Preview

In What Way Did Three Philosophical Movements of China Shape the Civilization?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
463 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
In What Way Did Three Philosophical Movements of China Shape the Civilization?
There are several ways that the philosophical movements of China shaped the civilization. Confucianism is just one of them which started in the Han Dynasty, another is legalism which started in the Qin Dynasty, and the last is taoism which was just a local superstition.

Confucianism is just one philosophical movement that shaped China and is still shaping China today. Created by Confucius, who according to tradition was a thinker, political figure, and educator.Confucius talked about his vision of a more perfect society in which rulers, subject,nobles,commoners,parents,children,men, and women should graciously accept the roles assigned to them. Confucius also displayed many virtues such as integrity and a sense of duty. Confucianism wasn’t intended as a philosophical learning, but was taken that way. Confucianism changed the way that the empire was run. Before, emperors just appointed people to positions even if they were not fit for the position. After Confucianism, emperors chose the people they thought were the best suited for the job based on written test given out.

Legalism is yet another philosophical movement that shaped China. Legalism focuses on statecraft, reasoned by extreme disorders called for drastic measures. Started by the Han Dynasty, and adopted into the Qin Dynasty, legalism stresses the need for order above all other human concerns. Legalism was a political philosophy that did not ask higher questions like the purpose of life. Legalists believed that political institutions should be modeled after the realities of human behavior such as selfishness or kindness. Laws admitted punishments and rewards for specific behaviors, rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior. This legal policy lead to the over throw of the Qin Dynasty.

Taoism emerged during the warring states period and has shaped Chinese life for more than two-thousand years. Taoism was adopted as the state religion of the Late

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    China Dbq Analysis

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Between 100 CE to 600 CE China went between political unification as well as period fragmentation. China also experienced the effect that the rise and fall of confusion ideals and new emerging religions had on their culture. However, Confucianism was always an influence on china both culturally and politically.…

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Zhou Dynasty Philosophies

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The 250 years between 475 and 221 BC was called the Warring States Period because the Zhou dynasty split into . These states fought alot until the Qin dynasty conquered them all.New kings and rulers rose up to rule each state towards victory. The Qin rulers generally wanted to conquer all the others. The Qin rulers taught their people to destroy other states and justified harsh control, forced labor, and respecting the emperor. They used their manpower for big construction projects. The big amount of people resulted in big armies. As the states fought, popular philosophies and religions of Daoism, Legalism, Confucianism, and Moism were created and became popular.…

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Master Kong", 551–479 BC). Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han Dynasty.[1] Following the abandonment of Legalism in China after the Qin Dynasty, Confucianism became the official state ideology of China. The core of Confucianism is humanism,[2] the belief that human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor especially including self-cultivation and self-creation.…

    • 2526 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius was born in 51 BC and grew up in poverty. His real name is Kong Zi, the name Confucius, catholic priests finding it easier to use, gave it to him. The causes were that, Confucius said, and wrote in his books, that the past was better than the present. Emperor Qin didn’t like his teachings and burned all his books but that didn’t stop Confucius’s ideas. He said that an Emperor should listen to his people and make them happy. He believed that the Emperor had broken the ways of haven and the soil would not be plentiful and crop would not grow. He said that they should have a good emperor, an emperor that follows the ways of heaven, and that they need a better emperor, one who could be trusted by the people and come from a powerful family. That emperor was Liu Bang, who made the country peaceful again and built schools for the ways of Confucius. Confucius said that people should find happiness in life and find the right way to live in life. He taught people about peace and said that educated people acted and were better than uneducated people. He said, “In a Chinese family, the child should give the parents a constant love and obedience. In return, the parents should give the child a constant love and protection. The Consequences were that China improved and became a more civilized civilization. Confucius’s ways are still being taught today.…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Zhou's Mandate Of Heaven

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages

    It is two main philosophies that started to compete in China 3000 years ago. They were not just philosophies, but state policy options to govern / rule the nation. Throughout the long course of China history, Confucianism came out on top. Most major ruling dynasties in China have adopted Confucianism. It even spread to Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Legalism emphasizes law, or a set of codes, to rule the nation. Everyone is equal before the law (this sense is vague in China); law rewards who obey and punish who violate. Confucianism, on the other hand, emphasizes morality---such as, human nature is essentially good, treating others as you treating yourself; and it stresses social order---i.e. high officials respect the ruler when it comes to state affairs; son respects father, young / inexperienced respect elder / experienced, when it comes to family…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Han China and Ancient Rome both demonstrated prosperous, influential religious systems that influenced other religious systems. In Han China, many followed Confucianism as a religion. Confucian teachings emphasized strong rulers and the consolidation of political power. Confucianism was not a religion, but a philosophy. It advocated rule by the highly educated, male elite, and it was primarily an ethical system. Respect for elders, art, music, and elegant calligraphy in the cultivation of scholar-bureaucrats were all important. Other Confucian teachings were Legalism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Confucianism has exerted a pervasive influence on other societies throughout Asia. Confucianism has affected and been incorporated in nearly every aspect of life. Education, government, behavior, and how the people should live their lives are all connected and Confucianism provided a code and a guide to have effective government and education, and lead a happy, successful life. China’s Confucian ideals, technological advancements, and prosperous agrarian state captivated major thinkers in Europe and the United States. The Roman Empire provided an arena for the spread of Christianity and the interaction of numerous diverse cultures.…

    • 1195 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism, developed by the philosopher Confucius, during times of conflict in early B.C, soon became the dominating belief system in China. Confucianism was based on mutual relationships; husband to wife, father to son, leader to subjects. Social harmony could be achieved through respect for the elders, as well as respect and kindness for those people lower in social rank. This applied to the politics of China because it set the basis for the belief of obedience to the emperor, as long as the emperor treated his subjects kindly, and with respect. The idea of Filial Piety was humility towards one superior. Because of this, in China, leaders and elders were in the highest regard.…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Classical China was established under the influences of three philosophical movements: Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism. Confucianism intended for bettered moral conduct and more sophisticated political formations. Confucian beliefs, however, lacked the spiritual side Daoism provided. Daoism integrated traditional Chinese principles with a sense of magic and mystery of nature. Legalism prompted military force for a more authoritative state, preferring strong-arm tactics and shunning Confucian values. These three philosophical movements of classical China shaped its civilization in many ways.…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    After the Qin Dynasty was replaced by Han Dynasty, Han Dynasty started to adapt Confucianism, and it had already become political elite in Han Dynasty. Even though Confucian scholars were in a low political status, it also provided them with more time to study on the Confucian classics, teaching apprentices; thus they had a more profound understanding on society and politics. Through their constantly of efforts, transformation and development of Confucianism, Emperor Han adapted their doctrine of Confucianism that was conducive to the ruler to rule the country. After that, Confucianism doctrines was not only expanded throughout the China, but increasingly introduced to Korea, Vietnam and Japan. It was the period called Confucianism as Proper…

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    china

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Confucian system was based on the teachings of Confucius. Confucius spread ideas about political virtue and good government. He was not a religious leader which shifted Chinese values. He emphasized the importance of personal virtue. He believed that if people were taught that they would find a reverence for tradition and a solid political life. Confucius set out to rectify political disorder. He emphasized individual virtuous behavior. He thought that whatever a ruler did, his people would imitate and follow. The people will imitate the ruler’s self control. Confucius set up levels of authority stressing personal restraints and careful socialization of children. Rival Chinese schools are the thoughts and teachings of different philosophers that had different ideas that went against each other, such as Confucianism and Daoism.…

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ming Dynasty Essay

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Taoism or “Daoism” were widely spread throughout the Ming dynasty. Taoism can be defined as a philosophical ideology of a polytheistic…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He studied and reflected on and taught the "literature" at the center of Chinese culture in its formative period. He consolidated the ancient texts and contributed commentaries upon them. He spoke about and answered questions about the most serious matters of concern to human beings. Confucianism is humanism, a philosophy or attitude that is concerned with human beings, their achievements and interests, rather than with the abstract beings and problems of theology. Confucianism was founded by the philosopher Confucius. Confucius lived from 551-479 B.C. In many ways, Confucian philosophy is a middle-ground between the harsh doctrines of the Legalist school of philosophy. Legalist philosophy adheres to rules and custom, but it pushes punishment and discipline, and it lacks the emphasis…

    • 1569 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He thought of many rules and even a version of the golden rule saying, "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others." (The World Book Encyclopedia – 2004 – World book, Inc. – Chicago IL. – Volume 4) Many consider Confucianism as a religion, but it has no clergy and doesn't involve any type of worship. It is more of a guide to mortality and good government. Confucianism originated about 500 BC, and from 100's BC to the 1900's AD Confucianism was the most important single force in Chinese life. This religion influenced education, government, personal behavior, and the individuals' duty to society. Confucianism started because of a philosopher named Confucius, born about 551BC. He believed his society could be saved if it emphasized sincerity in personal and public conduct. The Confucian's believed the key to orderly social life was gentlemen. Confucius believed they were rulers. He wasn't very well known when he came to his death. It was his followers that spread his ideas, Mencius, (390?-305? BC) and there was Xunzi (mid 200s BC). Mencius believed that you were to be born good and he stressed the need to preserve "the natural compassion of the heart" that makes people human. He also emphasized the past as an ideal age and a model for examining present problems. And Xunzi believed "people could be good and live together peacefully only if their minds were shaped by education and clear rules of conduct". (The World Book Encyclopedia – 2004 – World book, Inc. – Chicago IL. – Volume…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism was an ethical system that was used as the foundation for the Chinese government and social order. The Confusion idea of government was that education was the key to a good bureaucracy. Confucius believed that instead of rulers being born into an official position, they should be selected based on basis of merit and personal morality. He also believed that rulers should be kind to their people and that the people should be respectful and law-abiding in return. The Han Dynasty took on this way of government when it established authority in 200 B.C.E. They sent what they called, “Men of Promise,” from each province to the capital to be chosen for official positions. This is one of the things that led to the unification of China.…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism

    • 6078 Words
    • 18 Pages

    Confucianism, also known as Ruism,[1][2] is an ethical and philosophical system, on occasion described as a religion,[note 1]developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BCE). Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in theHan Dynasty.[5] Following the official abandonment of Legalism in China after the Qin Dynasty, Confucianism became the official state ideology of the Han. Nonetheless, from the Han period onwards, most Chinese emperors have used a mix of Legalism and Confucianism as their ruling doctrine. The disintegration of the Han in the second century CE opened the way for the soteriologicaldoctrines of Buddhism and Taoism to dominate intellectual life at that time.…

    • 6078 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics