Tuesday, November 17th Please take out composition books and your homework to turn in.

Yu and the Terrible Flood After reading this story, answer the following questions: 1. What similarities can you draw between this myth and other myths we have read? 2. Based on the story, what values can you infer are important to the ancient Chinese people?

Ancestor Worship Ancestor Worship: Ancestor worship was very important to the early Shang kings and nobles. It was a way of life. When a man died, the ancient Chinese believed his spirit lived on in the afterworld. They believed their ancestors had magical powers that could punish them or could help them make wise decisions. To keep their ancestors happy, they brought gifts of food and wine to special places or temples. They held many celebrations to honor their ancestors.

Reflect: 3. How are Chinese beliefs about the afterlife similar to those of the Egyptians?

Oracle Bones Oracle Bones: To communicate with their ancestors, the Shang kings used oracle bones. (Sometimes called dragon bones). Here's how it worked: The king or emperor would ask a question, for example, will it rain tomorrow? The priest would carve the king's question on an oracle bone, which was just an animal bone or turtle shell. (Will it rain tomorrow?) Then, the priest would heat a bronze pin and hold the hot pin to the bone. This created a pattern of cracks over the bone. The priest (who was usually a woman) would study the cracks to find the answer to the question.

Oracle Bones Archaeologists have found over 100,000 oracle bones. Since many questions were asked about daily life, we know something about this civilization. The thing is, they didn't exactly ask "Will it rain tomorrow?" Oracle bones say things like: "If we sacrifice 10 men or 5 oxen, will it rain tomorrow?" The Shang kings sacrificed a great number of people to talk to their ancestors. Some of those sacrificed were enemies, captured in war. Some were slaves or people who were sick or deformed. Some were merchants, craftsmen, or farmers who had upset the nobles. Some were nobles who had upset the king.

Oracle Bones Cut out your own oracle bone. What question would you ask your ancestors? What would you offer?

China Today

“Chinese religion” is NOT an organized, unified system of beliefs and practices. It has no leadership, headquarters, founder, or denominations. Instead, "Chinese religion" is a term describing the complex interaction of different religious and philosophical traditions that have been influential in China. Chinese religion is composed of four main traditions: Chinese folk religion, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

What is Confucianism? Confucianism is a way of life taught by Confucius in the 6th–5th century BCE. Sometimes viewed as a philosophy, sometimes as a religion, Confucianism is perhaps best understood as an all-encompassing humanism that neither denies nor slights heaven. Confucianism has been followed by the Chinese for more than two millennia.

Confucianism The main principles of Confucianism are: -"humaneness" or "benevolence” -excellent character in accord with li (ritual norms) -loyalty to one's true nature -Reciprocity -Together these are your virtue

Confucianism is characterized by a highly optimistic view of human nature. The faith in the possibility of ordinary human beings to become awe-inspiring sages and worthies is deeply rooted in the Confucian heritage (Confucius himself lived a rather ordinary life), and the insistence that human beings are teachable, improvable, and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor is typically Confucian.

Confucius teaches… Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. When anger rises, think of the consequences. Respect yourself and others will respect you. Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance. Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.

What is Taoism? "In a nutshell, Taoism is the consolidation of a number of concepts and practices that make up the "Path", or "Way", of living. The consolidation of ideas and concepts include basic principles or "theories" regarding the body, diet, breathing and physical exercises, uses of herbs, philosophical inquiry and, of course, meditation. All of which the Taoist feels brings a human being into closer alignment with the "natural order" of life and living - a pathway that humankind appears to have gotten derailed from.“ Source: "The Search For Tao", by Madelyn Hamilton

Taoism promotes: – achieving harmony or union with nature – the pursuit of spiritual immortality – being 'virtuous' (but not pretentiously so) – self-development Taoist practices include: – meditation – Feng Shui – reading and chanting of scriptures

Taoism Taoism has many gods, most of them borrowed from other cultures. These deities are within this universe and are themselves subject to the Tao. Many of the deities are gods of a particular role, rather than a personal divine being and have titles rather than names.

If time… Please use our discussion and your notes to add to your #9