Chinese School of Thought
By: Dynasty Tate
Confucianism
The philosopher of Confucianism was Confucius. His goal was to show princes and dukes how to govern wisely. The government lead by example, so if the rulers lived virtuously, then the people would follow their example. His teachers were respect your elders, ancestors, and social superiors.
Legalism
The philosopher of Legalism was Hanfeizi. He believed the nature of man was evil and goodness was acquired. Under his rule, people were given strict laws and harsh punishment. They were forces to work on government projects and punished if the task wasn't complete. Legalism was practiced in Qin Dynasty.
Taoism (Daoism)
The philosopher of Taoism was Laozi. TAO means "the way". Laozi belived the best government was the one who governed the least. He believed to attain happiness you must practice alchemy and magic, live a simple life, and live in harmony with nature. He also stated that harmony comes from balancing opposite forces of ying and yang.
Buddhism
The emperor Asoka of India diffused Buddhism and the pagoda architecture into China. Buddhism contains the Four Noble Truths which states all human life involves suffering and sorrow, the desire for a life of pleasure and material gain causes suffering and sorrow, renouncing desire frees people from suffering and helps their souls attain nirvana, and the Eightfold Path leads to denial of desire and attainment of nirvana. The Eightfold Path is the right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfullness, and right contemplation