Culture and Religion in the East to 500 AD Flashcards
Kongzi (551-479)
Confucius, founder of Confucianism
Analects
Collection of Confucian texts
Ren
Major Confucian principle translated as hunanness
Li
Major Confucian principle translated as courtesy
Xiao
Major Confucian principle translated as respect for family and ancestors
Mencius and Xunzi
Disciples of Confucius
Laozi (6th c.BC)
Mythical founder of Daoism
Daodejing
Short poetic volume written by Laozi containing the main Daoist principles
Ying and Yang
Chinese concept expressing belief in the unity of opposites
Rig Veda
The most important text of Vedic religion of India
Aryans
Light-skinned people speaking an Indo-European language
Dasas
Dark-skinned people living in central and southern India and speaking Dravidian languages
Jati
Indian group related by birth (caste)
Varna
Indian traditional social system (class)
Samsara
Indian belief in reincarnation
Atman
Immortal essence (soul)
Ahimsa
Indian concept of non-violence
Artha
The honest pursuit of economic well-being
Brahmin
Priests and scholars
Kshatriya
Warriors and officials
Vaishya
Merchants, artisans, and landowners
Shudra
Peasants and laborers
Indian Caste System (Highest to Lowest)
Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra
Siddhartha Gautama (563 - 483)
The Buddha
Dharma
Indian religious doctrine
Mahayana Buddhism
“The Greater Vehicle,” the more popular form of Buddhism
Hinayana Buddhism
“The Lesser Vehicle,” a more demanding and austere version of Buddhism
Bodhisattvas
Spiritually developed people, Buddhist “saints,” who delayed their entry into nirvana to help other people reach enlightenment
Nirvana
Final goal of Buddhism, personal salvation and escape from the cycle of reincarnation and attainment of a state of perpetual tranquility
Upanishads
Old Vedic texts
Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, and Krishna
Central gods of Hinduism
Ramayana and Mahabharata
Epic poems expressing the principle of reformed Hinduism
