The Religions and Ethical
Traditions of China
By Mr. Milewski
The Religions and Ethical
Traditions of China
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
Buddhism
Take
the Quiz
Confucius
• Confucius is China’s best known
philosopher.
• He was born in about 551B.C.
• The disorder and suffering caused by
constant warfare disturbed Confucius.
• He developed ideas about how to restore
peace and ensure harmony.
Confucius Traveled
• Confucius visited the courts of various
princes, hoping to convince them to put his
ideas into practice.
• Disappointed by the princes refusals, he
returned home, where he taught a small
but loyal group of followers.
• After his death, his followers collected his
teachings in the Analects.
Confucius’s Five Relationships
• To restore order, Confucius taught that
five relationships must govern human
society. They are:
1.) the relationship between ruler & ruled
2.) the relationship between father & son
3.) the relationship between older brother &
younger brother
4.) the relationship between husband & wife
5.) the relationship between friend & friend
• In all but the last relationship (friend & friend),
one person has authority over another.
• In each, said Confucius, the superior person
should set an example for the inferior one.
“If a ruler himself is upright, all will go well without
orders. But if he himself is not upright, even though he
gives orders, they will not be obeyed.”
• According to Confucius, the superior person is
also responsible for the well-being of the inferior
person.
Confucius and the Mandate of
Heaven
• Mandate of Heaven- The Chinese believed that
heaven granted a ruler the mandate, or right, to
rule. The people, in turn, owed the ruler
complete loyalty and obedience.
• Confucius supported the Mandate of Heaven.
He said that the ruler must provide good
government for his subjects. The rulers
subjects, in turn, owed the ruler loyalty and
obedience.
Confucius and Family
• To Confucius, relationships involving the family are the
key to an orderly society. One of those relationships-the
relationship between father and son-is very much like
that between the ruler and the ruled.
• Like the ruler, the father must set an example for his son
and look after his family.
• The father takes the credit, or the blame, for his
children’s actions.
• The son, in turn, is expected to honor and obey his
father.
• Confucius stressed the idea of filial piety, the duty and
respect that children owe their parents.
The Influence of Confucius
• Confucius created a guide to proper behavior
based on ethical, or moral, principles.
• In his teachings, he placed the family and the
good of society above the interests of the
individual.
• He also stressed loyalty, courtesy, hard work,
and service.
• He placed great emphasis on education. He
said:
“By nature, men are pretty much alike. It is learning and
practice that set them apart.”
• The importance of education, as well as
other Confucian ideas, helped shape
Chinese government.
• In time, Confucian ideas came to dominate
Chinese society.
• As China expanded across Asia,
Confucianism influenced the cultures of
Korea, Japan, and Vietnam as well.
Pop Quiz on Confucius
Confucius believed that a superior
person, like the ruler or a father, had
the responsibility to set a good
example for the inferior person, like
the ruled or a son, because the
superior person was responsible for
the well-being of the inferior person.
TRUE
FALSE
Incorrect!!!

As the superior person I obviously haven’t
set a good example for you and have
disappointed Confucius. Please try again
so we can try to maintain an orderly
society.
CORRECT!!!
Confucius said:
“If a ruler himself is upright, all will go well without orders.
But if he himself is not upright, even though he gives
orders, they will not be obeyed.”
The reason why you answered this correctly is
obviously because I set such a good example for
you.
Confucius on Education
Confucius believed that all men were
pretty much equal despite the
amount of education they had
because of this he believed that
education was a waste of time and
did not set a good example for
society.
TRUE
FALSE
Incorrect!!!

I have failed to set a good example and I
have disappointed Confucius. Please try
again so peace and harmony can be
restored to society.
CORRECT!

Confucius placed great emphasis on
education. He said that:
“By nature, men are pretty much alike. It is
learning and practice that set them apart.”

Because I was an outstanding role model
for you, we have a peaceful and orderly
society and have pleased Confucius.
Daoism
• Like Confucius, the philosopher Lao Zi studied
human society. He, too, searched for ways to
establish an orderly society.
• Lao Zi, the founder of Daoism, however
emphasized the link between people and nature
rather than the importance of proper behavior.
• Scholars know little about Lao Zi, but that his
thoughts are contained in the book The Way of
Virtue.
• For centuries, Chinese artists have depicted Lao
Zi as a kindly sage who embodies the ideal heart
of Daoism.
• Lao Zi advised:
“Reveal thy simple self, embrace thy
original nature, check thy selfishness, curtail
thy desires.”
The Natural Way
• Daoists believed that the best way to live was
the natural way.
• In Chinese the word dao means “the way.”
Daoists did not define “the way,” however. It is
said, “Those who know the Dao do not speak of
it; those who speak of it do not know it.”
• To Daoists, Confucian rules for society were
useless. A society with rules was an artificial
creation that disturbed the natural order.
• Daoists believed people should do nothing that
was contrary to nature.
“The duck’s legs are short, but if we try to lengthen
them, the duck will feel pain. The crane’s legs are
long, but if we try to shorten them, that crane will
feel grief. Therefore we are not to cut off what is
by nature long, nor to lengthen what is by nature
short.”
Lao Zi on Government
• Lao Zi believed that the best government was
the one that had the fewest rules and laws.
• He valued simplicity. Lao said:
“The wise man keeps to the deed that consists in
taking no action and practices the teaching that
uses no words.”
Bad Government According to Daoists
Daoist influence and inventions
• The Daoists study of nature enabled them to
make advances in science and technology.
• They recorded the movements of planets and
increased their knowledge of astronomy.
• They may have developed the magnetic compass
to determine favorable places for graves.
• Daoist observations of natural forces led to
discoveries in chemistry and biology.
• Some scholars think that Daoists invented
gunpowder, which they used to frighten ghosts.
Daoists and Religion
• Daoism developed links with folk religions.
Peasants believed that gods and spirits
controlled the unseen powerful forces in nature.
• To find out what would please the spirits, they
turned to Daoist priests for help.
• Priests used all kinds of magic to determine
lucky days for weddings and the best place for
graves.
Pop Quiz on Daoism
Daoists believe that the best
government is the government with
the most rules and laws that will
ensure order.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct!!

Daoists believe that best government is
the government that has the fewest rules
and laws. Lao Zi said:
“The wise man keeps to the deed that
consists in taking no action and practices
the teaching that uses no words.”
Lao Zi verses Confucius
Daoists reject Confucian rules for
society because they disturbed the
natural way.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct!

Daoists reject Confucian rules for society
because they are an artificial creation. Lao Zi
said:
“The duck’s legs are short, but if we try to
lengthen them, the duck will feel pain. The
crane’s legs are long, but if we try to shorten
them, that crane will feel grief. Therefore
we are not to cut off what is by nature long,
nor to lengthen what is by nature short.”
Incorrect

You have not followed the natural way.
Return to where you came from and have
Lao assist you in finding “the way.”
Legalism




A third school of thought that shaped China’s
early history is Legalism.
The most famous Legalist writer was Han Feizi.
It is unknown when he was born, but he died in
233 B.C.
In his book, of the same name, Han Feizi,
rejected Confucian ideas about proper behavior.
Han Feizi believed that people acted out of selfinterest and would only respond to rewards and
punishments, not good examples.


Because of self-interest, Legalists believed
that only harsh laws imposed by a strong
ruler would ensure order.
Han Feizi noted:
“The ruler alone possesses power, wielding it
like lightening or like thunder.”

In 221 B.C., the Qin emperor Shi Huangdi
used Legalist ideas to unite China.
Legacy of Legalism


Many feudal rulers of China like Shi
Huangdi, chose Legalism as the most
effective way to keep order. Shi’s laws
were so cruel that later generations
despised Legalism.
Yet, Legalist ideas survived in laws that
forced people to work on government
projects and punished those who slacked
from their duties.
Pop Quiz on Legalism
Legalists believed that people held
power over the ruler.
TRUE
FALSE
Incorrect!!

You have chosen poorly. For your poor
judgment, you will be forced to wash all
the desks in the school with a toothbrush
from a Barbie Doll. Unfortunately, this is
still to harsh of a punishment according to
the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretation of
the Constitution. Your are lucky this isn’t
the Qin Dynasty, so try again.
Correct!!

For pleasing your ruler, you will only have
to study for 16 hours tonight instead of 18
hours. Enjoy your two free hours, but be
cautious because remember what Han
Feizi said:
“The ruler alone possesses power, wielding it
like lightening or like thunder.”
Next time, you could be on the opposite
side of the ruler.
Buddhism
 During the first century A.D.,
Buddhism reached China from India.
 Buddhism was one of the few foreign
influences that had a deep impact on
Chinese life.
 It spread along caravan trade routes that
linked India to China.
 Later, Buddhism-and the culture of Chinawas taken to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
The Appeal of Buddhism
 The Chinese found a great deal of comfort in
Buddhism. The three Chinese schools of thoughtConfucianism, Daoism, and Legalism-dealt with
life on Earth. Buddhism was a religion that offered
an escape from the suffering of earthly life.
 Buddhism promised salvation for the good, those
who lived moral lives, and punishment for the
wicked. It stressed mercy and compassion.
 Buddhist monks and nuns built hospitals
and helped the poor.
First impression of Buddhism
 When Buddhism first reached China, many
Chinese saw it as a foreign religion. They
could not understand the vague concept of
nirvana.
 Also, they criticized people who abandoned
their families to become monks and nuns.
 In time, Buddhism blended with Chinese beliefs and
values. Nirvana became the western Heaven, reflecting
Chinese ideas about the afterlife.
 Chinese Buddhists emphasized Confucian ideas of proper
behavior and respect for family and ancestors. They also
absorbed Daoist views of nature because the Chinese
could accept diverse ideas. As a result, many Chinese
followed Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian beliefs at the
same time.
 Confucianism and Daoism were concerned with ethics and
living in harmony with nature, including the gods and spirits
that were believed to be everywhere. Although temples
and ceremonies developed around both schools of
thought, neither Confucianism nor Daoism were a true
religion like Buddhism was.
Pop Quiz on Buddhism
Buddhism was not a true religion,
unlike Confucianism and Daoism.
TRUE
FALSE
Incorrect!!!

If it is nirvana you seek, click on the
Buddha to make your enlightenment
complete.
CORRECT!!!

Buddhism was a true religion, not a
philosophy like Confucianism and Daoism.
Question #1
Which philosopher taught that there
is a hierarchy in society where the
superior person is responsible for the
inferior person?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Confucius (Confucianism)
Lao Zi (Daoism)
Han Feizi (Legalism)
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddhism)
CORRECT!
• Confucius taught that there is a hierarchy
in society where the superior person is
responsible for the inferior person. He
said:
“If a ruler himself is upright, all will go well without
orders. But if he himself is not upright, even
though he gives orders, they will not be obeyed.”
Question #2
Which Chinese philosopher taught
that people acted out of self-interest
and would ONLY respond to rewards
and punishments imposed by a harsh
ruler?
a. Confucius (Confucianism)
b. Lao Zi (Daoism)
c. Han Feizi (Legalism)
d. Siddhartha Gautama (Buddhism)
CORRECT !!

Han Feizi believed that people acted ONLY
out of self-interest. He noted that:
“The ruler alone possesses power, wielding it like
lightening or like thunder.”
Question #3
Which Chinese philosopher taught
that the best government was the
one that had the fewest rules
because human rules interfere with
the natural way?
a. Confucius (Confucianism)
b. Lao Zi (Daoism)
c. Han Feizi (Legalism)
d. Siddhartha Gautama (Buddhism)
YOU ARE CORRECT!
• Lao Zi believed that the best government
was the one that had the fewest rules and
laws. He said that:
“The wise man keeps to the deed that consists in
taking no action and practices the teaching that
uses no words.”
Question #4
Which of the following philosophies
and religious beliefs were NOT native
to China?
a. Confucius (Confucianism)
b. Lao Zi (Daoism)
c. Han Feizi (Legalism)
d. Siddhartha Gautama (Buddhism)
Correct!

Buddhism was NOT native to China. As a
matter of fact, Siddhartha Gautama the
founder of Buddhism, was from Nepal.
INCORRECT




You have NOT followed the example set by
Confucius.
You have not followed the natural way and made
Lao Zi cry.
You have angered Han Feizi and you will be
punished!
Luckily Siddhartha is on you side and will give you
another chance at achieving Nirvana.