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Major Philosophies of China
Confucianism
Legalism
Taoism
The Warring States Period
• Warfare broke out
between nobles at the
end of Zhou dynasty
– Led to period of
upheaval and chaos
– People began to think
about the best way to
restore:
• Social order
• Harmony
• Respect for authority
Confucius
• 551 BC- 479 BC
• Known as Kongfuzi
• Chinese teacher and
philosopher
• Developed a theory of
how to establish
stability in China
Confucianism
• Confucius believed that:
– People are naturally good
• People should treat each other humanely
– Importance of education in creating good,
stable government
• Need for educated civil servants
– Individual must find and accept their
proper place in society
Confucianism
• Believed society should be organized
around five basic relationships
o Ruler -----Subject
o Father-----Son
o Husband----Wife
o Older Brother----Younger Brother
o Friend----Friend
The Five Relationship
The Five Relationships
• Example:
– Rulers should practice
kindness and virtuous
living
– Subjects should be loyal
and law abiding
• Stressed importance of:
– Family
–Filial Piety
• Children should respect
their parents and elders
– Worship ancestors
– Patriarchal society
– Education
The Analects
• Book containing
Confucius thoughts
on how to improve
society
• Became the basis
for Chinese civil
service exams and
bureaucracy
– Government workers
Significance of Confucianism
• Cornerstone of Chinese
tradition and culture
– Adopted by most
Chinese
• preserved patriarchal
society
• Spread to areas that
were under China’s
control or influence
– Korea and Vietnam
Closure
• What is Filial Piety?
• What impact did Confucianism have on
China?
Filial Piety
•The Master [i.e. Confucius] said, “In serving
his parents the filial son is as reverent as
possible to them while they are living. In
taking care of them he does so with all
possible joy; when they are sick he is
extremely anxious about them; when he
buries them he is stricken with grief; when
he sacrifices to them he does so with the
utmost solemnity. These five [duties] being
discharged in full measure, then he has been
able [truly] to serve his parents.”
Legalism
• Founded by Han
Feizi
– Lived during the
Warring States
period
• Became the
political
philosophy of the
Qin Dynasty
Principles of Legalism
• Human nature is
naturally selfish; humans
are by nature evil
• Rulers needed to be
strong and govern
through force
• Laws must be strict and
based on rewards and
punishments to maintain
order
– Supported harsh
penalties
• Branding and mutilation
for minor crimes
Principles of Legalism
• Placed little value on education
– should be controlled by government
• Ideas needed to be strictly controlled
– Rulers should burn all writings that are
critical of the government
• War is needed to strengthen the rulers
power
Daoism
• Founded by Laozi
• Began during the
Warring States
Period
• Stressed importance
of balance in nature
– Yin
– Yang
Feminine
Passive
Darkness
Cold
Weak
Earth; Moon
Masculine
Active
Light
Warmth
Strong
Heaven; Sun
Daoism
• “The Way”
– The Tao
• A universal life force that is present in nature
• Guides all things
– Human understanding of nature and
harmony achieved by following “the way”
Daoism
• Believed that education and politics are
not necessary for harmony
– Natural flow of events would solve
problems
• Rely on senses and instincts
• Stressed importance of individuals and
less government
How do we best achieve social order and
harmony in society??
Confucianism --> Moral order in society.
Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order.
Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and
less govt. to avoid
uniformity and conformity.