China Civ Lectures 4–5: Confucianism and the Hundred Schools

Confucius (Kongzi)

Teacher of the late Spring and Autumn period who advocated moral cultivation, ritual, and virtuous government.

Analects (Lunyu)

Collection of sayings and dialogues attributed to Confucius and his disciples.

Ren (仁)

Confucian benevolence or humaneness; ethical concern for others and the foundation of moral rulership.

Li (禮)

Ritual propriety; correct behavior and social relationships that cultivate virtue and preserve order.

Zhengming (正名)

Rectification of names; social roles and conduct must correspond to their proper titles and responsibilities.

Filial Piety (Xiao)

Respect and duty toward parents and ancestors; model for hierarchical Confucian relationships.

Mencius (Mengzi)

Confucian thinker who argued human nature is inherently good and emphasized benevolent government.

Xing Shan (性善)

Mencius's belief that human nature is good; virtue develops through cultivation of innate moral tendencies.

Xunzi

Confucian thinker who argued that human impulses require education, ritual, and deliberate transformation.

Xing E (性惡)

Xunzi's theory that human nature is bad or wayward; moral goodness requires conscious cultivation.

Hundred Schools of Thought

Intellectual flourishing during the Eastern Zhou, especially the Warring States, proposing competing solutions to disorder.

Daoism

Tradition emphasizing harmony with the Dao, naturalness, and skepticism toward excessive social intervention.

Dao (道)

The Way; the underlying path or natural order, interpreted differently across philosophical traditions.

Wu Wei (無為)

Non-coercive or effortless action; Daoist ideal of governing without excessive interference.

Laozi / Daodejing

Traditionally attributed sage and foundational Daoist text emphasizing simplicity, the Dao, and non-action.

Zhuangzi

Daoist thinker associated with spontaneity, perspectivism, and criticism of rigid social distinctions.

Legalism (Fajia)

Political philosophy emphasizing strong institutions, clear laws, rewards, punishments, and state power.

Fa (法)

Law or publicly established standards; central instrument of Legalist governance.

Mohism / Mozi

School advocating impartial concern, merit-based appointments, frugality, and opposition to aggressive warfare.

Jian Ai (兼愛)

Mohist impartial or inclusive care, challenging exclusive concern for family and social rank.

Yin-Yang Theory

Framework describing complementary interacting forces; influential in cosmology, medicine, and political thought.