Transcript WHPP Unit 1 Section 5 China and Buddhism

China and
Buddhism
Unit 1 Section 5
TWYL: How were ancient civilizations and empires able to
development, grow and create a lasting impact?
How has conflict and innovation influenced political, religious,
economic and social changes in medieval civilizations?
China and India
CHINA
Mesopotamia
Egypt
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INDIA
Ancient China
 Yangtze
and Huang He (Yellow
River)
Shang China (1700 B.C. – 1100 B.C.)
 Shang
 Used
was the first Chinese dynasty
oracle bones
 Sometimes
 Used
called dragon bones
to predict the future
Zhou China
(1100 B.C. – 250 B.C.)

Established “Mandate of Heaven” (Authority
granted by heaven) to validate their rule
“Warring States Period” ( many
large states in China were fighting to control the
whole empire
 Golden
) (475 B.C. – 221 B.C.)
Age of Chinese Philosophy
Taoism- universal force
 Based
on teachings of Laozi
 Called
Tao Te Ching
 Emphasizes
nature
harmony of individual with
Confucianism

Founded by Kongfuzi (551-479 B.C.)
 social harmony & good gov’t would return to
China if people lived ethically


Analects
Stressed the importance of five relationships:
 Ruler & subject
 Parent & child
 Filial piety: children respecting their
arents
 Husband & wife
 Old & young
 Friend & friend
Legalism
 Developed
from Hanfeizi
 Humans
are evil by nature and
need a strict law
 Used
to support strict laws and
harsh punishments
Qin (Chin)China (221 B.C. – 206 B.C.)
 China
was unified by Qin Shi huangdi
 Name

means “First Emperor
36 military districts (cells)
 Legalist
form of gov’t
 destroyed
the power of the nobles
 burned
thousands of books relating to
philosophy & gov’t
 forced-labor
gangs
Achievements of the Qin
 Standardized
 Set
the Chinese language
up a unified law code for China
 We
get the modern day name for
China from the Qin
 Famous
for the Terra Cotta Army
Great Wall-It
stretched 4,000
miles.
Social Classes in Chinese Society
Status of Peasants in Chinese culture
 ≈ 90% of all the people-lived in villages

Paid taxes of produce and livestock & had
to work one month a year on public works
projects (roads, walls, etc.)

Could be drafted into the army
Patriarchal Family
Top – oldest male (father), followed by males in
chronological order, then females
Role of the Father
Determined education, career & marriages for
his children
Controlled finances
Structured, each member had specific duties
Buddhism

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama

Called Buddha

Means “Enlightened One”
Related to Hinduism
•
•
Shares belief of:
•
Karma -(accumulation of good or bad deeds)
•
Dharma -(but in this case is the teachings of
Buddha telling you how to act/live)
•
Reincarnation
•
•
(rebirth)
Differs: Rejection of caste system

Teachings:

Four Noble Truths:
1.
The truth of suffering ( dukkha )
2.
The truth of the cause of suffering ( samudaya )
3.
The truth of the end of suffering ( nirhodha )
4.
The truth of the path that frees us from
suffering ( magga )
•
By following the Eightfold Path one could
eliminate desires
Purpose: To reach nirvana (enlightenment)
Diffusion of Buddhism

Ashoka was the first ruler to send out Buddhist
missions to convert other nations, helping the
religion spread
Diffusion of Buddhism