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3 Ways of Thought
Medieval China
Who are we?
Confucianism
Confucius (Kung Fu-Tzu)*
(551-479 BC)
*Family name = Kung (Kong)
Personal name = Zhong-ni
Kung Fu-Tzu (Kong Fu-zi) = “Master Kung”
“Confucius” = Latinization of “Kung Fu-Tzu”
Anthem
Confucius was born here and
lived during the Zhou dynasty.
Confucianism originated in China,
but its influence spread to Korea &
Japan over the centuries.
Confucianism
• Based on the teaching of Kong Fu Zi, who
was called Confucius by Europeans
• Focused on proper conduct, respect for
elders, education, and hard work
• Confucius taught that life would be
harmonious if everyone was loyal, courteous,
honest, and faithful
• Children show absolute respect for authority
• Rulers need to live by strong virtues and set a
good example for society to be harmonious
5 Relationships
1. Ruler and subject
2. Parent and Child
3. Husband and Wife
4. Sibling and Sibling (Brother and sister)
5. Friend and Friend
Example:
• Harmony in family= Child showing absolute
respect to elders
• If the ruler lived according to good morals then
people would follow his or her example=stable
society
Confucianism stressed the importance of education
Civil servants writing essays for China's emperor.
Difficult exams were designed to make sure that
government officials were chosen by ability—not by
wealth or family connections.
Scholar-Officials
Typical responsibilities might include running government offices; maintaining roads, irrigation
systems, and other public works; updating and maintaining official records; or collecting
taxes.
filial piety basically describes the correct way to act towards one's parents. Filial piety
consists of several factors; the main ideas include loving one's parents, being
respectful, polite, considerate, loyal, helpful, dutiful, and obedient.
Answer the following as if you
are Confucius
• What are you known for and what is
your original name?
• How can one achieve harmony with in a
family?
• .
Buddhism
Buddhism
• Based on the teachings of Siddhartha
Gautama, later known as the Buddha
• Buddha means “enlightened one”
• Guatama lived in India from 563-483 B.C.
• Buddhism started in India and was brought to
China by Buddhist monks traveling along the
Silk Road
• Teachings are based on the Four Noble
Truths
Four Noble Truths
• 1. All life is suffering and pain
• 2. Suffering and pain are caused by
desire for wealth, pleasure, fame, or
power
• 3. To end suffering, one must overcome
desire
• 4. To overcome desire, one must follow
the Middle Way
The Middle Way
• The Middle Way teaches compassion for all
living things, which leads to calmness and
purity of mind
• Reincarnation – when a person dies, the soul
is reborn in a new body
• Nirvana – First goal in life is to attain nirvana,
the state of having no desires. When one
attains nirvana, he or she breaks the cycle of
birth and death and no longer is reincarnated
into a life of suffering
Questions for The Buddha
• Answer the following as if you were the
Buddha:
• What is your original name,where are you
from and how old were you when you
died?
• My name was Siddhartha Gautama and I
lived in India until I was eighty years old
• What does the Buddha mean?
• Enlightened one
Taoism
Taoism
• Based on the teaching of Laozi
• Humans should see themselves a part of
nature
• Change is part of everything
• People should live a simple life in harmony with
nature
• Harmony comes from balancing opposite forces
of nature, called yin and yang
• Daoists do not believe in strong government
• Happiness is achieved by thinking about nature
and leading a balanced life in tune with
nature…not by following societal rules and laws
Answer the following as if you are
Laozi
• What is the only way for Modern America
to live peacefully?
• By living simply, in harmony with nature, by
“living green” in a self sustainable economy.
• What is the main cause of our economic
crisis?
• America has strived for fame and power which
will lead to the downfall of any economy
•Who said it?
“Like a spider caught in its own
web is a person driven by fierce
cravings. Break out of the web,
and turn away from the world of
sensory pleasure and sorrow.”
• In your own words, what is the meaning
of this statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the Buddha,
Confucius, or Laozi?
“If a ruler himself is upright
(honest), all will go well without
orders. But if he himself is not
upright, even though he gives
orders they will not be obeyed.”
• In your own words, what is the meaning of
this statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the Buddha,
Confucius, or Laozi?
“Highest good is like water.
Because water excels in benefiting
the myriad creatures without
contending with them and settles
where none would like to be, it
comes close to the Way.”
• In your own words, what is the meaning of
this statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the Buddha,
Confucius, or Laozi?
“The mind is flighty, and hard to
grasp; the mind pursues all it
desires. To tame the mind is
great goodness. Subdue the mind
and know tranquility.”
• In your own words, what is the meaning
of this statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the Buddha,
Confucius, or Laozi? Explain using
details.
“The more laws and edicts
(official rules) are imposed, the
more thieves and bandits
there will be.”
• In your own words, what is the meaning
of this statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the Buddha,
Confucius, or Laozi?
“Be respectful at home, serious at
work, faithful in human relations.
Even if you go to uncivilized
areas, these virtues (good
qualities) are not to be
abandoned.”
• In your own words, what is the meaning of
this statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the Buddha,
Confucius, or Laozi?
“Seeing that our body, with hair and skin,
is derived from our parents, we should
not allow it to be injured in any way. This
is the beginning of filial respect. We
develop our own character and practice
the way so as to perpetuate our name for
future generations, and to bring honor to
our parents.”
• In your own words, what is the meaning of this
statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the Buddha,
Confucius, or Laozi?
“Life is a journey, death is a return
to the earth, the universe is like an
inn, the passing years are like dust.”
• In your own words, what is the
meaning of this statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the
Buddha, Confucius, or Laozi?
“The sage, because he does nothing,
never ruins anything; and, because he
does not lay hold of anything, loses
nothing.”
• In your own words, what is the
meaning of this statement?
• Who do you think said it?....the
Buddha, Confucius, or Laozi?