Axial (Spiritual Age) 6th-4th century BCE

Influential Thinkers• Buddha• Mahavira• Confucius• Laozi ?• Socrates• Aristotle• Plato & other Greeks

New Religions/Philosophical Systems

• Buddhism• Confucianism• Daoism• Greek Philosophy

Zhou Dynasty & Confucianism

I. Dynasties in Chinese HistoryII. Zhou DynastyIII. Confucianism

IDs: Mandate of Heaven, Duke of Zhou, Confucius (Kong-fu-zi), d. 479 BCE, Confucian reciprocity, filial piety

Argument

Zhou Dynasty ideals and the philosophy of Confucianism initiated the political, social and familial ideology that dominated Chinese government and society until the early 20th century.

I. Dynasties in Chinese History

A. Unity of China under dynasty by 1100 BCE

B. Dynasties as Gov’ts & Periods in Chinese History

Shang Dynasty (1600-1050 BCE)

Zhou Dynasty (1050-256 BCE)

Qin Dynasty (256-206 BCE)

Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)

Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE)

Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE)Song Dynasty (960-1279)Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)Ming (1368-1644)Qing (1644-1911)

C. Shang Dynasty (ca. 1600-1050 BCE)

Union of kings & priests (diviners) in state

Religious ideas• Ancestor worship• Di (High God, founding

ancestor of Shang family)• Divination by oracle bones

II. Zhou Dynasty (1027 – 256 BCE)

A. Composition of 4 of 5 Chinese Classical Texts

B. Governing Ideals

1. Mandate of Heaven

Di = Heaven

King WenKing Wu

Mandate of Heaven & the Dynastic Cycle

2. Virtuous Rulers and Ministers as Models

• King Wu• Duke of Zhou• Regent

3. Values

• Family• Social order• Strong son

preference

4. Warring States Period* (770-221 BCE)

Breakdown of unityLots of small statesWar & anarchy

(*actually it’s divided into Eastern Zhou Dynasty period, Spring and Autumn Period, and Warring States Period)

Hundred Masters or Hundred Schools of Thought

Confucius (Confucianism)

Laozi (Daoism)

III. Confucianism

Confucius (Kong-fu-zi), 551-479 BCE

The Analects

A. Ideology of Confucianism

1. Hierarchy in Human Relationships leads to social order

a. Hierarchical Pairs

1. father-son2. ruler-minister3. husband-wife4. friend-friend5. older brother-younger

brother

b. Reciprocity

• treat those above with respect

• treat those below with benevolence

2. Achieving Proper Behavior

Rectification of Names

b. Filial piety

c. ritual

• Ancestors• “Heaven”

B. Impact of Confucianism

1. A philosophy rather than a religion

2. Subordination of Individual to Family

3. Reshaping of Elites as Gentlemen Officials

Gov’t service: highest status

Emphasis on educationTraining in virtue

4. Virtue & Reciprocity in Gov’t.

Do not seek profitSupport agricultureProtect common people

Argument

Zhou Dynasty ideals and the philosophy of Confucianism initiated the political, social and familial ideology that dominated Chinese government and society until the early 20th century.