Download Lesson 7.03 Beliefs of Ancient China

Lesson 7.03
Beliefs of Ancient China
Ancestors
Used
To
Honor
ancestors
• Your great grandparents, great great
grandparents, etc. are your ancestors.
• Ancestors were worshipped like gods but
they were not the same. They had gods of
nature like weather or direction (north,
south, etc)
• Ancestors could talk to the gods and
persuade the gods to be kind to the people
• Kings asked ancestors for help and to answer
questions. Done through the help of diviners
(priests) and oracle bones.
Beliefs begin to change during and after the Warring Period.
Zhou Dynasty united the country by making agreements. There was no strong
central government. Each region had their own ruler.
Local rulers became very powerful and overthrew the government.
During the Qin Dynasty , the size of the country grew. They took over nearby lands.
During the Han Dynasty, invaders take over the country. China falls as a great
country.
The family was center of everything during the Zhou dynasty.
Families of one class were expected to show kindness to families of another class.
Confucius
• Confucius believed that one had to respect
himself/herself and respect others.
• This is a way of life, not a religion!
• Family relationships were the basis of society.
• Wrote a book called Analects.
• Ancestor worship was important.
• Respect for parents and ancestors is filial piety.
Daoism
• Created by Laozi
• Believed there was a force in nature and nature should be
allowed to take its course. When people connected to this
force, they found happiness.
• Life force known as yin and yang
• Laozi believed that everyone has some yin and yang (a light
and dark side)
• Life force must be protected ; therefore Laozi was against
war and killing others.
• Does not believe in strict government and that people
should be free to make their own decision.
• Wrote “Dao de Jing”. It showed the “way “or “path”.
Legalism
• Laws were strictly followed
• Emperor had strict control of
government and there was a police First emperor of
China-force
Qin Shi Huangdi
• Punishment if laws were broken.
• People HAD to tell on someone that broke
the law. If they didn’t, they were punished.
A spy system was set up.
• Emperor believed books were useless and
burned them. (Censorship)
• Han Fei Tzu - philosopher who believed in
Legalism.
Assignment
Slide/Quote #1:
What key concepts are included in
this quote?
Who wrote this quote and what
were they like?
Which belief system does this
quote belong to and why?
“A good leader is one who is virtuous and kind towards
his subjects in exchange for their loyalty.”
Slide/Quote
#2:
What key
concepts are
included in
this quote?
Who wrote
this quote
and what
were they
like?
Which
belief
system does
this quote
belong to
and why?
“There is crime to the degree the government interferes and meddles in
individuals’ lives.”
“No country is permanently strong. Nor is any country permanently weak. If
Slide/Quote
conformers to law are strong, the country is strong; if conformers to law are
#3:
weak, the country is weak.”
What key
concepts are
included in
this quote?
Who wrote
this quote
and what
were they
like?
Which
belief
system does
this quote
belong to
and why?
What’s your idea of an ideal society??