East Asian Philosophies and Religions

Confucianism

551 BC- 479 BC

Confucius Life BC - Zhou (sounds like “joh”) dynasty- chaos and confusion Noble family, but poor Became a teacher- Used his teachings to restore social order, harmony, and respect for authority

Basic Principles –Described in the Analects (Confucius’ Teachings) –Look to the past for guidance Ancestors videovideo –Five basic Confucian virtues Benevolence (kindness) / humanity = most important! Righteousness Propriety (li) = rituals, etiquette, treating people properly according to your relationship with them videovideo Wisdom Trustworthiness

Importance of Education Humans are essentially good Best way to cultivate “goodness” = education Best qualified/educated people should lead the government Led to examination system – people studied Confucian books and took tests; how well you did on tests determined how high a position you were able to get in government. Promotion by merit rather than noble birth = BIG change!

5 Relationships –Define who you act toward everyone Parent-child – children must respect their parents and parents must provide for children moral training and education (Filial Piety) Ruler-ruled – rulers must be moral and just, people must follow rulers unless they are not moral and just. Then, they can overthrow government. Mandate of Heaven = idea that rulers who maintain a peaceful society have the right to rule according to the heavens.

5 Relationships Con’t Husband-wife Elder sibling-younger sibling Friend-friend (only equal relationship) In EVERY relationship, there is a superior and inferior person. Superior person must show li, benevolence, duty & responsibility; inferior must show respect and obedience. Relationship : Chaos turns to order VideoVideo

Hierarchy Every person has a place in society with a code of behavior they must follow If you do not behave appropriately, you create chaos & disorder, which can destroy society Chaos videovideo

Daoism/ Taoism

Laozi

Laozi’s Life Legend of Laozi –Founder of Daoism –Born around 604 BCE – lived at same time as Confucius –Many legends about his birth and life – very little evidence about him! (some say he doesn’t exist) Wrote the Daodejing- ideas of Daoism Natural order was important

Basic structure of the world Qi = energy, foundation of breath and energy of universe, divided into yin and yang Yin – black, moon, water, north, feminine, dark, soft, passive, earth Yang – white, sun, fire, south, masculine, bright, hard, active, heaven, movement Neither is good or bad, they compliment each other, are never in equilibrium, always changing, everything has some yin & some yang

Goal –Goal = understanding the Dao (“the way”), origin of all creation. This leads to inner peace and freedom from all attachments. –Theme- nature; let things happen naturally –Ways to achieve the Dao Wu-wei (non-action) – do not indulge in useless action, act in accordance with nature For governments & society –people should stay out of government, and government should leave people alone.

Attitude toward Death Death = natural, not to be feared Living in accordance w/ nature can lead to unusually long life, even immortality –Acupuncture, herbal medicine –Fung shui –Daoist experiments led to gunpowder, printing, and magnetic compass!

Spirituality Spirits are everywhere Buddhism came in 2 nd century, so Daoists adopted some parts of Buddhism – priests, monasteries, temples Gods include Jade Emperor & Queen Mother of the West Stories include the Eight Immortals- started as mortals but achieved immortality

Daoism Today Many people believe in Daoism + something else Has survived b/c it is very adaptable – has incorporated parts of both Buddhism & Confucianism

Legalism

Main Beliefs Created during the warring state period- around the same time as Confucianism and Daoism Highly efficient & powerful government is the key to social order Power & harsh laws for rulers to keep order

Main Beliefs People were basically selfish & untrustworthy so they needed harsh punishments Peace & prosperity is only achieved by severe punishments

Main Beliefs Thinkers & their ideas were strictly controlled by the government Those who obeyed should be rewarded

Important Person Emperor Qin Shi Huang- first king of a unified China Responsible for the Great Confucian Purge- killed many scholars and burned books Built the first part of Great Wall of China Built the Terracotta Army

Emperor Qin

Main Beliefs

Shintoism

Main Beliefs Shinto- way of the gods Major religion in japan (buddhism is also a major religion in japan)

Main Beliefs Kami- god; gods are sacred spirits that are in everything- mountains, rivers, trees, rain No sacred text Worship in Shrines- led by priests who perform rituals

Kami- god

Entrance to Shrine- torii

Buddhism

The Enlightened One

Main Beliefs Reincarnation Four Noble Truth’s Eight Fold Path Reaching nirvana Pray at temples