Aim: How did the lack of order in ancient Chinese society encourage the growth of three important belief systems?

WHAT DO THESE WORDS OF WISDOM MEAN TO YOU? I.CONFUCIANISM

A. CONFUCIUS AND THE RESTORATION OF THE SHI 1. 5th century B.C.E.: Thinkers, including Confucius, sought ways to create a stable society and political structure. He was a social philosopher concerned with the need to reestablish order and harmony in China; he thought that achieving order depended upon rulers accepting the advice of superior men who were awarded power because of their moral excellence.

B. Thought and Social Ideals 1. Confucius thought that superior men should rule to serve the interests and welfare of the entire society. In return the common people should respect and support their ruler’s superior status. Social harmony depended upon everyone accepting their social place and performing its required tasks(FILIAL PIETY). Society was held together by personal ties of loyalty and obedience that made state intervention minimal.

C. Five Confucian Relationships

D. His followers wrote down his sayings in the Analects.

WHAT DOES CONFUCIUS MEAN BY THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE IN HIS ANALECTS?

II. DAOISM a. Laozi offered an alternative to Confucianism. Although he urged rulers to cultivate patience, selflessness, and concern for the welfare of all creatures, he instead advocated a retreat from society into nature where individuals could attune with the DAO, or COSMIC FORCE/THE WAY. Some of his followers, particularly among the shi, followed Laozi's stress on meditation.

III. LEGALISM a. Xunzi thought that humans by nature were lazy and evil, thus requiring a strong and authoritarian government. Education could improve people, he thought, but he rejected the idea that government was based on their consent. b. Legalists utilized Xunzi's thought about the evil nature of humans to increase the authoritarian status of the ruler and constructed rigorous law codes to enforce absolutism.

Concluding Journal Entry Based on the problems, solutions and main ideas that each of the Chinese philosophies highlight, which do you think would be most popular and/or applicable in the world today? Explain…

COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITY “Analyzing Confucius’ Analects”