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Confucius and China Introduction • Around 1027 BC, a people called the Zhou overthrew the Shang and established a dynasty in China • To justify their abrupt rise to power, the Zhou leaders declared that the Shang King had been such a poor ruler that the gods had taken away their power and given it to the Zhou • This justification is called Mandate of Heaven –The idea that the authority to rule comes from heaven Then what??? • The Zhou dynasty lasted for 8 centuries until their decline • However, their harsh rule did not leave without lasting consequences • While they were in power, China had begun to move away from their traditional values of social order, harmony, and respect for authority • What were they to do? Then came Confucius… • He was China’s most influencial scholar • He was born during that time of crisis and rebellion in China • He believed that social order, harmony, and good government could be restored in China if society were organized around 5 basic relationships… • • • • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. ruler and subject father and son husband and wife older brother and younger brother friend and friend • Three of these 5 relationships were based on family • He stressed that children should practice respect for their parents and ancestors • They should devote themselves to their parents during their lifetime and honor their memory upon their death Confucius and Government • He wanted to reform Chinese government and teach them how to govern wisely • He believed that education could transform a person • He laid the groundwork for the first bureaucracy – A government system run by people trained in civil service - (government employees) • Education became an important part in the advancement of a persons career What is Confucianism? • It was never a religion • It is an ethical system based on accepted principles of right and wrong • It became the foundation for Chinese government • His ideas spread throughout eastern Asia