BELIEF SYSTEMS AND CONCEPTS

 Founded by Confucius, an influential Chinese scholar who lived during the Zhou Dynasty.  He studied and taught history, music, and morals.

 He believed that social order could be restored in China if people mastered 5 basic relationships: ▪ Ruler/subject ▪ Father/son ▪ Husband/wife ▪ Brother/Brother ▪ Friend/Friend Honoring parents was most important!!!!

 Confucius believed that education could transform anyone into a gentlemen or lady  He believed that the most able should be part of a trained bureaucracy- those who run the government  A test on Confucianism became the means for advancement in the Han Dynasty

 Laozi- a Chinese thinker who lived during the 500s BC  Wrote an influential book -“Dao de Jing” or ‘The Way of Virtue’

 Daoists believe that a universal force known as the Dao, “the Way”, guides all things  Only humans fail to follow the Dao- humans should find balance through nature and not worry about right and wrong  Ideally people would be centered and without any desires  This led many Daoists to become scientists. They led the fields of astronomy, medicine, and chemistry.

 Government should do as little as possible and leave people alone to find their nature balance  People can do very little to change the outcome of events around them

 Li Si and Hanfeizi- two philosophers who were involved in the government of the Qin Dynasty

 The only way order can be achieved is through an extremely powerful and efficient government with strict laws and harsh punishments  People are generally evil and need harsh laws and a strict ruler to guide them

 Leaders should provide small rewards for people who follow the laws and extremely harsh punishments for those who do not  Leaders should control ideas as well as actions  Those suspected as having dangerous ideas should be punished. Any books with dangerous ideas should be burnt  ALL people are subject to the same laws