The Philosophies of China

Question 0

The Five Key Relationships

Answer 0

-father, son
-ruler, subject
-husband, wife
-older brother, younger brother
-friend, friend
(one person in each relationship is superior and is supposed to set a good example for the other person)

Question 1

Yin & Yang

Answer 1

• two energies that make up the universe (Duality, Balance)

- make up the basics of Chinese medicine, interaction between mind and body

Question 2

Li

Answer 2

good conduct of rituals

rituals provide order

Question 3

Ren

Answer 3

outward display of virtue, sincerity

rituals provide order

Question 4

Filial Piety

Answer 4

respecting your family members and your elders

Question 5

Analects

Answer 5

a collection of short literary or philosophical extracts

Question 6

I Ching

Answer 6

a Chinese book of oracles, consulted to answer ethical and practical problems

Question 7

The “ru” Class

Answer 7

-upper middle class
-specialists in the 6 arts:
~ceremonial
~history
~numbers
~archery
~music
~charioteering

Question 8

Legalism

Answer 8

• a Chinese political philosophy based on the idea that highly efficient and powerful government is the key to social order (use punishment to keep social order)
• ultimate goal: restore social order

Question 9

Daoism

Answer 9

• a philosophy based on the ideas of the Chinese thinker Laozi, who taught that people should be guided by a universal force called the Dao (Way)
• ultimate goal: for everyone to have order and harmony
• daoists want to live in harmony with nature
• go with the flow

Question 10

Confucianism

Answer 10

• a philosophy
• a system based on accepted principles of right and wrong
• the foundation for Chinese government and social order

Question 11

Confucius

Answer 11

• desire to restore the order and moral living of earlier times to his society
• believed that social order, harmony, and good government could be restored in China if society were organized around five basic relationships
• most influential scholar in China

Question 12

The 4 personal Characteristics

Answer 12

• politeness
• integrity
• generosity
• loyalty

Question 13

Ultimate Concern for Confucius

Answer 13

bring order & live in harmony within society (either you are or are not in harmony)

Question 14

To Make Society Better

Answer 14

people must act within their roles in society

Question 15

Tian

Answer 15

-heaven or universe deity
-no personality
(“Brahman without Brahma”)

Question 16

Dao

Answer 16

• The Way
• natural
• good
• just exists, no way to get out of it
• eternal
• a person is either in Dao or out of Dao
• the Dao is everything, no point in being liberated because there is nothing outside of the dao
• if everyone is in harmony, the universe will be perfect
• the Dao is found in nature, not in society or civilization

Question 17

To Become One with the Dao

Answer 17

• Reject formal knowledge & learning

- Rely on your instinct & sense

Question 18

Ultimate Concern for Chinese

Answer 18

harmonization with the universe