Philosophy of Ancient China: brief and informative. Philosophy of Ancient India and China

Your attention is invited to the philosophy of Ancient China, a summary. Chinese philosophy has a history spanning several thousand years. Its origin is often associated with the Book of Changes, an ancient collection of fortune-telling dating back to 2800 BC, where some fundamental provisions of Chinese philosophy were pointed out. The age of Chinese philosophy can only be estimated approximately (its first flourishing, as a rule, is attributed to the 6th century BC), since it dates back to the oral tradition of the Neolithic times. In this article, you can find out what the philosophy of Ancient China is, briefly get acquainted with the main schools and directions of thought.

In the center of attention, the philosophy of the Ancient East (China) over the centuries has placed practical concern for man and society, questions about how to organize life in society properly, how to live an ideal life. Ethics and political philosophy often prevailed over metaphysics and epistemology. Another characteristic feature of Chinese philosophy was thinking about nature and personality, which led to the development of the theme of the unity of man and Heaven, the theme of the place of man in space.

Four philosophical schools

Four particularly influential philosophical schools arose in the classical period of Chinese history, which began around 500 BC. These were Confucianism, Taoism (often pronounced "Taosism"), monism and legism. When China was united by the Qin Dynasty in 222 BC, legism was adopted as an official philosophy. The emperors of the late Han dynasty (206 BC - 222 AD) adopted Taoism, and later, around 100 BC, Confucianism. These schools remained the main ones in the development of Chinese thought until the 20th century. Buddhist philosophy, which appeared in the 1st century AD, spread widely in the 6th century (mainly during the reign of the Tang dynasty).

In the era of industrialization and in our time, the philosophy of the Ancient East (China) began to include concepts taken from Western philosophy, which was a step towards modernization. Under the rule of Mao Tse-tung, Marxism, Stalinism and other communist ideologies spread throughout mainland China. Hong Kong and Taiwan have revived interest in Confucian ideas. The current government of the People's Republic of China supports the ideology of market socialism. The philosophy of Ancient China is summarized below.

Early beliefs

At the beginning of the reign of the Shang dynasty, the idea was based on the idea of cyclicity, stemming from direct observation of nature: the change of day and night, the change of seasons, the rise and fall of the moon. This idea remained relevant throughout the history of China. During the reign of Shan, the great deity of Shan-di could control destiny, in translation into Russian - "The Most High God." The cult of ancestors was also present, and there were also animal and human sacrifices.

When the Shang dynasty was overthrown by the Zhou dynasty, a new political, religious and philosophical concept of the "Mandate of Heaven" appeared. According to it, if the ruler does not comply with his position, he can be overthrown and replaced with another, more suitable. Archaeological excavations of this period indicate an increase in the level of literacy and a partial departure from the faith in Shan-di. The cult of ancestors became common, and society became more secular.

One hundred schools

Around 500 BC, after the state of Chou had weakened, the classical period of Chinese philosophy came (almost at that time the first Greek philosophers also appeared). This period is known as the Hundred Schools. Of the many schools founded at this time, and also during the following period of the Warring States, the four most influential were Confucianism, Taoism, Moism and Legism. At this time, it is believed that Confucius wrote "Ten Wings" and a number of comments on the Jing.

The Imperial Age

The founder of the short Qin dynasty (221-206 BC) united China under the rule of the emperor and established the legism as an official philosophy. Li Xi, the founder of legism and chancellor of the first Qin Dynasty emperor, Qin Shi Huang, suggested that he suppress the freedom of speech of the intelligentsia in order to unite thought and political beliefs and burn all classical works of philosophy, history and poetry. Only the books of Li Xi's school had to be resolved. After he was deceived by two alchemists who promised him long life, Qin Shi Huang buried 460 scientists alive. Legism maintained its influence until the emperors of the late Han dynasty (206 BC - 222 AD) adopted Taoism, and later, around 100 BC, Confucianism As an official doctrine. However, Taoism and Confucianism were not the defining forces of Chinese thought until the 20th century. In the 6th century (mainly during the reign of the Tang Dynasty), Buddhist philosophy received general recognition, mainly because of its similarity with Taoism. Such at that time was the philosophy of Ancient China, summarized above.

Confucianism

Confucianism is the collective teaching of the sage Confucius, who lived in 551-479. BC.

The philosophy of Ancient China, Confucianism, can be briefly presented in the following form. This is a complex system of moral, social, political and religious thinking, which greatly influenced the history of Chinese civilization. Some scholars believe that Confucianism was the state religion of imperial China. Confucian ideas are reflected in the culture of China. Mencius (4th century BC) believed that a person has a virtue that should be cultivated to become "good." Sun Tzu considered human nature as inherently evil, but which, through self-discipline and self-improvement, can be transformed into virtue.

Confucius was not going to establish a new religion, he just wanted to interpret and revive the unnamed religion of the Zhou dynasty. The ancient system of religious rules has exhausted itself: why do the gods allow social problems and injustice? But if not the spirits of nature and nature, what is the basis of a stable, united and lasting social order? Confucius believed that this basis is a reasonable policy, implemented, however, in the religion of Zhou, its rituals. He did not interpret these rituals as sacrifices to the gods, but as ceremonies embodying civilized and cultural patterns of behavior. They embodied for him the ethical core of Chinese society. The term "ritual" included social rituals - courtesies and accepted norms of behavior - what we today call etiquette. Confucius believed that only a civilized society can have a stable and lasting order. The philosophy of Ancient China, schools of thought and subsequent teachings took much from Confucianism.

Taoism

Taoism is:

1) a philosophical school based on the texts of Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu) and Chuang Tzu;

2) Chinese folk religion.

"Tao" literally means "the way", but in the religion and philosophy of China this word took on a more abstract meaning. The philosophy of Ancient China, a brief description of which is presented in this article, has drawn many ideas from this abstract and seemingly simple concept of the "path".

Yin and Yang and the theory of the five elements

It is not known exactly where the thought of the two origins of Yin and Yang originated, probably it originated in the era of ancient Chinese philosophy. Yin and Yang are two mutually complementary principles, the interaction of which forms all phenomenal phenomena and changes in space. Jan - active principle, and Yin - passive. Additional elements, such as day and night, light and darkness, activity and passivity, male and female beginning and others, are a reflection of Yin and Yang. Together, these two elements constitute harmony, and the idea of harmony is spreading in medicine, art, martial arts and social life in China. The philosophy of Ancient China, the school of thought also absorbed this idea.

The concept of Yin-Yang is often associated with the theory of the five elements explaining natural and social phenomena as a result of a combination of the five basic elements or agents of the cosmos: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The philosophy of Ancient China (briefly the most important is set forth in this article) necessarily includes this concept.

Legalism

Legalism takes its origins in the ideas of the Chinese philosopher Xun-tzu (310-237 BC), who believed that ethical norms are necessary to control the bad inclinations of man. Han Fei (280-233 BC) developed this concept in a totalitarian pragmatic political philosophy based on the principle that a person seeks to escape punishment and achieve personal gain, because people are naturally selfish and evil. Thus, if people begin to freely manifest their natural inclinations, this will lead to conflicts and social problems. The ruler must maintain his power with the help of three components:

1) the law, or principle;

2) method, tactics, art;

3) legitimacy, power, charisma.

The law should strictly punish violators and reward those who follow it. Legism was chosen by the philosophy of the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC), which for the first time united China. Unlike the intuitive anarchy of Taoism and the virtue of Confucianism, the legitimacy of order is more important than others. Political doctrine was developed during the cruel time of the fourth century BC.

Legists believed that the government should not be deceived by pious, unattainable ideals of "tradition" and "humanity". In their opinion, attempts to improve life in the country through education and ethical precepts are doomed to failure. Instead, people need a strong government and a carefully designed body of laws, as well as in the police force, which would demand strict and impartial compliance with the rules and severely punish violators. The founder of the Qin dynasty placed great hopes on these totalitarian principles, believing that the reign of his dynasty would last forever.

Buddhism

The philosophy of Ancient India and China has much in common. Although Buddhism originated in India, it was of great importance in China. It is believed that Buddhism appeared in China during the Han dynasty. About three hundred years later, during the reign of the eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), he experienced an explosion of popularity. During these three hundred years, Buddhism's supporters were mostly newcomers, nomadic people from the Western regions and Central Asia.

In a sense, Buddhism has never been accepted in China. At least not in a purely Indian form. The philosophy of ancient India and China still has many differences. Legends abound with tales of Indians such as Bodhidharma who instilled various forms of Buddhism in China, but they barely mention the inevitable changes that the doctrine undergoes when transferring it to foreign soil, especially the rich that China was at that time in The relation of philosophical thought.

Certain features of Indian Buddhism were incomprehensible to the practical Chinese mind. With his tradition of asceticism inherited from Hindu thought, Indian Buddhism can easily assume the kind of deferred remuneration provided for in meditation (meditate now, reach Nirvana later).

The Chinese, who are strongly influenced by tradition, encouraging diligence and satisfaction of life's needs, could not accept this and other practices that seemed otherworldly and unrelated to everyday life. But, being practical people, many of them saw some good ideas of Buddhism in relation to both man and society.

The war of the eight princes is a civil war between the princes and kings of the Jin dynasty in the period from 291 to 306, during which the nomadic peoples of northern China, from Manchuria to eastern Mongolia, were largely included in the ranks of mercenary troops.

At about the same time, the level of China's political culture declined markedly, the teachings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, gradually adapted to Buddhist thought, revived. Buddhism, which appeared in India, took on a completely different form in China. Take, for example, the concept of Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna (150-250 AD), an Indian philosopher, the most influential Buddhist thinker after Gautam Buddha himself. His main contribution to Buddhist philosophy was the development of the concept of Shunyat (or "emptiness") as an element of Buddhist metaphysics, epistemology and phenomenology. After importing into China, the concept of Shunyat was changed from "Emptiness" to "Something Existing" under the influence of traditional Chinese thought of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.

Moizm

The philosophy of Ancient China (briefly) moizm was founded by the philosopher Mosi (470-390 BC), which contributed to the spread of the idea of universal love, the equality of all beings. Mozi believed that the traditional concept is controversial, that human beings need guidance to determine which traditions are acceptable. In morality, morality is not determined by tradition, it is more likely to be associated with utilitarianism, the pursuit of good for the greatest number of people. In Moismus, it is considered that the government is a tool to provide such guidance, as well as to stimulate and encourage social behavior benefiting the greatest number of people. Activities such as songs and dances were considered wasteful of resources that could be used to provide people with food and shelter. The Moists created their own highly organized political structures and lived modestly, leading an ascetic lifestyle, practicing their ideals. They were against any form of aggression and believed in the divine power of the sky (Tien), which punishes immoral behavior of people.

You have studied what the philosophy of Ancient China is (summary). For a more complete understanding, we recommend that you learn more about each school separately. Features of the philosophy of Ancient China were briefly described above. We hope that this material helped you to understand the main points and was useful to you.