The Three Chinese Philosophies Life in Ancient China

Section Overview This section focuses on society in early China, including the great religious and philosophical systems that were created.

social class: a group of people who share a similar position in society filial piety: the practice of showing respect to parents and older relatives Confucianism: Chinese philosophy that taught that people must do their duty to others to improve society Terms to Know

Daoism: Chinese philosophy that says people should give up worldly desires and turn to nature and the Dao Legalism: Chinese philosophy that taught that people are evil and need harsh laws to make them do their duty Terms to Know

Life in Ancient China Copy this information in your notes: Chinese society had three main social classes: landowning aristocrats, farmers, and merchants. Three Chinese philosophies, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism, grew out of a need for order. Life in Ancient China

Life in Ancient China Copy this information in your notes: A social class includes people who share a similar position in society. Chinese society had three main social classes: aristocrats, farmers, and merchants. Aristocrats grew rich from farmers who grew crops on the land the aristocrats owned. Life in Ancient China

Copy this information in your notes: Most Chinese people were farmers. Farmers paid aristocrats with part of their crops. Merchants were in the lowest class. They grew rich but were still looked down on by aristocrats and farmers. Chinese families were large, and children were expected to work on farms. Life in Ancient China Copy this information in your notes:

Life in Ancient China Copy this information in your notes: Filial piety means children had to respect parents and elders. Men were considered more important than women in Chinese society. Men went to school, ran the government, and fought wars Women raised children and managed their households.

A Chinese Village

Answer the following question Life in Ancient China Answer the following question on your own paper: How did aristocrats use farmers to grow rich?

Copy this chart in your notes: Chinese Philosophers Copy this chart in your notes:

Chinese Thinkers Copy this information in your notes: Three major theories—Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism—were developed to reinstate peace after the Period of the Warring States. Confucius was a great thinker and teacher, who believed that people needed a sense of duty to be good. Confucianism taught that all men with a talent for government should take part in government.

Chinese Thinkers Copy this information in your notes: Daoism teaches that people should give up worldly desires and encourages the importance of nature. Legalism is the belief that society needs a system of harsh laws and punishments. The scholar Hanfeizi developed Legalism.

Answer the following question Life in Ancient China Answer the following question on your own paper: Why did the aristocrats dislike Confucianism?

Answer the following question Life in Ancient China Answer the following question on your own paper: Why did many aristocrats favor the philosophy of Legalism?