Chinese Philosophies Daoism Buddhism Confucianism
Confucianism Based on the teachings of Kong Fu Zi or Confucius a travelling bureaucrat for the Zhou dynasty.
His practical philosophy of life and government focused on proper conduct, respect for elders, education and strong government.
The code of behavior he taught revolved around five relationships ruler & subject parent & child husband & wife Sibling & Sibling (Elder and Younger) Friend and Friend (members of the community) The first person is viewed as superior and worthy of respect and obedience in turn, this superior person was expected to set a good example of moral behavior.
Believed that if a ruler lived by strong virtues then the subjects would follow his example. Neo-Confucianism during the Song dynasty found new meanings for Confucianism by blending the desire for enlightenment (Buddhism) and the need to live according to the Dao through selfimprovement and education.
Daoism Based on the teachings of Laozi. Thought that the goal of life was to achieve oneness with the Dao, a universe connected to nature that cannot be defined. Humans should see themselves as a part of nature.
Humans can achieve happiness with nature, which offers them guidance and serves as a model. To discover the DAO, or the way, of the universe live simply, in harmony with nature and others. Does not believe in Strong government.
Harmony comes from balancing the opposite forces of nature, called YIN and YANG. YIN = female, earth, dark and cold YANG = male, sky, light and heat
Many Daoists left society to live closer to nature. During the Tang dynasty, Daoism grew from a philosophy into a religion with priests and temples.
Does not believe in strong government. Chinese leaders dismiss these ideas as impractical, but a small group of followers used Daoism to escape from the harsh reality of life.
BUDDHISM
Based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha. Buddhism came from India. Buddha means Enlightened One. Born the son of a nobleman in northern India, he abandoned his family to take up an ascetic life. At age 35, after years of meditation, Gautama secured enlightenment (nirvana) he became BUDDHA and devoted the rest of his life to preaching the Middle Way, or the pathway to enlightenment..
The Four Noble Truths 1) All humans endure pain & suffering. 2) We suffer because of desire, fame, greed and selfishness. 3) To end suffering, we must end desire. 4) Desire can be fully comprehended and ended by following the Middle Way or Eightfold Path: Right view Right thought Right speech Right conduct Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right meditation
The Middle Way stresses virtuous conduct and compassion for all living things. The first goal is to attain NIRVANA, a condition of desiring nothing. This breaks the cycle of life and death and reincarnation. The final goal is to devote their lives to bring others to enlightenment. Monks spread it to Korea & Japan. By the time of the Tang dynasty, Buddhism had many followers in China. However, the religion was criticized because it had no roots in Chinese culture. Many Buddhists were persecuted and their temples were destroyed.
This path promotes good deeds, compassion, friendship, and advances universal harmony, peace and love.
The End
Who said it? Use your notes and understanding of the 3 ways of thought to match the following quotes with the philosopher who said it. There will be 3 quotes per philosopher.
Like a spider caught in its own web is a person driven by fierce cravings. Break out of the web, and turn away from the world of sensory pleasure and sorrow.
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.
Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefitting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes close to the Way.
The mind is flighty, and hard to grasp; the mind pursues all its desires. To tame the mind is great goodness. Subdue the mind and know tranquility.
The more laws and edicts are imposed, the more thieves and bandits there will be.
Be respectful at home, serious at work, faithful in human relations. Even if you go to uncivilized areas, these virtues are not to be abandoned.
Seeing that our body, with hair and skin is derived from our parents, we should not allow it to be injured in any way. This is the beginning of family respect. We develop our own character and practice the so as to perpetuate our name for future generations, and to bring honor to our parents.
Life is a journey, death is a return to the earth, the universe is like an inn, the passing years are like dust.
The sage, because he does nothing, never ruins anything; and, because he does not lay hold of anything, loses nothing.