Zhou Dynasty
No Description
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Laozi’s life tells how he came to writing the Dao De Jing. Laozi was an adviser to the Zhou court for many years. When he was 90 years old he got tired of working for the government and decided to leave China. But when he came to the border of China a guard recognized him and the guard was upset that the great teachers wisdom would be lost to China. And so the guard asked Laozi asked to write down his thoughts before he left. So he sat down and wrote a small manuscript of about 5,000 characters, called the Dao De Jing.
Photo by VinothChandar
There were three schools in the Zhou dynasty Zhou rulers believed they had the Mandate of Heaven, a divine right to rule China. For a time, the Zhou’s practice of feudalism helped stabilize China. But during the dynasty’s later years, China collapsed into disorder. Political unrest led many scholars to debate the proper way to rule.
Photo by Tolka Rover
One of the three schools was based on Daoism. Daoism was based on the ancient Chinese idea of the Dao, or “the Way.” Dao was the force that gave order to the natural universe. Daoism taught that people gained happiness and peace by living in harmony, or agreement, with the way of nature.
Photo by mharrsch
Confucius taught his followers that peace and order depended upon proper behavior. Those in authority must lead by example. Those lower in status must obey. Confucianism led Han leaders to hire civil servants based on ability and tested knowledge rather than on family relationships
Photo by Nataraj Metz
Legalists believed that people were driven by their own self-interest. Legalism taught that rulers could create order in society only through strict laws and harsh punishments.
Photo by mharrsch
