E ASTERN P HILOSOPHIES

B ACKGROUND Located in China Not religions, but ways of life The solutions to political breakdown and social disorder Combination of Confucianism, Legalism, Daoism and Buddhism Focused on life in this world and not the after- life

B UDDHISM

B ACKGROUND Founded by Siddhartha Gautama Four Noble Truths Eight Fold Path Nirvana (rebirth) Two Branches: Mahayana, Theravada, Ceremonies performed by Monks Can be a part of another Eastern Religion due to the emphasis on personal salvation.

C ONFUCIANISM

B ASIS Founded on the beliefs of Kung Fu Tzu (Confucius) Teachings were collected in The Analects Deals with individual and moral ethics and the proper use of political power. Six ethical teachings: Li: etiquette Hsiao: Love within the family Yi: righteousness Xin: honesty/trustworthiness Jen: humaneness towards others Chung: loyalty

F ILIAL P IETY 5 Relationships Sovereign to Subject Parent to Child Husband to Wife Old to Young Friend to Friend Each person had their own duties to each other and extended to the dead Eventually led its way into the legal system

“C EREMONIES ” Four life passages are recognized: Birth: a special ceremony for the placenta. The mother is allowed rest for a month and follows a special diet. The family gives gifts on the first, fourth and twelfth month of the anniversary of the birth. Reaching Maturity: has tapered off now days. A group meal where the young adult is served chicken Marriage: six phases; proposal, Engagement, Dowry, Procession, Marriage and Reception, and Morning After. Death: Relatives cry out loud to inform neighbors. Coffin and burial service. Latter is carried back to the family’s alter so the spirit will not be forgotten.

T EXTS Si Shu Lun Wu: Analects of Confucius Chung Yung: Doctrine of the Mean Ta Hsueh: Great Learning Meng Tzu: the writings of Meng Tzu, a philosopher Wu Jing Shu Ching: Classic of History Shih Ching: Classic of Odes; 300 poems and songs I Ching: Classic of Changes Ch’un Ch’iu: Spring and Autumn annals; history of Lu Li Ching: Classic of Rites.

L EGALISM

BACKGROUND Based on the ideas of Hsün Tzu and his pupil, Han Fei Tzu Opposite to Confucianism Believed that humans were evil, but could be made good by strict laws and education Had harsh punishments Primary way of government in the Qin Dynasty

B ACKGROUND CONT. Set the standard in China that Laws are above the people, including the emperor No need for individual leadership. Laws were based on diminishing human selfishness

P RINCIPLES OF G OVERNING Fa: “Law or Principle” Law code is clearly written and displayed to the public. Everyone is under the law. Those who obey the law are rewarded and those who disregard them are punished. Shu: “Method, tactic or art” special tactics are used by the ruler so that nobody takes control of the state. Nobody fathoms the ruler’s motivation; nobody knows what will help them get ahead or harm them except for following the rules. Shi: “Legitimacy, power, charisma” The position of a ruler holds the power, not the person ruling.

D AOISM

H ISTORY Began in the Han Dynasty Written records of Laozi Two Texts: Daodejing and Zhuangzi Term Daoism encompasses Daojia (“School of the Dao”) and Daojiao (“Teaching of the Dao”)

D AO Dao means way or path Power (de or te) can be drawn from being absorbed in Dao Cannot be reached through reason and knowledge Not everything is knowable Can only be found by avoiding daily activities and renouncing wordy ambitions Flow of the Universe Nature and Simplicity Deeply influenced arts Painting and poetry

W U W EI “without action” goal: to align oneself with Dao to reveal the soft but powerful power within all things and enter the state of Pu. Often associated with water Pu = “uncarved block” “simplicity” A state of pure potential and perception with out prejudice Only existence and awareness No right or wrong

T EXTS Consists of 81 “chapters”. A little more than 5000 characters Dao Jing (chs.1-37) Explains about the Dao De Jing (chs ) Explains about de or virtue Originally Consisted of 52 “chapters” Reduced to 33 by Guo Xiang Contains treatises, stories, poetry and aphorisms Material from Zhuang Zhou Consists of “inner chapters” “outer chapters” and “mixed chapters” DaodejingZhuangzi

Y IN Y ANG Two opposing yet complimentary forces Yin: shady, female, soft, slow, wet, cold, conserving, tranquil, gentle, night. Yang: sunny, male, hard, fast, substantial, dry, hot, excited, aggressive, day. Not the concept of “good and evil” Four “Laws”: Opposing Mutually rooted Mutually transform Mutually wax and wane dar.com/YinYang.htm

W ORKS C ITED Hooker, Richard. Chinese Philosophy: Legalism. 28 Sept HTM ReligiousTolerance.org. Confucianism: founded by Kung Fu Tzu. 28 Sept The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Daoist Philosophy. 28 Sept Taoism. Confucianism. Legalism. 29 Sept