Confucianism


The school takes the teachings of Confucius as its core of thought and regards the words and deeds of Confucius as its highest code (准则) of behavior. It advocates the benevolence and justice, allegiance and forbearance (仁、义、忠、恕), the doctrine of the golden mean (中庸) and values the ethical relations of men.
The philosophy in Pre-Qin times (先秦子学)


The philosophy in Pre-Qin times was marked by the emergence of various ancient philosophical views. The most influential schools were Confucianism (儒家), Taoism (道家), Mohism (墨家) and Legalism (法家)
Legalism

Legalism, begun by Hanfeizi, espouses (主张) laying down laws to unify the thought of people, promoting agriculture to achieve affluence (富裕), waging (进行) wars to gain strength and power, and establishing a system of bureaucracy (官僚制度).
Chinese Religions (35 minutes)


The Taoist Religion (15 minutes) Buddhism (10 minutes) Islam (10minites)
The Taoist Religion (15 minutes)


Taoism is the indigenous (土生土长的) religion in China. Lu Xun once said, “The Chinese roots are deep in Taoism. If one tries to comprehend Chinese history and culture, he must first comprehend Taoism and the Taoist religion.” The Taoist religion evolved out of witchcraft (巫 术), necromancy（方术 ) and self-cultivation techniques. Its highest belief is called “Dao”, its bible is called “Dao De Jing”.
Spiritual Life over Material Life


Chinese people advocate morality in their behavior. Self-cultivation in morals is emphasized, and is considered to be more important than one’s material life.
Stress on Morality

Every school of ancient Chinese philosophy was a kind of moral philosophy. Almost every philosophy stressed moral practice.
Stress on Harmony


Chinese ancient philosophers were concerned with the relationship between knowledge and practice. Example: “To prefer it is better than only to know it. To delight in it is better than merely to prefer it.”(知之 者不如好之者，好之者不如乐之者。)
A Glimpse of Chinese Culture
Chapter 2
Philosophy and Religions
The Development of Chinese Philosophy



The philosophy in Pre-Qin times (先秦子学) The orthodox philosophy during the Han Dynasty (两汉经学) Metaphysics during the Wei and Jin dynasties (魏晋玄学) The buddhist philosophy during the Sui and Tang dynasties (隋唐佛学) Neo-confucianism in Song and Ming dynasties (宋明理学) Application philosophy in the Ming and Qing dynasties (明清实学)


Ancient Chinese philosophy stresses on harmony, and the pursuit of harmony between man and nature and also between man and man. E.g. Mencius said “Opportunities vouchsafed by Heaven are less important than terrestrial advantages, which in turn are less important than the unity among people. (天时不如地利，地利不 如人和) ”
The Basic Features of Chinese Ancient Philosophy




Stress on spiritual existence Stress on practice Stress on morality Stress on harmony Stress on intuition

To Chinese people, harmony is powerful word. Maintaining equilibrium is the ultimate purpose of harmony.
Collectivism over Individualism

Traditional Chinese values attach great importance to collective interest. An individual’s values can be realized only within society as a whole, as that is the groundwork of one’s existence.
Mohism

Based on the teaching of Mozi, the school cherishes universal love which states that if all the people in the world loved one another, there will be no hatred, calamities, and hostilities.
e.g. Confucianism’s knowledge of life through disposition and consciousness; Taoism’s search for spiritual freedom; Buddhism’s “Nirvana” (涅磐).

Stress on Practice


Based on the work of Dao De Jing, Taoism promotes the belief that a person should live a simple life, not to strive for wealth, fame or power, which will only give one worries and trouble. The school favours the political principle of “achieving good government through non-action”(无 为而治)
Characteristics of Chinese Ethics and Morality

Traditional Chinese ethics that reflect the high standard or moral pursuit of the Chinese people and embrace ethical wisdom of lasting value:
Taoism

Founded by Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi, the school advocates the doctrine that the Dao is the course, the principle, the substance, and the standard of all things, to which all of them must conform.