China Biographies
Qin Shihuangdi:
I. Early Years
A. Qin was born Prince Zheng of the royal family of the state of Qin in 259 B.C.E.
B. Qin was greatly influenced by Legalism, making the government based on Legalism, not Confucianism.
II. Significant Events
A. Qin Shihuangi was the first emperor of China.
B. Qin burned the books from the past, burning past historical records we could learn even more about China about.
III. Personal Attributes
A. Qin was a strong, but cruel leader as emperor of China.
B. Qin would abandon anyone who did not agree with him or criticized government.
IV. Contributions
A. Qin's most ambitious project was the Great Wall, perfected by other emperors.
B. He unified China after 200 years of fighting.
V. My Impressions
A. I think Qin was a bit too harsh as a leader, but we all thank him for the gift of the Great Wall.
B. He had great creations, but a mean personality.
King Wu:
I. Early Years
A. Wu is the first ruler of the Zhou Dynasty. The Zhou Dynasty was settled in the central plains of China.
B. The Zhou believed the Heaven was a power that controlled human destiny.
II. Significant Events
A. The Zhou Dynasty plunged China into disorder and confusion.
B. Wu founded the Zhou dynasty in the 11 century B.C.E.
III. Personal Attributes
A. King Wu was seen as a just and able leader.
B. Wu was humble toward friends and court.
IV. Contributions
A. This disorder brought the Chinese to thought. They then created three philosophies: Confucianism, Daosim, and Legalism.
B. He defeated the Shang and brought the Zhou dynasty.
V. My Impressions
A. I think that the philosophies had an interesting start. As in Daoism, where there is bad, there is good. (Or vice versa.)
B. The conflict plunged into disorder, giving birth to these three philosophies.
Confucius:
I. Early Years
A. Confucius was born in the small state of Lu, in the year 551 B.C.E.
B. Confucius respected his ancestors and believed that they controlled the Chinese's destiny.
II. Significant Events
A. The Han government was based on Confucianism.
B. His father's name was Kong He, his father, and his mother's name was Yan Zhengzai.
III. Personal Attributes
A. Confucius was smart and respected the elders and believed a just society.
B. He was kind and started learning at 15 years old, eager to learn more.
IV. Contributions
A. He left us with the Confucius philosophy.
B. We see his philosophy in China.
V. My Impressions
A. I think that Confucius was a very smart and just man.
B. He was always sacrificing things for the sake of knowledge.
Laozi:
I. Early Years
A. Laozi was believed to be born in 500 B.C.E.
B. He was believed to be an advisor to the Zhou court until he was 90 years old.
II. Significant Events
A. He wrote the Dao De Jing book.
B. Laozi was always loving the Chinese religion.
III. Personal Attributes
A. He invented the religious and philosophical Daoism.
B. He is a very smart man who always asked questions, setting an example for the Chinese.
IV. Contributions
A. Laozi left us the Daoism philosophy.
B. He left us an example of a good Chinese questioner.
V. My Impressions
A. I think Laozi was a very mysterious man, but also very nice and wise.
B. His Dao De Jing book was very good, meaning this man was always studying and learning.
Hanfeizi:
I. Early Years
A. Hanfeizi was born a prince of the royal family of the state of Han, in around 280 B.C.E.
B. He studied under the Confucian philosopher Hsun-Tzu.
II. Significant Events
A. Just like Confucius, Hanfeizi believed a peaceful society. But he believed Confucius's teachings were not right. He believed people should be punished for disobeying laws, making government very strict.
B. Hanfeizi and a man named Li Si created a school called 'School of Law,' the birth of Legalism.
III. Personal Attributes
A. Hanfeizi believes harsh punishments for people who disobey.
B. He must've thought that every man for himself. He was probably a very strict man.
IV. Contributions
A. Hanfeizi left the Qin Dynasty with his teachings. Hanfeizi said, " He who trusts will be controlled by others."
B. He left us the Legalism philosophy.
V. My Impressions
A. I agree more with the Confucian and Doaist teachings that I do with Legalist teachings. It seems under control, but tortures the wrongdoers, making it look like Legalist rulers are not able as rulers.
B. He committed suicide while witnessing his things being taken away from him, until he had nothing left.
I. Early Years
A. Qin was born Prince Zheng of the royal family of the state of Qin in 259 B.C.E.
B. Qin was greatly influenced by Legalism, making the government based on Legalism, not Confucianism.
II. Significant Events
A. Qin Shihuangi was the first emperor of China.
B. Qin burned the books from the past, burning past historical records we could learn even more about China about.
III. Personal Attributes
A. Qin was a strong, but cruel leader as emperor of China.
B. Qin would abandon anyone who did not agree with him or criticized government.
IV. Contributions
A. Qin's most ambitious project was the Great Wall, perfected by other emperors.
B. He unified China after 200 years of fighting.
V. My Impressions
A. I think Qin was a bit too harsh as a leader, but we all thank him for the gift of the Great Wall.
B. He had great creations, but a mean personality.
King Wu:
I. Early Years
A. Wu is the first ruler of the Zhou Dynasty. The Zhou Dynasty was settled in the central plains of China.
B. The Zhou believed the Heaven was a power that controlled human destiny.
II. Significant Events
A. The Zhou Dynasty plunged China into disorder and confusion.
B. Wu founded the Zhou dynasty in the 11 century B.C.E.
III. Personal Attributes
A. King Wu was seen as a just and able leader.
B. Wu was humble toward friends and court.
IV. Contributions
A. This disorder brought the Chinese to thought. They then created three philosophies: Confucianism, Daosim, and Legalism.
B. He defeated the Shang and brought the Zhou dynasty.
V. My Impressions
A. I think that the philosophies had an interesting start. As in Daoism, where there is bad, there is good. (Or vice versa.)
B. The conflict plunged into disorder, giving birth to these three philosophies.
Confucius:
I. Early Years
A. Confucius was born in the small state of Lu, in the year 551 B.C.E.
B. Confucius respected his ancestors and believed that they controlled the Chinese's destiny.
II. Significant Events
A. The Han government was based on Confucianism.
B. His father's name was Kong He, his father, and his mother's name was Yan Zhengzai.
III. Personal Attributes
A. Confucius was smart and respected the elders and believed a just society.
B. He was kind and started learning at 15 years old, eager to learn more.
IV. Contributions
A. He left us with the Confucius philosophy.
B. We see his philosophy in China.
V. My Impressions
A. I think that Confucius was a very smart and just man.
B. He was always sacrificing things for the sake of knowledge.
Laozi:
I. Early Years
A. Laozi was believed to be born in 500 B.C.E.
B. He was believed to be an advisor to the Zhou court until he was 90 years old.
II. Significant Events
A. He wrote the Dao De Jing book.
B. Laozi was always loving the Chinese religion.
III. Personal Attributes
A. He invented the religious and philosophical Daoism.
B. He is a very smart man who always asked questions, setting an example for the Chinese.
IV. Contributions
A. Laozi left us the Daoism philosophy.
B. He left us an example of a good Chinese questioner.
V. My Impressions
A. I think Laozi was a very mysterious man, but also very nice and wise.
B. His Dao De Jing book was very good, meaning this man was always studying and learning.
Hanfeizi:
I. Early Years
A. Hanfeizi was born a prince of the royal family of the state of Han, in around 280 B.C.E.
B. He studied under the Confucian philosopher Hsun-Tzu.
II. Significant Events
A. Just like Confucius, Hanfeizi believed a peaceful society. But he believed Confucius's teachings were not right. He believed people should be punished for disobeying laws, making government very strict.
B. Hanfeizi and a man named Li Si created a school called 'School of Law,' the birth of Legalism.
III. Personal Attributes
A. Hanfeizi believes harsh punishments for people who disobey.
B. He must've thought that every man for himself. He was probably a very strict man.
IV. Contributions
A. Hanfeizi left the Qin Dynasty with his teachings. Hanfeizi said, " He who trusts will be controlled by others."
B. He left us the Legalism philosophy.
V. My Impressions
A. I agree more with the Confucian and Doaist teachings that I do with Legalist teachings. It seems under control, but tortures the wrongdoers, making it look like Legalist rulers are not able as rulers.
B. He committed suicide while witnessing his things being taken away from him, until he had nothing left.