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CH 4 Sec 4

1) Confucius taught that social harmony resulted from accepting one's place in a hierarchical social order with distinct duties for each relationship. 2) Legalism viewed human nature as evil and advocated for strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain order. 3) Daoism sought to reject conflict and live simply in harmony with nature, viewing minimal government as best. It later incorporated gods and the goal of immortality.

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188 views

CH 4 Sec 4

1) Confucius taught that social harmony resulted from accepting one's place in a hierarchical social order with distinct duties for each relationship. 2) Legalism viewed human nature as evil and advocated for strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain order. 3) Daoism sought to reject conflict and live simply in harmony with nature, viewing minimal government as best. It later incorporated gods and the goal of immortality.

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mbr91853285
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Ch 4 Section 4 – Philosophy & Religion in

China
 I. The Wisdom of Confucius – his teachings collected in “the Analects”
A. Five Relationships (ensured social order) –
○ 1. He taught that harmony resulted when people accepted their place in society.
A.) Father to son
B.) Elder brother to younger brother
C.) Husband to wife
D.) Ruler to subject
E.) Friend to friend

2. He taught that none of these relationships (except for friendship) were equal
A.) I.e. Older people were superior to younger people and men were superior to women
3. According to Confucius, everyone had duties
and responsibilities
a.) Superiors should care for their inferiors
b.) Inferiors owed loyalty to their superiors
c.) A woman’s duty was to ensure the stability
of the family and promote harmony in the
home
d.) Correct behavior would bring order and
stability
e.) Filial piety – respect for parents; above all
duties
C. Effects
○ 1. Although unequal, caste ensured a
stable social order
○ 2. People believed karma determined
their caste
○ 3. Gave people a sense of identity
○ 4. Each caste had its own occupation
and leaders
○ 5. Different castes depended on one
another for their basic needs
B. Government
○ 1. Ruler had the responsibility to provide good
government and lead by example
○ 2. In return, the people would be loyal subjects
○ 3. “By nature, men are pretty much alike. It is learning
and practice that set them apart”
 C. Spread of Confucianism
○ 1. His ideas influenced every area of Chinese life
○ 2. Chinese rulers relied on Confucian ideas and chose
Confucian scholars as officials
II. Harsh Ideas of Legalism
A, Hanfeizi (HAN fay DZEE)
1. “The nature of man is evil. His goodness
is acquired”
2. Greed was the motive of most actions
and the cause of most conflicts
3. Insisted that the only way to achieve
order was to pass strict laws and impose
harsh punishments
4. Because of the emphasis on law, his
teachings were called Legalism
5. To Legalists, strength, not goodness,
was a ruler’s greatest virtue
 III. Daoism – The Unspoken Way
- founded by Laozi (LOW DZEE)
A. Seeking “the Way”
○ 1. Looked beyond everyday cares to
focus on the Dao, “the way” of the
universe
○ 2. Daoists rejected conflict and strife
○ 3. They wanted to end conflict between
human desires and the simple ways of
nature
○ 4. Many Daoists became hermits, artists,
or poets
B. Government
○ 1. Daoists viewed government as unnatural and
the cause of many problems
○ 2. The best government was the one that
governed the least
C. A Blend of Ideas
○ 1. Daoism evolved into a popular religion with
gods, goddesses, and magical practices
○ 2. Instead of accepting nature as it was, many
Daoist priests searched for a substance to bring
immortality
 IV. Buddhism in China
A. Mahayana Buddhism
○ 1. By A.D. 100,
missionaries and
merchants had spread
Mahayana Buddhism from
India into China
○ 2. Its great appeal was the
promise of escape from
suffering
○ 3. It offered the chance for
anyone to achieve salvation

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