Fall Finals Set-B: Revolution in Thought

Confucius

* “Master Philosopher Kong” - Chinese
* Very strong willed in every day life as well as principles
* Compilation of his work in *Analects* influenced Chinese culture
* Didn’t dabble in religious ideology or concern himself with the structure of government
* Wanted to fill government with **Junzi** (superior individuals)
* People who were very educated and morally right
* Zhou dynasty literary works became center of Chinese education

Confucian Values

* Developed during **Warring States** period in China
* People who possessed these traits would lead China by example (Junzi):
* Ren: Sense of humanity
* Li: Treating people but especially elders with respect
* Xiao: Respect, remembrance, & value of family
* “Five principle relationships”
* Mencius thought people were inherently good & needed policies that would allow them to be so
* Xunzi thought that people were inherently selfish & “bad” people could be transformed to be useful to society
* Women submit to their fathers and husbands
* Expected to manage the household

Daoism

* Developed during **Warring States** period in China; criticized Confucianism
* Created by Laozi who made the Daodejing
* Believed that by putting energy towards introspection & understanding nature society would eventually flow
* Dao: “the way of the cosmos”; not particularly positive or negative; what governs the world
* Wuwei: Disengagement from the affairs of world & living simply with nature
* No large form of government or kingdoms

Neo-Confucianism

* **Song** **dynasty** supported Neo-Confucianism and tradition
* Took inspiration from **Buddhist** themes as well as original Confucianism
* Ex: Concept of the soul and connection to universe
* Zhu Xi created *Family Rituals* for specifics on proper personal and social harmony
* Women were contained to the domestic sphere & not allowed to remarry
* Shaped thought in east Asia as well as Korea, Vietnam, and Japan

Buddhism Beginning & Principles

* Siddhartha Gautama left his high military class (kshatriya in **India**) & life to search for holiness. After sitting under a bo tree for 49 days he became enlightened
* Became the Buddha (“the enlightened one'“)
* Preached that anyone could become enlightened - egalitarian
* Four Noble Truths:


1. Life is full of suffering
2. Suffering is caused by desire
3. To get rid of suffering you must get rid of desire
4. To eliminate desire you must follow the Noble Eightfold Path


1. This will lead to Nirvana

* Buddhism was popular with those in lower caste systems (Jati)
* Also due to use of vernacular tongues which increased accessibility
* Supported by Mauryan dynasty (Ashoka & supernatural conversion)

Mahayana Buddhism

* Attracted artisans, **merchants**, & others in low Indian classes
* Bodhisattva (“an enlightened being”) helped others become enlightened
* Spread quickly through India to central Asia (China, Japan, & Korea), & southeast Asia (Burma & Thailand)

Spread of Buddhism

* Buddhism established first in oasis towns (rest stops) along the Silk Road from Buddhist merchants
* Han dynasty allowed foreign merchants (Indian & Parthian) to practice in China
* Took a hold in southeast Asia through merchants traveling sea lanes through the Indian Ocean

Judaism

* Abrahamic religion
* Messiah has yet to come
* Old Testament (Torah)
* Remained steadfast in their faith through all imperial regimes whether or not they were told to worship their emperors
* Women had to defer to their husbands, had more rights than most other women, & had an obligation to the home
* Jewish were exiled from Israel by Babylonians & moved to Roman Empire (around Mediterranean Sea)

Christianity

* Abrahamic religion
* New Testament
* Women are made to be a helper to their husbands
* Appealing to oppressed people - semi egalitarianism
* Jesus of Nazareth (Christ) was their savior & who was executed by the Romans
* Paul of Tarsus spread the faith through the Roman Empire and Mediterranean basic
* Christianity migrated to Europe, northern Africa & Southwest Asia

Hinduism

* Buddhism was declining in **India** because of persecution from Muslims which helped the spread of Hinduism
* The Veda is their holy text
* Main Beliefs:
* Polytheistic deities - Vishnu & Shiva
* Samsara: Reincarnation
* Karma: Universal law of cause and effect
* Everyone’s atman (“soul”) is part of a universal soul
* Women are respected but expected to take care of the household and uphold the religious beliefs
* Hinduism migrated to southeast Asia from sailors across the Indian Ocean