Oracle Bones – Priests would write questions from the rulers on sheep or goat bones. The bones were heated and cracked. The priests would then interpret.

Oracle Bones – Priests would write questions from the rulers on sheep or goat bones. The bones were heated and cracked. The priests would then interpret the cracks. These interpretations were the wishes of the gods.

• The Mandate of Heaven is based on four principles:1. The right to rule is granted by Heaven. 2. There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler. 3. The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler. 4. The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty.

• Here are some of the ways these principles converted into action and justification: – It gives the ruler prestige and religious importance. – It gives the ruler supreme power. – It allows a new ruler to gain power quickly if the people believe he has the 'Mandate of Heaven'. – A ruler's power must be kept in check by virtue. – The Mandate of Heaven justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is successful. Simply because it was successful, obviously then, the new ruler had to have had a Mandate from Heaven.

Three philosophies develop in this time period…

• Confucianism• Daoism• Legalism

These have a huge impact on social and political culture in China!!!

http://www.slideshare.net/eben_cooke/3-chinese-belief-systems

Chinese Philosophies

Confucianism, Daoism,

Legalism and Buddhism

• Kong Fuzi lived 551-479 BCE• A time of warfare and

unrest• Focus: The Importance of

How People Relate to One Another

• Education overcomes ignorance

• People are good• Ideal ruler is an educated,

moral person who guides society by good example.

Five Relationships• Confucianism stresses loyalty, courtesy, hard work,

and service. In most of the relationships, the inferior person would eventually become the superior and would be responsible for another inferior, so education held a important place in society. – Ruler to subject– Father to son – Husband to wife– Older brother to younger brother

(The above are unequal relationships)– Friend to Friend

(based on love and mutual respect)

Filial Piety –

Duties and obligations to ancestors and parents

• Mulan- – Scene #1- http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=abwPVTJ72dk

– Scene #2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnUEDaeoF0Q

Duty is the path to harmony

Only virtue gives one the right to rule, not heredity.

Virtue can be acquired through

education.

Daoism• Lao Tzu lived around 604 BCE. Little

known.

• “the way” is the life force of all natural things.

• Yin and Yang are complementary principles.

• Against all organizations, including formal education.

• Least government is best. Ideal ruler doesn’t govern.

• Harmony created if people follow the dao.

• Nonaction, simplicity, humility, quiet, plainness, and peace emphasized.

Don’t interfere with the affairs

of others (individuals or

states)

Those who know, do not speak of it. Those who

speak of it do not know it.

Water seems weak, always seeks the

easiest way, always flows downhill,

yet will wear away stone.

Daoism stresses harmony with

nature, Confucianism

stresses harmony

between people.

Legalism

• Attributed to HanFeizi (280-233 BCE)• Persecuted Confucian scholars and gave

philosophy a bad name• People are naturally evil.• They are motivated by fear and greed.• Punishment/Reward is necessary to control

behavior.• Severe punishment is necessary to prevent

undesirable behavior. (Death penalty)

Legalism (continued)

• There is no absolute right or wrong. Laws replace morality.

• Government should be based on world as it exists. (Reject tradition and supernatural)

• Good ruler maintains and expands borders. He uses laws, rewards and punishments

Strength, not goodness is important

Buddhism

• Spread from India in 1st Century CE• Not concerned with governing but with

individual behavior.• Controls all aspects of daily life• A Buddhist doesn’t eat meat, kill, believes in

rebirth, and believes that how a person lives affects his future existence.

May all that have life be delivered from suffering"

-Gautama Buddha

Buddhism (continued)

• Every living thing is part of a universal spirit.• A person who practices good moral conduct,

discipline and meditation moves upward to “nirvana”, which ends the painful rebirths.

• Eightfold Path/Four Noble Truths

Over time, Buddhist beliefs blended with Chinese culture.

1. Nirvana became place similar to the western concept of heaven

2. Confucian ideas of proper behavior and respect for family and ancestors

3. Daoism importance of nature Buddhism is the only religion in China. Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism are all philosophies.

The Great Wall of China

Why???

Built Terra Cotta Army- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsUE-ZtcUFg

They developed the idea that the government should be run by the most talented and educated men. 1. Civil Service Exam – Test based upon Confucian ideas, Chinese laws, history and traditions to determine governmental positions.

2. Candidates were chosen by achievement.

3. Governmental officials shared the same values and traditions.

A lot of changes occur at the end of the 19th century…