1. Should ethical belief systems be used to guide a government?
Inquiry Question
Should ethical belief systems be used to guide a government?

2. Supporting Questions Supporting Question 3:
Supporting Question 1: What are the belief systems of East Asian Countries?
Supporting Question 2: How did Chinese belief systems affect Mongol rule?
Supporting Question 3:
How did Chinese belief systems positively and negatively impact the Ming Dynasty?

3. East Asian Classical Belief Systems
Classical Period:
1000 BC to AD 500
Five Primary Belief Systems:
Confucianism
Legalism
Taoism
Buddhism
Shintoism
Confucianism Symbol
Legalism
Taoism Symbol
Buddha Statue

4. Supporting Questions Supporting Question 3:
Supporting Question 1: What are the belief systems of East Asian Countries?
Supporting Question 2: How did Chinese belief systems affect Mongol rule?
Supporting Question 3:
How did Chinese belief systems positively and negatively impact the Ming Dynasty?

5. Depiction of Confucius
Confucianism
Philosophy created by Confucius c. 500 BC
Confucianism is the most popular Chinese philosophy and is still followed in China today.
Confucianism is not a religion
No sacred text
No description of a belief in the afterlife
Depiction of Confucius

6. Confucian Beliefs and Daily Life
Filial Piety
respect for parents / honor your family
Five Relationships
Father to son
Husband to wife
Ruler to subjects/people
Older brother to younger brother
Friend to friend
Depiction of Daily Life in Classical China

7. Confucian Political Beliefs
Confucius believed that people were good by nature.
Rulers should set a
good example for their people.
Good Ruler = Good People
Depiction of Confucius Teaching

8. Important Facts about Confucianism
Followers of Confucius recorded his teachings and beliefs in the Analects.
Confucius also emphasized the importance of education.

9. Legalism
Legalism is a political philosophy created by Han Fei c. 250 BC
People are evil by nature
Strong government must control Ruler must enforce punishments
Education and free thought can be threat to government and law
Legalist philosophy suggests that people are evil by nature
Because of this, a ruler must be strict and have harsh punishments
Depiction of Han Fei

10. Taoism A philosophy created by Lao-tzu c. 500 BC.
Contemplate the Tao, or the “way” of the universe
Man must study nature
Must plan carefully in advance
Encourages compassion and kindness
Rejects idea of government
"Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river."
Lao Tzu

11. Depiction of Siddhartha Gautama
Buddhism
Is a Religion
Originally from India
C. 300 CE
Silk Road
Siddhartha Gautama
In China by 1st Century BC
Core Beliefs:
Desire is source of all suffering
To eliminate suffering is to eliminate desire
Life of moderation
Depiction of Siddhartha Gautama

12. Shintoism Core Beliefs: Is a Religion Originally from Japan AD 500
Many gods called Kami
Kami inhabit everything
Respect family
Love nature
Be clean
Worship kami
Shinto Shrine