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Chapter 2
AP* Sixth Edition
World CivilizationsThe Global Experience
World CivilizationsThe Global Experience
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Lecture 2.2 Religion Lecture 2.2 Religion and Ethics in and Ethics in Classical ChinaClassical China
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
The Stress Between Continuity and Change
• Continuity- the preservation of order- conserving values and traditions
• Change- innovation and reform- challenging existing order
• Each of these forces operate in creating history
• Governments are largely conservative forces preserving social order- especially after they are established
• The Mandate of Heaven exemplifies the struggle between continuity and change
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Religion in Classical China
• China really never developed a clear prevailing religion– Little speculation about God– God(s) as a general but not a set specific
belief
• Unlike other cultures, schools of philosophy rather than religious faiths would serve government and preserve order
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Confucianism
Confucius (Western name for Kong Fuzi)–Lived in a time of political decline- Late Zhou
Dynasty (551-478 BC)
• The impact of historical context on Confucius’ teachings
Outlined the characteristics of good government and social order
The value of wisdom for leaders at all levels Moderate behavior Respect for ritual and traditions
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Confucianism and Chinese Culture
• God and society in Confucianism– Acknowledgment of a divine order without any
specific concept of God
– Confucianism outlined a secular system of ethics
– True happiness in doing good for all- humility and kindness- gentility
• Sayings captured in collected sayings The Analects– Collected by his students (like Socrates)
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Confucian Order through Respect for Relationships
• Order came from the respect of relationships and hierarchies (statuses)– Dominant and subordinate– Government and governed– Husband and wife– Father and son– Filial Piety- faithfulness to one’s role and
proper respect to supereriors
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Religion and Culture
Legalism– Favored a strong state, ruling through force– Belief that human nature was basically evil– In opposition to Confucianism in many ways
Yet the two often combined in exercise of power Practical- and pragmatic Distain for ritual and tradition proper manners
– Order maintained through force– Governing philosophy of the Qin and early Han dynasty
Qin emperor Shi Huangdi boosted of murdering thousands of Confucian scholars and burning texts
Modern communist leader Mao claimed to have outdone this emperor in persecuting Confuciuanism.
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Religion and Culture
Popular religion– Confucianism has limited appeal- mainly to
governing class – Polytheism persists
Conciliation of spirits Family ceremonies
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Religion and Culture Daoism
Laozi (400s B.C.E.)– Philosopher- during period of warring states– Retreat from society- more spiritual than
Confucianism– State cannot solve all problems– Natural and mysterious rat
Dao, cosmic force- The way- sublime “Those who know Dao can not speak it and those who speak Dao
don’t know it” Balance between strong and weak, dark and light yin and yang
– Meditation– Many Chinese were Confucian by day and Daoist by
night by night
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
Economy and Society
Gender and Family Life– Great emphasis on authority– Parental authority especially upheld– Women subordinate to men
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
How Chinese Society Fits Together
Isolation– View of surrounding peoples as inferior– No missionary desires– Buddhism an exception
Copyright ©2011, ©2007, ©2004 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.
World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP* Sixth EditionStearns • Adas • Schwartz • Gilbert
How Chinese Society Fits Together
Complexities in Classical China– Confucianism versus Daoism
Many points of overlap But some antagonism
– Balance often upset Overpopulation might lead to uprisings