Philosophy &

Religion in
China
Confusianism
Legalism
Daoism (also
Taoism)
Buddhism
 Wisdom of
Belief
Confucius
Born in 551 B.C. (Zhou dynasty)
from a noble, poor family

Brilliant scholar who developed a

philosophy on how society and govt could be
in harmony
 Wisdom of
Belief
Confucius
---Ideas
all recorded in
Analects
(primary source)
 Wisdom of
Belief
Confucius
Key question:
How can society achieve
harmony, or peace and
balance?.....
 Wisdom of
Belief
Confucius
Harmony comes when people
accept their place in
society, act as they should.
 Stressed 5 relationships:
Energy` 1. father & son
2. older and younger brother
3. husband & wife
4. ruler & subject
5. friend to friend

 Energy Why are these
r relationships important?

S Society has order when

people act as they should
within these 5 relationships.

 Energy Everyone has duties and
responsibilities.

S What duty is most important?

FILIAL PIETY:
(respect for parents)
 Confucian Virtues
Filial Piety (Hsiao) - respect for the five
constant relationships:
Parent and child
Husband & wife
Older & younger sibling
Older & younger friend
Ruler & subject
 Energy Confucius also stressed:

Hard work
Honesty
Concern for others
Education (esp for leaders)
 Energy Confucius on Government

A rulers
responsibility/duty-
to providegood
(effective) govt.
 Energy Influence of Confucianism

--Chinese govt used it to help

select officials

--Supported traditional customs

(respect of ancestors)

--Followed in large parts of

surrounding Asia
 Legalism
---A harsher philosophy than
Confucianism

--- Founder- Hanfeizi

--- Humankind is basically greedy,

needs to be controlled
 Legalism
--- Basic idea: Best way to
achieve order is to be a harsh
ruler

---Popular philosophy under

feudalism
 Daoism
---founder: Laozi
---How unlike
Confucianism/Legalism?
---not about society and order
--- stressed living in harmony
w/ nature
 Daoists
---rejected govt as unnatural

---hated conflict
 Influence of Daoism

---attracted priests and

peasants

---Daosim & Confuscianism

eventually blended
 Buddhism in China

---spread to China by 100 AD

---Chinese liked idea of trying

to escape suffering

---B, C, & D- all blended