Lesson 3: Three Chinese Philosophies

Key Idea

The Zhou dynasty taught that a ruler’s power came from a divine or heavenly source. This idea was called the Mandate of Heaven. It stated that heaven chose a wise and just leader to rule China. This gave the emperor the right to govern his people.

However, this right was not permanent. If a ruler became corrupt or governed poorly, people believed the dynasty had lost heaven's favor. Disasters like floods or rebellions were seen as signs that the ruler was unfit to lead.

Key Idea

During the chaos of the late Zhou dynasty, the philosopher Confucius developed a system to restore order. He believed a peaceful society began with people behaving correctly toward one another.

Confucius created a code of conduct based on five basic relationships, such as father and son or ruler and subject. Each person had a clear role and a duty to respect those above them and be fair to those below them.

Key Idea

During the chaos of the Warring States period, some thinkers developed a philosophy called Legalism. They believed that people were naturally selfish and could not be trusted to behave well on their own. This view was very different from Confucianism's focus on moral goodness.

To create order, Legalists argued that a ruler needed strict laws and harsh punishments for even small crimes. They thought that fear of punishment was more effective than teaching people to be good. A powerful government was necessary to enforce these rules and control society.

Key Idea

Some thinkers believed the best way to find peace was to look to nature, not society. This philosophy became known as Daoism. Followers of Daoism sought to live in harmony with the Dao, the universal force that guides everything. They believed people should live simple lives and not focus on gaining wealth or power.

To achieve harmony, Daoists studied the balance of opposite forces in nature, called yin and yang. For example, life has both joy and sadness, and light cannot exist without darkness. Finding balance between these forces was the key to a peaceful life.