1. Chinese Philosophy
Confucianism, Legalism, & Daoism
Textbook pages 82-86

2. What is philosophy?
• Philosophy: the study, or pursuit of, knowledge
and wisdom
• Philosopher: one who searches for knowledge
and wisdom

3. Confucianism
• Kongfuzi (Confucius)- Chinese
philosopher, lived from approximately
551-479 B.C.E
• Influenced by the political turmoil of the time
• Believed that disorder was because rulers were
not governing properly

6. Confucianism
• People are basically good, but need
training to behave well
• Family (basics)
• Assembled by society

7. Confucius- Five Virtues
• Confucius identified five virtues and five
relationships that were building blocks of
harmonious society
• Virtues: Rulers were
1) Honest expected to set
2) Upright an example of
the five virtues
3) Conscientious
4) Charitable
5) loving

8. Confucius- Five
Relationships
• Confucius believed that everyone had duties &
responsibilities
• Five relationships:
1) father and son
2) ruler and subject
3) older and younger brothers
4) husband and wife
5) friend and friend

9. Five Relationships-
Continued
Superior position Inferior positions
treat inferiors with owed superiors
love and kindness respect and
obedience

10. Confucius
• Conclusion: Confucius’ ideas based on ethics and
morals
• After death, honoured as one of China’s great
teachers
• Principles important to Chinese society

11. Legalism
• Developed around same time as Confucianism
• Hans Feizi- most prominent writer
• Beliefs:
• Government more important than people
• Government should be strong, not virtuous
• Humans, by nature, are greedy
• Only way to orderly society= strict government and
harsh punishment

12. Legalism
• Chinese people followed Confucian ideas of
government
• Chinese criminal followed Legalist ideas
What do you think this would mean?
- Strict
- Major crimes punished severely

13. Legalism-
China’s Code of Laws
• China’s first recorded code of laws- 400 B.C.E
• What dynasty would this have been during?
• Law had six sections, with laws on:
1) Theft
2) Violence
3) Detention
4) Arrest
5) Miscellaneous laws
6) General laws

14. Laws and Conviction
• Accused had to prove innocence
• Is this like Canadian law, today?
• Five basic penalties:
1) Death by strangulation or decapitation
2) Exile
3) Imprisonment
4) Beating with a heavy stick
5) Beating with a light stick
-Collective punishment: families or villages could be
punished for the crime of one person

15. Daoism
• Began during Warring States
• What were the “Warring States?”
• Laozi- Daoism based on this philosopher
• Daoist goal to live in harmony with nature
• “following the Dao” achieving harmony
• Believed that this could be achieved by studying
nature
• Did not want to interfere with nature, upsetting nature
order

16. Daoism
• Doists- believed that nature’s harmony could be
copied in human society
• Didn’t like rules believe it was forcing people to act
a certain way, instead of letting them behave
naturally
• Also opposed to money and education

17. Daoism and Immortality
• Doists sought immortality
• Following the Dao
• Strengthening their Qi (life force)
• Breathing properly
• Taking proper medicines
• Alchemists
• Experimented with plants and metals in search of the
elixir of life
• Daoist experiments important discoveries in medicine
and metallurgy