Name: KEY
Period:
Date:
World History – Mrs. Schenck
Chinese Philosophies
FOCUS: How do Chinese philosophies influence ancient/present culture and government?
Based on our “fortune cookies”, what do you think Confucius valued?
Hard work, family, perseverance, etc.
CONFUCIANISM
Confucius lived from around 551 to 479 B.C.E. near the end of the Zhou
dynasty. His family belonged to the nobility, but they were still very poor.
Confucius became an orphan when he was young. However, he studied hard
and become one of the best educated philosophers in China. His ideas, known
as Confucianism, continue to influence Chinese thought after thousands of
years. Confucianism is not a religion, but a code of behavior or philosophy.
Many of Confucius’s wise sayings or PROVERBS were collected later in a book
called the Analects.
Confucius taught that there are five basic relationships:
1. Husband and wife
2. Father and son
3. Older and younger brother
**filial piety: respect and honor for
families and parents especially
4. Friend and friend
5. Ruler and subject
Confucius thought that written laws and PUNISHMENTS are not the best way to bring back order.
A ruler should set a GOOD EXAMPLE for his people.
**A good society is like a FAMILY in which all members know their place and their
RESPONSIBILITIES.**
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ConfuCius said…
The followers of Confucius wrote down his teachings in the form of
proverbs, or short sayings. His teachings became a guide for the
way many people lived. The following sayings are based on the
book known as the Analects.
Directions: Read the proverbs from Confucius below. Then look at
the sentences that follow. Write whether Confucius would have
agreed or disagreed with each statement. Explain your answer
using the letter of the proverb that supports your answer.
SOME PROVERBS FROM CONFUCIUS
A. Good people bring out what is good in others, not what is bad.
B. To eat your fill but not apply your mind to anything all day is a problem. Are there no games to
play? Even that would be smarter than doing nothing.
C. People who do not think far enough ahead always have worries near at hand.
D. Don’t worry that no one recognizes you; seek to be worthy of recognition.
E. Speak truthfully and guide your friends in good ways. If they do not agree, then stop and do not
follow them.
F. When everyone dislikes something, it should be examined. When everyone likes something, it
should be examined.
G. If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is the real mistake.
1. It is all right for children to watch T.V. all day during summer vacation.
CONFUCIUS WOULD HAVE DISAGREED. THEY SHOULD LOOK FOR SOMETHING USEFUL TO DO.
THEY COULD READ, STUDY, OR AT LEAST PLAY A GAME. (B)
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2. You have an influence on your friends.
CONFUCIUS WOULD HAVE AGREED. YOU SHOULD SET A GOOD EXAMPLE AND TRY TO HELP
YOUR FRIENDS DO WHAT IS RIGHT. (E AND A)
3. Follow the crowd.
CONFUCIUS WOULD HAVE DISAGREED. YOU SHOULD EXAMINE, OR LOOK CAREFULLY AT, WHAT
“EVERYONE” LIKES OR DISLIKES AND THEN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION. Don’t give in to peer
pressure. (E AND F)
4. Don’t bother to plan ahead, because your plans will usually work out.
CONFUCIUS WOULD HAVE DISAGREED. IF YOU DON’T MAKE PLANS, YOU’LL WORRY ABOUT
WHAT WILL HAPPEN. (C)
5. Learn from your mistakes.
CONFUCIUS WOULD HAVE AGREED. THE REAL MISTAKE IS FAILING TO IMPROVE. (G)
6. Be sure that everyone knows who you are.
CONFUCIOUS WOULD HAVE DISAGREED. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE WORTHY OF
RECOGNITION THAN TO HAVE IT. (D)
7. Write a saying that you think Confucius would agree with. (Prove it!)
WORK TO YOUR FULLEST POTENTIAL. ONLY THEN WILL YOU BE TRULY HAPPY.
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Now see if you can put some of Confucius’ proverbs into your own words. Under each statement
write a few words or a phrase explaining what Confucius is trying to say.
1. “If a ruler himself is upright, all will go well without orders. But if he himself is not upright, even
though he gives orders they will not be obeyed.”
LEAD BY EXAMPLE – BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL –
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
2. “Do not do unto others, what you would not want others to do to you.”
GOLDEN RULE – TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED
3. "To see what is right and not to do it, is want of courage."
STAND UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT EVEN WHEN IT IS HARD – SEE GOOD, DO GOOD!
4. "The essence of knowledge is when having it, to apply it; and when not having it, to confess your
ignorance."
INTELLIGENCE IS KNOWING HOW TO USE IT AND HOW/WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP
5. "To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it."
FORGIVE AND FORGET
6. "It is only the wisest and the stupidest that cannot change."
THE WISEST THINK THEY ARE ALREADY THE SMARTEST, THE STUPIDEST CAN’T SEE THE
NEED FOR CHANGE – BUT CHANGE IS A PART OF LIFE AND CAN BE FOR THE BETTER
7. "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER – DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
ONE MAN’S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE
8. "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall."
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, TRY, TRY, TRY AGAIN!
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Confucianism Review/Warm-Up…
Match the following Confucius proverbs from The Analects to the
description below.
__B___1. "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself."
__C___2. "Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance."
__D___3. "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."
__A___4. "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
A. You and Taylor Swift listen to the new One Direction song together. You think
that it is awful and don’t like the lyrics. However, she loves the beat and rhythm.
B. The “Golden Rule”. Don’t ask your best friend to give up a date with Liam Payne
just because you are madly in love with him if you would not do the same for your
friend.
C. When you are stuck on your math homework, you go during homeroom the next
morning to find Dr. Williams for help.
D. A friend tells you about how his dog died recently and how hurt he is. You feel bad
for him, but you can’t really understand his pain until the next month when your pet
dies too.
TAOISM
Another philosopher in ancient China, Laozi, taught about the Tao
(pronounced Dow). Tao means The Way (to happiness). Taoism
is not a religion. Taoism is a philosophy, a way of looking at life
and a way of thinking about things. Taoists believe if you look at
life and think about things in the right way, you'll be much
happier.
Laozi taught that a force known as the Tao permeated all living things. He told his
followers that the most important thing an individual could do is to reject the world, and
their desires for worldly possessions and power, and commune with nature, bringing one’s
self into a state of oneness with the Dao.
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Taoists believe it's very important to understand The Way Things Are. This does not
mean that there are not things we need to change about ourselves, but it's important to
recognize and trust our own Inner Nature, and discover who we are. In the story of "The
Ugly Duckling", when does the duckling stop feeling ugly? When he discovers he's a swan.
When he recognizes who he really is, a beautiful swan, he finds his way to happiness.
Here are three Taoist philosophy statements and three conversations from The House
at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne. Can you match the Taoist philosophy to the conversation?
A. The wise know their limitations; the foolish do not.
B. A clever mind is not a heart.
C. There is more to knowing than just being correct.
Taoist
From The House at Pooh Corner
philosophy
B
"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully. "Yes," said Piglet. "Rabbit's
clever." "And he has Brain." "Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence. "I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he
never understands anything."
C
"Lots of people talk to animals," said Pooh. "Maybe, but..." "Not very
many listen, though," he said. "That's the problem," he added.
A
Roo and Tigger were walking, and Tigger was talking about all the things
that Tiggers can do.... "I can swim," said Roo. "I fell into the river,
and I swimmed. Can Tiggers swim?" "Of course they can. Tiggers can
do everything." "Can they climb trees better than Pooh?" asked Roo,
stopping under the tallest Pine Tree, and looking up at it. "Climbing trees
is what they do best," said Tigger. "Much better than Poohs." And the
next thing they knew, they were stuck in the tallest pine tree.
Taoism Exit Slip/Notes:
NOTES: Laozi is kind of like a hippie. The Tao is kind of like the “force” from Star Wars.
Think of Yoda. (Video clip – concentrate, try not – do or do not, the force binds us, that’s
why you fail…) Reject worldly possessions sounds like the Buddha.
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Philosophy
Followers are
called…
Origin
Founder
Important
Writings
# of followers
in the world
Describe the
philosophy in
one sentence.
Important
Values
Way to
achieve
happiness
What do all
three
philosophies
have in
common?
Confucianism
Taoism
Buddhism
Confucians
Taoists
Buddhists
China
China
Confucius
Laozi
India
Siddhartha Gautama
“the Buddha”
The Analects
Tao-te Ching
many
Hard to tell – There are many people who follow parts of all three philosophies. All three are very
popular still in Asia, and consider how many people live in China today!
A philosophy that focuses on
A philosophy that focuses on
respect for family, setting a good
A philosophy that focuses on
becoming one with the “Tao”
example, and following the rules
reaching nirvana and rejecting
and achieving inner peace to
of life to achieve a stable
desires to find happiness.
achieve happiness.
society.
4 noble truths
Filial piety
Being one with nature, the Tao
Eightfold Path
Respect for ancestors
Realizing who you are
Desires are what are making you
Strict moral/ethical behavior
Easy going
unhappy
Follow the moral codes of
society
Become one with the Tao
Reject desires and achieve
nirvana
Started in China / 6th c. BCE (C/T), not really religions but a philosophies or ways of life, try for
harmony and balance in all things, material things (“stuff”) does not matter, be a better person and
respect yourself and others
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Chinese Philosophies Final Project
Proverbs can be found anywhere, even in songs! Think about what values are most important to a Confucian or Taoist.
Then try to think of a song you know that might express the same value in a good lyric.
Let’s see if the wisdom of ancient philosophers still influences us today!
1. Use your partner and BYOT to decide/find the following. Remember, there can be no repeats among partners, so
make sure your lyrics were approved!
Philosophy
Song Title
Artist
Lyric
Value Philosophy and Lyric
Share
LEARN FROM YOUR
MISTAKES
“If one thing I know, I'll fall but
I'll grow…”
Confucianism
“Am I Wrong”
Nico and Vinz
*Try to limit it to one line or
two.
#8 – Confucius said, “Our
greatest glory is not in never
failing, but in rising every time
we fall.”
*This really should be a quote
from the packet or a solid
belief you can find in the
packet.
2. On a separate piece of paper, write a good paragraph that answers the following question: “What philosophical
value does your lyric convey and how?” Your paragraph should have a topic sentence, two supporting ideas and
explanations, and a concluding sentence. Please type the paragraph – double space, 12 point, times new roman.
Refer to the examples and ideas from class to submit the best product.
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Mrs. Schenck Pd. #
Chinese Philosophers Final Project
TYPED AS ALL ONE PARAGRAPH – double space – 12 point font – Times New Roman
Write a GOOD paragraph that explains how your lyric and proverb express the same idea/value
and use the suggestions here.
Introductory Sentence – Include all boxes on page 8
The lyric “If one thing I know, I’ll fall but I’ll grow…” from the song “Am I Wrong” by Nico and Vinz embodies the
Confucian philosophy of learning from your mistakes.
C1 – explain the philosophical value
First, Confucius really wanted people to understand that is alright to make mistakes. When we try new things, it is always
possible to make a mistake. Confucius believed that true learning comes from understanding or learning from our mistakes
and trying again.
E 1– site your evidence from the #10 packet - a proverb or strong idea
Learning from mistakes is supported by Confucius’ proverb, “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every
time we fall.”
C2 – explain your song lyric
Additionally, the Nico and Vinz lyric conveys the same Confucian idea of learning from mistakes…. Cont. to explain!
E 2– site your song lyric
Learning from mistakes is also supported by Nico and Vinz’s lyric, “If one thing I know, I’ll fall but I’ll grow…”
Concluding Sentence
Therefore, the Nico and Vinz lyric from the song, “Am I Wrong” helps convey the important Confucian philosophy of
learning from our mistakes.
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