CONFUCUIS (KONGFUZI in China)

• Born 551 to a peasant family and later became a teacher.
• Believed “social harmony and good gov’t would return to China if people lived according to principles of ethics (good conduct and moral judgment)” = “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.

Confucianism: Confucius

• 5 Basic relationships of moral behavior

1. Ruler to subject

2. parent and child

3. husband and wife

4. old and young

5. friend and friend

• Most basic relationships concerned the family and the importance of filial piety (children’s respect for their parents and elders)
• After death (479 B.C.) teaching collected, known as the Analects.
• Bases for the civil service system in the Han Dynasty

Legalism: Hanfeizi

• Opposed Confuciaism
• Believed an importance of strict laws and harsh punishments.
• Developed by Hanfeizi
• Used throughout the Qin Dynasty

Daoism: Laozi

• Emphasized living in harmony with nature, no specific roles in society.
• Ideas in Dao De Jing (Chinese classic)
• People should renounce worldly ambitions and turn to nature and the DAO, the universal force that guides all things.
• Influence painting and poetry
• Person could believe Confucianism (dealing with government) and Daoist (dealing with nature)
• Yin (cool, dark, female and submissive) and yang (warm, light, male, and aggressive): human life and natural events resulted from the interplay b/t them.

Buddhism brought to China by monks and traders from India. Yin and yang assisted in the acceptance of Buddhism.