Overview
The lecture covers the rise of Confucianism as China's dominant philosophy, describing the intense competition among various schools of thought during pre-imperial China and how Confucianism ultimately prevailed.
The Contention of a Hundred Schools of Thought
- Before Confucianism dominated, many philosophies competed in pre-imperial China, an era known as the Contention of a Hundred Schools.
- Schools included both philosophies (like Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Mohism) and technical or practical disciplines (like military or diplomacy).
- Rulers were the main targets for influence since their support determined a school's success.
Major Schools of Thought
- Historian Ban Gu recognized ten major schools from this period.
- Confucianism promoted treating others with kindness and respect, advocating humane rule based on restoring traditional Zhou-era values.
- Taoism emphasized living according to the Tao ("the Way"), encouraging minimal interference and bureaucracy.
- Mohism advocated impartial care for all people and combined pacifism with expertise in defensive warfare.
- Logicians focused on logic and semantics, known for paradoxes like the "white horse is not a horse" argument.
- The School of Yin-Yang introduced the concepts of Five Elements and yin-yang, later absorbed by Taoism.
- The School of Diplomacy specialized in forming and breaking alliances among states.
- The School of Agriculture wanted a return to agrarian society with rulers working alongside the people.
- The School of Syncretism blended ideas from various other schools.
- The School of Small Talk (or Novelists) gathered and reported news, rumors, and stories to rulers.
- Legalism stressed strict rule by law and served as the foundation during the Qin Dynasty.
The Rise and Fall of Legalism
- Legalism became state philosophy under Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor, leading to the suppression of other schools and destruction of their texts.
- The Qin Dynasty's harsh legalist policies prompted unrest, contributing to its quick downfall after only 15 years.
Confucianism's Triumph
- During the Han Dynasty, Confucianism reemerged as a key philosophy after initial resistance from the first Han emperor.
- Confucian scholars eventually impressed Emperor Wu of Han, leading to Confucianism becoming the official state philosophy and the suppression of other schools.
- Confucianism's dominance was largely due to perseverance and favorable circumstances during the Han era.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Confucianism — Philosophy stressing kindness, respect, and humane governance based on ancient traditions.
- Taoism — Philosophy and spiritual tradition advocating harmony with the Tao, or natural order.
- Mohism — School promoting universal love and practical defense.
- Legalism — Philosophy advocating strict, centralized rule via law and harsh punishments.
- Hundred Schools of Thought — Diverse intellectual and philosophical movements competing during pre-imperial China.
- Yin-Yang — Concept describing complementary forces; integral to Chinese cosmology.
- Syncretism — Blending of multiple philosophies into a unified approach.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the main ten schools and their core principles.
- Prepare a summary comparing Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, and Legalism for class discussion.