Section III: Section III:

Religions and Beliefs in Ancient Religions and Beliefs in Ancient China China

(Pages 85-89)(Pages 85-89)

Section III: Section III:

Religions and Beliefs in Ancient Religions and Beliefs in Ancient China China

(Pages 85-89)(Pages 85-89) This section is about: The main ideas of

Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, and Buddhism.

How these ideas influenced the cultural, social order, government, and religion of ancient China.

Confucianism

Daoism

Legalism

These three Chinese religions have some

similarities and some differences

A remarkable philosopher A remarkable philosopher appeared during the Zhou appeared during the Zhou

DynastyDynasty His Chinese name: Kong QiuHis Chinese name: Kong Qiu His western name: ConfuciusHis western name: Confucius Even as a child, he worked Even as a child, he worked

hard at his education.hard at his education. As he grew older, he became As he grew older, he became

worried about the conditions in worried about the conditions in China.China.

He went looking for a king who He went looking for a king who knew about good government. knew about good government. But all he found were But all he found were government people who were government people who were greedy and dishonest (all they greedy and dishonest (all they cared about was themselves)cared about was themselves)

He tried to change the way He tried to change the way people behaved.people behaved.

(born in 551 BC)(born in 551 BC)

Confucius Confucius was a was a philosopherphilosopher who……who……

… … was an honest man of was an honest man of great learninggreat learning

He felt the early Zhou rulers He felt the early Zhou rulers were good and had run the were good and had run the country with harmony and country with harmony and responsibility.responsibility.

He believed:He believed: A ruler should lead by good A ruler should lead by good

example.example. People had an obligation to People had an obligation to

obey those who were obey those who were superior.superior.

But those who were superior But those who were superior should treat others fairly.should treat others fairly.

Every man should try to be a Every man should try to be a gentleman (educated, good gentleman (educated, good manners, and understood manners, and understood ritual and ceremony, and ritual and ceremony, and what is moral)what is moral)

(Person who thinks about the meanings of things)

Confucius had 5 relationships Confucius had 5 relationships which ruled society:which ruled society:

1.1. Between father and son.Between father and son.2.2. Between older and Between older and

younger brother.younger brother.3.3. Between husband and wifeBetween husband and wife4.4. Between ruler and subject.Between ruler and subject.5.5. Between friend and friend.Between friend and friend.

As long as these As long as these relationships were in relationships were in harmony, society would be harmony, society would be in harmony.in harmony.

One of his important rules: One of his important rules: “What you do not wish for “What you do not wish for yourself, do not unto yourself, do not unto others”others”

Confucius was a great and inspiring Confucius was a great and inspiring teacherteacher

Even though we don’t Even though we don’t know if what he said/did know if what he said/did was written down, many was written down, many scholarsscholars (bright students) (bright students) learned a lot from him.learned a lot from him.

Later, they did record his Later, they did record his beliefs and teachings – beliefs and teachings – called the Analects. called the Analects.

Later on – the Analects Later on – the Analects were considered “sacred” were considered “sacred” with students studying and with students studying and memorizing his sayings.memorizing his sayings.

Men trained in his beliefs Men trained in his beliefs ended up becoming ended up becoming leaders.leaders.

They even set up schools They even set up schools to learn the teachings of to learn the teachings of Confucius.Confucius.

By the third century BC: By the third century BC: A new set of beliefs came along: (Daoism or A new set of beliefs came along: (Daoism or

Taoism)Taoism)

Confucianism: Confucianism: order, ritual, order, ritual, working hard to working hard to make the make the government government efficientefficient

Daoism: Rulers Daoism: Rulers should do as little should do as little as possible and as possible and leave everyone leave everyone alone.alone.

The LaoziThe Laozi(The Classic of the Way and It’s Power)(The Classic of the Way and It’s Power) Contains the beliefs of Contains the beliefs of

Daoism.Daoism. The Dao is the energy that The Dao is the energy that

controls all of the events in controls all of the events in the universe.the universe.

The natural order depends The natural order depends on the interaction of on the interaction of yin yin and yangand yang..

Yin: negative force / dark Yin: negative force / dark and weakand weak

Yang: positive, bright, and Yang: positive, bright, and strongstrong

These need to work These need to work together to keep balance together to keep balance in the universe – even if in the universe – even if that means spending all that means spending all you time meditating on you time meditating on nature and forgetting nature and forgetting about worldly mattersabout worldly matters

Daoism influenced all the countries around Daoism influenced all the countries around ChinaChina

(Japan, Korea, and alter even Europe and North (Japan, Korea, and alter even Europe and North America)America)

Daoism stresses Daoism stresses immortality (living immortality (living forever)forever)

It’s emphasis on It’s emphasis on nature inspired nature inspired writers, artists, and writers, artists, and architects.architects.

The Science of the The Science of the religion also allowed religion also allowed Daoists to study Daoists to study astronomy, medicine, astronomy, medicine, and personal hygieneand personal hygiene

Legalism and Legalism and BuddhismBuddhism

Xunzi was a student of Xunzi was a student of Confucius, but had different Confucius, but had different beliefs about nature and beliefs about nature and government.government.

He believed laws could inspire He believed laws could inspire people to use good behavior.people to use good behavior.

His ideas were called His ideas were called LegalismLegalism because they were because they were based on laws (with strict based on laws (with strict laws and harsh punishments laws and harsh punishments for doing wrong).for doing wrong).

He believed people were like He believed people were like little children who couldn’t be little children who couldn’t be trusted – so they need rules trusted – so they need rules and laws.and laws.

LegalismLegalism and the Qin and the Qin During this period, the During this period, the

Legalists created a strong Legalists created a strong government.government.

Land was divided up into Land was divided up into states – all run by the states – all run by the government.government.

People could not travel People could not travel without permitswithout permits

They were heavily taxedThey were heavily taxed They were required to They were required to

work on government work on government projects for no pay.projects for no pay.

Families were grouped Families were grouped together and everyone together and everyone was responsible for any was responsible for any crimes committed by its crimes committed by its members.members.

Buddhism ended up spreading to Buddhism ended up spreading to China because of the trade along the China because of the trade along the

Silk Road.Silk Road.

People didn’t follow it at People didn’t follow it at first (it was a foreign first (it was a foreign religion), but started liking religion), but started liking that…that…

……it promised freedom it promised freedom from sufferingfrom suffering

Buddhist temples started Buddhist temples started being built.being built.

People started giving People started giving them lots of money.them lots of money.

They believed this They believed this generosity would give generosity would give them good Karma and them good Karma and good fortune in their next good fortune in their next life.life.

Confucianists and Daoists Confucianists and Daoists didn’t like Buddhistsdidn’t like Buddhists

They didn’t agree with They didn’t agree with Buddhist ideas of Buddhist ideas of cremation.cremation.

They believed it was They believed it was wrong for monks to not wrong for monks to not get married and have get married and have children.children.

Buddhist monks paid no Buddhist monks paid no taxes.taxes.

But all three religions But all three religions ended up lasting and are ended up lasting and are even still around today.even still around today.