...In ancient China many different rulers tried to unify and rule the country using a variety of methods such as Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism. Each theory has its own set of rules of how people should act both in public and privately. The overall goal of each philosophy was to set a standard, acceptable living that would ensure harmony and success for the society. However, each theory was different and therefore had different results on the dynasties. I believe the best way for the people of Chinese government to succeed in a peaceful, stable, society occurs when both Confucianism and Legalism philosophies are combined. The theory of Legalism encourages to be scared of your leader, not inspired by them. Almost every crime, had a harsh punishment, which scared people from behaving that way, without question. It gives the people almost no civil rights or personal freedoms outside of the laws they must follow. The legalists believed in the well-being of the state or region, not an individual person. Legalism may be seen as inhumane to many because of all the killings from the forced labor. However, Legalism was a very successful philosophy that did provide China with stability. There were numerous achievements accomplished for China under the Shi Huangdi who followed legalism. “Emperor Qin divided the empire into 40 administrative units called “commanderies” 1 which were further divided into districts and counties. He created separate provinces and districts headed by officials...
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...Early Chinese philosophies shared common goals of creating a utopia but differed in their approaches to governance. Legalism is the use of strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain social order and integrate power into the hands of their ruler. Daoism stresses the importance of natural harmony and balance, advocating for non-obtrusive governance, being a passive observer, and allowing natural order. Confucianism believed in leading by example, rulers practicing virtue, and treating their people with respect and pity. Buddhism advocates for a compassionate and moral approach to governance, where a ruler should act with wisdom and kindness. Legalism emphasizes the rule of law, harsh punishments, and strict enforcement to create a stable and...
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...Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism were all introduced to China during the chaotic Warring States period in part due to intense interstate warfare. These philosophies acted as a guide for not only citizens but rulers as well. Thus, the popularity of these philosophies varied depending on the ruling family’s ideology. Therefore, philosophical beliefs helped govern and build positivity. This week, I will be comparing Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism, and their role in addressing the chaotic late Zhou period. Confucius, also known as Master Kong, was a justice minister and the founder of Confucianism. His school of thought primarily focused on ambiguous rituals which allowed man to find their inner “goodness.” Despite his focus on ceremony, Confucius’ teachers were to be thought of as an ethical system rather than a religion. Thus, he taught his followers to be respectful to their family members, ancestors, and elders:...
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...Chinese Philosophies Persuasive Speech China is being destroyed with this war, and we need to stop this. People such as lords are fighting for the place of the throne, and in the process killing enormous amount of people. What is the answer? Legalism. After learning about the three philosophies: Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism, I have chosen the philosophy that will bring certain peace and stability to our empire. Any of the other philosophies will do us no good and will only bring more destruction and chaos to our empire. Legalism is the only solution to the chaos and instability in China. Without having strict rules with harsh punishments, nobody will comply to any rules. If we choose to let people have more freedom than they need,...
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...At the end of the Zhou dynasty, the period of the seven warring states began. During this time, there was no social or political order. China was very chaotic. Three Chinese philosophers emerged, all with different ideas on how to restore order in China. There names were: Confucius, who founded Confucianism; Lao Tzu, who founded Daoism; and Han Fei, who founded Legalism. Legalism and Confucianism both believed in leading China by law. However, Legalists believed in harsh punishment, whereas Confucianists believed punishment would not do China good. Confucianists and Daoists both believed in pleasing the people. But, while Confucianists believed in pleasing people through law and order, Daoists believed that not having laws would please the...
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...In the midst of the chaos caused by political instability and the period of the Seven Warring States that marked the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, emanated an assortment of philosophical intellectuals who would present solutions to the numerous political, religious, and philosophical issues that the government was facing. Respected philosophers such as Confucius, Laozi, and Han Feizi each proposed their own ideas for an idealistic political system and lifestyle (Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism, respectfully), and the influence that these three main philosophies left on society still occur today in the modern world. Consequentially, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism were vastly diverse in terms of regulating government affairs and the perception...
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...Confucius, despite Communism. 1. Buddhism and Christianity also growing rapidly in China 2. part of enduring legacy of the classical world Class Notes: B. Rise of Religions/Philosophies In the period around 500 B.C.E., there was a great emergence of durable cultural traditions that have shaped the world ever since. 1. China : Kong Fuzi (Confucius) and Laozi 2. India :...
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...the development of early Indian civilization * Recognize and identify key characteristics and features of Harappan and Vedic Aryan civilizations East Asia (China) * Explain the role of climate and geography on the emergence of civilization in East Asia * Identify and describe the key features of Shang and Zhou civilization The Americas * Explain the role of climate and geography in the development of civilization in the Americas * Focus on the Olmecs in Mesoamerica and Chavin de Huantar in the Andes Comparing the Four Great Revolutions * Identify and understand the main points of comparison and contrast between Chinese, Indian, Near Eastern, and Mediterranean philosophy and religion Philosophy in China * Identify and understand the key features and messages of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism and recognize their shared origins and heritage Religion in India * Identify and understand the key features and messages of the Vedic texts, the Upanishadic sages, the Brahmanic tradition, and the Buddhist worldview, and recognize their shared origins and heritage The Religion of the Israelites * Explain the significance of the monotheistic revolution in world history...
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...Tong Zhang Pre-Modern East Asian History China: Introduction Written records of Chinese civilization date back to 1200 BCE. Naturally many parts of China have become worldwide attractions due to historical richness. The Dynasties of China covered in this chapter will be: Shang (1600 – 1050 BCE), Zhou (1046 – 256 BCE), Warring States Period (475 – 221 BCE), Qin (221 – 206 BCE) Han (206 BCE – 220 CE). Henan Museum, Zheng Zhou Yellow River Valley (Shang) Today, Zheng Zhou is the provincial capital of the Henan Province and is a fast growing city that is one of the centers of technology and politics in China. Lying on the southern bank of the Yellow River (Huang He) Zheng Zhou is home to many beautiful pagodas, Shaolin Temples, and amazing sceneries. Though a bustling megacity today, Zheng Zhou has been an integral part of since the Shang Dynasty of China starting in 1600 BCE. During the Bronze Age, the huge country we call China today had hardly developed. At the time, people understood very little so the base of Chinese culture known as Di (or god) was created. Di gave the Shang people a sense of predictability and understanding of the world. For example, they used Di to predict whether a harvest was to be good or bad. The Shang people communicated with Di through Oracle Bones and Pyromancy. Ritual specialists would use fire to strike a special oracle bone. The grains in the bone would crack in a certain direction and the Shang people would take that as a sign...
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...#33 Rasul, Nashwina A. February 24, 2014 2ASN2 Confucian Philosophy of Man More than a million years ago, primitive human beings lived on a land known as China. China is recognized as one of the four greatest ancient civilizations of the world, together with ancient Egypt, Babylon, and India. It is known for its rich history based on the written records that were found nearly 5,000 years ago. From 475 BC to the end of the 19th century, China went through a long feudal period. It experienced two seemingly contradictory and paradoxical phenomena. Knowing that it was the most violent and chaotic period in ancient Chinese history due to the conflict between the collapse of the traditional Chinese culture and the establishment of a universal empire, it was also considered to be the most creative and innovative one since it was indeed an age wherein philosophers tried to give their personal opinions regarding the world and attempted to contribute something in the history of Chinese philosophy. All the competing Chinese philosophical traditions – Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism and Mohism, among others – trace their origins back to this period which is closely identified with the wellspring of Chinese philosophical, political, and social thought. The battle of ideas among the fabled numerous masters and hundred schools of thought that lasted for more than three centuries, was fought, but at the same...
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...philosophical literature in early civilizations, resulting in the prevalence of literature in Ancient China, Ancient India, Persia and Ancient Greece and Rome. Many works of earlier periods, even in narrative form, had a covert moral or didactic purpose, such as the Sanskrit Panchatantra or the Metamorphoses of Ovid. Drama and satire also developed as urban culture provided a larger public audience, and later readership, for literary production. Lyric poetry (as opposed to epic poetry) was often the speciality of courts and aristocratic circles, particularly in East Asia where songs were collected by the Chinese aristocracy as poems, the most notable being the Shijing or Book of Songs. Over a long period, the poetry of popular pre-literate balladry and song interpenetrated and eventually influenced poetry in the literary medium. In ancient China, early literature was primarily focused on philosophy, historiography, military...
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...THE CHINESE MANAGEMENT Confucius on Management History has shown that China is a significant creator and repository of great philosophies, yet we know little of Chinese philosophies on leadership. With China becoming a global economic and political force, we need to learn from and to understand Chinese leadership philosophies. We must also consider that China is now in the process of blending its tradition, customs and practices with Western concepts and ideas. In the business world, it is the blending of its wisdom and Western practices. Successful leadership behavior of today's more culturally diverse workforce is one of the most important challenges organizations face. CHINA The People's Republic of China today seems to be entering the modern world, coming out of the shadow of the warlords, the 20-year struggle between communism and nationalism, and the Cultural Revolution. Moves are afoot to shift the Chinese economy more toward the market-oriented end of the spectrum. China’s 1978 open door policy initiated rapid economic development, and consequently exposed china to a flood to Western management practices. CHINA 2 China is a country of old and new and one that is in transition. With the rise of China in the global economy, it has never been more important for business leaders to understand Chinese leadership philosophies and practices. Ancient Chinese thinking and Western ideas have shaped the development of leadership styles in China. Leadership theories (paternalistic...
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...Introduction and General Remarks for Ancient China Ancient civilizations of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians have long disappeared, but Ancient Chinese civilization and its transformation to modern times has lasted as the largest and most enduring one in human history. This is even more remarkable when observing the numerous leitmotifs of the Chinese society that were inaugurated so long ago, and many of these themes still resonate today. Ancestral worship, the Mandate of Heaven, and the numerous philosophical ideas, especially of Confucius, have been practiced or used for thousands of years. Remote and mysterious are two adjectives that Western Society has applied to China until recently. China is the only civilization where western thought had no influence until modern times, and also practically the only large region in the world where western men never ruled. For westerners, Chinese customs seem reversed to theirs. White is the color of mourning for the Chinese not black, and for them the left side is one of honor not the right side. Writing is read vertically from the top right-hand corner downward. These few differences reveal that Chinese culture evolved independently of western influences. One can only marvel at the longevity of Chinese civilization. Influence of Geography 2 Geography has played an important role in Chinese History as in most ancient, medieval, and modern cultures. While 85% of China is arid or inaccessible steppes, deserts or mountains, this...
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...The Origins of the Chinese Empire, to 220 C.E. these cities, built by rulers to move troops and supplies, were traveled by traders transporting such items as metal tools and utensils, lacquered wood plates and boxes, silk, pottery, gems, salt, and lumber. A money economy emerged, using copper coins called cash, with center holes for stringing them together for counting and carrying. China's towns and cities were likewise linked into a large economic system . Trade between China and distant lands A metal bell from the Zhou era. was difficult and dangerous, but by the era's end commerce was conducted by sea with Southeast Asia and by land routes crossing Central Asia. The Central Asian Connection Central Asia, a vast expanse to China's north and west where the climate was too dry for farming (Map 2), was home mainly to pastoral nomads who grazed herds on its plateaus and plains. Skilled on horseback, the nomads occasionally attacked Chinese settlements to carry off goods and supplies, but they also spread commerce and useful knowledge. Some nomads, for example, exchanged their Central Asian nomads connect China with other cultures Nomads and Chinese adopt horse riding and crossbows from each other Iron tools and weapons spread to China, enhancing farming and warfare hides, wool, and horses for Chinese silk, pottery, metalware, and wood products and then traded these items with other societies across Central Asia. Over time, connections with the...
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...AP World History - Stearns Chapter 2 – Classical Civilization: China I. Introduction – longest-lived civilization in history A. Isolated 1. Couldn’t learn from other cultures 2. Rare invasions 3. Distinctive identity 4. Relatively little internal chaos w/ decline of Shang dynasty a. Greatest links to classical society B. Intellectual theory 1. Harmony of nature – yin and yang – balance 2. Seek Dao – the way a. Avoid excess b. Appreciate balance of opposites c. Humans part of world, not on outside – like Mediterranean Thesis: China emerged with an unusually well-integrated system in which government, philosophy, economic incentives, the family, and the individual were intended to blend into a harmonious whole. II. Patterns in Classical China A. Pattern of rule 1. Dynasty, family of kings – create strong politics, economy 2. Dynasty grew weak, taxes declined 3. Social divisions increased 4. Invasion or internal rebellion 5. Another dynasty emerged – general, invader, peasant rebel B. Zhou Dynasty – 1029-258 BCE 1. Started decline in 700 BCE 2. Ruled w/ local princes – alliance system a. Successful in agricultural communities – ie manor system Europe b. Princes received land for troops/tax 3. Eventually local leaders ignored central gov’t 4. Contributions a. Extended territory to “Middle Kingdom” – wheat north, rice south 1. Transportation/communication...
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