Download Confucianism/Daoism/Legalism Study Guide

Confucianism/Daoism/Legalism Study Guide
Confucianism:
 Leader Kong Fuzi (Confucius) 551-479 B.C.E.
 Saddened by rulers battling for power after Zhou Dynasty
 Confucius’s beliefs put into book called Analects or “Selected Sayings”
 Belief that people are naturally good
 Li (proper behavior)
 5 Key Relationships= ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, elder
sibling and younger sibling, and friend and friend
 valued respect for age and tradition
 Confucianism became widely accepted during the Han Dynasty
 Leaders had to prove themselves as “worthy Confucianists” by taking tests,
education, etc.
Daoism:
 Leader Laozi, a wise sage (person)
 Believed that striving for power or wealth was unnatural
 Laozi’s beliefs put into book called Daodejing or “The Way and It’s Power”
 Belief that people gain peace and happiness by becoming one w/ the Dao (The
Way)
 Dao= universal force connected to nature
 Belief that people should lead a life balanced w/ nature
 Belief in Yin and Yang (opposing forces in nature)
 Belief that rulers should have few laws
 Believed that people should do nothing to draw attention to themselves
Legalism:
 Leader Han Fei, 280-233 B.C.E., born a prince who studied Confucianism
 Questioned if Confucianism alone could solve a society’s problems
 Beliefs in book called Han Feizi or “Basic Writings”
 Believed in enforcing strict laws and having severe punishments
 Believed people were naturally evil and selfish
 Thought people criticizing gov’t should be punished (criticism of gov’t was
forbidden)
 Believed rulers should be strong and firm and never show charity or feelings of
affection
 Legalism used by rulers in Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 B.C.E.)
 Legalism eventually failed because it made China too strict