Ancient China Philosophy

Question 1

Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism

Answer 1

three major philosophies

Question 2

a way of life that answers questions about the here and the now

Answer 2

philosophy

Question 3

the belief in a supernatural power that answers questions about faith and the unknown

Answer 3

religion

Question 4

ordered government; decay of dynasty; wars, revolts, and chaos; repeat

Answer 4

Chinese dynastic cycle

Question 5

time period of constant fighting between individuals lords and small states; end of Zhou Dynasty in 441-221 B.C.E.

Answer 5

Era of Warring States

Question 6

longest dynasty in Chinese History (1050-400 B.C.E.); people were happy and under control in early reign; later, people lost their loyalty to the dynasty and fighting broke out between states

Answer 6

Zhou Dynasty

Question 7

a philosophy that focuses on morality, family order, respect, and government

Answer 7

Confucianism

Question 8

founder of Confucianism; sought to end fighting by shifting towards rule by moral example; followed the example of the early Zhou leaders; 551-479 B.C.E. (Axial Age)

Answer 8

Confucius

Question 9

books that contain Confucius’s answers to many questions about life, written by his students

Answer 9

analects

Question 10

main concepts of Confucianism for how to properly treat other; people must be taught these concepts

Answer 10

Ren and Li

Question 11

proper actions (polite behavior)

Answer 11

Li

Question 12

proper feelings towards others (connection, compassion, sympathy, empathy)

Answer 12

Ren

Question 13

ruler/subject, father/son, husband/wife, older brother/younger brother, friend/friend - first four relationships were unequal

Answer 13

Five basic Relationships of Confucianism

Question 14

the ultimate respect children must have for their parents

Answer 14

filial piety

Question 15

a superior man who it fit to be a leader; respects and takes responsibility for all subjects and sets a good example; anyone can become one if they learn these traits

Answer 15

Chunzi

Question 16

using respect for the leader and subjects as a long-lasting motivation to follow the laws

Answer 16

moral example

Question 17

a story that shows the minimal but significant power of females in ancient China

Answer 17

Red Sorghum

Question 18

a philosophy that focuses on finding harmony with nature, the insignificance of humans, and allowing problems to resolve themselves

Answer 18

Daoism

Question 19

founder of Daoism whose name means “the Wise Old Man”

Answer 19

Laozi

Question 20

“the way”; the force of nature; perfect harmony/balance with nature; can’t be seen or touched but you can see its effects

Answer 20

Dao

Question 21

Daoist concept of opposing forces of nature that represents morals, unity, harmony and balance; symbol has no beginning or ending

Answer 21

Yin/Yang

Question 22

Daoist idea that if you do nothing, your problems will resolve themselves

Answer 22

Wu Wei

Question 23

Daoist idea that if you allow nature to run its course, your problems will be resolved without having to do anything

Answer 23

“action through non-action”

Question 24

Daoist idea that if you have nothing, there’s nothing to lose; people should accept low positions to avoid conflict; you can be receptive and weak while also extremely powerful and strong

Answer 24

“imitate water and survive”

Question 25

a philosophy that focused on harsh punishments, strict laws, and a central government

Answer 25

Legalism

Question 26

political thinkers that developed Legalism; thought a strong central government would end fighting in China

Answer 26

Legalists

Question 27

founder of Legalism

Answer 27

Li Su

Question 28

founder of Legalism; prime minister to Shi Huangdi

Answer 28

Li Su

Question 29

the dynasty that replaced the Zhou dynasty and employed Legalist ideas in order to control warring states and unify the country; 221-202 B.C.E.

Answer 29

Qin Dynasty

Question 30

first ruler of the Qin dynasty whose name means "first emperor"; instituted legalism to centralize China

Answer 30

Shi Huangdi

Question 31

built to protect the country from invaders; peasants were forced to build it by Shi Huangdi

Answer 31

Great Wall of China

Question 32

concentrating the control of a people under a single power or leader; Shi Huangdi sought to do this by using Legalism

Answer 32

centralization

Question 33

a government that holds total control over all the states in a country (Qin Dynasty)

Answer 33

central government

Question 34

This philosophy later influenced the religion Buddhism

Answer 34

Daoism

Question 35

Philosophy that followed the golden rule

Answer 35

Confucism

Question 36

This dynasty restored the teachings of Confucius

Answer 36

Han