Chinese Philosophies

• Confucianism


  Founded by Kongzi in the small state of Lu in northeastern China during the Zhou dynasty
• Confucianism


  • Followers were men of middle age
  • Emphasized social order and harmony
  • Have a hierarchy which are the 5 basic relationships
• 5 basic relationships in Confucianism

  • Leader & subjects
  • Parent & child
  • Husband & wife
  • Older & younger sibling
  • Friends
• The Analects


  Book containing Confucius' teachings
• 5 most important virtues in Confucianism

  • Benevolence (ren)
  • Righteousness (yi)
  • Propriety (li)
  • Wisdom (zhi)
  • Trustworthiness (xin)
• Filial piety


  Respect for elders and parents
• Confucianism

  • Believed humans are born good and education is important
  • Harsh laws and punishments are not useful
  • People must desire to be good
  • Self-cultivation and virtues are important
  • Did not answer metaphysical questions
  • Education and merit are the best ways to shape society
• Daoism/Taoism


  Founded by Lao Zi during the Zhou dynasty
• Dao de Jing


  The Classic of the Way and its Power
• Warring States period


  An era in Chinese history characterized by warfare and changes in the government and military
• Daoism/Taoism


  • Spoke about the natural environment and natural order of society
  • Complicated worldly pleasures and overly attached government are wrong
  • Duty and education make lives complicated
  • Have simple desires
  • Agrees that humans are born good
  • Made many contributions to alchemy, astronomy, and medicine
  • People followed the way of nature by living simple lives
  • People should avoid feeling self-important or striving for possessions or honors
  • Encouraged rulers to rule less harshly
  • Appealed to escapists in China
  • Had superstitious beliefs that the Confucians didn't like
  • Accepts things as they are
• Legalism


  • Centered on laws
  • Believed humans are born evil and need to be regulated by the government through harsh laws
  • One is responsible for the other's actions
• Legalism


  • Han Fei Zi and Li Si first promoted it
  • Strict laws, education, and good teachers are what people need
  • Rulers should trust no one and Han Fei Zi wrote "He who trusts will be controlled"
• Shi Huang Di and Li Si had hundreds of Confucian scholars killed to avoid criticism