China

7.3.37.3.6

Confucianism and Government

The Big Idea

Confucian thought influenced the Song government.

Confucianism

• Main Idea 1:– Confucianism underwent changes and

influenced Chinese government.

Confucius

I am the smartest man alive!!

ConfucianismR E S P E C T. Find out what it

means to me. • His teachings focused on proper behavior.

• Confucius taught that people should conduct their lives according to 2 basic principles.

– One was ren, or concern for others.

– The other was li, or appropriate behavior.

Quotes from Confucius

1. “The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.”

2. “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”

3. “When anger rises, think of the consequences.”4. “The superior man is modest in his speech, but

exceeds in his actions.”5. “What you do not want done to yourself, do not

do to others.”6. “Respect yourself and others will respect you.”

Neo-Confucianism

• During the Song Dynasty a new version of Confucianism developed that blended the spiritual matters of Buddhism with the moral teachings of Confucius. – This new philosophy was called Neo- Confucianism

Neo-Confucianism• Neo-Confucianism developed due to a

desire to restore order in China. They wanted to improve behavior in both the government and society.

Neo-Confucianism

• Neo-Confucianism became the official government teaching after the Song dynasty too.

15. Neo-Confucianism is a combination of

B. Confucianism and Hinduism

C. Buddhism and Confucianism

D. The Matrix and Confucianism

A. Buddhism and Hinduism

16. The Chinese government liked Neo-Confucianism because they wanted it to restore proper behavior of government workers and society.

B. False

A. True

The Civil-Service System

• Main Idea 2:– Scholar-officials ran China’s government

during the Song dynasty.

• The Song dynasty improved the system by which people went to work for the government.

• These government workers formed a large bureaucracy, which is a body of unelected government officials.

The Civil-Service System

Civil Service Examinations

• Officials joined the bureaucracy by passing civil service examinations (tests).– Civil service means service as a government official.

I am so smart. I am so smart. S M R T, I

mean S M A R T

Civil Service Examinations

• These were a series of written examinations that tested students’ grasp of Confucianism and related ideas.

Civil Service Examinations• The tests were difficult, and students spent

years preparing. • Passing the exam meant life as a scholar-

official, an educated member of government.

Scholar-Officials

• Scholar-officials were elite members of society and were widely admired for their knowledge and ethics.– They performed many

important jobs in the government.

Scholar-Officials

• Benefits included being respected and having reduced penalties for breaking the law.

• Many became wealthy from gifts given by people seeking their aid.

• This Scholar-Official system helped the stability of the Song government. Woo-hoo!!

17. A bureaucracy is

B. a group of elected government workers.

C. a group of government workers who passed tests in order to get their jobs.

D. a group of people who were removed from the government.

A. a group of unelected government workers.

18. Bureaucrats often got their jobs by passing tests on …

B. the history of the Daiosm.

C. the teachings of Buddhism.

D. the teachings of Confucius.

A. the history of China.

19. Although scholar-officials were well paid, they were not well respected by most of the Chinese people.

B. False

A. True