Chinese Schools of Thought:
Confucianism (儒), Daoism (道教),
and Legalism (法家)
Ms. Catsos
World History
Review: Timeline of Ancient Dynasties
Shang Dynasty: 1650-1027 BC (Section 3.3)
Zhou Dynasty: 1027-256 BC (Section 3.3)
Warring States Period: 475-221 BC (Section 4.4)
Qin Dynasty: 221- 210 BC (Section 4.5)
Han Dynasty: 206 BC- 220 AD (Section 4.5)
Warring States Period (475-221 BC)
• Period of competition between local clan
leaders for control of China
• Overlapped with the end of the Zhou
Dynasty because the Zhou were technically
in charge, but had little control for the last
200 years of their Dynasty
• Many thinkers developed competing
philosophies, attempting to bring stability
and peace to China
• Competing clan leaders often developed
their own philosophies
What is a philosophy?
• Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism are
not religions. They have no gods or
description of the afterlife.
• They are “philosophies” (systems of ideas)
and are also called “schools of thought.”
Confucianism
• Founder was Confucius
(born 551 BC)
• Part of a noble but poor
family
• Wandered to local courts
advising rulers on how to
govern
• He attracted many students
who wrote down his ideas
after his death in a book
called the Analects
Confucius’ Five Relationships
• Harmony occurs when people accept
their place in society and have correct
relationships:
• Father to son
• Elder brother to younger brother
• Husband to wife
• Ruler to subject
• Friend to friend
Five Relationships Partner Activity
• With a partner, read the sayings of Confucius
from the Analects. Based on the sayings,
decide what Confucius believes is the proper
roles of both people in each of the five
relationships:
• Father to son
• Elder brother to younger brother
• Husband to wife
• Ruler to subject
• Friend to friend
Five relationships In Depth: Father and Son
• Filial piety = respect for parents
• Should be put above all other duties
Five relationships In Depth: Ruler and Subject
• Should be similar to the relationship
between a father and son, in which a
father loves and protects the son while the
son obeys the father
• A ruler should be virtuous and welleducated
Five Relationships Writing ReflectionAnswer each in 2-3 sentences:
1. What do you think about the Five
Relationships? Do any of them seem fair to
you?
2. Do you think we have anything similar to the
five relationships today?
3. Which of these relationships were shown in
the clips we watched from Mulan?
Legalism
• Founder was Hanfeizi (died
233 BC)
• Believed that all people
were naturally evil
• The only way to achieve
order was strict laws and
harsh punishments
• The best ruler was strict and
merciless
Legalism and Government
• “The love of the early kings for their
children could not surpass the love of
parents' for their children, so if parents
love does not inevitably result in their
children not being unruly, how can the
love of kings make their people
orderly?”
• How were Hanfeizi’s ideas different
from those of Confucius?
Legalism and Government
• Many clan leaders chose legalism- why?
• Official policy of the Qin Emperor, Shi
Huangdi, who united China after the Warring
States Period.
• Qin Shi Huangdi was cruel and many later
Chinese people hated legalism because of
him.
Daoism/ Taoism
• Founder was Laozicontemporary of Confucius
• Little is known about his life
• He is credited with writing
The Way of Virtue
Daoism and “The Way”
• Daoists sought to live in harmony with
nature and Dao, or “the way” of the
universe.
• Tried to avoid conflict and simply “go
with the flow”
• Daoists believed government was
unnatural and should be as small as
possible
Daoism and Government
• “A leader is best when people barely
know he exists, when his work is done,
his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it
ourselves.”
• How were Laozi’s ideas different from
those of Confucius and Hanfeizi?
The Tao of Pooh
• "While Eeyore frets ...
... and Piglet hesitates
... and Rabbit calculates
... and Owl pontificates
...Pooh just is.”
• Tao of Pooh Video Clip
“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last,
"what's the first thing you say to yourself?“
"What's for breakfast? said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?“
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said
Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.