CHINESE PHILOSOPHY

ANCIENT

CHINA

Earliest Dynasties

Xia Dynasty 21st-16th c. bce

Shang Dynasty 16th-11th c. bce

first writing

Zhou Dynasty1027 bc-221 bc

ConfucianismTaoism

Shang Dynasty16th-11th c. bce

Shang Dynasty

Central Yellow River Valley

Oldest examples of Chinese writing

Hunters and farmers Brilliant bronze culture Cities

Cheng Chow (16th c. bc) Anyang (C. 1384-1111 bc)

Ornament of the late Shang, 7 cm The figurine shows the

costume and headdress usually worn by people in the

Shang Dynasty

Shang Social Organization

City-states under the nominal rule of a high kingProto-feudalism. The area under the jurisdiction of the king quite probably was small, perhaps not more than 100-200 miles in any direction from Anyang. Traces of a family ruling system and of ancestor-worship are discernible. Rigidly patriarchal society. Shang Tang - the first ruling

king of the Shang dynasty

Oracle BonesOracle bones used for divination. A question was written on the bone, which was then fired and a T shaped crack was produced to be interpreted; the interpretation was then written on the bone. After the predicted event occurred, the date of the occurrence was also written on the bone.

Astronomy and CalendarOracle bone with record of

solar eclipse

Ox bone inscribed with a table of the Heavenly Stems

and Earthly Branches

ZHOU (CHOU) DYNASTY 1027 bce-221 bce

Zhou (Chou) Dynasty

Introduced organized agriculture Feudal society

Land grants in return for support in war and loyalty Ruler: Tian or “Son of Heaven Principal of societal relationships illustrated in the Book of Songs and the Book of Rituals

Confucianism and Taoism introduced

Lao Tzu or Lao Zi“Old Sage” or “Old Master”

Born c. 604 bce Reputed Author of Tao te Ching or Taodejing: The Way and Its Power Legendary life:

His given name was Li Erh Lao Tzu means "old sage“ or "old boy“ Native of Ch'ü-jen, in the Honan Province.

Taoist CanonTao Te Ching (Dao De Jing ) : Written supposedly by Lao Tzu (81 chapters often divided into two parts)

Book of Dao : Chapter 1-37 Book of De : Chapter 38-81

Chuang Chou (Chuang Tzu or ZhuangZi ) : Written supposedly by Chuang Chou (inner chapters) and others (misc and outer chapters) Hua Hu Jing: Unknown author (81 chapters) Lie Zi: Written supposedly by Lie Zi (111 chapters)

TAOISMTao: the ultimate reality behind existence, a transcendant essence. Highly individualistic and mystical character Existential skepticismWu-wei: spontaneity -- to discern and follow the natural forces -- to follow and shape the natural flow of events, not to struggle against nature

Yin and Yang

Negative and positive principles of the universe. One cannot exist without the other, and they often represent opposites in relations to each other. As there is more and more Yang, eventually, Yin will appear and replace this increase. Similarly in the opposite direction, Yang will appear to replace the increase in Yin

YIN YANG Negative Female Dark Earth

Positive Male Light Heaven

Three JewelsCompassion - leads to courage

Moderation - leads to generosity

Humility - leads to leadership

ConfuciusK’ung fu-tzu or Kongfuzi

551-479 bce Son of aristocrat, raised in poverty Itinerant teacher Sayings collected in The Analects Possibly edited The Book of Songs

Confucian Canon of Texts

The Book of Songs The Book of Documents (Shang Shu) The Book of Changes ( I Ching) The Book of Rituals Ch’un-ch’ iu: a chronicle The Analects By study and self-cultivation, individuals can merge their instinctive beings and their social beings.

Followers of Confucius

Confucianism

Importance of traditional values: self-control, filial piety, propriety, ritual Individual virtue leads to societal virtue Contextual morality -- guided by circumstances of a particular problem Obedience contingent upon benevolence

Confucian ValuesLi: propriety, ceremony, civility. 4 basic rules of human conduct: courtesy, politeness, good manners, respect (reverence for age)Jen (Ren): respect for self and others:”Do not do to others what you do not want done to you.” Charity and courtesyTe: virtue, the power of moral example as in a strong leader who guides by example or in the forces of natureWen: the arts of peace: music, poetry, art -- conducive to harmony and order and a model of excellence. Traditional Chinese art always strives for beauty.

The Six RelationshipsObedience in The Six Relationships is contingent upon the superior members observing their duty to be benevolent and caring. The relationships

are modeled on the loving relationship between parent and child.

Ruler Teacher

Older Friend

Subject Student YoungerFriend

The Mandate of Heaven The moral order of the Universe: right and wrong Fate: Life and death are beyond our control. The right to rule is based upon knowing and observing the moral order of the Universe The judgement of history: losing the Mandate of Heaven results in loss of power.

Taoist Response to Confucianism

Chuang Chou (Chuang Tzu or ZhuangZi )

Ca. 369-286 bceThe Way has nothing to do with the “rights” and “wrongs” associated with traditions such as Confucianism

"Once I, Chuang Tzu, dreamed that I was a butterfly. Suddenly I awoke, and there I was, visibly Tzu. I do not know whether it was Tzu dreaming that he

was a butterfly or the butterfly dreaming it was Tzu, Between Tzu and

the butterfly there must be some distinction. [But one may be the

other.] This is called the transformation of things."