Download Chapter 8 Lecture Part Two - China

3 Schools of Chinese Thought
Part Two of Chapter 8
The Warring States Period
475-221 BCE
Final centuries of the Zhou Dynasty
Chaos, civil unrest, 7 states fighting for power
Growing violence
Disharmony and disunity
These issues led many to find solutions to China’s
problems…known as the Hundred Schools of
Thought.
Some gained more prominence than others…
The 7 Warring States Map
School of Thought #1
Confucianism
Founder = Confucius (Kong Fuzi)
Wanted to be a high government
official, but failed…became a
teacher instead
Associated with Han Dynasty and
later China (until 1900’s)
Believed in ethics (good conduct
and moral judgment)
Philosophy centered on the
duties and proper behavior of the
individual in society
School of Thought #1
Confucianism
 “The Analects” = collected teachings
of Confucius compiled by students
after his death
 Humans are basically good…BUT
they need good education, good
outside influences, and good effort to
maintain goodness
 Emphasis on education, being polite,
respect for elders, filial piety
 Civil service exams for govt. positions
 Unjust rulers can and should be
replaced…Mandate of Heaven
School of Thought #1
Confucianism
 Emphasis on Five Relationships
Ruler and subject
Father and son
Elder brother and younger brother
Husband and wife
Friend and friend
Everyone owes obedience to those “above”
them, and in return, everyone owes loving
responsibility to those inferior
School of Thought #2
Daoism (Taoism)
 Founder = Laozi
 Collected teachings – “Tao Te
Ching”
 Focus of Daoism = living in
harmony with the natural order
(“The Dao” or “The Way”)
 Urges withdrawal from society
and entrance into a world of
nature
 Pursuit of inner purity, reduction
of desire
School of Thought #2
Daoism
 Principal ethic = Wu-wei… or
non-action. Do not struggle.
Follow the natural path.
 Acceptance and yielding
 Belief in the goodness of
man…people will choose
good when left to their own
devices
 Yin and Yang – two opposing
forces of nature
 More personal…less about
political order
School of Thought #3
Legalism
Founder = Han Feizi
Legalists viewed humans as
inherently stupid and
immoral…justified harsh
leadership
Legalists believed in rules and
laws that were strict, clearly
spelled out, and enforced through
a system of rewards and
punishments
Sometimes equated with political
realism
School of Thought #3
Legalism
Leader should monopolize power to
prevent civil war
No interest in moral or philosophical
questions, like the others
All citizens should be treated equally
before the law, and effective
application of the law will maintain
order
Used by Emperor Qin Shihuangdi
during the Qin Dynasty to restore
unity and order to China