CHINESE PHILOSOPHIES

BUDDHISM

ORIGINS

• Began in India
• Incorporates much of Hinduism in it's practice

FOUNDER

• Siddhartha Gautama; an Indian prince
• He encountered suffering and misery
• He left his city and wandered on the streets
• He experience pain and misery too
• He conculuded: " The cause of suffering is desire,

FOUNDER CONTUINED...

• To end suffering you must end desire."

PRINCIPLES

• Desire is the cause of sufferingTo end suffering you must end desire
• Buddhism based on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
• Does not hold to a belief in deity
• Not seen as a religion but as a philosophy

DIFFUSION (SPREAD)

• Spread to Southeast Asia and East Aisa
• Spread especially during the Maurya Empire
• It was never widely excepted in India
• Much of Buddhist teaching was incorporated into Islam

CONFUCIANISM

ORIGINS/FOUNDERS

• Began in China during the Zhou (Chou) Dynasty
• After the end of feudalism crime was rampant
• Confucius spoke of returning to moral standards of the ancients
• Kung Fu- Tzu ( Confucius ) 551-479 BC

PRINCIPLES

• Not a religion but an ethical code
• Deals with moral character of individuals ,society, and government
• Primary goals: order ,harmony ,peace, and happiness
• Most important principles deal with ideal standard of conduct that controls reflection
• This is known as the five relationships

PRINCIPLES COUNTIUED...

• Parent-child
• Husband- wife
• Elder sibling-younger sibling
• Elder friend-younger friend
• Ruler-subject

DIFFUSION

• Spread by followers after his death
• The principles of Confucius became the foundation of Chinese education
• These teachings spread to Korea and Japan

TAOISM

ORIGINS/FOUNDER

• Grew from Ancient Chinese philosophies
• Merged into one basic teaching
• Grew from reaction of Confucianism and Buddisim
• Founder was Lao-Tse

PRINCIPLES

• Tao ( Dao ) means "The Way" or the Path it's a Series of philosophical teachings
• The Tao ate Ching is the most significant text
• Focuses on achieving balance and harmony in the universe and on one's life
• The symbol most associated with Taoism is the Yin/Yang; reflects the idea of harmony and balance
• Taoism also emphasizes the Three Jewels ; Compassion, Moderation, and Humility

DIFFUSION

• Spread primarily to areas immediately surrounding China
• Has been incorporated into teachings + beliefs of serval philosophies and religions
• Most notably Buddhism and Shintoism