Ancient Chinese and Early Hindu

Education
By Christine Dheille R. Lipana

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1. Ancient Chinese 1

Education
2. Early Hindu
2
Education
 Ancient Chinese Education

CHINA: Introduction
1
• Policy of isolation and did not associate with the
rest of the world
• No fear for invasion for they have no intention
to conquer.
• built the Great Wall of China to protect itself
from invaders. 2

• focused on the teachings of Confucius.

• Civil Service Examination
 .
CONFUCIUS
also known as Kong Fu Zi or “Master Kong.”

FIVE VIRTUES
Confucius OF CONFUCIUS
believed that if
Manners
people could behave
Kindness
correctly toward one
Loyalty
another, peace would come.
Honesty
Understanding wrong from right
CONFUCIUS
Confucius taught that people should
know their place in life and society.
They should respect people above
and below them.
The Five Relationships
1. Ruler and Ruled
2. Father and son
3. Husband and wife
4. Older Brother and younger
brother
5. Friend and Friend
 Confucius’ Ideas about a “Teacher”

be passionately and conscientiously committed to his work

knowledge must be broad in scope and fully mastered
must love his pupils, know them well, understand their
psychological particularities, give thought to ways and means
of facilitating their access to knowledge
tireless commitment through his lessons to his pupils’ development.

firm political convictions; show modesty and discretion.

 Education
A child should be able to feed him/herself and are taught to use the
right hand.
BOYS
-able to speak
-taught to respond clearly

GIRLS
-taught to respond submissively
 Early Childhood Education

BOYS AND GIRLS: They’re

At the age 6
taught about numbers.

BOYS AND GIRLS: How to go

in and out of the door or gate,
At the age 8 going to their tablemats to eat and
drink; follow the elders and
yielding to others.
 Early Childhood Education

BOYS: Goes to a schoolmaster to

learn to write different character
classes and calculate.
At the age 10 GIRLS: Taught by a governess inside
the home to use pleasing speech and
correct manners, domestic chores and
other women’s work like weaving.
 Early Childhood Education

At age of 13 BOYS AND GIRLS: Learns

music, repeat odes, and dance
the Ko.

At the age 20 GIRLS: They marry.

 Education

At the age of BOYS: Takes his wife and begins

30 to attend business proper.

Full grown BOYS AND GIRLS: Dances

the Hsiang, learns archery, and
individuals
chariot driving.
 Methods of Learning
The Confucian Method

not only confined inside

the classroom but also
outside the classroom

Direct and exact imitation Memorization

especially true in under some teachers the
writing many Chinese whole time was devoted to
characters memorization
Types of Education
Ideological and Moral Education – Confucian relationships,
doctrine of submission and the cardinal values

Language Education – memorize and master the Chinese language

Vocational and Domestic Education – men to acquire trade

skills; women on domestic skills to serve men

Civic Education – those who like to serve in the

government

Military Education – for defense and aggression purpose.

These are the books to be mastered in order to
hold any official position:
The Classics
1. The Shu King (The Book of History) – history before the time of
Confucius
2. The Shi King (The Book of Odes) – collection of Chinese poetry
3. The Yi King (The Book of Changes) – an outline of prophecy and
augury
4. Li Ki King (Book of Rights) – an outline of social etiquette
5. The Hsiao King (Book of Filial Piety)
These are the books to be mastered in order to
hold any official position:

The Four Books

1. The Ta Hsio (Great Learning)
2. The Chung Yung (Doctrine of the Mean)
3. The Lun Yu (Analects of Confucius)
4. The Meng – Tze (Sayings of Mencius)
Home

1. Ancient Chinese 1

Education
2. Early Hindu
2
Education
 Early Hindu Education
• In Ancient India the child follow the occupation of his
father.
• It was fully and compulsorily residential. The student
had to live in the house of his teacher for the whole
duration of his studies and learn from him not only
what was taught but also observe how his teacher
responded to different situation arising in daily life
and learn from it.
 Early Hindu Education

• Education was absolute free and the teacher

looked after the primary needs of the
students including food and clothing.
• Education in ancient India was more of
seminar type where students used to learn
through discussions and debates.
 Aims of Education

– Dharma (Religious and Social Duties) provides value

system for each individual
– Artha (Livelihood) earning a livelihood by honest means
– Kama (Good Life) enjoying good things in life in
moderation
– Moksha leading the soul toward God and achieving release from the
cycle of the rebirths.
 Social Division
1. White Varna (Brahmans / Brahmins) – priests or scholars
2. Red Varna (Kshatriyas) – rulers, administrators, soldiers
3. Yellow Varna ( Vaisyas) – peasants-farmers, merchants
4. Black Varna (Sudras) – skilled artisans
5. Panchamas/Pariahs (Untouchables) – people who did
the dirtiest jobs and were treated badly and the oppressed
people of the society
 Early Childhood Education
At the age 5
• In the Vedic system, education of a child
commenced with the ceremony called
VIDYARAMBHA.
• It was marked by learning the alphabets for the
first time and offering worship to Goddess
Saraswati.
 Early Childhood Education
At the age 8
• In the Vedic system, education of a child
commenced with the ceremony called
UPANAYANA.
• Child used to leave his parents’ home and go
to stay in the house of his teacher to
commence his study. He was now called
Brahmachari.
 Early Childhood Education
At the age 8

• Upanayana ceremony was conducted by Brahmin or

those specialized as priests, teachers (acharya) and
protectors of sacred learning across generations.
• Indian texts suggest that Brahmins were often
agriculturalists and warriors in ancient and medieval
India.
 Early Childhood Education
At the age 10
• In the Vedic system, education of a child
commenced with the ceremony called
KSHATRIYA.
• This is to protect society by fighting in
wartime and governing in peacetime.
 Early Childhood Education
At the age 12
• In the Vedic system, education of a child
commenced with the ceremony called
VAISHYA.
• Vaishyas are landowners, traders and
money- lenders.
In the Vedic system education,
after finishing his education,
Bramachari is eligible to become
a Grihasta or householder.
 The Six Schools of Philosophy
Six prominent schools in India:
1. Nyaya – deals with logic
2. Vaisheshika – concerns the nature of the world
3. Samkhya – examines the origin and evolution of the universe
4. Yoga – a set of mental and physical exercises designed to free the body so that the soul
can unite with Brahman
5. Purva-mimamsa – enquiry into the earlier portion of the Vedas, an enquiry
into the ritual of the Vedas (the oldest Hindu Scriptures and the oldest sacred
writings of any major religion)
6. Vedanta – interprets the end or the essence of the Vedas
 Contents to be Studied

1. Literature for the Brahmans:

a. Rig Veda – psalms and verses
b.Yajur Veda – sacred formulas
c.Sama Veda – chants
d.Atharva Veda – charms
e. The Angas – Hindu scientific and philosophical knowledge
f.The Code of Manu – compilation of ethics, customs, and traditions
 Contents to be Studied
2.Dancing associated with religion
3.Sports – wrestling, archery and yoga
4.Linguistics, Philosophy, and Theology for candidates for
priesthood
5.For Military Training – riding horse, elephant, and chariot
in war.
6.Astronomy, History, Grammar, Law, Medicine and
Mathematics
 Methods of Learning

Memorization Critical Analysis Seminar Introspection

Question and Answer Story Telling Hands - on

EDUCATION OF WOMEN

In the Vedic system

education, women
were trained in the
art of housekeeping,
music and dancing.
 Women
Sadyodvahas Bramhavadinis

who prosecuted who did not marry and

studies until their pursued their studies
marriages throughout their lives
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