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Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism

During the late part of the Zhou Dynasty three major philosophies emerged. These philosophies were Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism. The period constituted such a time of unrest that thinkers thought deeply about the nature of humanity and the problems of the society. These philosophies had some similarities and some differences, and this paper will explore some of them. Confucianism was started by Kong Fuzi (Master Kong, the sage, 551-479 B.C.E) known as Confucius in the West after Jesuit missionaries to China in the seventeenth century Latinized his name. His teachings were put in a book called The Analects. He felt that China was full of rude, dishonest people. He wanted people to return to have good ethics. His view was hierarchical. His philosophies were meant for common people as well as rulers of China. He believed that fathers should be role models for family, the ideal man was a junzi, often translated as gentleman. Children should respect and obey elders, families should be loyal to one another. A son should always obey his father or parents. Interactions among people were to be governed by li. Li was manifested in each of five relationships- the relationships between parent and child , ruler and subject, husband and wife, elder brother and younger brother, and friend and friend- it was the most important in the family (Civilization Past and Present Eleventh Edition Ch: 2 pg: 48). He also believed that the improvement of the society was the responsibility of the ruler and that the quality of the government depended upon the rulers moral character. The way(Dao) of learning to be great consists in shining with illustrious power of moral personality, in making a new people, in abiding in the highest goodness (Civilization Past and Present Eleventh Edition Ch: 2 pg: 48). There were no strict laws in the government, leaders were to be role models for morals and behavior, the king should inspire good behavior- not scare people into good behavior. He noted, The noble man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what is profitable (Civilization Past and Present Eleventh Edition Ch: 2 pg: 49).Legalism was founded by Han Feizi (d.233 B.C.E) who was the student of Xunzi (Confucian thinker). He Believed that the philosophies of Confucius which portrayed human kindness was not an effective way to rule China. He also believed that people were bad and needed to be controlled .Society needed strict laws and people should be responsible for other peoples action. He wanted to scare people into obeying the laws. His beliefs were totally opposite to Confucian theories. The laws applied equally to everyone and there was no religion involved. Legalism contains three structure each telling on how to govern the society or a kingdom. First one is fa which means law, in this the laws were written down and were made public, the law ran the state not the rulers, these laws were enforced by strict rewards and punishments. The second one is Shi which means legitimacy, keeping the order was the first priority, there was no definite ruler anyone can rule as long as the laws were in place. The third one Shu which means arts of the ruler, this one describes how a ruler of a kingdom should be. He should not be kind for kindness leads to failure. Rulers should not be expected to be moral leaders, who treated their subjects with kindness (Civilization Past and Present Eleventh Edition Ch: 2 pg: 50) this was the idea of Han Feizi. The Legalists argued for an elaborate system of laws defining fixed penalties for each offense, with no consideration for rank, class, or circumstances, with the important exception of the ruler, who was above the law (Civilization Past and Present Eleventh Edition Ch: 2 pg: 50).The punishments were based on the coded laws, judges were not allowed to use their consciences in estimating the gravity of a crime.Daoism or Taoism was the last school of thought started by Lao Tsu who lived about 600 B.C.E which emerged in the late Zhou era. Daoism ideas focused on natural harmony rather than social harmony. In its very earliest forms, it had some political aspects. During the third century B.C.E Zuangzi (369- 266 B.C.E), embraced relativism and spiritual freedom was adamantly apolitical. The beliefs were that it was wrong for people to fight, it was wrong for the government to make rules and had theories regarding body, diet, breathing, and physical exercises, use of herbs, philosophical enquires and meditation. People were needed to go with the flow of nature. Daoism did not welcome the rulers intervention to improve the society. It told that the way of nature with which humans should seek harmony rather than dominance (Civilization Past and Present Eleventh Edition Ch: 2 pg: 50). The Daoist feels these ideas bring a human being into closer alignment with the natural order of life and living. There were two texts written on Daoism which were Daodejing or Laozi and Zhuangzi, These books were open to many interpretations for it suggests Dao itself cannot be defined. There were few ideas that were strongly encouraged, however; that nonaction and nonbeing triumph over action and being and that silence is superior to words (Civilization Past and Present Eleventh Edition Ch: 2 pg: 50). Laozi had some political uses for instance, some rulers believed that by doing nothing their society could be strengthen.The second book Zhuangzi strongly rejects politics and engagement with society. Daoism was not a revolt against society, it was a way of thinking. Anecdotes and allegories abound in both texts, as in all mystical teachings that deal with subjects that are difficult to put in words. In the later era Daoism adopted a religious aspect which was primarily philosophical.This paper is concluded by saying that even though these three philosophies have some differences and similarities they were the major philosophies which governed China. They had a free thinking policy through which anyone can create a new philosophy. Some philosophies were harsh to society while some were so lenient, but these were the guidelines to the rise of Chinese empire. These philosophies developed to provide a chaotic period in the Chinese history better order, each having similarities and differences between them.

Bibliography:Civilizations Past & Present 11th edition Chapter 2anthonydisibio.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/file/view/China+Philosophies.ppt

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