Download New Philosophies in China WHAP/Napp Do Now: “Rejecting

New Philosophies in China
WHAP/Napp
Do Now:
“Rejecting Confucianism, the Qin dynasty favored a philosophy of government known as
legalism, which was characterized by strict laws and strict enforcement, with rewards for
those who observed the laws and swift and appropriate punishment for those who broke
them. During his reign Qin Shi Huangdi set up inscriptions on stone in various parts of his
empire proclaiming his values and policies…
Daoism (Taoism) was a philosophy of spontaneity in the face of nature and the cosmos. It
was a mystical philosophy, not usually directly applicable to government, but often a solace
to public men in their private lives, especially after retirement. Daoism is often seen as an
inspiration to artists, and because it advocates a high regard for nature, it is often seen as
an inspiration to natural scientists as well…Those who followed Daoism believed in an
natural order or path (Dao). They taught that government should leave people alone
…Daoism can be viewed as a rejection of Confucian principles, but over time many
Chinese embraced both Confucianism and Daoism, allowing the former to shape their
public lives, while gaining solace from the latter in their private lives…
The philosophies of Legalism and Confucianism collided during the Qin dynasty. In
direct contrast to the Confucianists’ reverence for the past, the Prime Minister Li Si (Li
Ssu) (c. 280-208 B.C.E.) argued that the administration of the Qin was far superior to the
government of any earlier time…Li Si recommended that the Confucian classics be
collected and burned so that the past could no longer be held up as an alternative to
present policies. In 213 B.C.E. the Qin burned the books. Subsequently, as Confucian
scholars continued to oppose Qin Shi Huangdi, the emperor had 460 scholars burned alive.
Sima Qian, the official, Confucian, historian of the Han government, recorded these acts of
anti-intellectualism and brutality, which leave the Legalist Qin with a dismal reputation.”
~ The World’s History
1- Explain the fundamental tenets (beliefs) of Legalism.
________________________________________________________________________
2- Why did Legalists rely on rewards and punishments?
________________________________________________________________________
3- How did Daoism differ from Legalism?
________________________________________________________________________
4- What did Daoists advocate?
________________________________________________________________________
5- How did Daoism affect Chinese culture?
________________________________________________________________________
6- How did the Daoist view of government differ from the Legalist view?
________________________________________________________________________
7- How did Legalism differ from Confucianism?
________________________________________________________________________
8- Why did the Qin burn books and scholars?
________________________________________________________________________
I.
A.
B.
C.
II.
A.
Disorder during the Zhou dynasty
When Zhou took power (1122 BCE), the Mandate of Heaven was an accepted belief
But by 500 BCE, the age of warring states (403-221 BCE) had begun
Disorder led thinkers to develop new ideas about governance, order, and harmony
Legalism
Believed that the solution to China’s problems lay in laws
1. A system of rewards and strict punishments
2. A pessimistic view of human nature
a) People were selfish and shortsighted – they only responded to incentives
b) Only the state and rulers could act in long-term interests of society
B. Promoted farmers and soldiers
1. Believed these classes performed essential functions; others were useless
III. The Qin Dynasty
A. The dominant philosophy of the Qin dynasty (221 – 206 BCE) was Legalism
1. But the brutality of the dynasty discredited Legalism
2. No ruler afterwards openly supported it but played a role in future dynasties
IV. Confucius
A. Confucius (551 – 479 BCE): most influential philosopherdynastic period
B. Sought a political position but did not find one: Spent time as a teacher
C. Students collected his teachings in a book called the Analects
D. Not based on rewards and punishments but on moral examples
E. Ideas
1. Human society consisted of unequal relationships
2. To maintain order and social harmony, inferiors obey superiors
3. Superiors had to protect and provide for inferiors and set good examples
4. A superior acting with benevolence motivated inferiors to obey
5. Proper behavior would lead to harmony and stability
6. Confucius emphasized education as the key to moral betterment
F. The Han dynasty encouraged Confucianism
1. The examination system was established
2. The family was the model for political life
3. Filial piety or the honoring of one’s ancestors and parents was valued
G. Women were also affected by their status as permanent inferiors
H. Placed great importance on history for the ideal society lay in the past
1. But opened the possibility of government service to all men
I. Confucianism also marked elite Chinese culture by its secular character
V. Daoism
A. Daoism is often associated with Laozi
B. According to tradition, Laozi was a sixth-century BCE archivist
C. Credited with writing the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching)
D. Ideas
1. Viewed education and moral striving as useless
2. In the face of disorder and chaoswithdrawal into the world of nature
3. Encouraged behavior that was spontaneous, individualistic, and natural
4. The central concept of Daoism is the Dao (translated as the way)
5. Encouraged people to live in nature and to live naturally
1- Explain the Chinese belief known as the Mandate of Heaven.
________________________________________________________________________
2- What was the period of disorder and warfare in the Zhou Dynasty known as?
________________________________________________________________________
3- How did this period of disorder in the Zhou Dynasty affect Chinese philosophers?
________________________________________________________________________
4- What solution did Legalists offer to solve China’s problems?
________________________________________________________________________
5- Why did Legalists use rewards and harsh punishments?
________________________________________________________________________
6- Prove that the Legalists had a pessimistic view of human nature.
________________________________________________________________________
7- How did Legalists view the diverse classes of China?
________________________________________________________________________
8- What Chinese dynasty adopted Legalism as its official philosophy?
________________________________________________________________________
9- How was Legalism viewed in China after the collapse of the Qin Dynasty?
________________________________________________________________________
10- What did Confucius seek but never “find” during his lifetime?
________________________________________________________________________
11- What are the Analects?
________________________________________________________________________
12- How does Confucianism differ from Legalism?
________________________________________________________________________
13- According to Confucius, what does society consist of?
________________________________________________________________________
14- Identify the five relationships of Confucianism.
________________________________________________________________________
15- Describe the unequal relationships of Confucianism.
________________________________________________________________________
16- Describe the role of the superior in the unequal relationships.
________________________________________________________________________
17- Describe the role of the inferior in the unequal relationships.
________________________________________________________________________
18- How did Confucius view education?
________________________________________________________________________
19- Which Chinese dynasty officially adopted Confucianism?
________________________________________________________________________
20- Define the Confucian concept of filial piety.
________________________________________________________________________
21- How were women affected by Confucianism?
________________________________________________________________________
22- Define secular. Explain what is meant by the secular nature of Confucianism.
________________________________________________________________________
23- Identify the tenets of Daoism.
________________________________________________________________________
Questions 1 – 2 are based on the following
passage.
“‘I cannot make a tree grow or flourish’
[said the gardener]…‘All I do is avoid
hindering a tree’s growth – I have no power
to make it grow.’
‘Would it be possible to apply this
philosophy of yours to the art of
government?’ asked the questioner.
‘My only art is the growing of trees,’ said
[the gardener]. ‘Government is not my
business.’”
~ Liu Zongyuan, Chinese scholar-official,
circa 800 C.E.
1. The ideas expressed in the passage were
most strongly influenced by which of the
following?
(A) Buddhism
(B) Confucianism
(C) Daoism
(D) Environmentalism
2. A historian of Tang China (618-907 C.E.)
would probably find the passage of Liu
Zongyuan most useful as a source of
information about which of the following?
(A) Levels of taxation
(B) The main cause of peasant unrest
(C) Ideas about proper governance
(D) Agricultural productivity in ancient
Greece
4. Confucianism encourages its followers to:
(A) Learn from foreigners better ways to
excel
(B) Believe that their rulers were not in any
way divine
(C) Seek principles of science
(D) Follow ethical rules that promoted
harmony and order
“He (the superior man) does not mind not
being office; all that he minds about is
whether he has qualities that entitle him to
office. He does not mind failing to get
recognition; he is too busy doing the things
that entitle him to recognition.” (Analects
IV.14)
5. The above quote from the Confucian
Analects stresses the idea that
(A) The emperor is close to the gods and
should be treated as such.
(B) Proper behavior and respect for
parents must always be considered.
(C) The real leader focuses on work,
rather than recognition.
(D) A superior man always receives
praise for a job well done.
(E) Recognition comes and goes, but a
superior man always has his family.
6. Which of the following BEST
encapsulates Confucian thought?
(A) Political power is given to rulers by the
gods; therefore, rulers may treat their
people as they please.
(B) Husbands and wives should share
responsibility for family leadership equally.
(C) Social harmony is attained when
superiors treat those below them with
kindness, while inferiors respect those above
them.
(D) Society functions best when people are
free to realize their individuality.
3. In the Zhou dynasty, the Mandate of
Heaven meant that rulers
(A) had an absolute right to rule over the
governed as they wished
(B) were appointed by Buddhist leaders
(C) were allowed to keep their power if they
ruled justly and wisely
(D) were encouraged to spread Buddhism
through the building of monasteries
Write a comparative thesis: Confucianism and Daoism