1. HA: Ten Guiding Principles
Each culture has their own rules and morals that they live by. In many cases these guiding principles are very similar from group to group – even if those groups never met each other. Today we will compare and contrast two sets of guiding principles.
The Ten Abominations
These ten rules were part of China’s legal system as early as 1000 B.C. and lasted through the dynasties. They were accompanied by harsh punishments. Though the legal code changed over time these 10 principles were fairly constant.
Plotting rebellion (act against leaders or parents)
Plotting great sedition (destroying government property)
Plotting treason (to leave and join an enemy)
Contumacy (murder someone in your family)
Depravity (murder 3 or more people, make poison or cast spells.)
Irreverence (disrespect the Emperor)
Lack of filial piety (mistreat your parents)
Discord (to harm or sue your relatives)
What is Not Right (lacking manners, decorum)
Adultery (to have an affair with a relative’s concubines)
The Ten Commandments
These ten rules were given to Moses by God sometime around 1500 B.C. They were governmental laws for the Jewish people but today are primarily religious guidelines for Jews and Christians.
Do not have any gods before Me.
Do not make any false idols or images.
Do not take the Lord’s name in vain. (claim to follow God and not do what He says)
Keep the Sabbath day holy (Use one day a week to only honor and serve God)
Honor your father and mother.
Do not kill.
Do not commit adultery (have an affair with anyone)
Do not steal.
Do not lie.
Do not covet. (want your neighbors stuff so badly you get jealous)
In the boxes below draw a picture of what you think is the most important rule from each list.

2. What is the purpose of the Ten Abominations? (Why were they written?)
Do any of the Abominations seem strange in your opinion? Explain?
What is the purpose of the Ten Commandments? (Why were they written?)
Do any of the Commandments seem strange in your opinion? Explain?
What would you say is the main difference between the two sets of principles?
How many rules/principles appear on both lists? Which ones are they? (They might be different numbers or different words on each list but could still be basically the same.)
If you lived in a civilization where the only rules were the 10 Abominations or the 10 Commandments which of the two would you choose to live in? Why?
How do you think they came up with similar rules even though the two cultures never knew each other?
Keep order and maintain authority of the government ?
Set our rules to please God
One is focused on religion, one is focused on government
Filial Piety (honor parents), incest/adultery, depravity/murder
Human behavioral standards are universal