Download Chinese Belief Systems

Chinese Belief
Systems
What are the belief systems of
Ancient China?
Confucianism
Legalism
Daoism
Buddhism
What do we already know about
China?
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Population
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Geography
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Middle Kingdom
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Ethnocentrism
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Mandate of Heaven
Confucianism
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Philosophy created by
Confucius c. 500 BC
Confucianism is the most
popular Chinese
philosophy and is still
followed in China today.
Confucianism is not a
religion
– No sacred text
– No description of a belief in
the afterlife
How did Confucian beliefs affect
behavior in daily life?
Filial Piety = respect for
parents / honor your family
‹
Five Relationships =
explained who should
respect who in society;
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Father to son
Husband to wife
Ruler to subjects/people
Older brother to younger brother
Friend to friend
Political Beliefs
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Confucius believed that
people were good by
nature.
Rulers should set a
good example for their
people.
Good Ruler = Good People
Important Facts about
Confucianism
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Followers of Confucius
recorded his teachings
and beliefs in the
Analects.
Confucius also
emphasized the
importance of
education.
Legalism
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Legalism is a political philosophy
created by Hanfeizi c. 250 BC.
Hanfeizi discussed how rulers
should rule and maintain power
Legalist philosophy suggests that
people are evil by nature
Because of this, a ruler must be
strict and have harsh punishments
Daoism
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Daoism (Taoism) is a
philosophy created by
Lao-tzu c. 500 BC.
Contemplate the Tao, or
the “way” of the universe
Daoists reject a strong
government because
they believe people can
control their own actions
and do not need a ruler.
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"Be still like a
mountain and
flow like a great
river."
Lao Tzu
Main Teachings of Daoism
‹ Taoists
believe in planning in advance
– Must carefully consider each action before
taking it
‹A
Taoist is kind to other individuals
– in part because kindness tends to be
reciprocated
‹ Taoists
believe people are
– compassionate by nature and if left to
their own devices they will show this
compassion without expecting a reward
Daoist Symbol
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Daoists believe in
the balance of yin &
yang
Yin
– Earth, darkness, &
female forces
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Yang
– Heaven, light, &
male forces
Buddhist Beliefs
‹ Buddhism
spread from India to China
– C. 300 CE
– Brought spiritual comfort in a time of
political & economic distress
– New ideas for art & sculpture
– Only case of China importing a
major idea from a foreign land in its
ancient history
EXIT TICKET
‹
On the front
– List the founder
– Two beliefs
– On the back
‹Draw a picture that represents the
belief system