Ancient China Philosophies: Daoism, Legalism & Confucianism

Philosophy: A belief about how people should act and be governed

Daoism/Taoism

Daoism/Taoism Started by a man named Lao Tsu who lived around 600 BC Is a philosophy but turned into a religion Lao Tsu believed that people needed to go with the flow and let nature take its course

Yin and Yang Belief that everything in the universe had an opposite reaction Yin (right side) - women, moon, things that are still & death Yang (left side) - men, sun, things that move & birth If you do one thing, there will be a natural opposite consequence

Beliefs… Wrong for people to fight Wrong for government to make rules and laws Against any kind of rules – feel there should be natural consequences for your actions

People should practice: Compassion- awareness of another person’s pain and wanting to help Moderation- avoid extremes Humility- modest, don’t brag

Legalism

Legalism Beliefs Believed people are bad – need to be controlled Society needs strict laws People should be punished for their family’s behavior Scare people into obeying laws

Rulers Laws were enforced by strict punishments Rulers must be strict otherwise people get disrespectful and lazy

Confucianism

Confucius and Society During Zhou Dynasty Confucius, a man, felt that China was full of rude, dishonest people He wanted people to return to having good ethics

Confucianism Beliefs Fathers - role model Children – respect/obey parents Families - loyal to one another

Confucianism Beliefs No strict laws Leaders – role models, not scare into good behavior

Confucius Proverbs A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it is committing another mistake. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

Confucius Teachings Confucius traveled all over teaching his ideas His teachings were put into a book called The Analects Confucianism is meant to guide behavior