1. Eurasian Cultural Traditions 500 BCE to 500 CE Chapter 5
AP World History Notes
“China and the Search for Order”

2. The State of China Chaos Growing violence Disharmony and disunity
“Age of Warring States”
These issues led many to find solutions to China’s problems

3. The Legalist Answer Founder of Legalism = Han Fei
Legalists viewed humans as inherently stupid and immoral
Legalists believed in rules and laws that were strict, clearly spelled out, and enforced through a system of rewards and punishments

4. The Legalist Answer
Legalism = used by Emperor Qin Shihuangdi during the Qin Dynasty to restore unity and order to China

5. The Confucian Answer
Confucius = from an aristocratic family in northern China
Became a teacher
Believed in ethics = good conduct and moral judgment

6. The Analects A short book of the teachings of Confucius
Compiled by his students after his death

7. The Confucian Answer The moral example of superiors
Relied on unequal relationships within society
Ruler over subject
Parent over child
Husband over wife
Old over young

8. Emphasis on Filial Piety
Filial piety = respect for one’s elders and ancestors

9. Civil Service Exams
Confucianism = incorporated into China’s civil service exams during the Han Dynasty
Chinese men had to apply Confucian values to specific situations in these tests

10. The Daoist Answer Founder = Laozi
Focus of Daoism = living in harmony with nature
Urges withdrawal from society and entrance into a world of nature

11. The Dao
“The Way”
Universal force that guides all things

12. Yin and Yang 2 opposing forces present in all of nature
YIN = cool, dark, female, submissive
YANG = warm, light, male, aggressive