Chinese Belief Chinese Belief SystemsSystems

What are the belief systems of What are the belief systems of Ancient China?Ancient China?

ConfucianismConfucianism

Legalism Legalism

DaoismDaoism

BuddhismBuddhism

What do we already know about What do we already know about China?China?

PopulationPopulation

GeographyGeography

Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom

EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven

ConfucianismConfucianism Philosophy created by Philosophy created by

Confucius c. Confucius c. 500 BC500 BC

Confucianism is the most Confucianism is the most popular Chinese popular Chinese philosophy and is still philosophy and is still followed in China today.followed in China today.

Confucianism is Confucianism is notnot a a religionreligion– No sacred textNo sacred text– No description of a belief in No description of a belief in

the afterlifethe afterlife

How did Confucian beliefs affect How did Confucian beliefs affect behavior in daily life?behavior in daily life?

Filial PietyFilial Piety = respect for = respect for parents / honor your familyparents / honor your family

Five RelationshipsFive Relationships = = explained who should explained who should respect who in society;respect who in society;

– Father to sonFather to son– Husband to wifeHusband to wife– Ruler to subjects/peopleRuler to subjects/people– Older brother to younger brotherOlder brother to younger brother– Friend to friendFriend to friend

Political BeliefsPolitical Beliefs

Confucius believed that Confucius believed that people were good by people were good by nature.nature.

Rulers should set a Rulers should set a

good example for their good example for their people.people.

Good Ruler = Good PeopleGood Ruler = Good People

Important Facts about Important Facts about ConfucianismConfucianism

Followers of Confucius Followers of Confucius recorded his teachings recorded his teachings and beliefs in the and beliefs in the AnalectsAnalects..

Confucius also Confucius also emphasized the emphasized the importance of importance of educationeducation..

LegalismLegalism LegalismLegalism is a political philosophy is a political philosophy

created by Hanfeizi c. created by Hanfeizi c. 250 BC250 BC..

Hanfeizi discussed how rulers Hanfeizi discussed how rulers should rule and maintain powershould rule and maintain power

Legalist philosophy suggests that Legalist philosophy suggests that people are evil by naturepeople are evil by nature

Because of this, a ruler must be Because of this, a ruler must be strict and have harsh punishmentsstrict and have harsh punishments

DaoismDaoism Daoism (Taoism) is a Daoism (Taoism) is a

philosophyphilosophy created by created by Lao-tzu c. Lao-tzu c. 500 BC500 BC..

Contemplate the Tao, or Contemplate the Tao, or the “way” of the universethe “way” of the universe

Daoists reject a strong Daoists reject a strong government because government because they believe people can they believe people can control their own actions control their own actions and do not need a ruler.and do not need a ruler.

""Be still like a Be still like a mountain and flow mountain and flow like a great river.like a great river." "

Lao Tzu Lao Tzu

Main Teachings of DaoismMain Teachings of Daoism Taoists believe in planning in advanceTaoists believe in planning in advance

– Must carefully consider each action before Must carefully consider each action before taking ittaking it

A Taoist is kind to other individualsA Taoist is kind to other individuals– in part because kindness tends to be in part because kindness tends to be

reciprocated reciprocated

Taoists believe people areTaoists believe people are– compassionate by nature and if left to compassionate by nature and if left to

their own devices they will show this their own devices they will show this compassion without expecting a rewardcompassion without expecting a reward

Daoist SymbolDaoist Symbol Daoists believe in Daoists believe in

the balance of yin & the balance of yin & yangyang

YinYin– Earth, darkness, & Earth, darkness, &

female forcesfemale forces

YangYang– Heaven, light, & Heaven, light, &

male forcesmale forces

Buddhist BeliefsBuddhist Beliefs Buddhism spread from India to ChinaBuddhism spread from India to China

– C. 300 CEC. 300 CE

– Brought spiritual comfort in a time of Brought spiritual comfort in a time of political & economic distresspolitical & economic distress

– New ideas for art & sculptureNew ideas for art & sculpture

– OnlyOnly case of China importing a case of China importing a major idea from a foreign land in its major idea from a foreign land in its ancient historyancient history

EXIT TICKETEXIT TICKET

On the frontOn the front– List the founderList the founder– Two beliefsTwo beliefs

– On the backOn the backDraw a picture that represents the Draw a picture that represents the

belief systembelief system