Beginnings of Classical Beginnings of Classical ChinaChina

Decline of the Zhou rulersDecline of the Zhou rulers

System of FeudalismSystem of Feudalism Transferred power from the King to the feudal Transferred power from the King to the feudal

lordslords Provided stabilityProvided stability Royal family then lords familyRoyal family then lords family Lords less loyal, invading nomadsLords less loyal, invading nomads

Spring and AutumnSpring and Autumn

200 independent state 200 independent state competed for territorycompeted for territory

Strong lords conquered Strong lords conquered weaker ones, thereby weaker ones, thereby growing ever more growing ever more powerfulpowerful

Era of Warring StatesEra of Warring States

400 B.C. E. Qin (Chin) 400 B.C. E. Qin (Chin) victorsvictors

Economic changesEconomic changes Crops, Crops, ToolsTools irrigationirrigation

Era of Hundred SchoolsEra of Hundred Schools

Most creative periods Most creative periods for Chinese philosophyfor Chinese philosophy

Yin and YangYin and Yang Yin – darkness, Yin – darkness,

weakness, inactivityweakness, inactivity Yang- brightness, Yang- brightness,

strength, activitystrength, activity

ConfucianismConfucianism

Promoted a code of conductPromoted a code of conduct System of ethnics and values that would System of ethnics and values that would

restore social harmony and political harmonyrestore social harmony and political harmony Family was the best modelFamily was the best model The Analects – written form of his teachingThe Analects – written form of his teaching Two ways to accomplish thisTwo ways to accomplish this

People accept their rolesPeople accept their roles Rulers act virtuouslyRulers act virtuously

Taoism (Daoism)Taoism (Daoism)

Started as a combination Started as a combination philosophy and psychology, but philosophy and psychology, but developed into a religiondeveloped into a religion

regulates natural processes and regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. nourishes balance in the Universe.

""refers to a power which refers to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and through all things, living and non-living.non-living.

Harmony of oppositesHarmony of opposites

LegalismLegalism

Concerned with the most effective way of Concerned with the most effective way of governing societygoverning society

Beliefs – People were by nature selfish and Beliefs – People were by nature selfish and untrustworthyuntrustworthy

Would become the official philosophy during Would become the official philosophy during the during the Qin dynastythe during the Qin dynasty

Led to the first truly centralized, imperial state.Led to the first truly centralized, imperial state.