Unit 3 - China Zhou Dynasty and the Three Chinese Philosophies

Shang Dynasty Quiz 1. T or F – The Shang Dynasty was skilled at producing weapons, tools and useful objects out of bronze. 2. T or F – The Shang Dynasty was unique because the had no social hierarchy and was considered an equal state. 3. T or F – The Shang Dynasty grew up around the river valleys. 4. T or F – The Shang Dynasty was conquered because of corruption and a weakened military. 5. T or F – The Shang Dynasty conquered the Zhou Dynasty for control over China. 6. T or F – The Shang Dynasty buried prominent people in tombs. This allows archaeologists the opportunity to study about life under the Shang Dynasty.

Warm-Up Which of the following approaches do you think would be the most effective in dealing with school violence such as fighting and bullying? Explain your answer using complete sentences. Approach 1: Assign violent students a “big brother” or “big sister” who is a respected older student in another grade. The big brother or sister would teach the student how to behave properly. Approach 2: Allow students guilty of fighting or bullying to go unpunished, hoping that they will eventually learn from their mistakes and correct heir behavior. Approach 3: Have school authorities publish the rules for unacceptable behavior and assign harsh punishments for violating those rules. For example, “students caught fighting will be expelled (kicked out of school)”.

Zhou Dynasty After overthrowing the Shang Dynasty, the next line of rulers was the Zhou (joh) Dynasty. It lasted from about 1045 BCE to 256 BCE. To justify their conquest, they claimed that they had been given the “Mandate of Heaven”, a divine right to rule, or the gods chose them to rule.

Mandate of Heaven According to this belief, Heaven was a power that controlled human destiny. The king was the son of Heaven. As long as the king governed his people well, Heaven gave him the right to rule. If the king did not govern well, Heaven would send signs of its displeasure, such as earthquakes and floods. When the king lost the support of Heaven, others had the right to overthrow him. Interesting!! What might this cause?

Life Under Zhou Early Years: stability – The Zhou increased the stability of the government. The king owned all the land and had nobles control the land in exchange for fighting enemies who threatened the king. Later Years: Conflict – By the 700’s BCE, this system was starting to break down. The lords became more and more powerful. Eventually, the power of some lords rivaled that of the king. Creative Thinkers Such political unrest led Chinese thinkers to ask important questions about human nature and how best to govern. Some rulers hired scholars to advise them on how to create order and increase their royal power.

Three Thinkers Confucianism – Is based on the teachings of Confucius (kuhn-FYOO- shuhs) = 551 to 479 BCE Confucianism: Respect for family, hard work and education Daoism or Taoism – Is based on the teachings of Laozi (low-dzuh) = late 500s BCE Taoism: Keeping your life simple – Legalism – Is based on the teachings of Hanfeizi (hahn-fay-dzoo) = 280 to 233 BCE Legalism: All power to the legal ruler

Confucianism – a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes proper behavior Confucius taught his followers that peace and order depended upon proper behavior. He deeply respected Chinese traditions such as reverence for ancestors and learning. Those in authority must lead by example. They should be kind, honest, wise, and faithful. Those lower in status must respect and obey those who are above them in status.

The Influence of Confucianism Rather than hire the sons of the wealthy nobles, Confucianism eventually led leaders of the Han Dynasty to hire civil servants (a person who works for a government) based on ability and tested knowledge. The teachings of Confucius had a major influence on Chinese culture. Values such as respect for elders, proper behavior, and love of scholarship (learning) became deeply woven into Chinese society.

Confucianism Confucius said to his followers: “The gentleman first practices what he preaches and then preaches what he practices.” Confucius said to his students: “Shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, say that you know it; when you do not know a thing, admit you do not know it. That is knowledge.”

Daoism – a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with nature Daoism was based on the ancient Chinese idea of the Dao (dow), or “the Way”. Dao was the force that gave order to the natural universe. Daoism taught that people gained happiness and peace by living in harmony, or agreement, with the way of the universe. Harmony could be reached by balancing yin (night) and yang (light), the opposite forces of nature. Like – good and bad, pretty and ugly, pleasure and pain. To gain harmony one needed to live a simple life of quiet meditation. People should accept whatever comes, like a blade of grass that bends when the breeze blows. Too many laws and social rules conflict with these teachings, which is why they say the best rulers were those who ruled least.

Influence of Daoism To gain harmony one needed to live a simple life of quiet meditation. People should accept whatever comes, like a blade of grass that bends when the breeze blows. Too many laws and social rules conflict with these teachings, which is why they say the best rulers were those who ruled least. Daoism encouraged rulers to govern less harshly. But more influence was on Chinese thought, writing, and art.

Daoism “If you do not want your house to be molested by robbers, Do not fill it with gold and jade. Wealth, rank, and arrogance add up to ruin, As surely as two and two are four.”

Legalism – a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes strict obedience to laws. Legalists believed that people were born bad, were naturally selfish and will always do what they want when they want. Rulers could create order in society only through strict laws and enforce them, either with rewards for good behavior or with harsh punishments for bad behavior.

Influence of Legalism To prevent being overthrown, rulers needed absolute or total power backed by a strong military. Rulers should trust no one, not even their own families. People were forbidden to criticize the government. Anyone caught doing so was severely punished. Many people were put to death for disloyalty and other crimes. Others were banished to the far north or imprisoned or tortured.

Legalism “He who trusts others will be controlled by others.”

Write down how an individual would answer these questions if they were, in turn, a Taoist, a follower of Confucianism, or a loyal citizen governed by Legalism. (See below) 1. A student knows that they are failing a class. Students from each of these doctrines know they will be in trouble when their parents find out. How do they handle this situation? 2. A student's friends smoke and are trying to get them to start. How do they handle this situation? 3. A student has just found $20 in the hall. What should they do? 4. A student's parents have just spent a lot of money on a new outfit. The student has been playing around and has gotten ink all over it. What should they tell their parents, or should they? 5. A student really likes a new student in school, but all the other students are making fun of the new student's clothes. How should the first student act? 6. A student knows that an older brother or sister is cheating on tests. How should the student act? 7. A student sees an opportunity to take something they have really wanted, without being caught. How should that student act?

To questions 1, 2, & 7 in handout above. ConfucianismDaoismLegalism 1. Inform parents. Apologize for not living up to standards expected; promise to try and do better 1. Not worry about it and hope the problem will go away. (Taoists more probably would try to recognize why they are failing, and do something to change their behavior if it would make them happier.) 1. Inform parents, expect and accept punishment. 2. Inform whoever was smoking that their behavior was wrong, report this action to the principal, avoid these people until they corrected their wrong doing. 2. Announce pleasantly that smoking would make them unhappy because its bad for your health. 2. Inform the principal. 7. Would not take it. It's against the rules. 7. Would not take it. They would have feelings about it that might complicate their life. 7. Would not take it. It's against the law.

Think About This - A Think about the three Chinese Philosophies. Where in your life do you have these philosophies? What is the “thing”? What is the philosophy? Why? Prove it. Do you like it? What changes would you make to it? Why? Examples to help you think At home The government You homework A teacher’s classroom A t.v. show Your sports team A video games Parents

Think About This - B Think about the three Chinese Philosophies. Pick something that one of the Chinese philosophies should be that should be used to make it better. What is the thing? What is it like? What is the philosophy you would use? Why? How will this “thing” become better? Why? Be sure to use all three philosophies in different situations? – Examples to help you think. – A classroomYour family Your homework – The governmentA t.v. show – A sports teamA video game