Confucianism: The Influences and Change

ConfucianismConfucianismThe The Influences and Changes During Influences and Changes During

the Song &Mongol Periodsthe Song &Mongol Periods

Elaine LinElaine LinPeriod DPeriod D

Fast FactsFast Facts• Date founded: 6th-5th cent. BC Date founded: 6th-5th cent. BC • Place founded: China Place founded: China • Founder: Confucius (551-479 BC) Founder: Confucius (551-479 BC) • Adherents: 5-6 millionAdherents: 5-6 million

Influences• Influenced the Chinese attitude Influenced the Chinese attitude

toward life, set the patterns of toward life, set the patterns of living and standards of social living and standards of social value, and provided the value, and provided the background for Chinese political background for Chinese political theories and institutions. theories and institutions.

• Confucius had teachings that Confucius had teachings that influenced people to practice influenced people to practice ethics, social responsibility, family ethics, social responsibility, family obligations, and ancestor worship.obligations, and ancestor worship.

• His teachings are known as His teachings are known as Analects of Confucius.Analects of Confucius.

• His philosophy of personal and His philosophy of personal and governmental morality correctness governmental morality correctness of social relationships, justice and of social relationships, justice and sincerity adapted in other sincerity adapted in other practices, such as Taoism, practices, such as Taoism, Daoism, and Legalism during the Daoism, and Legalism during the Han Dynasty.Han Dynasty.

• Confucianism promoted a meritocratic society embodying high Confucianism promoted a meritocratic society embodying high ideals of personal behavior and loyalty.ideals of personal behavior and loyalty.

• Within the Chinese society, most leaders were tyrants; theyWithin the Chinese society, most leaders were tyrants; they unfairly unfairly taxed and enforced harsh and unjust laws, which caused many wars, taxed and enforced harsh and unjust laws, which caused many wars, which did not appeal to Confucius. (This is what caused Confucius which did not appeal to Confucius. (This is what caused Confucius to teach about peace and respect.)to teach about peace and respect.)

• Confucius did not have much trouble gathering followers as he Confucius did not have much trouble gathering followers as he spoke and preached about peace and respect. Many people agreed spoke and preached about peace and respect. Many people agreed with Confucius' views and ideas and hoped for a peaceful and better with Confucius' views and ideas and hoped for a peaceful and better China.China.

• Neo-Confucianism was developed in the Southern Song Dynasty.• Zhu-Xi was one of the people who founded Neo-Confucianism.• An important part of Neo-Confucianism is the attempt to "repossess the Way." Pursuit of

the Way through disciplined self cultivation formed a person's character. This was important because it encouraged the nobles to live up to the Confucian ideals by being less selfish.

• Neo Confucianism : a form of Confucianism that was developed during the Song Dynasty. It was a philosophy that attempted to merge basic elements of Confucian, Daoism, and Buddhist thought.

Confucianism in the Song DynastyConfucianism in the Song Dynasty

Continued…Continued…~~ Confucians of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) Confucians of the Song Dynasty (960-1279)

studied the classical works of their faith, but studied the classical works of their faith, but were also familiar with Buddhist and Taoist were also familiar with Buddhist and Taoist teachings.teachings.

~ Zhu Xi argued and used Confucian morals that ~ Zhu Xi argued and used Confucian morals that helped people understand it’s morals.helped people understand it’s morals. ~~ He also believed that it was important that He also believed that it was important that

one should engage in both academic and one should engage in both academic and philosophical pursuits, although his writings philosophical pursuits, although his writings are concentrated more on issues of are concentrated more on issues of theoretical (as opposed to practical) theoretical (as opposed to practical) significance. It is reputed that he wrote many significance. It is reputed that he wrote many essays attempting to explain how his ideas essays attempting to explain how his ideas were not Buddhist or Taoist, and included were not Buddhist or Taoist, and included some heated denunciations of Buddhism and some heated denunciations of Buddhism and Taoism. Taoism.

Continued…• While being one of the While being one of the

most technologically and most technologically and culturally advanced culturally advanced people in the world at the people in the world at the time, the Song were not time, the Song were not militarily powerful. militarily powerful.

• Part of the reason for this Part of the reason for this may be because may be because Confucianism held military Confucianism held military in very low regard. in very low regard.

• Did not recognize the Did not recognize the military as being part of military as being part of the four official classes of the four official classes of occupations; the shi, occupations; the shi, nong, gong, and shang; nong, gong, and shang; therefore, the military therefore, the military consisted of either the consisted of either the poor, uneducated poor, uneducated peasants, mercenaries or peasants, mercenaries or allies.allies.

The Southern Song experienced a temporary return to The Southern Song experienced a temporary return to peace, and culturally they too flourished. However, the peace, and culturally they too flourished. However, the power was mainly held by the nobles, and many emperors power was mainly held by the nobles, and many emperors were forced, by the nobles, to relinquish. This period did were forced, by the nobles, to relinquish. This period did not last long, as in 1210 A.D. the Mongols began to assault not last long, as in 1210 A.D. the Mongols began to assault the Song, and in 1279, the Yuan, or Mongol empire began.the Song, and in 1279, the Yuan, or Mongol empire began.

The Mongol (Yuan) The Mongol (Yuan) EmpireEmpire

Confucianism of the Mongol Confucianism of the Mongol EmpireEmpire•      The traditional philosophies and

religions of China continued unabated under Mongol rule.

• Buddhism in particular found a welcome home among the Mongols who had in part adopted it.

• Buddhism remained vital throughout China and Confucianism continued.

• Mongols allowed for a certain amount of revolution and renewal in Chinese thought.

• Mongols held Confucianism in contempt in the early years of their rule, the new philosophy of Neo-Confucians, took hold in China and eventually eclipsed the older forms of Confucianism.

ContinuedContinued…• Unlike the Song, the Mongol empire, led by Unlike the Song, the Mongol empire, led by

Kublai Khan, had the strongest military Kublai Khan, had the strongest military forces in the world.forces in the world.

• Unlike the Song, the Mongol empire were Unlike the Song, the Mongol empire were free of taxes and were allowed to travel free of taxes and were allowed to travel throughout China without restrictions.throughout China without restrictions.

• Neo-Confucianism, developed by the Song, Neo-Confucianism, developed by the Song, was also used in this Mongol period.was also used in this Mongol period.

• Neo-Confucianism inspired Mongols to be Neo-Confucianism inspired Mongols to be more interested in literature, theatre and more interested in literature, theatre and opera.opera.

Assessment Questions!!!1. What caused Confucius to teach about peace and

respect?2. Who founded Neo-Confucianism and when was it

developed?3. Why was the military so weak during the Song

Dynasty?4. Who was the Mongol empire led by and what is

the Mongol empire also known as? 5. How did the Mongol empire and the Song

Dynasty differ when it came to taxes?

AnswersAnswers• 1.The leaders of the Chinese taxed and enforced harsh and 1.The leaders of the Chinese taxed and enforced harsh and

unjust laws, which caused many wars.unjust laws, which caused many wars.• 2. Zhu Xi; Song Dynasty2. Zhu Xi; Song Dynasty• 3. Confucianism did not recognize the military as being part of 3. Confucianism did not recognize the military as being part of

the four official classes of occupations; therefore, the military the four official classes of occupations; therefore, the military consisted of either the poor, uneducated peasants, consisted of either the poor, uneducated peasants, mercenaries or allies.mercenaries or allies.

• 4. Kublai Khan; the Yuan Dynasty4. Kublai Khan; the Yuan Dynasty• 5. Mongol: free of taxes; Song: were taxed 5. Mongol: free of taxes; Song: were taxed unfairly along with their laws.unfairly along with their laws.