Society and Culture in Ancient China

Chapter 7.2

Objectives

• SPI 6.33 Analyze the structure of the Zhou Dynasty and the emergence of Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism

• SPI 6.34 Identify the political and cultural patterns prevalent in the time of Confucius and how he sought to solve them

Chinese Philosophies

• 3 major philosophies– Confucianism– Daoism– Legalism

– Main Goal was to create a well-run and peaceful society

What Ideas Did Confucius Teach?

• Confucianism was based on teaching of Confucius– Criticized kings– Urged people to follow ancestors– Tried to bring peace and

harmony to China– Duty is central idea of

Confucianism• Parents love children• Children respect parents• Rulers should rule justly

The Influence of Confucius

• Confucius believed the government service should be open to men of ability

• Sayings of Confucius called The Analects

• His ideas continued to shape Chinese society until 1900s

The Philosophy of Daoism

• Daoism promoted a peaceful society– Began with the ideas of Laozi– Believes people should free

themselves from worldly desires and live simply

– Turn to nature and the Dao-the spiritual force that guides all things

– This will cause people to live a happy life

Confucianism vs Daoism

• Confucius taught people should work hard to make the world better

• Daoism taught people to turn away from worldly affairs and live in harmony with nature

Legalism

• Legalism-School of Law– Believes humans are evil– Strict laws and harsh punishment were

necessary to force people to do their duty– EMPHASIZED FORCE

Chinese Life

• Chinese society was divided into 4 classes– Landowning aristocrats– Farmers– Artisans– merchants

Lives of Aristocrats

• Aristocrats were wealthy

• Owned large plots of land

• Family’s land was divided equally among all of the male heirs

Lives of the Farmers• 9 out of 10 Chinese

farmed• Lived in rural villages

surrounded by mud walls

• Rented the field• Paid taxes• Farmers forced to serve

as soldiers

Lives of the Artisans and Merchants

• Artisans are skilled workers

• Wealthy

• Not respected members of society– People believed merchants worked for their

own gain and not for the good of society

What were Chinese Families Like?

• Family was at the center of early Chinese society

• Practiced filial piety-people’s responsibility to respect and obey their parents

• Required people to take care of their parents

Roles of Men and Women

• Men were respected because of their jobs• Considered the jobs of men more important

than the work of women

• Women raised children and saw to their education

• Women managed household and family finances