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Governments
There were three governments in Ancient China that most dynasties used, legalism,Taoism, and Confucianism. Each had different beliefs on how to govern and how people are, but all had the same goal, to establish a better government than fundamentalism. The fundamentalist government system was starting to break down and fully broke down by 700 B.C.E and a time period of chaos started.
There were three governments in Ancient China that most dynasties used, legalism,Taoism, and Confucianism. Each had different beliefs on how to govern and how people are, but all had the same goal, to establish a better government than fundamentalism. The fundamentalist government system was starting to break down and fully broke down by 700 B.C.E and a time period of chaos started.
Confucianism
The Confucianism idea: Confucianism was the teachings of Kongfuzi, who was called Confucius. This government deeply enriched and focused on culture and government. The goal of Confucianism was to achieve a just and peaceful society. There are 5 relationships according to Confucianism, ruler and subject, husband and wife, father and son, older sibling to younger sibling,and friend to friend. Confucius taught that society worked well when all people used standards of good behavior and rules. HE also said that people should be kind, honest, wise, and faithful. The founder of Confucianism: All Confucianism is is the ideas of Confucius. He was born in the small state of Lu, in Eastern China. He experienced firsthand when lords fought for power. His state was divided many times from 722-481 B.C.E. He deeply respected Chinese traditions. Confucius wanted to teach people to serve society honestly and fairly. The Effect of Confucianism: Students started to pick up and spread the ideas of Confucius. After his death, the students collected and wrote his ideas in a book called The Anklets. This is the effect Confucianism had. The effect Confucianism had on the government was a practical effect. To be qualified to work for the government, you had to know the classics of Chinese in detail, for example, they had to know the proper behavior required of people from laborers to government officials. To prove the candidates had the knowledge, they had to take and pass a quiz, which was sometimes gradd by the emperor personally. Confucianism also had a huge impact in the culture of the Chinese. Values such as respect of the elders, proper behavior, and love for scholarship were woven into Chinese society. |
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Taoism
Like Confucianism, Taoism was founded to provide a better government than fundamentalism and change laws that prevented right living and god government.
Taoism was found by Lao-Tzu. When Lao-Tzu was 90, he was tired of the Chinese government and decided to leave China. When he was at the border, a guard recognized him and was upset that a great teacher was leaving China, so he asked Lao-Tzu to write his teachings in a book, so Lao-Tzu wrote his thoughts in a short 500 character book called the Dao De Jing. This book told people to go back to a simple life, “ Wealth,Rank,and arrogance add up to ruin as surely as two and two is four.
The Teachings of Taoism: Taoism taught people that people gained happiness and peace by living in peace and harmony. To Taoists, nature is full of opposites like life and death. True harmony comes by balancing yin and yang. Yin is the shadow and yang is the sunlit. Taoism taught that nature is full of opposites and life isn’t possible without them like pleasure isn’t possible without pain. Taoists believed that too many laws and social rules cause interference. Taoism also tells rulers to be weak and leave things alone.
Influence of Taoism: Taoism encouraged rulers to be less harsh, but it really influenced on Chinese thought, writing, and art. In time, Taoism turned to be a popular religion.
Legalism
Legalism was different from the other main governments. It offered new answers to the problems that interfere with a good life and government. Legalism was based on the teachings of Han Feizi (hahn-fay-dzoo). He was born in 280 B.C.E and died at 47 at 233 B.C.E. He was a price of the Han state which was later to be the Han Dynasty. He was concerned in the same goal as the other governments but didn’t think Confucianism was the right answer. The teachings of Legalism: Legalist thought that people are naturally selfish and left alone, will pursue their own self interests. They cannot be counted have a good influence with one another ,unlike the other governments. Because of this, they should establish strict strict rules and laws that enforce them and enforce them, either with rewards for good things or harsh punishments for breaking them. Civil servants should be watched carefully and punished for poor jobs. People who were caught criticising should be banished from China. Legalism also taught that the king should have a very strong army to back his power. Rulers should also trust no one, not even family. The influence of Legalism: When the Qin dynasty seized control of China, they wanted to have a strong government and a well-organized society. To do this, hey adopted Legalism. |