Chinese Philosophies

1
Chinese Philosophies

• Taoism, Confucianism Legalism

2
The Way

• Founded by Lao-tze
• A real person?
• Wrote the
• Tao-te-ching
• Contemporary of Confucius
• A religion without a god

3
The Sage

• All thought is superficial (anti-intellectual)
• Contemplate nature (anti-urban)
• Develop personal virtue (ethical)
• Passivity as strength
• Empty yourself
• Go with the rhythm of the world
• Silence is the beginning of wisdom

4
Yin and Yang

• The world is composed of opposites
• Yin feminine
• soft, cool, calm, passive, introspective
• Yang masculine
• hard, active, energetic, aggressive

5
The Three Jewels

• Compassion
• Moderation
• Humility

6
The Watercourse Way

• Be still like a mountain, and flow like a great
  river
• Tai chi rhythmic movements as exercise
• Almost destroyed by the Communists in the 1950s

7
Legalism

• Arose as a response to the violence and anarchy
  of the Period of the Warring States
• Adopted by the Chin (Qin) dynasty who first
  unified all China (256-206 BCE)
• Human beings are by nature depraved, greedy,
  dishonest, and lustful
• Had to be controlled by strict laws

8
Rule with an Iron Fist

• Strong central government
• Strong military establishment
• Tightly controlled economy
• Strict regimentation of the people
• No other philosophies allowed
• Official corruption was severely punished
• Death!

9
Confucianism

• Kung-fu-tzi (551-479 BCE)
• Kung, the Master
• A school teacher
• Taught by word of mouth
• The Analects
• He was ambitious, but would not compromise his
  ideals

10
The Five Classics

• Written by Confucius (?)
• The Book of Rites rules of propriety
• The Book of Changes (I Ching)
• The Book of Poetry the nature of life
• Spring and Autumn Annals
• The Book of Documents (History ?)
• The Book of Music lost about 200 BCE

11
The Higher Man

• He is composed of three virtues intelligence,
  courage, and good will
• He is moderate in word and deed
• He is a truth seeker
• He is courteous but reserved
• He is sympathetic to all other men
• He is honest and sincere

12
The Political Man

• The prime instrument of good government is
  Example
• Good government comes from a stable society
• A stable society comes from well ordered families
• Well ordered families come from effective fathers

13
The 5 Relationships

• Parent / Child
• Elder brother / younger brother
• Husband / wife
• Friend / friend
• Ruler / subject

14
Mans Duties

• Devotion to Li (ritual Protocol)
• Motivation by virtue
• Service to government
• Dedication to education
• Live by the Golden Mean
• Friendship with the upright, the devoted, and
  the learned is profitable.