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Philosophy & Religion in China

Philosophy & Religion in China. Chinese Folk Religion Confucianism Taoism. By Laura Ellen Shulman. Chinese Folk Religion. Belief in spirits Reverence for ancestors Priests perform blessing rituals: purifying space Exorcising evil spirits (“hungry ghosts”) Astrology Divination.

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Philosophy & Religion in China

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  1. Philosophy & Religion in China Chinese Folk Religion Confucianism Taoism By Laura Ellen Shulman

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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. 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…

  8. 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”

  9. 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

  10. TaoismOrigins 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 • Chuang Tzu (4th century BCE) • Author of companion text: The Chuang Tzu • Collection of stories exemplifying the wisdom and nature of the Taoist sage

  11. 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

  12. Religious Taoism • Deification of Lao Tzu • The Jade Emperor and the eight “Immortals” • Taoist templeswith 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

  13. Philosophical Taoism • The Tao (“path” or “way”) • The “nameless” • The “Mother of ten=thousand things” • The “uncarved block” • All pervading within and beyond nature • Te (“power” or “virtue”) • One’s natural ability brought to peak potential through following the way • The Taoist Sage: learns from observing the way of nature (flowing water, wind) and letting nature guide his way through life

  14. 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

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