Section III: Religions and Beliefs in Ancient China (Pages 85-89)

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Section III Religions and Beliefs in Ancient
China (Pages 85-89)

• This section is about
• The main ideas of Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism,
  and Buddhism.
• How these ideas influenced the cultural, social
  order, government, and religion of ancient China.

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Confucianism Daoism Legalism
These three Chinese religions have some
similarities and some differences
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A remarkable philosopher appeared during the Zhou
Dynasty

• His Chinese name Kong Qiu
• His western name Confucius
• Even as a child, he worked hard at his education.
• As he grew older, he became worried about the
  conditions in China.
• He went looking for a king who knew about good
  government. But all he found were government
  people who were greedy and dishonest (all they
  cared about was themselves)
• He tried to change the way people behaved.

• (born in 551 BC)

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Confucius was a philosopher who
(Person who thinks about the meanings of things)

• was an honest man of great learning
• He felt the early Zhou rulers were good and had
  run the country with harmony and responsibility.
• He believed
• A ruler should lead by good example.
• People had an obligation to obey those who were
  superior.
• But those who were superior should treat others
  fairly.
• Every man should try to be a gentleman (educated,
  good manners, and understood ritual and ceremony,
  and what is moral)

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Confucius had 5 relationships which ruled
society
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• Between father and son.
• Between older and younger brother.
• Between husband and wife
• Between ruler and subject.
• Between friend and friend.
• As long as these relationships were in harmony,
  society would be in harmony.
• One of his important rules What you do not wish
  for yourself, do not unto others

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Confucius was a great and inspiring teacher

• Even though we dont know if what he said/did was
  written down, many scholars (bright students)
  learned a lot from him.
• Later, they did record his beliefs and teachings
  called the Analects.
• Later on the Analects were considered sacred
  with students studying and memorizing his
  sayings.
• Men trained in his beliefs ended up becoming
  leaders.
• They even set up schools to learn the teachings
  of Confucius.

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By the third century BC A new set of beliefs
came along (Daoism or Taoism)

• Confucianism order, ritual, working hard to
  make the government efficient

• Daoism Rulers should do as little as possible
  and leave everyone alone.

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The Laozi(The Classic of the Way and Its Power)

• Contains the beliefs of Daoism.
• The Dao is the energy that controls all of the
  events in the universe.
• The natural order depends on the interaction of
  yin and yang.
• Yin negative force / dark and weak
• Yang positive, bright, and strong
• These need to work together to keep balance in
  the universe even if that means spending all
  you time meditating on nature and forgetting
  about worldly matters

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Daoism influenced all the countries around
China(Japan, Korea, and alter even Europe and
North America)

• Daoism stresses immortality (living forever)
• Its emphasis on nature inspired writers,
  artists, and architects.
• The Science of the religion also allowed Daoists
  to study astronomy, medicine, and personal hygiene

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Legalism and Buddhism
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• Xunzi was a student of Confucius, but had
  different beliefs about nature and government.
• He believed laws could inspire people to use good
  behavior.
• His ideas were called Legalism because they were
  based on laws (with strict laws and harsh
  punishments for doing wrong).
• He believed people were like little children who
  couldnt be trusted so they need rules and laws.

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Legalism and the Qin
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• During this period, the Legalists created a
  strong government.
• Land was divided up into states all run by the
  government.
• People could not travel without permits
• They were heavily taxed
• They were required to work on government projects
  for no pay.
• Families were grouped together and everyone was
  responsible for any crimes committed by its
  members.

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Buddhism ended up spreading to China because of
the trade along the Silk Road.

• People didnt follow it at first (it was a
  foreign religion), but started liking that
• it promised freedom from suffering
• Buddhist temples started being built.
• People started giving them lots of money.
• They believed this generosity would give them
  good Karma and good fortune in their next life.

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Confucianists and Daoists didnt like Buddhists

• They didnt agree with Buddhist ideas of
  cremation.
• They believed it was wrong for monks to not get
  married and have children.
• Buddhist monks paid no taxes.
• But all three religions ended up lasting and are
  even still around today.

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