Ancient China - Religion Flashcards
Order of Dynasties
- Shang
- Zhou (Western and Eastern (Spring-Autumn and Warring States))
- Qin
- Han
- Ming
- Ching
Shang Dynasty
First registered Chinese dynasty, it’s consider the beginning of Chinese history. Ruled in the yellow river valley.
Di
Supreme god and sky deity in China’s traditional religion
Shamanism
Earliest and most widespread religion in China who claimed the ability to make direct contact with ancestors and gods
Divination
The methodology/practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means
Oracle Bones
Turtle shells and/or shoulder bow of a cow used to get answers of the future.
The question was written on these bones and put them on fire until it cracked.
A form of Divination
Zhou
(Joe)
It started as a dependent state in the Wei Valley to then become the most lasting and revered of all dynasties in China and ended when the Qin state captured the city of Chengzhou
Mandate of Heaven
New ideology that justified the replacement of the Shang by the Zhou
Western Zhou
Book of Changes
A head of cilantro put inside of a book, close it and the impression was the answer
Zhou’s new way of divination
Laozi
Old Master
Creator of Daoism
Daoism
(Taoism)
Higher indigeous form of religion. it accepts the world as it comes, avoiding struggles and deviating as little as possible
Eastern Zhou - Spring-Autumn period
Classic of the Way of Virtue
Essential Taoism book that make up the most influencial religious and philosophical writings of Chinese tradition
Literati Daoism
(Philosophical Daoism)
Rulers should emulate the female and conquer through stillness and gentleness, abandon profit and there will be peace
Began with “Classic of the Way of Virtue”
Longevity Daoism
(Yangsheng)
It is link with medical ideas, emphasizes health and longetivity
Alchemy
Internal
Special practices to develop/promote longevity
External
Practice to make gold and develop compounds to create inmortality
Prcatices to preserve their energy
Wu-Wei
Without effort
Action without action
Effortless doing
Daoism ideology
Ying and Yang
Represents the nature of male and female roles, complementing each other.
Yang: sun, active, bright and shinning (man)
Ying: moon, passive, shaded and reflective (woman)
Devotional Daoism
(Communal Daoists)
Deified master Lao, began to pray to him and other spirits.
(Shaped the religion we know now)
Highest Clarity
A group with organized priests, scriptures and temples
Confucianism
Believes in ancestors worship and human-centered virtues. How you behave in these relationships, will determine your destiny
Warring States period - (Ying and Yang philosophy)
The Hundred Schools of Thought
- Mozi
- Confucius
- Mencius
- Xunzi
- Hanfeizi
- Sunzi
Confucius
A knightly aristocrat that belived nobody should be denied education. Wanted to return the early Zhou ideas through rituals and relations
“Father” of Confucianism (Ren, Li)
Li
An ideology where everyone and everything is in it’s proper place
(Social and religious connotation)