Tag Archives: i-ching

Great Ideas of the Zhou: Confuscianism

Posted on by
4

Episode 7: Great Ideas of the Zhou: Confucianism

Foundations of Eastern Civilization

Dr Craig Benjamin (2013)

Film Review

The last 500 years of civil war under the Zhou Dynasty gave rise to more than 100 schools of philosophy as scholars searched for ways to end war. The three most important were Confucianism, Legalism and Daoism. According to Benjamin, the first millennium BC was one of extreme unrest in all civilized societies. He feels it’s no coincidence that most of humanity’s religious and philosophical foundations (including the Hebrew scriptures, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and the philosophy of Socrates) were laid down during this period (which some historians refer to as the Axial Age*).

Confucius (551 – 479 BC) spent most of his life visiting the courts of warring Chinese states seeking a job (as political advisor). To support himself, he accepted a number of disciples. Following his death, his disciples published his teachings in a book (The Analects). His philosophical teachings stressed the importance of ethical leadership and moral authority in rulers and the acceptance of one’s role in society. He taught that the primary obligation of all leaders was to dedicate themselves to the people they served and that they should be selected  based on knowledge and morality, rather than family background.

Confucius prescribed study five books as a prerequisite for wise and moral rule: the I-Ching (see The Mandate of Heaven and the Right to Overthrow Morally Unfit Rulers/), the Book of Odes, the Book of Rites and the Spring and Autumn Annals. These would serve as the basic texts of eastern philosophy for 2,500 years.

Confucianism identifies four important qualities of an effective government official:

  1. Benevolence and a deep understanding of the plight of humanity.
  2. Wisdom and courage.
  3. Sense of propriety and respect for superiors
  4. Filial piety – respect for parents and commitment to look after them in old age and after death.

*The ‘Axial Age’ (500–300 BCE) refers to the period during which most of the main religious and spiritual traditions emerged in Eurasian societies.

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/video/5808608/5808622

China and the Mandate of Heaven: The Right to Overthrow Morally Unfit Rulers

Posted on by
5

Episode 6: The Zhou and the Mandate of Heaven

Foundations of Eastern Civilization

Dr Craig Benjamin (2013)

Film Review

In 1046 AD Wu, the first Zhou king, overthrew the Shang Dynasty with the help of vassal states fed up with paying tribute to corrupt kings. The longest ruling dynasty (1046-256 BC), the Zhou also introduced China’s longstanding “Mandate of Heaven.” Under the Mandate of Heaven, rebel leaders asserted the god-given right to seize power from leaders who became morally unfit to rule.

The Zhou dynasty is known for fair and humane rule of their subjects. Greatly expanding the territory they inherited from the Shang, they allowed vassal kings to pay tribute and continued ruling in territories the Zhou military had conquered.

During their first century of rule, the Zhou kings worshiped the Shang gods (Di and his vassal gods), but later focused more on worshiping ancestors and nature gods. Human sacrifice significantly decreased under the Zhou and was more likely to be voluntary.

Instead of using oracle bones to make policy decisions, the Zhou used the I-Ching (Book of Changes), which became the core of Eastern philosophy over the next 3,000 years.

After 300 years, the Zhou kingdom splintered into warring states as vassals became more distantly related to the king and ruled more independently. By the 8th century BC China had broken into 150 warring kingdoms, with warlords holding the real power and the Zhou kings being mere puppets. Some Chinese warlords engaged steppes nomads as mercenaries, and Sun Tzu’s famous Art of War was written during these civil wars.

Driven by the search for more lethal weapons, iron (used for lethal iron bolts fired from crossbows) was discovered during the late Zhou Dynasty. This, in turn, led to the invention the iron-tipped plow, which substantially increased both food production and population growth.

Under the Zhou, a wealthy middle class emerged, with rich merchants able to buy land for the first time, whereas previously it could only be inherited or gifted by the king.

During the Warring States period (480 – 256 BC) 150 warring states became a handful of mega-states. By the late 4th century, the Qin ruled the most powerful kingdom. They would depose the last Zhou king in 256 BC, installing the first true “emperor” of a unified China.

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/video/5808608/5808620