Confucianism / Taoism

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Confucianism / Taoism
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Roots of Philosophy The Decline of the Zhou

• Zhou had been divided into many small kingdoms.
• Civil War breaks out in 403 B.C.
• Period of the Warring States

• During this time, Chinese philosophers wanted to
  create stability in society.
• Create ideas about human relationships.
• Become ideas behind Confucianism Taoism

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Turn to your neighbor and discuss the following.

• What do you think should be the proper
  relationship between these pairings according to
  our society today?
• Parent Child
• Older Sibling Younger Sibling
• Husband Wife
• Ruler Subject

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The Life of Confucius

• Born in 551 B.C.
• Tried to convince warlords to lead their people
  by example.
• They ignore him.
• Returns to home-town to become teacher
• Teaches future leaders his ideas on ethics.
• They go on to change Chinese society.
• Followers write the Analects

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The Life of Confucius

• Confucius believed there is an order in the
  universe.
• Humans must act in harmony with this order.
• Two basic ideas
• Duty
• If everyone does their duty to the fullest, then
  society will prosper.
• Humanity
• Compassion and empathy for others.

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Confucius Teachings Two Basic Ideas

• Duty
• Five Constant Relationships
• Parent Child
• Parents love children
• Children revere parents
• Husband Wife
• Husbands fulfill duty to wife
• Wife are obedient
• 3. Older Sibling Younger Sibling
• Elder sibling should be a kind teacher
• Younger sibling should be respectful
• 4. Older Friend Younger Friend
• Older friend should be considerate
• Younger friend should be deferential
• 5. Ruler Subject
• Rulers should be benevolent
• Subjects should be loyal

• Let the ruler be filial and kind to all people,
  then they will be faithful to him. Let him
  advance the good and teach the incompetent then
  they will eagerly seek to be virtuous.
• -Confucius

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Confucius Teachings Two Basic Ideas

• Do not do unto others what you would not wish to
  be done to yourself.
• -Confucius

• Humanity

Wisdom
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Sayings From the Analects

• Knowing what he knows and knowing what he does
  not know is a characteristic of a person who
  knows.
• Making a mistake and not correcting it is making
  another mistake.
• The superior man blames himself. The inferior
  man blames others.
• To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.

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Confucianism Wrap Up Questions Comparing Eastern
Philosophies

• How would Confucius react to the Hindu Caste
  system?
• Both philosophies share the idea of duty.
• In which steps of the Buddhist Middle Path can
  you see the Confucian concept of humanity?

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Turn to your neighbor and discuss the following

• Do you believe in fate? If so, what sorts of
  things do you believe can be left to fate?

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Taoism

• Tao the path or the way
• Philosophy of Laozi
• Lived during the time of Confucius (c. 500 B.C.)
• Also looked to end the Warring States!

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Taoism Basic Beliefs

• The Tao is a power which envelops, surrounds
  and flows through all things, living and
  non-living.
• Creates balance in the Universe. It embodies the
  harmony of opposites.
• There would be no love without hate, no light
  without dark, no male without female.
• Referred to as yin and yang.
• Let nature take its course by not interfering
  with it
• Harmonize yourself with the Tao.

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Taoism Basic Beliefs

• "We believe in the formless and eternal Tao, and
  we recognize all personified deities as being
  mere human constructs. We reject hatred,
  intolerance, and unnecessary violence, and
  embrace harmony, love and learning, as we are
  taught by Nature. We place our trust and our
  lives in the Tao, that we may live in peace and
  balance with the Universe, both in this mortal
  life and beyond."

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In summary
Confucianism believes that it is the duty of
human beings to work hard to improve the life
here on Earth. If there is righteousness in
the heart, there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character, there will
be harmony in the home. If there be harmony in
the home, there will be order in the nation. If
there be order in the nation, there will be peace
in the world. Taoists believe the way to act in
harmony is to not interfere with the natural
order. The universe is sacred. You cannot
improve it. If you try to change it, you will
ruin it. If you try to hold it, you will lose
it. - Laozi