Chinese Religion and Philosophy

Confucius

•Kongfuzi (551-479 B.C.)•Analects – recorded sayings•Importance of ethics – everyone devoted

to fulfilling his or her role

Confucius

•Filial Piety – more than just obedience of children to their parents

“You can be of service to your father and mother by remonstrating with them tactfully. If you perceive that they do not wish to follow your advice, then continue to be reverent toward them without offending or disobeying them; work hard and do not murmur against them.”

Confucius

•Five Relationships▫Mutual obligations in a hierarchy – senior

leads and protects, junior supports and obeys Ruler and subject Father and son Husband and wife Elder and younger brother

▫Mutual obligations between equals Friend and friend

Confucius•Stressed gentlemanly conduct (junzi)

▫Developed through moral cultivation rather than noble birth

“The gentleman feels bad when his capabilities fall short of the task. He does not feel bad when people fail to recognize him.”

• Intelligent, talented people will rise in social status – Gentleman will serve the ruler.

Confucius

•Humanity (ren) – the ultimate virtue

“When you go out, treat everyone as if you were welcoming a great guest. Employ people as though you were conducting a great sacrifice. Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you. Then neither in your country nor in your family will there be complaints against you.”

Confucius

•Stressed the power and importance of studying

“I once spent a whole day without eating and a whole night without sleeping in order to think. It was of no use. It is better to study.”

Daoism

•Striving to make things better will generally make them worse.

•“The Way” – Dao•Laozi and Zhuangzi – 3rd Century B.C.

Daoism•Laozi

▫“Yielding over assertion” Water benefits all, but does not compete

“Do not honor the worthy, and the people will not compete. Do not value rare treasures, and the people will not steal…A sage governs this way. He empties people’s minds and fills their bellies…Keep the people always without knowledge and without desires…Engage in no action and order will prevail.

Daoism

•Laozi (continued)▫People would be better off if they:

Knew less Gave up tools Renounced writing Stopped envying their neighbors Lost their desire to travel Not engage in war

Daoism

•Zhuangzi▫Similar beliefs as Laozi▫Life vs. death

“People fear what they do not know, the same way a captive girl will be terrified when she learns she is to become the king’s concubine.”

•John Lennon, “Imagine”

Legalism

•Reaction to Warring States Period•Rulers wanted to accumulate power•Rigorous laws and procedures•Han Feizi

▫“When the ruler trusts someone, he falls under that person’s control.”

Legalism• Han Feizi (continued)

“Think of parents’ relations to their children. They congratulate each other when a son is born, but complain when a daughter is born. Why do parents have these divergent responses when both are equally their offspring? It is because they calculate their long-term advantage. Since even parents deal with their children in this calculating way, what can one expect when there is no parent-child bond? When present-day scholars counsel rulers, they all tell them to rid themselves of thoughts of profit and follow the path to mutual love. This is expecting rulers to go further than parents.”

Legalism

•Legalism stresses the strength of the leader

•No value in debate or opinion•No laws should limit the rulers’ actions

▫Han Feizi imprisoned and forced to drink poison in 233 B.C.