Chinese Ancient Chinese Ancient PhilosophiesPhilosophies

Zhou Dynast 500 BCZhou Dynast 500 BCConfucianism, Confucianism,

Daoism, Daoism, LegalismLegalism

Revised based on: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=philosophers%20china%20ppt&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEgQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.advancedplacementhistory.com%2FWorld%2520China%25204%2520Philosophies.ppt&ei=gqQzUOUjyNeKAunvgIgG&usg=AFQjCNEMbdchg9Ji_3GBMoIIs-W1VGT_Sw

What is philosophy?What is philosophy? Literally: a love for wisdomLiterally: a love for wisdom Typically asks Questions like:Typically asks Questions like:

– What is the purpose of life?What is the purpose of life?– What is a good person like?What is a good person like?– What is success?What is success?– What is truth? What is knowledge?What is truth? What is knowledge?– How should I act in a situation?How should I act in a situation?

Opinions and views about the universeOpinions and views about the universe Often philosophy and religion overlapOften philosophy and religion overlap

Why did these philosophies Why did these philosophies develop?develop?

War and social War and social changes were changes were disrupting everyday disrupting everyday lifelife

Government lacked Government lacked controlcontrol

These philosophies These philosophies helped guide people helped guide people and the government and the government to a better lifeto a better life

ConfucianismConfucianism Founder: ConfuciusFounder: Confucius Analects Analects 论语论语 – – collection of collection of

Confucius’ sayingsConfucius’ sayings Major Teachings:Major Teachings: 3 Levels3 Levels

– Status/PositionStatus/Position– AgeAge– GenderGender

5 Relationships to Develop5 Relationships to Develop Ruler to Subject Ruler to Subject （（ LoyaltyLoyalty ）） Parent to Child (Filial Piety)Parent to Child (Filial Piety) Husband to WifeHusband to Wife Older Brother to Younger BrotherOlder Brother to Younger Brother Friend to Friend (Golden Rule, Friend to Friend (Golden Rule,

brotherhood)brotherhood)– Importance of EducationImportance of Education– Importance of Morals and ValuesImportance of Morals and Values

ConfuciusConfuciusK’ung fu-tzuK’ung fu-tzu or or KongfuziKongfuzi

551-479 BC551-479 BC Itinerant teacher Itinerant teacher

(moving from one (moving from one place to another)place to another)

Sayings collected Sayings collected in in The AnalectsThe Analects

The ancient State of Lu

That’s where Confucius was born & spent most of his life.

Confucian goalConfucian goal Unconditional moral obligation to work for: Unconditional moral obligation to work for:

– Universal human well-beingUniversal human well-being– Order & harmony Order & harmony – peace & happiness in this life here on earthpeace & happiness in this life here on earth

Good rulerGood ruler– Morally goodMorally good– ReasonableReasonable– Moderate – not extremeModerate – not extreme– Kind and helpfulKind and helpful

Implications for Government Implications for Government – Best rulers are wise Best rulers are wise – Lead by example Lead by example – Developed & used civil service systemDeveloped & used civil service system

Exams and training for gov’t jobsExams and training for gov’t jobs

Followers of ConfuciusFollowers of Confucius

Confucian ValuesConfucian Values Li:Li: Politeness Politeness

– 4 basic rules of human conduct: 4 basic rules of human conduct: CourtesyCourtesy PolitenessPoliteness Good mannersGood manners RespectRespect

Ren (Ren):Ren (Ren): RespectRespect– Golden Rule:Golden Rule:

Do not do to others what you do not want done to you.” Do not do to others what you do not want done to you.”

De:De: Moral actionMoral action– Strong leaders guide by example Strong leaders guide by example

Wen:Wen: Arts of peace: Arts of peace: – Music, poetry, art Music, poetry, art

harmony, order, excellence, beauty.harmony, order, excellence, beauty.

Daoism / TaoismDaoism / Taoism Founder – Laozi (Lao-Tze) Founder – Laozi (Lao-Tze) Sacred Text –Tao-te-Ching Sacred Text –Tao-te-Ching

(Dao De Jing) (Dao De Jing) 道德经道德经– Lao-Tze - Lao-Tze - The Book of the WayThe Book of the Way

Major TeachingsMajor Teachings– Live in harmony with natureLive in harmony with nature– Be like water:Be like water:

Water goes with the ‘flow’Water goes with the ‘flow’ but is unstoppablebut is unstoppable

Implications for Government Implications for Government – Government unnatural Government unnatural

Tries to change too muchTries to change too much Usually makes things worseUsually makes things worse

Daoism / TaoismDaoism / Taoism Tao:Tao: ultimate reality behind existenceultimate reality behind existence Man must conform to natureMan must conform to nature

– But not to societyBut not to society Confucian & Legalist social, economic, Confucian & Legalist social, economic,

and political thinking: and political thinking: – Masculine, hard, managing, aggressive, Masculine, hard, managing, aggressive,

rational, and commandingrational, and commanding Daoists are different.Daoists are different.

– balancing masculine with femininebalancing masculine with feminine– Be yielding, permissive, withdrawing, Be yielding, permissive, withdrawing,

mystical, and receptivemystical, and receptive

Yin and Yang Yin and Yang

Negative and positive principles of Negative and positive principles of the universe. the universe.

One cannot exist without the otherOne cannot exist without the other Each is incorporated into the otherEach is incorporated into the other Not Opposites, but ComplementsNot Opposites, but Complements

– Complete each otherComplete each other– Two sides of a coinTwo sides of a coin

Yin & YangYin & Yangfemale

dark

cool

moist

passive

negative

evil

malebrighthotdryactivepositivegoodEarth

& Moon

Heaven & Sun

Chuang ChouChuang Chou (Chuang Tzu or (Chuang Tzu or

Zhuang Zi ) Zhuang Zi )

The Way has The Way has nothing to do nothing to do with the “rights” with the “rights” and “wrongs” and “wrongs” associated with associated with traditions such as traditions such as Confucianism. Confucianism.

Words are not just wind.  Words have something to say.  But if what they have to say is not fixed, then do they really say something?  Or do they say nothing?  People suppose that words are different from the peeps of baby birds, but is there any difference, or isn’t there?  What does the Way rely upon, that we have true and false?  What do words rely upon, that we have right and wrong?  How can the Way go away and not exist?  How can words exist and not be acceptable?  When the Way relies on little accomplishments and words rely on vain show, then we have the rights and wrongs of the Confucians and the Mo-ists.  What one calls right the other calls wrong; what one calls wrong the other calls right.  But if we want to right their wrongs and wrong their rights, then the best thing to use is clarity.       

Everything has its “that,” everything has its “this.”  From the point of view of “that” you cannot see it, but through understanding you can know it.  So I say, “that” comes out of “this” and “this” depends on “that”—which is to say that “this” and “that” give birth to each other.  But where there is birth there must be death; where there is death there must be birth.  Where there is acceptability there must be unacceptability; where there is unacceptability there must be acceptability.  Where there is recognition of right there must be recognition of wrong; where there is recognition of wrong there must be recognition of right.

Therefore the sage does not proceed in such a way, but illuminates all in the light of Heaven.  He too recognizes a “this,” but a “this” which is also “that,” a “that” which is also “this.”  His “that” has both a right and a wrong in it; his “this” too has both a right and a wrong in it.  So, in fact, does he still have a “this” and “that”?  Or does he in fact no longer have a “this” and “that”?  A state in which “this” and “that” no longer find their opposites is called the hinge of the Way.  When the hinge is fitted into the socket, it can respond endlessly.  Its right then is a single endlessness and its wrong too is a single endlessness.  So, I say, the best thing to use is clarity. [Chuang Tzu, 34-35]

"Once I, Chuang Tzu, dreamed that I was a "Once I, Chuang Tzu, dreamed that I was a butterfly. Suddenly I awoke, and there I butterfly. Suddenly I awoke, and there I

was, visibly Tzu. I do not know whether it was, visibly Tzu. I do not know whether it was Tzu dreaming that he was a butterfly or was Tzu dreaming that he was a butterfly or the butterfly dreaming it was Tzu, Between the butterfly dreaming it was Tzu, Between Tzu and the butterfly there must be some Tzu and the butterfly there must be some

distinction. [But one may be the other.] This distinction. [But one may be the other.] This is called the transformation of things."is called the transformation of things."

LegalismLegalism Hanfiezi c. 250 bceHanfiezi c. 250 bce Major Teachings Major Teachings

– People are naturally People are naturally selfish and corrupt so selfish and corrupt so they need to be they need to be controlledcontrolled

– Intellectualism and Intellectualism and literacy areliteracy are discouraged discouraged

– Law is the supreme Law is the supreme authority and replaces authority and replaces moralitymorality

– The ruler must rule The ruler must rule with a strong, with a strong, punishing hand.punishing hand.

– War is the means of War is the means of strengtheningstrengthening a ruler’s power. a ruler’s power.

Implications for Government Implications for Government – Many rules Many rules – Harsh punishmentsHarsh punishments– Strong militaryStrong military

Important during Qin & Sui Important during Qin & Sui DynastiesDynasties

A representative of the A representative of the legalism: Shang Yang who legalism: Shang Yang who tried to reform the Qin system tried to reform the Qin system and failed. He was executed and failed. He was executed brutally.brutally.

Confucianism --> Moral order in society.

Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order.

Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and less govt. to avoid uniformity and conformity.

Summary of the 3 Chinese Philosophies

AssignmentsAssignmentsa.       Readings

1.      Chinese Cultural Studies: Philosophy and Religion in China http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/chinrelg.html2.      Chinese philosophy: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/112694/Chinese-philosophy

 b.      Class discussion questions:

1.      What is philosophy?2.      What are Confucius basic ideas and what did Confucius wanted to restore?3.      Lao Tse is an advocator of Clarity. Why is clarity is central to Lao Tze’s philosophy? What is Yin and Yang?4.      Does legalism work in the society generally?

 c.       Do Internet search and find some interesting recourses related to Chinese philosophies.