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Three Ways to Harmony: Chinese Philosophies of the Warring States Period
Directions: Please take bullet pointed notes over the three philosophies of China as you read the following
primary sources. Be sure to include basic information as well as ideas about the meaning of the primary source
excerpts. Areas of focus for notes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How should family and social relationships be arranged?
Is human nature essentially good…or bad?
What should the nation’s ruler be like?
Should a person be active or passive in the world and Government?
What is more important – internal peace, or social order?
Daoism is a philosophy of life that “defines definition, spurns reason, and rejects words as inadequate.” This
philosophy is alleged to have been created by Lao Tzu, who supposedly lived around the same time as Kung
Fuzi [Confucius]. Legend has it that he wrote his book, Dao Dejing [The Classic of the Way and Virtue] after a
government bureaucrat pled with him to give him some knowledge. In some Daoist circles, legend had it that
Lao Tzu went to India where he became the Buddha…
Dao Dejing, The Classic of the Way and Virtue
“On The Way
Conceived as having no name, [the Dao] is the Originator of Heaven and Earth; conceived as having a name, it is
the Mother of all things…It presides over all, and yet does not control them.
On The Wise Person
When we renounce learning, we have no troubles…Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing of
humility, and manifests it to all the world. He is free from self-display, and therefore he shines…”
A government bureaucrat born into a noble but poor family, Confucius [Kong Fuzi] traveled to the courts of
various small states and attempted, without success, to convince their princes to use his Moral Way, which he
believed would return Chinese society to a state of harmony and justice. His students continued on with his
life’s work and had a profound effect on Chinese and East Asian culture, generally. His sayings were collected
into The Analects after his death.
The Analects
“On Filial Piety
When your parents are alive, serve them in accordance with the rituals; when they die, bury them in accordance
with the rituals; offer sacrifices to them in accordance with the rituals. The Master said, ‘In serving your parents,
be gentle in dissent. Seeing that they are not inclined to comply [with your wishes], remain reverent, and do not
disobey them. Though weary, do not feel resentful.’
On The Gentleman
The Gentleman keeps whole-hearted sincerity and truthfulness as his major principles and does not befriend
those beneath him. When he makes a mistake, he is not afraid to correct it.
On Good Government
The Master said, ‘If you govern the people with only decrees and regulate them with punishments, the people
will dodge them but will have no sense of virtue. If you govern them with virtue and regulate them with the
rituals, they will have a sense of shame and flock to you.’
On The Well-Lived Life
Wealth and rank acquired through unrighteous means are to me like drifting clouds.”
Utilized by China’s first true emperor, Shi Huangdi of the Qin Dynasty, Legalism was promoted by Han Fei
who learned, but rejected, the Moral Way of Confucianism as unrealistic. The Qin Dynasty ended the Warring
States Period of China and began a new era of union by using harsh rule to unify China. The Dynasty lasted
only 15 years, however, before the people rose up in rebellion against the harsh government.
The Writings of Master Han Fei
“Any ruler able to expel private crookedness and uphold public law, finds the people safe and the state in
order…Therefore, the intelligent sovereign makes the law select men and makes no illogical promotion himself.
In consequence…falsely praised fellows are not advanced into positions of power…
The means whereby the intelligent ruler controls his ministers are two handles only…chastisement [punishment]
and commendation [reward]…To inflict death or torture upon culprits is called chastisement; to bestow
encouragements or rewards on men of merit is called commendation.”