chinese philosophy
TRANSCRIPT
Chinese PhilosophyConfucianism, Legalism, & Daoism
Textbook pages 82-86
What is philosophy?
• Philosophy: the study, or pursuit of, knowledge and wisdom
• Philosopher: one who searches for knowledge and wisdom
Confucianism
• Kongfuzi (Confucius)- Chinese philosopher, lived from approximately 551-479 B.C.E• Influenced by the political turmoil of the
time• Believed that disorder was because rulers
were not governing properly
Confucianism
• People are basically good, but need training to behave well• Family (basics)• Assembled by society
Confucius- Five Virtues
• Confucius identified five virtues and five relationships that were building blocks of harmonious society
• Virtues:1) Honest
2) Upright
3) Conscientious
4) Charitable
5) loving
Rulers were expected to set an example of the five virtues
Confucius- Five Relationships
• Confucius believed that everyone had duties & responsibilities
• Five relationships:1) father and son2) ruler and subject3) older and younger brothers4) husband and wife5) friend and friend
Five Relationships- Continued
Superior position treat inferiors with love and kindness
Inferior positions owed superiors respect and obedience
Confucius
• Conclusion: Confucius’ ideas based on ethics and morals
• After death, honoured as one of China’s great teachers
• Principles important to Chinese society
Legalism
• Developed around same time as Confucianism
• Hans Feizi- most prominent writer
• Beliefs:• Government more important than people• Government should be strong, not virtuous• Humans, by nature, are greedy• Only way to orderly society= strict
government and harsh punishment
Legalism
• Chinese people followed Confucian ideas of government
• Chinese criminal followed Legalist ideas
What do you think this would mean?
- Strict- Major crimes punished severely
Legalism- China’s Code of Laws
• China’s first recorded code of laws- 400 B.C.E• What dynasty would this have been during?
• Law had six sections, with laws on:1) Theft
2) Violence
3) Detention
4) Arrest
5) Miscellaneous laws
6) General laws
Laws and Conviction
• Accused had to prove innocence
• Is this like Canadian law, today?
• Five basic penalties:1)Death by strangulation or decapitation2)Exile3)Imprisonment4)Beating with a heavy stick5)Beating with a light stick
-Collective punishment: families or villages could be punished for the crime of one person
Daoism
• Began during Warring States• What were the “Warring States?”
• Laozi- Daoism based on this philosopher
• Daoist goal to live in harmony with nature• “following the Dao” achieving harmony• Believed that this could be achieved by
studying nature• Did not want to interfere with nature,
upsetting nature order
Daoism
• Doists- believed that nature’s harmony could be copied in human society• Didn’t like rules believe it was forcing people
to act a certain way, instead of letting them behave naturally
• Also opposed to money and education
Daoism and Immortality
• Doists sought immortality• Following the Dao• Strengthening their Qi (life force)• Breathing properly• Taking proper medicines
• Alchemists• Experimented with plants and metals in search of
the elixir of life• Daoist experiments important discoveries in
medicine and metallurgy