflict and live peacefullyconflict and live peacefully• People must respect authority…People must respect authority…BUTBUT…rulers …rulers

must live right and respect the peoplemust live right and respect the people• Subjects have the duty to obey ruler Subjects have the duty to obey ruler IF IF the the

ruler lived in a right and moral wayruler lived in a right and moral way• Confucius encourages education, creating fair Confucius encourages education, creating fair

and skilled government officials and skilled government officials (Bureaucracy, Civil Service)(Bureaucracy, Civil Service)

Daoism (Taoism)Daoism (Taoism)• Laozi’s ideas in Dao De Jing (The Book of the Laozi’s ideas in Dao De Jing (The Book of the

Way of Virtue)Way of Virtue)• Daoists believe that a universal force, Daoists believe that a universal force, the the

Dao Dao (the Way), guides all things(the Way), guides all things• All creatures live in harmony with the Dao All creatures live in harmony with the Dao

EXCEPTEXCEPT humans humans• Humans must find their own way (Dao) to Humans must find their own way (Dao) to

relate to nature and each otherrelate to nature and each other• Each person must learn to live in harmony Each person must learn to live in harmony

with nature, each other, and their inner with nature, each other, and their inner feelingsfeelings

Following “the Following “the Way”Way”

• Daoists did not argue over good and bad, Daoists did not argue over good and bad, or try to change thingsor try to change things

• Accepted things as they were; did not Accepted things as they were; did not get involved in governmentget involved in government

• To escape the “social, political, & To escape the “social, political, & cultural traps” of life, one must:cultural traps” of life, one must:

1. Reject formal knowledge and 1. Reject formal knowledge and learning learning

2. Rely on the senses and instincts2. Rely on the senses and instincts3. Discover the nature and 3. Discover the nature and

“rhythm” of the “rhythm” of the universe universe4. Ignore political and social laws4. Ignore political and social laws

Yin & YangYin & Yang

• Forces of yin, yang Forces of yin, yang interact, complement interact, complement each other; change; each other; change; evolveevolve

• YinYin (black): Cold, Dark, (black): Cold, Dark, Mysterious Mysterious

• YangYang (white): Warm, (white): Warm, Bright Bright

• Understanding yin and Understanding yin and yang help people find yang help people find place in the worldplace in the world

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gZY4i4Kg3s

LegalismLegalism

• Strong government would end the Time of Strong government would end the Time of the Warring Statesthe Warring States

• Rulers must use legal system to force Rulers must use legal system to force people to obey lawspeople to obey laws

• Legalists believe human nature is wickedLegalists believe human nature is wicked• As a result, government must pass strict As a result, government must pass strict

laws to control peoples’ behaviorlaws to control peoples’ behavior• Harsh punishments for those who violate Harsh punishments for those who violate

law, would make people afraid to commit law, would make people afraid to commit crimescrimes

Legalist PrinciplesLegalist Principles

1.1. Human nature is naturally selfishHuman nature is naturally selfish

2.2. Intellectualism and literacy are Intellectualism and literacy are discourageddiscouraged

3.3. Law is the supreme authority and Law is the supreme authority and replaces moralityreplaces morality

4.4. The ruler must rule with a strong, The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing handpunishing hand

5. War is the means of strengthening a 5. War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s powerruler’s power

Think About It…Think About It…

Based on what you know Based on what you know about the three Classical about the three Classical

Chinese philosophies, who Chinese philosophies, who would you rather have as a would you rather have as a teacher – a Confucianist, a teacher – a Confucianist, a Daoist, or a Legalist? Why?Daoist, or a Legalist? Why?