A review of this religion and its basics as well as its impact.

1. ConfucianismConfucianism
TheThe Influences and Changes DuringInfluences and Changes During
the Song &Mongol Periodsthe Song &Mongol Periods
Elaine LinElaine Lin
Period DPeriod D

2. Fast FactsFast Facts
• Date founded: 6th-5th cent. BCDate founded: 6th-5th cent. BC
• Place founded: ChinaPlace founded: China
• Founder: Confucius (551-479 BC)Founder: Confucius (551-479 BC)
• Adherents: 5-6 millionAdherents: 5-6 million

3. Influences• Influenced the Chinese attitudeInfluenced the Chinese attitude
toward life, set the patterns oftoward life, set the patterns of
living and standards of socialliving and standards of social
value, and provided thevalue, and provided the
background for Chinese politicalbackground for Chinese political
theories and institutions.theories and institutions.
• Confucius had teachings thatConfucius had teachings that
influenced people to practiceinfluenced people to practice
ethics, social responsibility, familyethics, social responsibility, family
obligations, and ancestor worship.obligations, and ancestor worship.
• His teachings are known asHis teachings are known as
Analects of Confucius.Analects of Confucius.
• His philosophy of personal andHis philosophy of personal and
governmental morality correctnessgovernmental morality correctness
of social relationships, justice andof social relationships, justice and
sincerity adapted in othersincerity adapted in other
practices, such as Taoism,practices, such as Taoism,
Daoism, and Legalism during theDaoism, and Legalism during the
Han Dynasty.Han Dynasty.

4. • Confucianism promoted a meritocratic society embodying highConfucianism promoted a meritocratic society embodying high
ideals of personal behavior and loyalty.ideals of personal behavior and loyalty.
• Within the Chinese society, most leaders were tyrants; theyWithin the Chinese society, most leaders were tyrants; they
unfairly taxed and enforced harsh and unjust laws, whichunfairly taxed and enforced harsh and unjust laws, which
caused many wars, which did not appeal to Confucius. (This iscaused many wars, which did not appeal to Confucius. (This is
what caused Confucius to teach about peace and respect.)what caused Confucius to teach about peace and respect.)
• Confucius did not have much trouble gathering followers as heConfucius did not have much trouble gathering followers as he
spoke and preached about peace and respect. Many peoplespoke and preached about peace and respect. Many people
agreed with Confucius' views and ideas and hoped for aagreed with Confucius' views and ideas and hoped for a
peaceful and better China.peaceful and better China.

5. • Neo-Confucianism was developed in the Southern Song Dynasty.
• Zhu-Xi was one of the people who founded Neo-Confucianism.
• An important part of Neo-Confucianism is the attempt to "repossess the Way." Pursuit of
the Way through disciplined self cultivation formed a person's character. This was
important because it encouraged the nobles to live up to the Confucian ideals by being less
selfish.
• Neo Confucianism : a form of Confucianism that was developed during the Song Dynasty. It
was a philosophy that attempted to merge basic elements of Confucian, Daoism, and
Buddhist thought.
Confucianism in the Song DynastyConfucianism in the Song Dynasty

6. Continued…Continued…
~~ Confucians of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) studied theConfucians of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) studied the
classical works of their faith, but were also familiar withclassical works of their faith, but were also familiar with
Buddhist and Taoist teachings.Buddhist and Taoist teachings.
~ Zhu Xi argued and used Confucian morals that helped~ Zhu Xi argued and used Confucian morals that helped
people understand it’s morals.people understand it’s morals.
~~ He also believed that it was important that one shouldHe also believed that it was important that one should
engage in both academic and philosophical pursuits, althoughengage in both academic and philosophical pursuits, although
his writings are concentrated more on issues of theoretical (ashis writings are concentrated more on issues of theoretical (as
opposed to practical) significance. It is reputed that he wroteopposed to practical) significance. It is reputed that he wrote
many essays attempting to explain how his ideas were notmany essays attempting to explain how his ideas were not
Buddhist or Taoist, and included some heated denunciationsBuddhist or Taoist, and included some heated denunciations
of Buddhism and Taoism.of Buddhism and Taoism.

7. Continued…
• While being one of theWhile being one of the
most technologically andmost technologically and
culturally advancedculturally advanced
people in the world at thepeople in the world at the
time, the Song were nottime, the Song were not
militarily powerful.militarily powerful.
• Part of the reason forPart of the reason for
this may be becausethis may be because
Confucianism heldConfucianism held
military in very low regard.military in very low regard.
• Did not recognize theDid not recognize the
military as being part ofmilitary as being part of
the four official classesthe four official classes
of occupations; the shi,of occupations; the shi,
nong, gong, and shang;nong, gong, and shang;
therefore, the militarytherefore, the military
consisted of either theconsisted of either the
poor, uneducatedpoor, uneducated
peasants, mercenaries orpeasants, mercenaries or

8. The Southern Song experienced a temporary return toThe Southern Song experienced a temporary return to
peace, and culturally they too flourished. However, thepeace, and culturally they too flourished. However, the
power was mainly held by the nobles, and many emperorspower was mainly held by the nobles, and many emperors
were forced, by the nobles, to relinquish. This period didwere forced, by the nobles, to relinquish. This period did
not last long, as in 1210 A.D. the Mongols began to assaultnot last long, as in 1210 A.D. the Mongols began to assault
the Song, and in 1279, the Yuan, or Mongol empire began.the Song, and in 1279, the Yuan, or Mongol empire began.
The MongolThe Mongol
(Yuan)(Yuan)
EmpireEmpire

9. Confucianism of the Mongol EmpireConfucianism of the Mongol Empire
• The traditional philosophies and
religions of China continued
unabated under Mongol rule.
• Buddhism in particular found a
welcome home among the Mongols
who had in part adopted it.
• Buddhism remained vital throughout
China and Confucianism continued.
• Mongols allowed for a certain
amount of revolution and renewal in
Chinese thought.
• Mongols held Confucianism in
contempt in the early years of their
rule, the new philosophy of Neo-
Confucians, took hold in China and
eventually eclipsed the older forms
of Confucianism.

10. ContinuedContinued…
• Unlike the Song, the Mongol empire, led by Kublai Khan,Unlike the Song, the Mongol empire, led by Kublai Khan,
had the strongest military forces in the world.had the strongest military forces in the world.
• Unlike the Song, the Mongol empire were free of taxes andUnlike the Song, the Mongol empire were free of taxes and
were allowed to travel throughout China withoutwere allowed to travel throughout China without
restrictions.restrictions.
• Neo-Confucianism, developed by the Song, was also usedNeo-Confucianism, developed by the Song, was also used
in this Mongol period.in this Mongol period.
• Neo-Confucianism inspired Mongols to be more interestedNeo-Confucianism inspired Mongols to be more interested
in literature, theatre and opera.in literature, theatre and opera.

11. Assessment Questions!!!
1. What caused Confucius to teach about peace
and respect?
2. Who founded Neo-Confucianism and when
was it developed?
3. Why was the military so weak during the
Song Dynasty?
4. Who was the Mongol empire led by and what
is the Mongol empire also known as?
5. How did the Mongol empire and the Song
Dynasty differ when it came to taxes?

12. AnswersAnswers
• 1.The leaders of the Chinese taxed and enforced harsh and1.The leaders of the Chinese taxed and enforced harsh and
unjust laws, which caused many wars.unjust laws, which caused many wars.
• 2. Zhu Xi; Song Dynasty2. Zhu Xi; Song Dynasty
• 3. Confucianism did not recognize the military as being part of3. Confucianism did not recognize the military as being part of
the four official classes of occupations; therefore, the militarythe four official classes of occupations; therefore, the military
consisted of either the poor, uneducated peasants,consisted of either the poor, uneducated peasants,
mercenaries or allies.mercenaries or allies.
• 4. Kublai Khan; the Yuan Dynasty4. Kublai Khan; the Yuan Dynasty
• 5. Mongol: free of taxes; Song: were taxed5. Mongol: free of taxes; Song: were taxed
unfairly along with their laws.unfairly along with their laws.