Stress on the Intuition
Chinese ancient philosophy did not adhere to formal rules of structure and system in thought and often resulted in fragmented (片断的) thoughts written on paper. It was through reflecting on life’s experiences and intuition that philosophical ideas were formed.
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).
e.g. Confucianism’s knowledge of life through disposition and consciousness; Taoism’s search for spiritual freedom; Buddhism’s “Nirvana” (涅磐).
➢ The Development of Ancient Chinese Philosophy
(20 minutes)
➢ The Basic Features of Ancient Chinese Philosophy (10 minutes)
➢ Characteristics of Chinese Ethics and Morality (10 minutes)
The most influential schools were Confucianism (儒家), Taoism (道家), Mohism (墨家) and Legalism (法家)
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.
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) ”
Stress on Practice
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, 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。)
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.
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
In politics and ethics, Mohism proposes honoring virtuous people, opposing fatalism (宿 命论) and aggressive wars, and upholding thriftiness and simple funerals.
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.
➢ Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Equilibrium(平衡)
➢ 2. Collectivism over Individualism ➢ 3. Spiritual Life over Material Life
Seeking Harmony and Maintaining Equilibrium (平衡)
A Glimpse of Chinese Culture
Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
本章教学的目的
1. 中国古代哲学发展及内容的基本了解; 2. 中国主要宗教的基本概况; 3. 中国传统美德的继承和发扬。
本章教学的重难点
1. 中国古代哲学的发展史; 2. 中国哲学的基本特点及伦理道德; 3. 中国道教和佛教; 4. 学生PPT展示。
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.
本章教学的时间安排
教师课堂讲解 (70 minutes)
➢ Chinese Philosophy (40 minutes) ➢ Chinese Religions (30 minutes)
PPT 展示 (30 minu源自es)Chinese Philosophy (40 minutes)
dynasties (明清实学)
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.
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:
Stress on Morality
Every school of ancient Chinese philosophy was a kind of moral philosophy. Almost every philosophy stressed moral practice.
Stress on Harmony
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.
(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
The Basic Features of Chinese Ancient Philosophy