Hundred Schools

Chinese Political Philosophy• The Soil for the Hundred Schools of Thought• Confucianism• Daoism• Legalism• Comparison• A Game• Overview: Trends in Chinese Civilization

The Soil for the Hundred Schools of Thought

• Broader Global Context

The Soil for the Hundred Schools of Thought

• Broader Global Context• Unraveling of Zhou Feudalism

The Soil for the Hundred Schools of Thought

• Broader Global Context• Unraveling of Zhou Feudalism• Increased Warfare/Unrest

The Soil for the Hundred Schools of Thought

• Broader Global Context• Unraveling of Zhou Feudalism• Increased Warfare/Unrest• Loss of Shi Influence

The Soil for the Hundred Schools of Thought

• Broader Global Context• Unraveling of Zhou Feudalism• Increased Warfare/Unrest• Loss of Shi Influence• Effect on Peasantry

The Soil for the Hundred Schools of Thought

• Broader Global Context• Unraveling of Zhou Feudalism• Increased Warfare/Unrest• Loss of Shi Influence• Effect on Peasantry• Trade

The Soil for the Hundred Schools of Thought

• Broader Global Context• Unraveling of Zhou Feudalism• Increased Warfare/Unrest• Loss of Shi Influence• Effect on Peasantry• Trade• Overview: Ripe Soil for Shi Speculation

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas– Individual Level• Morals/Ethics vs. Religion

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas– Individual Level• Morals/Ethics vs. Religion• Key Confucian Terms

– Li– Xiao (Filial Piety)– Ren – Shu

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas– Individual Level• Morals/Ethics vs. Religion• Key Confucian Terms

– Li– Xiao (Filial Piety)– Ren – Shu

• Five Relationships

Five Principal Relationships of Confucianism

Relationship Shu (Reciprocity)

Ruler/Subject Benevolence in rulers, loyalty in ministers and subjects

Father/Son Kindness in the father, filial piety (respect for elders) in the son

Elder/Younger Brother Righteous behavior in the husband, obedience in the wife

Husband/Wife Gentility in the oldest son, humility and respect in the younger siblings

Friend/Friend Humane consideration in elders, deference in juniors.

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas– Individual Level– State/Political Level• Achieving Social Harmony by…

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas– Individual Level– State/Political Level• Achieving Social Harmony by…• Strong Rulers and Consolidation of Political Power

Confucianism• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas

– Individual Level– State/Political Level

• Achieving Social Harmony by…• Strong Rulers and Consolidation of Political Power• Good Government Through Moral Persuasion

“Lead them by means of regulations and keep order among them through punishments, and the people will evade them and will lack any sense of shame. Lead them through moral force (de) and keep order among them through rites (li), and they will have a sense of shame and will also correct themselves.”

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas– Individual Level– State/Political Level

• Achieving Social Harmony by…• Strong Rulers and Consolidation of Political Power• Good Government Through Moral Persuasion• Rulers Serve People• Moral Meritocracy• A Perfect World?

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas– Individual Level– State/Political Level

• A Confucian Gentleman

How a Confucian Gentleman Behaves

Confucius on Filial Piety

Confucianism

• Confucius the Man (Kung Fuzi)• “Confucius Says”: Confucian Ideas– Individual Level– State/Political Level

• A Confucian Gentleman– Respectful, Reverent– Filial Piety– “Generalist” and Moral Exemplar

Confucianism

• Heirs of Confucius– Primary Sources: Mencius vs. Xunzi

Selections from the Mencius:On Human Nature

2A:6 All human beings have a mind that cannot bear to see the sufferings of others.The ancient kings had a commiserating mind and, accordingly, a commiserating government.Having a commiserating mind, a commiserating government, governing the world was liketurning something around on the palm of the hand.

… Now, if anyone were to suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, his mind would always be filled with alarm, distress, pity, and compassion. That he would react accordingly is not because he would use the opportunity to ingratiate himself with the child’s parents, nor because he would seek commendation from neighbors and friends, nor because he would hate the adverse reputation. From this it may be seen that one who lacks a mind that feels pity and compassion would not be human; one who lacks a mind that feels aversion and shame would not be human; one who lacks a mind that feels modesty and compliance would not be human; and one who lacks a mind that knows right and wrong would not be human.

Selection from the Xunzi:“Human Nature Is Evil”

Human nature is evil: its goodness derives from conscious activity. Now it is human nature tobe born with a fondness for profit. Indulging this leads to contention and strife, and the sense of modesty and yielding with which one was born disappears. One is born with feelings of envy and hate, and, by indulging these, one is led into banditry and theft, so that the sense of loyalty and good faith with which he was born disappears. One is born with the desires of the ears and eyes and with a fondness for beautiful sights and sounds, and, by indulging these, one is led into licentiousness and chaos, so that the sense of ritual, rightness, refinement, and principle with which one was born is lost. Hence, following human nature and indulging human emotions will inevitably lead to contention and strife, causing one to rebel against one’s proper duty, reduce principle to chaos, and revert to violence. Therefore one must be transformed by the example of a teacher and guided by the way of ritual and rightness before one will attain modesty and yielding, accord with refinement and ritual, and return to order. …

… A questioner asks: If human nature is evil, then where do ritual and rightness come from? Ireply: ritual and rightness are always created by the conscious activity of the sages; essentially they are not created by human nature. … If human nature were good, we could dispense with the sage kings and desist from the practice of ritual and rightness. Since human nature is evil, we must elevate the sages and esteem ritual and rightness.

Confucianism

• Heirs of Confucius– Primary Sources: Mencius vs. Xunzi– Mencius• Human Nature• So Rulers should…

Confucianism

• Heirs of Confucius– Primary Sources: Mencius vs. Xunzi– Mencius• Human Nature• So Rulers should…

– Xunzi• Human Nature• So Rulers should…• Impact

Daoism

• Origins– Different Reaction to Warring States– Laozi and Daodejing

Daoism

• Origins– Different Reaction to

Warring States– Laozi and Daodejing

• Ideas– The Dao– Becoming one with the

Dao• Intuitive not Intellectual• Retreat into Nature

A Daoist Poem

It is wisdom to know othersIt is enlightenment to know one’s selfThe conqueror of men is powerfulThe master of himself is strongerIt is wealth to be contentIt is willful to force one’s way on others

So what is the desired behavior?

Daoism

• Origins– Different Reaction to Warring States– Laozi and Daodejing

• Ideas– The Dao– Becoming one with the Dao• Intuitive not Intellectual• Retreat into Nature• Wu Wei

Daoism

• Origins– Different Reaction to Warring States– Laozi and Daodejing

• Ideas– The Dao– Becoming one with the Dao

• Intuitive not Intellectual• Retreat into Nature• Wu Wei

• Political Ideas– Overall, Little Use for Politics

Another Daoist PoemI take no action and the people are reformedI enjoy peace and people become honestI do nothing and people become rich.I have no desires and people return to the good and simple life

How should rulers behave?How do you know if a ruler is doing a good job?

Daoism• Origins

– Different Reaction to Warring States– Laozi and Daodejing

• Ideas– The Dao– Becoming one with the Dao

• Intuitive not Intellectual• Retreat into Nature• Wu Wei

• Political Ideas– Overall, Little Use for Politics– Still Had a Critique of Government

• Ideal Rulers• Compare to Confucianism• Wu Wei as political philosophy

Daoism• Origins

– Different Reaction to Warring States– Laozi and Daodejing

• Ideas• Political Ideas

– Overall, Little Use for Politics– Still Had a Critique of Government

• Ideal Rulers• Compare to Confucianism• Wu Wei as political philosophy

• Development– Original Philosophical Daoism– Religious Daoism

Daoism• Origins

– Different Reaction to Warring States– Laozi and Daodejing

• Ideas• Political Ideas

– Overall, Little Use for Politics– Still Had a Critique of Government

• Ideal Rulers• Compare to Confucianism• Wu Wei as political philosophy

• Development– Original Philosophical Daoism– Religious Daoism

• Impact

Legalism

• Overview

Legalism

• Overview• Prominent Figures– Shang Yang (Book of Lord Shang)• Goal• People• Laws

Legalism

• Overview• Prominent Figures– Shang Yang (Book of Lord Shang)• Goal• People• Laws

– Xunzi

Legalism

• Overview• Prominent Figures– Shang Yang (Book of Lord Shang)

• Goal• People• Laws

– Xunzi– Han Feizi

• Punitive Laws• Group Responsibility• Rewards and Punishments

Legalist Writings of Han Feizi

• What do kindness/generosity do?• How does the outlined portion compare to the writings of Confucius/Mencius?

Legalist Writings of Han Feizi

• What is Han Feizi’s Critique of Confucianism?

Legalist Writings of Han Feizi

• What does Han Feizi say about winning the hearts of people?• Is it a problem when people are angry?

Legalism• Overview• Prominent Figures

– Shang Yang (Book of Lord Shang)• Goal• People• Laws

– Xunzi– Han Feizi

• Punitive Laws• Group Responsibility• Rewards and Punishments

• Ideas– The Need for Laws– Power of the state>Benefit of People– Efficient Bureaucracy– Pragmatism vs. Morality

Legalism

• Overview• Prominent Figures– Shang Yang (Book of Lord Shang)– Xunzi– Han Feizi

• Ideas– The Need for Laws– Power of the state>Benefit of People– Efficient Bureaucracy– Pragmatism vs. Morality

• Legacy

Comparison

Trends in Chinese Civilization

• Contemplemtary Bipolarity– “Harmony based on hierarchical Difference”

Trends in Chinese Civilization

• Contemplemtary Bipolarity– “Harmony based on hierarchical Difference”

• Focus on Ethics

Trends in Chinese Civilization

• Contemplemtary Bipolarity– “Harmony based on hierarchical Difference”

• Focus on Ethics• Ritual (li)– What is ritual?– What does it do?– Role in Chinese Culture