Chinese Family Structure Paternalistic = the Family Is Hierarchically

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Chinese Family Structure Paternalistic = the Family Is Hierarchically December 19, 2010 What can you estimate about the different roles of men and women? A male child is born. A female child is born. He is made to sleep on a bed. She is made to sleep on the He is made to wear a skirt. floor. He is made to play with a scepter. She is made to wear a wrap- His crying is loud. cloth. His red knee covers are august. She is made to play with He is the hall and household's pottery. lord and king. She has no wrong and right. Only wine and food are for her to talk about. May she not send her father and mother any troubles. Ebrey, Patricia, Palais, James, and Walthall, Anne. East Asia: A Cultural, Social and Political History: Houghton Mifflin Co. New York, 2006. (pg. 21) Chinese Family Structure Paternalistic = the family is hierarchically organized, with the prime authority in the senior-most male Extended Family = family unit which includes the grandparents, parents and aunts and uncles arraigned marraige = parents decide on the best match for their family, daughter is given to the husband's family marriage price or dowry = price paid by husband to the family of his future wife December 19, 2010 II. Chinese Philosophies A. Confucianism 1. Life of Confucius (Identify 2-3 important facts for his life) 2. Five Relationships (identify + explain their importance) 3. Key ideas (look for filial peity, ren and li) II. Chinese Philosophies A. Confucianism 1. Life of Confucius a) He lived during the Zhou dynasty b)Frustrated with the warfare and disorder c) centered around creating social order and stability d)Wrote the Analects December 19, 2010 Chinese Philosophies 2. Five Relationships Senior Junior a) husband and wife b) parent and child c) brother and younger brother d) Ruler and subject e) friend and friend Senior Relationship = Leads + protects Junior Relationship = supports and complete obedience to above Chinese Philosophies 3. Filial Piety = respecting parents above all others a. Li or rites = provides order + make you a better person for ex. meat on altar, manners and even posture b. Ren or benevolence = the feeling or intent behind the action c. Xue or learning = learn how to make society a better place December 19, 2010 Using li + ren What would Confucius say about how students participate in the pledge of allegiance? What would Confucius say about a teacher that wrote a student up for using their cell phone to note a homework assignment? December 19, 2010 Chinese Philosophies Group activity 1st: Read your Confucius Passage and analyze like we did on wksht 2nd: Rewrite passage in your words use ideas from filial piety, Five Relationships, li (ritual) and ren (feelings behind actions) One person should record this + hand-in to Mr. Gott 3rd: Look at the modern situation that is connected with your Confucius passage, act like Confucius and analyze the problem Passage 2.3 + Situation # 1 Passage 4.16 + Situation # 2 Passage 15.21 + Situation # 3 Passage 1.2 + Situation # 4 December 19, 2010 Parent - Child Father - son older brother -younger brother Act different then you would in the community. Do what you When your at home you have to do without hurting show filial piety by not anyone and at the end of the day arguing with your parents improve yourself. about a chore? Ruler - Ruled If you make laws for people follow them and they will follow them and be kept in order. If you are a weak ruler then they will not listen to you or follow the laws. For ex. President "A" ruled with an iron fist people will follow him and obey laws. If president B was a bad president then he will be unable to keep control of the people. people should act good just because its the right thing to do December 19, 2010 Ruler - Ruled + Friend - Friend Ruler - subject The better person understands what It means that better people is best for everyone and the lesser know what's right, but person only thinks of what is best worse people do what's for themselves. wrong. Exemplary ppl work for the good of all. Petty persons are ignorant. Ruler - Ruled Friend - friend The passage relates to the ruler over ruled relationship. The A respected person or role reason for demanding the petty model depend on person is wrong because the themselves, whole others ruler is relying on the ruled depend on other people. while the ruler can rely on themselves. But by demanding the petty person the ruler can keep things in order. December 19, 2010 Chinese Philosophies B. Daoism 1. Means = the way 2. Major goal to bring all of existence into harmony 3. Founder = Lao-zi (604-531 BCE) a) Lived at same time as Confucius b) Very little is known c) Wrote The Way of Virtue d) Wanted to live in harmony with nature Chinese Philosophies 4. Yin and Yang a) Represents two opposing forces in nature b)These forces are disrupted by humans through wars and unfair treatment c) you need both Yin Yang feminine masculine soft hard calm energetic night day December 19, 2010 Confucianism Daoism yin + yang Five Relationships Same addresses gods philosophy important text = Analects Chinese not -religious linked to nature li (ritual) focuses on + ren (benevolence) harmony filial piety focuses on social order more about gov't non-violent.
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