The Prompt
Throughout China’s middle ages, Confucianism and neo-Confucianism played a role in how society and government worked. These influences started during the Song dynasty. When the Mongols took over, Confucian ideas were carried over to their government making them an even stronger power. How did Confucian and neo-Confucian thought influence the Song and Mongol dynasties?
To begin with, the Song dynasty was one of the first dynasties to use neo-Confucianism. This was a new type of Confucianism that was essentially created to reduce Buddhism’s popularity Neo-Confucianism taught that “life in this world was just as important as the afterlife” (Section 1 page 258). It was influenced by Buddhist and Daoist beliefs despite its similarity
Classical China was a breeding ground for new ideas, inventions, and most importantly, religions. Although Classical China was littered with different religions and beliefs, Confucianism was the most prominent. Confucianism is based on the teachings of a philosophical
In China during 406-221 BCE, the battling states between the Zhou and the Han Dynasties? were in a state of governmental disorder. Although the era was in a disruptive state, it ushered in a cultural opening that left a long lasting imprint on the Chinese history. As a result, three major belief systems surfaced Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism in an attempt to achieve a sense of political order in a disorder period. There are distinctions in the way each of the belief systems approached the many problems that plagued the Chinese society. First, all of the founders were contemporaries in China. As well as considered philosophies, who studied the future, and sat out to focus on the present rather than the past. In contrast, Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism established various paths in search of an optimistic future for the success of China. Second, both Legalism and Confucianism developed a social belief system, but are considered a religion. However, both Legalism and Confucianism purpose was to create an orderly society in the hopes of prosperity. In contrast, Daoism does
during the Zhou Dynasty, China was experiencing a great deal of political turmoil. A major part of this era was called the Period of the Warring States. It was a time when there were numerous wars that occurred due to the conflict that existed between seven states. (Watkins, 2013) These warring states were the Han, Wu, Zhao, Chu, Qi, Yan and Jin. According to Jerry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler of the book Traditions and Encounters, “This period forced some people to reflect on the nature of society, and the roles of humans beings within society.” The authors continued saying that it forced others to “identify principles that would restore political and social order.” (Bentley & Ziegler, 2011) The principles of Confucianism were established and followed in order to help the citizens of China to live and govern their communities more efficiently. Through Confucianism, Confucius helped legitimize China’s rule and bring about order in the mist of turmoil. The effects of Confucius’ principles are still seen and felt today in many aspects of modern day Chinese society. Veritably, there were points throughout Chinese history where Confucianism affected almost every aspect of life in China. Confucius has impacted the development of Chinese thought and culture in various ways from education to politics, to familial relationships.
The Song dynasty, also called the Sung dynasty, was the Chinese reign during the late 10th-13th centuries that, like the Tang, had a far-reaching impact economically, culturally, and socially. The period is divided into two parts: the Northern Song and the Southern Song. Economically, commerce, trade, and manufacturing grew exponentially. Culturally, Confucianism witnessed new life as it undergirded the growth of the Chinese middle class, and socially, a revision of the Chinese civil service examination widened government representation. The Song dynasty could easily be argued as the renaissance of China.
During the 13th-14th century the Mongols conquered a vast amount of land through their advanced military strategies and ruthless spirit in battle, causing their empire to immensely expand. Two regions in which the Mongols conquered were China and Russia, while both territories were under Mongol control the regions were ruled differently. Thus, the influence of the political impact Mongol rule had on the Chinese was intensely more significant in contrast to the effect on the Russians, while on the contrary there economical effects for quite similar.
After China had been conquered by the Mongols and their population was diminished by the plague, they began to look to into their past in order to shape their future. The Chinese society allowed “two empresses [write] instructions for female behavior” (423). These behaviors included those that were held previously to the Chinese women and were seen as “traditional expectations” (423). Much of the Chinese culture was changed due to the rule of the Mongol Empire. Because of this, China attempted to put an end to any evidence of foreign rule from the Mongol Empire. This included the “[discouragement] [of] the use of Mongol names and dress” (423). This discouragement of the Mongol traditions provided China the opportunity to reintroduce the concept of Confucian learning. This is another
Throughout history, there have been many empires that have shaped the outcome of all life on this world that we live on. Some of the greatest empires in the world, the Roman Empire, the greatest militaristic regime in history, or perhaps we can look towards northern Europe and the British Empire, those who had the capability to control the greatest amount of land mass in history. However there is one thing that even those famed Brits never accomplished. Something only one group in history has managed to do, a group that stands out among a crowd of the greatest people to represent planet earth. The men to strike fear Into the most battle hardened soldiers, the barbarians, the moguls. So what did the
These two very successful dynasties also relied heavily on their religion to keep the people together, and to also regulate the social classes. During this time period Neo-Confucianism was the main supported religion. Neo-Confucianism of course adapted from
The Song Dynasty was an important time in Chinese history. It was a time in which people started to move to commercial cities and survive of the cultivation of rice. People during this time period started to become more and more educated due to greater availability of books. Confucian thought was important to the people of China during this period. People were tested on Confucian ideals in order to serve in positions of civil service. The requirement of passing a test in order to hold a position in civil service allowed for a more fair selection process for these leadership positions.
Stay away from the Yuan dynasty. During the Yuan dynasty, the Chinese people were ruled by the Mongols. The Chinese were treated terribly during the 90 year period, and the Mongol conquerors placed themselves at the top of the societal hierarchy. (Mah) Your experience in the Yuan dynasty would largely depend on whether you were a Mongol, foreigner, or Chinese person. This essay will cover the hardships of the entire Yuan dynasty, approximately 1271 -1368.
Neo-Confucianism was also created in the Song Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism was Confucianism put together with Taoism, which was the ying and the yang, which was also put with Buddhism. This new patriotism also led to xenophobia in the country which leads to irrational decisions in the future. As time when on the Song Dynasty would lose some land to smaller dynasties who took over smaller parts to China in the south. Despite this the economy amazingly boomed during this time where the Chinese call the “medieval economic revolution” (Holcombe p. 130). Trading had a big role in this economic revolution. Archeologists have uncovered
Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism affected modern day and historic China in many ways. They all contributed something to China's history and what they believe today. Back in ancient days, the people of China relied on the thoughts and teachings of these three philosophies to figure how they should live or what they should believe, but not only did this affect China it also affected the entire world by forming laws, religions or even political views to create a better institution. Religion at the time was a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of people. Religion today is one of the biggest topics to explore around the world. As you know, religion was created to provide explanations as to why humans are born and what is the purpose of our lives. Later on, we found out that it evolved into a way of teaching people of high moral values and how we should function in society. The three philosophies are Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism which were all incorporated into the Chinese society and government which all have similar and different impacts on Chinese history.
This carried over to art because several court paintings were inspired by the Song Dynasty. With regards to beliefs
Confucianism had strong drawbacks on Choson Dynasty as it hindered reforms, created internal divisions among governors, and aggravated gender equality. The philosophical teaching can be seen as a barrier towards further development and the cause of disunion in society. This paper will delve into the these ideas by explaining the deep belief of conservatism that made Korea underdeveloped in the wake of Japan’s militarism and the claim that Confucianism led people to judge each other based on identities such as gender rather than their conducts. The paper will look into the connection between the values formed by Confucianism and the features of Choson society.
Confucianism is a time enduring philosophy that has stood up to invading clans, war, resentment, enforcement and infringement of new philosophies, and eventually, revival. For almost 80 years, up until the late 1970’s, Confucianism and its ideas and values have been all but wiped away from China. Though effort was made to remove Confucianism for good from China by the Communist leader Mao Zedong in 1949, the ideas and values were so deeply embedded into peoples mind and the culture that even suppression could not keep it out of the culture and practices. The main factor that has brought Confucianism back into the limelight in China and other East Asian countries is the recent