Pre-Lecture 1 notes
The classical Chinese sense of history
the origins of their culture, where that history began and how it developed, the major
events and developments, how the past shaped the present.
Xia/Shang Dynasty
o Xia Dynasty was the first of the legendary dynasties of the Golden age, supposedly
founded on the legendary sage-king Yu.
o The earliest Chinese civilisation in terms of archaeological and written evidence is the
Shang dynasty (Yin Dynasty)- 1751-1122 B.C.E
o Oracle bones that were pieces of Ox scapula or tortoise shell for divination: Questions
for the spirits of ancestors were written on them and burnt and answer revealed by the
Shan king himself.
o The Lord on High was considered the Shang people’s first ancestor and therefore by
seniority the most powerful of all the ancestors.
o They dwelled in a netherworld above the human one and monitored the behaviour of
the people down there.
o On the Oracle bones: de refers to the power of the ruler who establishes a good
relationship with the ancestors = Virtue
Zhou Dynasty
o The Zhou invaded and deposed the Shang king in 1122B.C.E and identified with the
religious and political systems of their predecessors with a lot more written material.
o Documents include: Book of Odes (folksongs and hymns) REAL, Book of
Documents (historical documents/proclamations supposedly dating back to early
Chinese history) FORGERY.
o In the Zhou dynasty The Lord on High was replaced with Tian (a massive striding
anthropomorphic figure) associated with the sky i.e. Heaven processed all the same
powers +Ability to charge a human mandate to rule.
o Ming = command issued by political superior to inferior or decree by a ruler in this
case it is Heavens command to tis representative on earth (the king)
o The holder of Ming is believed to also receive Virtue from heaven as a favour.
Origin of two themes in Confucius: only someone who is selfless will receive virtue
from Heaven. Political power is brought about through the non-coercive power of
Virtue
o Ancestors play a crucial role and in order for a ritual to be acceptable to Heaven the
King had to perform it with sincerity. A demand that one’s actions match one’s
emotions and thoughts.
o (Wuwei)- not what is done but the manner of doing. Non action. An action is Wuwei
if it is spontaneous, unselfconscious, efficacious.
, Summary:
- A special relationship with ancestors/Heaven called Virtue which is non-coercive.
- Ancestors are important and in order for a ritual to be acceptable Wuwei must be
applied.
- Wuwei is non action and it is the idea that something is done effortlessly and free of
stain.
The state of Chinese culture at the time of Confucius
philosophies are shaped the culture from which they emerged! Confucius’
philosophizing was a response to his world, so you need a sense of what his world
was like.
o The Zhou system consisted of the king that enjoyed the fealty of the local feudal
lords, although they were independent, they were bound to obey the Zhou king in
times of war.
o By the time of Confucius birth, the Zhou were reduced to mere figurehead. In the
Confucius native state of Lu.
o Confucius was of humble economic background, primarily in civil posts.
o In Confucius view, Wuwei (harmony) was portrayed without the need to speak and
teach. In Confucius eyes, he was bringing the social world back into effortless
harmony, only because the Way had been lost in his own age.
o The Way- unique moral path that should be walked by any true human being,
endorsed by Heaven and revealed to the sage-kings.
o In his present age, Confucius seems to think they had fallen prey to human
weaknesses such as lust, greed and sloth, the quality of tradition was corrupted
o The society Confucius saw around him had lost the way because of its obsession with
externalities and its lack of self-cultivation.
o People in his age, performed empty rituals and superficiality and lacks an inward
commitment to the Way.
o Confucius himself only managed to secure minor posts however his disciples
followed into major successful government posts and influenced Chinese politics
immensely,
The classical Chinese sense of history
the origins of their culture, where that history began and how it developed, the major
events and developments, how the past shaped the present.
Xia/Shang Dynasty
o Xia Dynasty was the first of the legendary dynasties of the Golden age, supposedly
founded on the legendary sage-king Yu.
o The earliest Chinese civilisation in terms of archaeological and written evidence is the
Shang dynasty (Yin Dynasty)- 1751-1122 B.C.E
o Oracle bones that were pieces of Ox scapula or tortoise shell for divination: Questions
for the spirits of ancestors were written on them and burnt and answer revealed by the
Shan king himself.
o The Lord on High was considered the Shang people’s first ancestor and therefore by
seniority the most powerful of all the ancestors.
o They dwelled in a netherworld above the human one and monitored the behaviour of
the people down there.
o On the Oracle bones: de refers to the power of the ruler who establishes a good
relationship with the ancestors = Virtue
Zhou Dynasty
o The Zhou invaded and deposed the Shang king in 1122B.C.E and identified with the
religious and political systems of their predecessors with a lot more written material.
o Documents include: Book of Odes (folksongs and hymns) REAL, Book of
Documents (historical documents/proclamations supposedly dating back to early
Chinese history) FORGERY.
o In the Zhou dynasty The Lord on High was replaced with Tian (a massive striding
anthropomorphic figure) associated with the sky i.e. Heaven processed all the same
powers +Ability to charge a human mandate to rule.
o Ming = command issued by political superior to inferior or decree by a ruler in this
case it is Heavens command to tis representative on earth (the king)
o The holder of Ming is believed to also receive Virtue from heaven as a favour.
Origin of two themes in Confucius: only someone who is selfless will receive virtue
from Heaven. Political power is brought about through the non-coercive power of
Virtue
o Ancestors play a crucial role and in order for a ritual to be acceptable to Heaven the
King had to perform it with sincerity. A demand that one’s actions match one’s
emotions and thoughts.
o (Wuwei)- not what is done but the manner of doing. Non action. An action is Wuwei
if it is spontaneous, unselfconscious, efficacious.
, Summary:
- A special relationship with ancestors/Heaven called Virtue which is non-coercive.
- Ancestors are important and in order for a ritual to be acceptable Wuwei must be
applied.
- Wuwei is non action and it is the idea that something is done effortlessly and free of
stain.
The state of Chinese culture at the time of Confucius
philosophies are shaped the culture from which they emerged! Confucius’
philosophizing was a response to his world, so you need a sense of what his world
was like.
o The Zhou system consisted of the king that enjoyed the fealty of the local feudal
lords, although they were independent, they were bound to obey the Zhou king in
times of war.
o By the time of Confucius birth, the Zhou were reduced to mere figurehead. In the
Confucius native state of Lu.
o Confucius was of humble economic background, primarily in civil posts.
o In Confucius view, Wuwei (harmony) was portrayed without the need to speak and
teach. In Confucius eyes, he was bringing the social world back into effortless
harmony, only because the Way had been lost in his own age.
o The Way- unique moral path that should be walked by any true human being,
endorsed by Heaven and revealed to the sage-kings.
o In his present age, Confucius seems to think they had fallen prey to human
weaknesses such as lust, greed and sloth, the quality of tradition was corrupted
o The society Confucius saw around him had lost the way because of its obsession with
externalities and its lack of self-cultivation.
o People in his age, performed empty rituals and superficiality and lacks an inward
commitment to the Way.
o Confucius himself only managed to secure minor posts however his disciples
followed into major successful government posts and influenced Chinese politics
immensely,
