Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 3
Classical Civilization:
China
• Strong Bureaucracy
– Power of warrior-landlords lessened
– Examination system put in place by Wudi
– Highly-integrated system
Trained bureaucrats
Some limits on imperial power
• Confucianism
– Confucius (Kong Fuzi)
– Concern with stability, peace
– An ethical system
– Role of moral elite
Education central
• Confucianism
– The Confucian Gentleman
Moral rectitude
Public and private spheres equally important
Kings should be reminded of duties
• Legalism
– Favored a strong state, ruling through
force
– Belief that human nature was basically evil
– In opposition to Confucianism in many
ways
Yet the two often combined in exercise of
power.
• Daoism
– More spiritual
– Laozi (400s B.C.E.)
Philosopher
Retreat from society
State cannot solve all problems
Nature
• Dao, cosmic force
Meditation
• Isolation
– View of surrounding peoples as inferior
– No missionary desires
– Buddhism an exception