Philosophy & Religion in China Chinese Folk Religion Confucianism Taoism

Chinese Folk Religion Belief in spirits Reverence for ancestors Priests perform blessing rituals: purifying space Exorcising evil spirits (“hungry ghosts”) Astrology Divination

Chinese Religious Concepts Chi – life force, life energy (“ultimate”) Yin-Yang – harmony of opposites Yin = passive state of energy Yang = active state of energy [ Tao – the “way” of the cosmos, of nature

Learning from the past to improve the future Confucianism A political and social philosophy seeking social harmony on all levels: Within the self …the family …the community ...the state …the nation …the world …the cosmos Learning from the past to improve the future

Confucianism - Origins Kung-Fu-tzu (Confucius) “Master Kung” 551 - 479 BCE Education Good Government Good Relations Meng-Tzu (Mencius) (4th century) continues to develop teachings of Confucius

Goal of Confucianism To develop one’s Jen: Human Heartedness - the innate goodness of humanity Thus becoming a Chun Tzu: the “Great Man” or “Gentle Man” Jen is developed through intentional living by Confucian virtues…

Confucianism - Texts The “Five Classics” (of the past): I-Ching The Book of History (Shu Ching) The Book of Poems (Shih Ching) The Spring and Autumn Annals (Ch’un Ch’iu) The Book of Rituals (Li Chi) The “Four Books” (Confucian) Analects (Lun Yu) Doctrine of the Mean The Great Learning The Book of Mencius (Meng-Tzu)

Confucian Virtues Jen – Human Heartedness Li (rites, ritual) – the inherent “pattern” in things For Confucius, Li is especially significant in a social context – propriety or etiquette, the “pattern” of humane behavior Rectification of names – a person or thing should be true to its name Recipricity (shu) – the Golden Rule: “Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you”

The Five Relationships Filial Piety (Hsiao) - respect for the five constant relationships: Parent and child Husband & wife Older & younger sibling Older & younger friend Ruler & subject Human-heartedness is developed only within the context of human relationships

Confucianism as a Religion Deification of Confucius - statues Confucian Temples – honoring Confucius Veneration of the ancestors Rituals within… the household the village the state the nation

Taoism Origins and Texts Legendary founder: Lao Tzu (6th century BCE) Primary text: Tao Te Ching (the “Book of the Way and the Power”) 81 short “chapters” containing the basic philosophy of living in harmony and balance

Taoism as a Way of Living Seeking Health and Longevity: through diet, meditation, exercise, and a stress-free life Alchemy: seeking the chemical “elixir of life”to achieve immortality Meditation: “Inner Alchemy Meditation” – seeking spiritual rather than chemical transformation Natural/holistic healing: herbal medicine, acupressure, acupuncture, exercise… T’ai-Chi-Ch’uan (“grand ultimate boxing”) A slow, graceful martial art stressing movement in balance

Religious Taoism Deification of Lao Tzu The Jade Emperor and the eight “Immortals” Taoist temples with images of Lao Tzu and other “immortals” Taoist Priests combine Taoist meditation with purification rites of folk religion exorcism practices Taoist sects develop beginning in 1st century, additional teachers and texts

Philosophical Taoism The Tao (“path” or “way”) Te (“power” or “virtue”) One’s natural ability brought to peak potential through following the way

More Taoist Concepts Wei-wu-wei (“active non-action”) Passive non-resistance to the natural forces of life Natural way to get things done with least effort and greatest success “Go with the flow,” yield to the natural way of things Applied in all walks of life Relativity: “good” and “bad” as a matter of perspective The Taoist sage is non-judgmental