To know what we
know, and know
what we do not
know, is wisdom.
• 551 – 479 BC (during
the Qin Dynasty)
• Born in the feudal
state of Liu and
known in China by
the name Kung Futzu
• Became a teacher
and editor of books.
• As you walked in the door, I handed you a
slip of paper…Each slip has ½ of a
quotation that was written by the Chinese
philosopher, Confucius.
• You must now figure out the words of
Confucius by walking around the room
and reading your quotations to one
another until you find the second half of
your quote
1. Respect yourself and other will respect you
2. Not to be known is no sorrow. My sorrow is not
knowing men.
3. Guide the people by law, align them by punishment;
they may shun crime, but they will want shame. Guide
them by mind, align them by courtesy; they will learn
shame and grow good.
4. Have no friends not equal to yourself.
5. When your father is alive observe his
intentions. When he is deceased, model
yourself on the memory of his behavior. If
in three years after his death you have not
deviated from your father’s ways, then you
may be considered a filial child.
6. He that can feed his parents is now called a
good son. But both dogs and horses are fed,
and unless we honor our parents, what is the
difference?
7. The superior man cannot be known in little
matters, but he may be entrusted with great
concerns. The small man may not be entrusted
with great concerns, but he may be known in
little matters.
8. The superior man is modest in his speech, but
exceeds in his actions.
9. According to Confucianism, women had to obey
their fathers when they were not married, to obey
their husbands when in wedlock, and to obey
their sons in their widowhood.
• Rooted in the belief that familial
relationships are the foundation for
society
– Ancestor worship
• Strong emphasis on education in the
development of a person’s moral character
and their ability to lead.
• Li  Rituals and rules create an enduring
and stable society; etiquette in society
• Ren  Benevolence and kindness
• Shu  Reciprocity, empathy
– Do not do unto others what you would not
want others to do unto you.
• Yi  Do what is right (not just for yourself)
• Xiao  Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)
• The subordinate person was always to
defer and learn from the superior person
in the relationship.
• At the same time, the superior person had
a responsibility to act as a custodian for
the subordinate person.
1. Ruler
2. Parent
3. Husband
4. Older
sibling
5. Older
Friend
1. Subject
2. Child
3. Wife
4. Younger Sibling
5. Younger Friend
• The single most important Confucian
work.
• In Chinese, it means “conversation.”
• Focus on sensible ways of behaving in
ones relationships and also the ways
leaders should behave to ensure for the
well-being of a society/government
• Knowing what he knows and knowing what he
doesn’t know, is characteristics of the person
who knows.
• Making a mistake and not correcting it, is
making another mistake.
• The superior man blames himself; the
inferior man blames others.
• To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.
• 372 - 289 BC; was a disciple of Confucius.
– Deciphered Confucius’ teachings and spread the
philosophy
• Starts off with the assumption that “people
are basically good.”
• The emperor is the example of proper behavior
 “Big Daddy”
• If someone does something bad, education, not
punishment, is the answer.
– Good people will mend their ways in accordance to
their inherent goodness.
• You have a list of 8 different sayings from
the Analect.
• You must now come up with a modern day
interpretation of each of the 8
• For tomorrow, please make up your own
based on a bit of wisdom you would like to
impart!
• Originated in China 2000
years ago
• Founded by Lao Tzu, whose
name means “Old Master”
– Possibly Confucius’s
teacher?
• Major texts:
– The Tao Te Ching; Explains the
art of living according The Way
– I-Ching: divination book based on
cosmology
• The I Ching uses a type of divination called
cleromancy, which produces apparently
random numbers.
• Six random numbers are turned into a
hexagram, which can then be looked up in the
I Ching book
• Like Confucianism,
Taoism is an ancient
Chinese philosophy of
living based on the Tao,
or The Way
– Through nature and
harmony you can be
happy
– Based on balance, which
is where yin and yang
come from
• A believer’s goal is to become one with
The Tao and one with nature.
• To be happy, we have to let nature take its
course and “go with the flow”
• Man is unhappy because he lives
according to man-made laws, customs, &
traditions that are contrary to the ways of
nature.
• To escape the “social, political, &
cultural traps” of life, one must :
1. Reject formal knowledge and learning.
2. Relying on the senses and instincts.
3. Discover the nature and “rhythm” of
the universe.
4. Ignore political and social laws.
Feminine
Passive
Darkness
Cold
Weak
Earth;
Moon
Masculine
Active
Light
Warmth
Strong
Heaven;
Sun
• Qigong – aligning breath with mind and body
• Tai Chi - series of movements performed in a
slow, focused manner, accompanied by deep
breathing.
• Feng Shui - philosophical system of
harmonizing everyone with the surrounding
environment
• Accupuncture - promotes the flow of Chi (or
life force)
• How is a man to live in a world
dominated by chaos, suffering, and
absurdity??
– Legalism  Rule by harsh law & order
– Confucianism  Moral order in society
through social hierarchy; respectful
relationships
– Daoism  Order in society by finding
harmony with nature; focus on balance