File philosophies and religions of china.pdf

PHILOSOPHIES AND RELIGIONS OF CHINAConfucianismConfucius (551-479 BC) believed that there was natural harmony and order in the universe.He thought that social relationships among people would also be harmonious if everyoneunderstood his or her proper role in the family.A key element in family relationships was a respect for age. Sons were required to obey theirfathers, and younger brothers had to recognize the higher status of older brothers. Women ofall ages were considered inferior. However, children were expected to respect both mother andfather. This respect was called filial piety.The family was viewed as a miniature society. If the members of each family attained harmony,then it followed that the whole kingdom or empire would also attain the ideal of perfectharmony, order.Confucianism was a moral code for regulating all family relationships. It placed greateremphasis on the harmony of the group than on the welfare of the individual. Thus, familymembers were expected to fulfill their roles and sacrifice their personal goals to the larger goodof the family.A key element in Confucian philosophy was education. Confucius believed that the knowledgeof music, poetry, history, and philosophy would lead people to act ethically and wisely.Education would lead to right conduct; in turn, right conduct would like to a good society.Scholars were highly respected and were made officials in the emperor’s government.Confucius

Taoism (Daoism)According to the religion of Taoism, people should learn from nature how to behave andthink. For example, by observing the ways of a spring breeze or running brook, people couldput themselves in touch with a divine force. They would learn to behave in a simple andnatural way rather than strive to follow formal rules and obligations of society. Living apartfrom society, Taoists hoped to achieve inner peace and harmony by acting in accordancewith the ways of nature. Lao Zi was the founder of this religion.LegalismBuddhismLegalism shaped China’s early history.Han Feizi was the most famous legalist writer. He believed that people were selfish andacted out of self interest.He rejected Confucian ideas about proper behavior. He believed people would respond torewards and punishment. Legalists believed only harsh rulers with strong laws could impose order on society. In 221BC, the Qin emperor Shi Huangdi used Legalism to unite China.Buddhism was a different religion for the Chinese. Confucianism, Taosim, and Legalism, gaveguidelines for living on earth.Buddhism also gave moral guidelines but the ultimate state of being, nirvana, was not earthly.Eventually, Buddhism blended with other philosophies to reflect Chinese values.Yin and YangYin and Yang are opposite forces of nature that balance each other. All Chinese philosophiesfollow this concept.