PHL 155 Confucianism and Daoism

Shang Dynasty

Ruled by the Shang family

“Dragon Bones”

Divination to determine fate of families or empires by analyzing cracks in heated tortoise shells

Worshiped a supreme deity in the heavens above all other gods (henotheistic) and believed the emperor must do the same with his subjects to maintain peace

Shang Dynasty

Shang-ti

the supreme deity of the Shang Dynasty

Downfall of Shang Dynasty

Shang family became corrupt in their rule and fell to the Zhou Dynasty

Tian

“Heaven” a force of nature

Emperor must rule in accordance to the heavenly mandate of Tian in order to maintain peace

Zhou Dynasty

Downfall of Zhou Dynasty

Halfway through, civil war began with other families claiming to be better at ruling in accordance to the heavenly mandate of the Tian

Warring States Period

a period in which all the provinces of China were at war with each other

same time as the Axial Age

Confucianism and Daoism begin during:

the warring states period

Qin Dynasty

the era of the Qin family rule that received the name “China'“ by Persians and Europeans traveling to the east

Zhongguo

chinese term for China

Legalism—morality imposed by force

Qin Dynasty

Death by a thousand cuts

a punishment in the Qin Dynasty

Lasted for 15 years

Qin

Han family assassinated the Qin emperor and took over the thrown

brought confucianism and daoism with; popularized them

Confucius

the western name of Kong-zi

Kong zi (Kong fu zi)

the founder of confucianism

zi

“master”

Confucius lived during 599-479 BCE which is also

the peak era of the axial age

Confucius’s parents met in a

field

“out in a field”

euphemism for illicit bartering or s*x

his parents meeting “in a field” could suggest

he was born out of wedlock

orphaned at an early age

Confucius

Confucius pursued a political life but

never succeeded (was briefly chief of police)

politicians should lead the country to virtue

the basis idea of confucius’s politics

Confucian Ideals

to cultivate personal moral character, practice the virtues (1)

to create social harmony with others (2, the most important ideal)

Junzi

the ideal person “noble man” “noble master”

T/F You cannot become a virtuous person in isolation

True

Confucian Virtue: Ren

“two persons” to think of the other (sympathy, empathy, benevolence, etc)

Confucian Virtue: Li

“propriety” doing what is appropriate; conforming to social norms

Confucian Virtue: Shu

“reciprocity” the principle of give and take; fairness

The Silver Rule

treat other people how you want to be treated

Confucian Virtue: Wen

appreciate art

Confucian Virtue: Xiao

“filial piety” devotion to family

Parent-Child Relationship

the model for all relationships

Elder-Younger Brother Relationship

elder brother raises the other siblings

Husband-Wife Relationship

the husband is an authoritative protector; the wife is a protected homemaker and mother

Elder-Younger Relationship

younger people must respect those who are elder and be open to their advice

Ruler-Subject

a ruler assumes responsibility and care for the subjects

Laozi (600 to 500 BCE)

“master lao” the founder of Daoism

Laozi’s virgin birth

his mother stood in a field and saw a white comet

Laozi was born a

old man

Laozi traveled

to the far west on an Ox

Laozi wrote the

Daodejing

Lord Lao

the human incarnation of the Dao

The Daodejing is translated as

“The Classical Book About the Way and its Power”

The Daodejing is also translated as

The Path and the Potency

Dao

“Way” or “Path”

De

“Power” or “Potency”

De is gained when following the

Dao

The Daodejing is a

practical guide for living in harmony with the universe

Daoism is

pantheism

Laozi was a curator of books in the

Zhou Dynasty

Laozi believed humans were

naturally good

Human nature is at its best when it is free to follow

the movement of the Dao

Yin and Yang

the universe expresses itself in opposite yet complementary principles

Yang

active and aggressive (light, day, male, heat)

Yin

passive (dark, night, female, cold)

The Dao

the universe, Nature

“Nameless” and beyond description

The Dao

Dao used to be called

Tian

Dao Imagery

water, woman, valley

Wu Wei

the ideal of effortless action

“absence of effort”

“no manipulation”

the solution

Simplicity

appreciate the simple and the ordinary things in life and avoid excess

Gentleness

the wise person loves peace and restraint and avoids unnecessary violence

Chi (qi)

vital energy; life force