Chinese religions Flashcards
Tian
Sky or the force above
confucius Views of Heaven (Tian)
More Abstract, intimate, ethical
• Not confined to the ruler, but to the moral and noble man (Junzi)
Tian (ultimate “religious authority) ordains human nature which
is benign
• Following true virtuous human nature is the Dao
• Cultivating Dao is called teaching, which can help one realize
their full potential as perfect moral beings
• Extended beyond the individual - The Ideal Socio-political-ethical
order
Daoism figure
Laozi is most likely a Composite or Mythical figure
• Laozi or DaodeJing (c. 300 BCE)
• Laozi’s Deification (2nd Century BCE – 2nd Century CE)
• Daoism as Organizaed Religion
Dao?
he Way • The One • The Inexpressible • The Origin • An uncarved block, water, infant • Chapter 1 of the Daodejing • “The Dao that can be followed is not a constant Dao.” • A “Mysterious Female”
the Dao and yin and yang
- Dao gives birth to the One (Existence)
- The One brings forth the Two – Yin/Yang
- The two gives rise to the Three – Tian, Di, & Humans
- The three engender the 10,000
confucianism
Confucianism regards human social institutions—including the family, the school, the community, and the state—as essential to human flourishing and moral excellence, because they are the only realm in which those achievements, as Confucius conceived them, are possible.
Daoism
Generally speaking, whereas Daoism embraces nature and what is natural and spontaneous in human experience, even to the point of dismissing much of China’s advanced culture, learning, and morality,
5 MAJOR THEMES daoism
Outrage at corruption, violence, and suffering
• Return to a simpler time, a utopia (preliterate, honest , and
contented life)
• To return to the Dao people must practice “non-action”
• Wuwei (Actions without intention)
• Ziran (Natural spontaneity)
• Escape the arbitrariness of language
• Transcending language the Daodejing is a form of
mystical knowledge
• The Way sustains the world and is the proper source of
guidance
• It is a transcendent entity beyond all language
NONACTION/SPONTANEITY (Daosim
What is it? • Highest embodiment of the Dao • Why are we Virtuous? • Not out of Feeling Compassion • Not out of Respect for the Law • But out of Non-action • Unhewn Wood • Flowing Water
immortality (daosim)
Concerns for Immortality • Xian (Immortal/Transcendent) • The Body mimics the universe Qi – Chi • Meditation • Visualization • Acupuncture
the vinegar tasters
Confucius- sour
laozi- sweet
buddha- bitter face life is suffering
the five classics
-book of rites (LIji
-book of odes
- book of history
-book of changes ( yijing)
spring and autumn annals
confucianism person of virtue?
junzi
filial piety
family values and social relations
de
virtue inner strength
