The China Project: Materials :Social Change : The Importance of "The Way"

The Importance of "The Way"

Heping Li, Social Studies Teacher
John Browne High School, Flushing, NY

Aim
Explore how Taoism influenced Chinese life and culture.

Objectives
Students will be able to;

Identify Lao-Tzu, Tai Chi, and Tao.

Describe 4 to 6 main ideas of Taoism.

Compare some basic differences between Confucianism and Taoism.

Materials
textbooks, videotapes of Confucian Temples in Beijing, Map of China, Handout sheet, and a Chinese Calendar

Activities

show pictures

watch performance of Tai Chi

read textbook

map study

divide the students into six groups and each group practice 5 minutes of chi gong

Time: 2 periods

Definition: Taoism, The Way, is one of the principal philosophies of China, founded about 500 BC by Lao-Tzu, who taught that happiness could be acquired through obedience to the requirements of s nature and simplification of social and political relations. The Tao, or Way, is essentially the basic principle of the cosmos from which all nature proceeds.

Development

The Main Ideas or Tenants of Taoism:
- man should strive to live naturally
- man must free himself from all the rules - try to find a "way" of freeing oneself
- Tao is the unseen power beneath all the life and movement in nature
- Tao is present everywhere, in all things- there is no beginning and no end
- Tai Chi, "Great Ultimate" is ultimately a performance of Tao, comes from non-being
- T`ai Chi give birth to the interaction of yin and yang (opposing forces)
Q: Why/How could Tai Chi become world famous?

The differences between Taoism and Confucianism:
1. Taoists emphasized the link between people and nature. They thought that the best government was the one that had the fewest rules and laws.
2. Confucius emphasized the importance of proper behavior
Q: How has Taoism and Confucianism influenced the Chinese culture in different ways?

Possible Essay

How might Lao-Tzu or Confucius react to the current situation in China and the World?

socially, politically, economically, etc. This can also be a group project.

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The Importance of "The Way" Heping Li, Social Studies Teacher John Browne High School, Flushing, NY Aim Explore how Taoism influenced Chinese life and culture. Objectives Students will be able to; Identify Lao-Tzu, Tai Chi, and Tao. Describe 4 to 6 main ideas of Taoism. Compare some basic differences between Confucianism and Taoism. Materials textbooks, videotapes of Confucian Temples in Beijing, Map of China, Handout sheet, and a Chinese Calendar Activities show pictures watch performance of Tai Chi read textbook map study divide the students into six groups and each group practice 5 minutes of chi gong Time: 2 periods Motivation How do you feel about the practice of Tai Chi? Is it similar to anything you are familiar with? Why do you think the Chinese People love to practice Tai Chi as a daily exercise? Definition: Taoism, The Way, is one of the principal philosophies of China, founded about 500 BC by Lao-Tzu, who taught that happiness could be acquired through obedience to the requirements of s nature and simplification of social and political relations. The Tao, or Way, is essentially the basic principle of the cosmos from which all nature proceeds. Development The Main Ideas or Tenants of Taoism: man should strive to live naturally man must free himself from all the rules - try to find a "way" of freeing oneself Tao is the unseen power beneath all the life and movement in nature Tao is present everywhere, in all things- there is no beginning and no end Tai Chi, "Great Ultimate" is ultimately a performance of Tao, comes from non-being T`ai Chi give birth to the interaction of yin and yang (opposing forces) Q: Why/How could Tai Chi become world famous? The differences between Taoism and Confucianism: Taoists emphasized the link between people and nature. They thought that the best government was the one that had the fewest rules and laws. Confucius emphasized the importance of proper behavior Q: How has Taoism and Confucianism influenced the Chinese culture in different ways? Possible Essay How might Lao-Tzu or Confucius react to the current situation in China and the World? socially, politically, economically, etc. This can also be a group project.