DOCUMENT BASED QUESTIONS
Thenrc: The Influences of difbrent belief systems on Chinese rulers
This task is based on the accompanying documents (16). Some of them were edited forthe
purposes of tre task. The essayis dleslgned to test your ability to work with historical documents.
ns you analyze the documents, take into account both the source of eadr document and the authofs
point of view.
Hietoricat Context:
In China, at least four different beliefs systoms have historically influenced
Chinese thinking. These belief systems are Confucianism,.Daoism, Legalism, and Buddhism.
$ome of these belief systems w6re developed because China was experiencing chaos within the
country. Different rulerb used different ideas from these belief systems to help them keep their
counfy in order.
Task: ldentiff the fourclifferent belief systems revealed.in the documg$g, E4nlain what a good
ruler is accorciing to eacfr of the betief syslem,s, ExplSift hoy a ruler might treat somebody who was
caught stealing a sheep, according to eacfi of the belief systems'
Part A- $hort Answer
The documents belcnnr relate to the different belief systems in China. Examine each document
carefulty, and answer the questions that follcnry it. These answers will help you in your Part B essay.
Document
l:
A GONFUCIAN SAYING
The Master said. "Rule over them with dignity and they will be respectful; treat them with
kindness and they will do theirbest; raise the gofo dnd instruA those who are baclcward and they will
be filled with happiness."
-Confucius
1. List three dtaracteristics Confucius thought a good
DocuMENt
2:
ruler should possess.
FROM THE BOOK O.F LAO ZI. A DAOIST PHILOSOPHER
The best rulers are those that people do not even know exist'
The next best are those who people love and praise.
The next are those who PeoPle fear,
The next are those who people despise.
The best rulerc seldom issue any orders.
1. What are two characteristics Lao Ziconsidered "besf'fora ruler?
2. \Mratwas the purpose of this little speech?
Docurnent
3: |.AW$ ON I-AND:
a time of Legnlism
1. Those who occupy more land than allowed will be beaten ten strokes. More $trokes can be
added foreach P-igce of entrq land they are occrlpying. Afterthe punishment equals slxg strokes,
fewer strokes will be aftled for each eXra piece of land they occupy. The maximum penalty is one
year of hard labor. lf there is plenty of land arcund, no punishments shall be given.
2. Those who plant public or private land they do not own may be beaten thirly strokes. lf they arc
planting on many pieces of tand they do not own, they may be beaten more than 100 strokes. The
maximum penalty is one and a half years of hard labor. The crops that werc grown on the land go to
the owner of the land orthe govemment.
- from the Tang LegalCode, 653 A.D.
1. Vlhat kind of document is this?
2.
Discuss two of the reasons people could be punished under the laws wrifien above.
Document
#4: BUDDHISM
The Buddha said : "Should a man seek to do me harm, I will counterwith compassion, calmness and
me with hate, the more I reach out with kindness. The forces of
goodness will be with me, while harmfulforces and repeated misfortune will be witfr the other."
joy; The more he apprcadres
1.
VVho is this a
2. What mood
3. Sftat
salpture off
does the sculpture capture?
is one majormessage thatthe Buddha tried to spread to everyone, induding ruler:*?
Document #5: PROCLAMATION OF THE HONGWU EMPEROR (excerpted)
To all civil and military ofrcials:
I have told you to refrain from evil. Doing so would enable you to bring gtory to your
ancestors, your wives, and children, and yourselves. However, how many of you have bllowed
my instruciions? Those of you in charge of money and grain have stolen them yourselves; those of
you in charge of criminal laws and punishments have ignored them. Occasionally these matters
comg to ryy attenlion. I punish them with the death penalty orforced labor, or frave them flogged
with bamboo sticks.
\Mten a criminal mmmits a crime orwhen a good person mistakenly violates a law, he is
goilg to be punished. In the moming I punish a few; by evening others cdmmit the same crime. I
punish these in the ewning and by the next moming again there are violations. The harsher the
punishment, ffte morc the violations. Day and night I cannot rest \fvhat a difficult situation this is! lf I
punlsh people I am considered evil. lf I go lightly on them, the law becomes useless, and people
think I am a useless ruler. To be a ruferis difficutt indeed.
1. How does the Hongwu emperor believe he should do about crime?
2.
Vvhat are some of the problems he faces using this method?
3. Whatwas the purpose
DocumENt
#6:
of this letter?
EMPEROR TAIZONG ON EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT
How a RulerShould Asl
When the ruler looke as lofty as a mountain peak and as pqry and bright as the sun and the
moon, tfre peopie witl admire and rcsped him. He must broaden his mind to aqtsPt.h-99l91_?!9-^
earth,'and i.rsehis heart to make fair decisions. He cannot e1p3nd hig.tqr.ntQu witho-t1! 9oo..!!ess; he
cann6t proted his people without kindness. He treats his relatives with kindness,. acts politely
toward his otficer,s,'nonors his ancestors, and receives his subjectswith thoughtfulness. F.l?vin.9
OisciblineO himself, he practices good morals and righteousness. This is hory a rulershould ad.
1. Give three examples of how Emperor Taizong believes a ruler should act.
2. What feelings did this rufer have about his subjeds?