Chinese philosophy

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher who lived in the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China, 771 to 476 BC. His name at birth was Sun Wu, known outside of his family by the name Changqing, later he became known as Sun tzu (Sun Zi to some). He is credited for writing “The Art of War”, an extremely influential Chinese novel on military strategy. Sun Wu has had a significant impact on Asian, especially Chinese, history and culture, both the an author but also…

The Influence of Nature on the Philosophy of Taoism In humanities great search for understanding the mysteries of life, mankind has created a number of religions that range from a minute following to a following of immeasurable proportions. Yet despite these billions of believers, the world still remains in a state of unrest. In ancient China, this period of unrest was referred to as “The Warring States period” which lasted from 480-221 BCE (Dr. Godshalk’s presentation on China). This period…

ancient and versatile deity primarily known for her creation of humans and repairing of the pillars of heaven. One connection between this primordial goddess and religion in China in general exists with the spelling of her name. When looking at other Chinese goddesses, there are many other instances where the deity’s name is prefixed with Nü. Exempli Gratia, Nü Ch’ou, Nü Pa (Drought Fury), Nü Chiao, [and] Nü-ying” are all examples, despite their differences in their role and function, where the…

bureaucracy are an integral aspect of the bureaucracy and it is important that they are well educated. For a Chinese bureaucracy it is important that the scholars are well educated and excel in the Confucian classics as they make up the foundation of Chinese government. There are several advantages and disadvantages to having Confucius educated scholars. It would be advantageous to have the Chinese government or bureaucracy staffed with scholars who are well versed in the Confucian classics.…

Confucius was believed to be born around 551 B.C and lived to 479 B.C. Confucius was a Chinese philosopher in the fifth and sixth century that influenced many people and still does to this day. The Analects is said to be the most reliable source of Confucius’ ideas. The Analects is made up of sayings from Confucius and the people that were with him in his travels. Even though he did not define human nature in any way, Confucius said that all human beings are equal. Confucius’ theory would be…

The Taijitu symbol, more commonly known as “yin and yang” represents more than meets the eye. The symbol was partially derived from an ancient manual known as the I-Ching, or Book of Changes (Issitt and Main 251). Like many other symbols, this one was created by combining other symbols together to make a more present and relatable symbol. This symbol represents opposite forces and how they work together in the world. The “Yin and Yang” are a way for citizens to explain nature and how it balances…

In Confucius’ The Essential Analects, the concept of respect is heavily preached toward the disciples and corrected or commented on by a Master of Confucianism. Confucius’ thought emphasizes the importance of ritual practice – along with the nourishment and comfort of our elders – even at the cost of one’s own expense. Confucianism is expressed as a way of life that embodies the respect for elders, also known as filial piety. Through filial piety, one develops an appreciation for those who have…

Confucianism and Daoism as Traditions Religion has been one of the deepest-rooted traditions in societies from all across the world. The continent of Asia is no different. One of the largest and most religiously diverse countries in Asia is China. Among the plethora of diverse religions are the contrasting faiths of Confucianism and Daoism. While China and all of Asia have many different religions, these cultures do not adopt the Western idea of sectarian religion where each religion is…

The dark and light Two halves make a whole, but not just any two halves. Two halves that complete each other. These two halves each have their own personality that complete the circle. A Chinese religion called Taoism or Daosim holds a symbol called The Yin-Yang. Taoists acknowledge elements of the world such as physical theories and laws, energy, and vibrations of the universe. Taoism focuses on science more than praying to a god or worshiping to a higher body. They use specific scientific…

seeking and conquering of something that is greater than us. That was the call of the wild to the boys in the book. It is not only in the transcendentalist period where mankind felt something similar. During the Warring States Period in China the philosophy and religion called Taoism developed where it was believed that the Tao is the “way” or “path” that is the force behind everything that exists and the basic principals were wu-wei (action through…