confucianism daoism worldviews

Confucianism founder

Kong Qiu 551-479BC

Confucianism context

Zhou dynasty in decline

Confucianism goal

Just way for gov to bring harmony

Confucianism end result

The virtuous life (ethical system for this life)

The analects

1) ideas for good gov and society

2) authored by confucious & his followers over time

3) Foundation for chinese education and exams

Confucianism Humanity

social relationships& more than individuals- interconnections and relationships

Confucianism Problem

social chaos - when relationships are not maintained

confucianism cause

Breakdown of virtue- leadership no longer virtuous, society breaks down

Confucianism end

leaders of character (junzi) & harmonious society- sage leaders rise up and live by example

Confucianism Means

Virtuous life through relationships/hierarchy

sovereign-subject

Rulers should be benevolent and subjects loyal

Father-son

A parent is to be loving, a child obedient

Husband-wife

Husbands are to be good and fair, wives understanding

Elder brother-younger brother

an elder sibling is to be gentle, and younger siblings respectful

Friend-friend

Older friends are to be considerate, younger friends reverential

Five constant relationships

Sovereign-subject

Father-son

Husband-wife

Elder brother-younger brother

Friend-friend

Ren

Humaneness, thoughtfulness, empathy, & kindness

Shu

Opposite of golden rule- Doing not to others what you would not have them do to you (silver rule)

Inner virtues

- Ren

- Shu

- Hsueh

Hsueh

(self correcting wisdom), Attitude of humility, rather than pride about ones character

Outer virtues

- Li

- Xiao

- Chen-ming

- Wen

- De

Li

Doing what is proper for the situation

Xiao

Respect for ones elders- especially with family

Chen- ming

- words are important

- titles must be respected

Wen

- "Culture", the arts

- Poetry, calligraphy, painting &magic

De

- Balanced life, character, moral charisma, has positive constructive influence on others- (virtue)

Middle kingdom

- earliest civilization & "mother" of east asia, gives china the aims of being the "Greece and rome" of asia

Dynastic cycle

- The historical accounts favor the times of dynastic (imperial) rule over times of fragmentation

Mandate of heaven

- Confucianism's influence on chinese history frames the historical accounts of chinas history with rulers who behaved well as having the "mandate of heaven"

Prehistoric-Xia dynasty

2070-1600BC

Ancient shang

1600-1050Bc Written language

Zhou (Chou) Dynasty

1100-221BC Ended with warring states period

- Legalism/Daoism/Confucianism

Qin (Ch'in) dynasty - "China"

221-206BC

Classical Han dynasty

206 BC- AD 220

Six dynasties period

220-589 Buddhism takes hold

Sui/Tang/Song

Post classical

589-1279

Neo-Confucianism

(Daoist & Buddhist elements)

Yuon (Mongol)

1279-1368 Used confucianism

Ming

1368-1644 Rebuffed foreign influence

Qing (Ch'ing)

1644-1912 Final dynasty- Slow decline brought on by internal & european pressures (opium wars)

Nationalist revolution

1911 Sun yat-sen

republic of China

1912-1949

"External Pressures"

-WW1

- Communist party formed

- WW 2 (Sino-Japanese wars)

Peoples republic of china

1949- present

Mao Zedung

Humanity: The Dao Within

- humans are part of a cosmic process known as dao

- tapping into de will turn humans into sages that influence world positively

Problem: Resisting the flow of the Dao

- Humanity is part of the problem

- When we dont align with nature, we dont know who we are

- distorts the Dao

Cause: Striving for permanence and virtue

- Humans distort the Dao-(virtue)

End: The harmony of the dao

- Being "Self-So", & "Non-Striving"- one w/nature, tapping into de, power of the dao- sage that oozes wisdom

Means: Action without assertion (Wu Wei)

- Teh simple life "Wu Wei"-"In-action"- act without assertion

- change perspective

Reality: The power of the dao

- Fundamental order of the universe

- Being in sync with nature is experiencing the power of the Dao-just is

Sacred: The nameless and eternal dao

- Overarching order of the universe revealed in nature

- Not a personal god

- Not a being =, although all being reflect the dao

Daoism founder

Laozi "old master"- founded around 600BC - real or made up?

Daodejing

-Daoism sacred text

- Literary classic-timeless in meaning

- 81 brief chapters-uses 5,000 chinese characters

- After the bible, most translated book in the world

Daodejing synopsis

1) Original intent was to instruct on best ways to govern

2) Through natural, simple living; helps examine destructive lifestyle patterns

3) Focus on the mystical & harmonious nature of reality