Confucius. China before Confucius zXia and Shang Dynasties y2070 B.C. - 1027 B.C. zZhou Dynasty...
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Transcript of Confucius. China before Confucius zXia and Shang Dynasties y2070 B.C. - 1027 B.C. zZhou Dynasty...
China before Confucius
Xia and Shang Dynasties 2070 B.C. - 1027 B.C.
Zhou Dynasty 1027 B.C. - 256 B.C. Constant conflict –”warring period”
Under the Zhou, China moved away from social order and harmony
ConfuciusChina’s most influential scholarBorn in 551 B.C.died in 479 B.C.
Confucianism
Concerned primarily with restoring social stability and order
Believed in moralityCould work if organized around
five basic relationships!
Five relationshipsFather-childRuler-subjectHusband-wifeElder brother-younger brotherFriend-friend
Ex. Rulers should practice kindness in return for loyalty
Filial PietyBelieved all children should
practice this
Respect for parents and ancestors
Devoting yourself to parents during lifetime as well as honoring memory after death
ConfuciusWanted to show rulers how to govern
wiselyAnalects – book his students created of
his wordsBureaucracy – trained civil service –
people who run the governmentBottom line – ethical system! Spread!!!Led to other ethical systems too
DaoismLaozi credit for philosophy
(did he really exist???)Focused primarily on the
natural orderReally stressed natureUniversal force – “Dao” -
meaning “the way” – guides all things
Of all nature, only humans fail to follow
LegalismComplete opposite of
Confucius and Laozi
Hanfeizi and Li Si – founders – believed in strong government! Powerful! Wanted order and stability.
Punishment stressed more than reward Ex. No travel permit? Ears chopped off!
I ChingThose not interested in
philosophies –Practiced - “I Ching” –
book that helps solve ethical and practical problems
Throw coins to solve problems – read the book to interpret
Yin and Yang
Two powers that represent natural rhythms of life.
Yin – all that is cold, dark, soft and mysterious
Yang – all that is warm, bright, hard and clear
Circle represents harmonyCompliment each other
Qin Dynasty
Replaces the Zhou DynastyFounder employed Legalist ideas
Shi Huangdi – 2nd ruler – doubled China’s size. Wanted to unify China! Wanted control!
Murdered hundreds of Confucian scholars – burned his books
Qin DynastyEstablished an autocracy –
government that has unlimited power! 4,000 miles of highway Same standards of measure throughout
China – law, currency, length of cart axles Major change in trade! Taxed people heavily Unified China at the expense of humans
Qin DynastyBegan with other dynasties.Shi Huangdi linked themForced hundreds of thousands of
peasants to work on it! No wages – work the wall or die Han came in and overthrew!