1. THE FIRST CHINESE EMPIRES Chapter 6

2. SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN ANCIENT CHINA  Confucianism  Daoism  Legalism

3. CONFUCIANISM  Under Zhou Dynasty  Confucius was known to the Chinese as the First Teacher  Confucius was born in 551 BC  Upset by the violence and moral decay of his era  Traveled around China to persuade political leaders to follow his ideas  Book of teachings: Analects

4. CONFUCIANISM  Confucius provided a set of ideas that eventually became widely accepted  Confucius’ ideas were not spiritual but they were philosophical and dealt with politics and ethics  Believed it was useless to speculate on spiritual questions

5. CONFUCIUS  2 elements: Dao (Way):  Duty and humanity  Five Constant Relationships:  Parent and child  Husband and wife  Older sibling and younger sibling  Older friend and younger friend  Ruler and subject  *Each people had a duty to the other  Humanity- people are supposed to have compassion and empathy for others

6. CONFUCIUS  Taught that humans are basically good  His message was widely spread throughout China  Stressed a return to the Golden Age of China  Believed government service should be open to all men of superior talent and not limited to those of noble birth

7. DAOISM  Daoism was a system of ideas based on the teachings of Laozi or Old Master  Book of teachings: The Way of the Dao  Concerned with proper forms of human behavior  Daoists believe that the way to follow the will of Heaven is not through action but inaction.  The best way to act in harmony with the universal order is not to interfere with the natural order.

8. LEGALISM  Legalism proposed that human beings are evil by nature  Referred to as the “School of Law”  Rejected Confucian view that government by “superior men” could solve society’s problems.  Believed a strong ruler was required to create an orderly society  Believed only harsh laws and stiff punishments would cause the common people to serve the interest of the ruler.