Chapter 7, Section 3

Pages 176-179

Standards 7.3.3 & 7.3.6

Objective/Goals for learning:

To learn that Confucianism underwent changes

and influenced Chinese government.

Also, that scholar-officials ran China’s

government during the Song dynasty.

If you were there… You are a student in China in 1184. Night

has fallen, but you cannot sleep. Tomorrow you have a test. It will be, you know, the most important test of your entire life. You have studied for it, not for days or weeks or even months– but for years. As you toss and turn, you think about how your entire life will be determined by how well you do on this one test.

How could a single test be so important?

The Different Religions of China Buddhism

Confucianism

Neo-Confucianism

Daoism/Taoism

Confucianism Daoism/

Taoism

Buddhism Neo-

Confucianism

Key Facts/

Info

Confucianism Confucianism is based on the teachings of

Confucius.

Lived 1,500 years before the Song dynasty.

His ideas had a dramatic effect on the Song

government.

Confucian Ideas His teachings focused on ethics

What are ethics? Proper behavior

Said that people should conduct their lives

according to two basic principles:

1.ren = concern for others

2.li = appropriate behavior

Confucian Ideas (cont.) Confucius argued that society would function

best if everyone followed ren and li.

Confucius believed in order and that everyone

has a role to play in society.

The Influence of

Confucianism Ideas of Confucius were spread by his followers

after he died.

Were not widely accepted.

Became popular during the Han dynasty &

became the official state philosophy.

The Influence of Confucianism

(cont.)

Lost power during the Period of Disunion

because people were unhappy and turned to

which religion?

Buddhism

Lost more power as time went on.

Neo-Confucianism Late in the Tang dynasty, Chinese historians &

scholars became interested in Confucianism

again

Became “trendy”

Neo-Confucianism (cont.) During and after the Song dynasty a new

philosophy called Neo-Confucianism developed.

It was based on ideas of Confucianism

Similar because it focused on proper behavior

Also emphasized spiritual matters

Neo-Confucianism (cont.) Became very popular during the Song dynasty

Its ideas became official government teachings

after the Song dynasty.

Scholar-Officials The Song dynasty worked to improve the

governmental system

Reformed the bureaucracy

Gov. workers had to pass a civil service

examination in order to work for the gov.

Exam had to do with Confucian ideas

Very difficult!

People spent YEARS studying for them!

Scholar-Officials (cont.) Passing the tests meant life as a scholar-official

Elite members of society & highly respected

Performed many important jobs in gov.

Widely admired for their knowledge & ethics

Why were the tests so difficult?

Checking for Understanding!

Confucianism Neo-Confucianism

Government

bureaucracy