Download Three Philosophies of China WHAP/Napp “Rejecting Confucianism

Three Philosophies of China
WHAP/Napp
“Rejecting Confucianism, the Qin dynasty favored a philosophy of government known as
legalism which was characterized by strict laws and strict enforcement. In Legalist
philosophy, rewards were given to those who observed the laws and swift and appropriate
punishments were meted out to those who broke the laws. Unlike Confucianism where
superiors set moral examples for inferiors and were obeyed by inferiors, Legalists believed
that people were inherently selfish and only motivated to conform to the rules and
regulations of society by a system of rewards and punishments. During his reign Qin Shi
Huangdi set up inscriptions on stone in various parts of his empire proclaiming his Legalist
values and policies. Another philosophy of China that differed from Confucianism and its
emphasis on education and moral striving was Daoism (Taoism), a philosophy of
spontaneity in the face of nature and the cosmos. Daoism 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 was often seen as an inspiration to artists, and
because of its high regard for nature, it was often seen as an inspiration to natural scientists
as well. Those who followed Daoism believed in a natural order or path (Dao). They
taught that government should leave people alone. Daoism was often 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 left the Legalist Qin with a dismal reputation.”
~ The World’s History
Confucianism:
Legalism:
Daoism:
Key Beliefs
Key Beliefs
Key Beliefs
Key Concepts I. Disorder during the Zhou dynasty
/Questions
A. When Zhou took power (1122 BCE), established Mandate of Heaven
B. But by 500 BCE, the age of warring states (403-221 BCE) had begun
A. Disorder led to new ideas about order and harmony
II. Legalism
A. 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
3. People were selfish and only responded to incentives
4. 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 useless
C. The Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BCE)
1. The dominant philosophy of the Qin dynasty was Legalism
2. But the brutality of the dynasty discredited Legalism
3. No ruler afterwards openly supported it but still it influenced
III. Confucius (551 – 479 BCE)
A. Confucius was the most influential philosopher of dynastic China
B. Sought a political position but did not find one/ became 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. Human society consisted of unequal relationships
1. To maintain order and social harmony, inferiors obey superiors
2. Superiors protect and provide for inferiors and set good examples
3. A superior acting with benevolence motivated inferiors to obey
4. Proper behavior would lead to harmony and stability
5. Confucius emphasized education as the key to moral betterment
F. The Han dynasty encouraged Confucianism
1. The examination system was established
a) But opened the possibility of government service to all men
2. The family was the model for political life
3. Filial piety or the honoring of one’s ancestors and parents
4. Women were also affected by their status as permanent inferiors
5. Placed importance on history for the ideal society lay in the past
6. Also marked elite Chinese culture by its secular character
IV. Daoism: Associated with Laozi
A. According to tradition, Laozi was a sixth-century BCE archivist
B. Credited with writing the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching)
C. Ideas
1. Viewed education and moral striving as useless
2. Encouraged withdrawal into the world of nature
3. The central concept is the Dao (translated as the way)
4. Encouraged people to live in nature and to live naturally
Reflections:
1. Confucius never composed formal
writings, but his disciples collected his
remarks into a work called the
(A) Daodejing.
(B) Book of Songs.
(C) Book of History.
(D) Analects.
(E) Book of Rites.
2. Mencius, the principal spokesman for the
Confucian school, advocated that
(A) The evil nature of human beings could
be improved by moral education.
(B) Government should be organized
through benevolence and humane action.
(C) Government should be run by laws.
(D) People should strive to live in harmony
with nature.
(E) All these answers are correct.
3. The concept Dao means
(A) Natural laws such as those defined by
modern physics.
(B) The original force of the cosmos, an
eternal and unchanging principle that
governs all the workings of the world.
(C) Passive and yielding forces that exist
only in water and empty spaces.
(D) Living according to ren, li, and xiao.
(E) All these answers are correct.
4) To make a strong and powerful state,
Legalist ministers
(A) Encouraged commerce, entrepreneurial
activity, and education.
(B) Won the people's support by providing
them with legal rights.
(C) Sought to rule according to principle of
benevolence.
(D) Encouraged agricultural cultivation and
military service.
(E) All these answers are correct.
5. Individuals in traditional China could live
as “Confucians by day… and Daoists by
night.”
This refers to the notion that
(A) The difference between Confucianism
and Daoism was as clear-cut as day and
night.
(B) Confucianism and Daoism were not
mutually exclusive but, in many people's
eyes, complemented each other.
(C) The Chinese, like other peoples, were
active in daytime and became passive at
night.
(D) Daoism was associated with darkness
and evil and Confucianism with light and
good.
(E) People often pretended to be Confucians
to others while secretly practicing Daoism.
6. The First Emperor Qin Shihuangdi
(A) Ordered the burning of most books.
(B) Ordered workers to link defensive walls
into one barrier.
(C) Sentenced scholars to be buried alive.
(D) Standardized the written script.
(E) All these answers are correct.
7. In preparing government officials, the
imperial university of the Later Han
enrolled more than three thousand students,
with its curriculum primarily based on
(A) The statecraft policies of Legalism.
(B) Political science and the study of law.
(C) Daoism.
(D) Confucianism.
(E) None of these answers is correct.
8. 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
Questions 9 – 10 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.
9. The ideas expressed in the passage were
most strongly influenced by which of the
following?
(A) Buddhism
(B) Confucianism
(C) Daoism
(D) Environmentalism
10. 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
“He (the superior man) does not mind not
being in 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)
11. 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.
12. 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.
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13. 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
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Comparative Thesis Practice: Analyze similarities and differences in two of the three
Chinese philosophies [Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism].
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