Your attention is invited to the philosophy of Ancient China, a summary. Chinese philosophy has a history dating back several thousand years. Its origin is often associated with the Book of Changes, an ancient collection of fortune-telling dating to 2800 BC, where some fundamental points of Chinese philosophy were indicated. The age of Chinese philosophy can only be estimated tentatively (its first heyday, as a rule, is attributed to the 6th century BC), since it dates back to the oral tradition of the Neolithic era. In this article you can find out what the philosophy of Ancient China is, briefly get acquainted with the main schools and areas of thought.
For centuries, the philosophy of the Ancient East (China) has put practical care for people and society, questions about how to organize life in society, how to live an ideal life. Ethics and political philosophy often prevailed over metaphysics and epistemology. Another characteristic feature of Chinese philosophy was reflection on nature and personality, which led to the development of the theme of the unity of man and Heaven, the theme of the place of man in space.
Four philosophical schools
Four particularly influential schools of thought arose in the classical period of Chinese history, which began around 500 BC. These were Confucianism, Taoism (often pronounced "Taosism"), monism and legism. When China was united by the Qin Dynasty in 222 BC, Legism was adopted as an official philosophy. The emperors of the late Han dynasty (206 BC - 222 AD) adopted Taoism, and later, about 100 BC - Confucianism. These schools remained central to the development of Chinese thought until the 20th century. Buddhist philosophy, which appeared in the 1st century AD, spread widely in the 6th century (mainly during the reign of the Tang Dynasty).
In the era of industrialization and in our time, the philosophy of the Ancient East (China) began to include concepts taken from Western philosophy, which was a step towards modernization. Under the rule of Mao Tse-tung, Marxism, Stalinism and other communist ideologies were spread in mainland China. Hong Kong and Taiwan revived interest in Confucian ideas. The current government of the People's Republic of China supports the ideology of market socialism. The philosophy of ancient China is summarized below.
Early beliefs
At the beginning of the reign of the Shang dynasty, the idea was based on the idea of cyclicity arising from direct observation of nature: the change of day and night, the change of seasons, the rise and fall of the moon. This idea has remained relevant throughout the history of China. During the reign of Shang, the great deity of Shang-di could rule fate, in translation into Russian - "The Most High God." The cult of ancestors was also present, there were also animal and human sacrifices.
When the Shang dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou dynasty, a new political, religious and philosophical concept of the "Mandate of Heaven" appeared. In accordance with it, if the ruler does not correspond to his position, he can be overthrown and replaced by another, more suitable. Archaeological excavations of this period indicate an increase in literacy and a partial departure from faith in Shangdi. The cult of ancestors became commonplace, and society became more secular.
One hundred schools
Around 500 BC, after the Zhou state weakened, the classical period of Chinese philosophy began (almost at that time the first Greek philosophers also appeared). This period is known as One Hundred Schools. Of the many schools founded at this time, as well as during the next period of the Warring States, the four most influential were Confucianism, Taoism, Moism and Legism. At this time, it is believed that Cofutsius wrote "Ten Wings" and a series of comments on Jing.
Imperial era
The founder of the short Qin dynasty (221-206 BC) united China under the rule of the emperor and established legism as an official philosophy. Li Xi, the founder of legism and chancellor of the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, suggested that he suppress the freedom of speech of the intelligentsia in order to combine thoughts and political beliefs and burn all the classic works of philosophy, history and poetry. Only Li Xi's books should have been allowed. After he was deceived by two alchemists who promised him a long life, Qin Shi Huang buried 460 scientists alive. Legism retained its influence until the emperors of the late Han Dynasty (206 BC - 222 AD) adopted Taoism, and later, around 100 BC, Confucianism as an official doctrine. However, Taoism and Confucianism were not the defining forces of Chinese thought until the 20th century. In the 6th century (mainly during the reign of the Tang Dynasty), Buddhist philosophy was universally recognized, mainly because of its resemblance to Taoism. Such at that time was the philosophy of Ancient China, summarized above.
Confucianism
Confucianism is the collective teaching of the sage Confucius, who lived in 551-479. BC.
The philosophy of ancient China, Confucianism, can be briefly presented in the following form. This is a complex system of moral, social, political and religious thinking, which has greatly influenced the history of Chinese civilization. Some scholars believe that Confucianism was the state religion of imperial China. Confucian ideas are reflected in the culture of China. Mencius (4th century BC) believed that a person has a dignity that must be cultivated in order to become "good." Sun Tzu regarded human nature as originally evil, but which through self-discipline and self-improvement can be transformed into virtue.
Confucius did not intend to establish a new religion, he only wanted to interpret and revive the nameless religion of the Zhou Dynasty. The ancient system of religious rules has exhausted itself: why do the gods allow social problems and injustice? But if not the spirits of nature and nature, what is the basis of a stable, united and lasting social order? Confucius believed that this basis is a reasonable policy, implemented, however, in the Zhou religion, its rituals. He did not interpret these rituals as sacrifices to the gods, but as ceremonies embodying civilized and cultural patterns of behavior. They embodied for him the ethical core of Chinese society. The term "ritual" included social rituals - courtesies and accepted norms of behavior - what we today call etiquette. Confucius believed that only a civilized society can have a stable and lasting order. The philosophy of ancient China, schools of thought and subsequent teachings took a lot from Confucianism.
Taoism
Taoism is:
1) a philosophical school based on the texts of Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu) and Chuang Tzu;
2) Chinese folk religion.
"Tao" literally means "path", but in the religion and philosophy of China, this word has taken on a more abstract meaning. The philosophy of ancient China, a brief description of which is presented in this article, has drawn many ideas from this abstract and seemingly simple concept of the "path".
Yin and Yang and the Five Elements Theory
It is not known exactly where the idea of the two principles of Yin and Yang came from, probably it arose in the era of ancient Chinese philosophy. Yin and Yang are two complementary principles whose interaction forms all phenomenal phenomena and changes in space. Yang is the active principle, and Yin is the passive one. Additional elements, such as day and night, light and darkness, activity and passivity, masculine and feminine, and others, are a reflection of Yin and Yang. Together, these two elements make up harmony, and the idea of harmony spreads through medicine, the arts, martial arts, and social life in China. The philosophy of ancient China, schools of thought have also absorbed this idea.
The Yin-Yang concept is often associated with the theory of the five elements, explaining natural and social phenomena as the result of a combination of the five basic elements or agents of the cosmos: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The philosophy of ancient China (briefly the most important is outlined in this article) certainly includes this concept.
Legalism
Legalism takes its roots in the ideas of the Chinese philosopher Xun Tzu (310-237 BC), who believed that ethical standards were necessary to control the evil inclinations of man. Han Fei (280-233 BC) developed this concept in a totalitarian pragmatic political philosophy based on the principle that a person seeks to avoid punishment and achieve personal gain, since people are selfish and evil by nature. Thus, if people begin to freely display their natural inclinations, this will lead to conflicts and social problems. The ruler must maintain his power with the help of three components:
1) a law or principle;
2) method, tactics, art;
3) legitimacy, power, charisma.
The law must strictly punish violators and reward those who follow it. Legism was chosen by the philosophy of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), which unified China for the first time. Unlike the intuitive anarchy of Taoism and the virtue of Confucianism, legism considers the demands of order more important than others. Political doctrine was developed in the cruel time of the fourth century BC.
Legists believed that the government should not be deceived by the pious, unattainable ideals of "tradition" and "humanity." In their opinion, attempts to improve life in the country through education and ethical commandments are doomed to failure. Instead, people need a strong government and a carefully crafted code of laws, as well as a police force that requires strict and impartial enforcement and severely punishes violators. The founder of the Qin dynasty had high hopes for these totalitarian principles, believing that the rule of his dynasty would last forever.
Buddhism
The philosophy of ancient India and China has much in common. Although Buddhism originated in India, it was of great importance in China. Buddhism is believed to have appeared in China during the reign of the Han Dynasty. About three hundred years later, during the reign of the eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), he survived an explosion of popularity. During these three hundred years, the supporters of Buddhism were mainly visitors, nomadic people from the western regions and Central Asia.
In a sense, Buddhism was never adopted in China. At least not in purely Indian form. The philosophy of ancient India and China still has many differences. Legends abound with tales of Indians, such as Bodhidharma, who instilled various forms of Buddhism in China, but little mention is made of the inevitable changes that the teaching undergoes when it is transferred to foreign soil, especially to such rich as China of that time was in regarding philosophical thought.
Some features of Indian Buddhism were incomprehensible to the practical Chinese mind. With its tradition of asceticism inherited from Hindu thought, Indian Buddhism can easily take the form of a delayed reward provided for in meditation (to meditate now, to achieve Nirvana later).
The Chinese, who were heavily influenced by a tradition that encouraged hard work and life needs, could not accept this and other practices that seemed otherworldly and unrelated to everyday life. But, being practical people, many of them saw some good ideas of Buddhism in relation to both man and society.
The war of the eight princes is a civil war between the princes and kings of the Jin dynasty from 291 to 306, during which the nomadic peoples of northern China, from Manchuria to eastern Mongolia, were in large numbers included in the ranks of mercenary troops.
Around the same time, the level of political culture in China declined markedly, the teachings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu revived, gradually adapted to Buddhist thought. Buddhism, which appeared in India, took on a completely different look in China. Take, for example, the concept of Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna (150-250 CE), Indian philosopher, the most influential Buddhist thinker after Gautama Buddha himself. His main contribution to Buddhist philosophy was the development of the concept of Shunyatu (or "emptiness") as an element of Buddhist metaphysics, epistemology and phenomenology. After importing into China, Shunyat's concept was changed from "Void" to "Something Existing" under the influence of traditional Chinese thought by Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.
Moism
The philosophy of ancient China (briefly) Moism was founded by the philosopher Mozee (470-390 BC), who contributed to the spread of the idea of universal love, the equality of all beings. Mozee believed that the traditional concept is contradictory, that human beings need guidance to determine which traditions are acceptable. Moism does not define morality according to tradition; rather, it correlates with utilitarianism, the pursuit of good for the greatest number of people. In Moism, it is believed that government is a tool to provide such leadership, as well as to stimulate and promote social behavior that benefits the largest number of people. Activities such as songs and dances were considered wasteful of resources that could be used to provide people with food and shelter. Moists created their own highly organized political structures and lived modestly, leading an ascetic lifestyle, practicing their ideals. They were against any form of aggression and believed in the divine power of heaven (Tien), which punishes the immoral behavior of people.
You have studied what is the philosophy of ancient China (summary). For a more complete understanding, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with each school in more detail separately. Features of the philosophy of ancient China were briefly outlined above. We hope that this material helped you understand the main points and was useful to you.