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Chinese religion
1. Do now: 3 minutes
Take a notecard from the front. Do all of
your DO NOWs on it today for a grade.
DO NOW: When you think of Chinese
religion(s), what comes to your mind?
2. We will
1. Learn how Chinese religion combines
animism, Daoism, Confucianism &
Buddhism
2. Explore historical developments of this
syncretic tradition
3. Discover ways Chinese govt has tried to
regulate religion
4. History
Earliest history to Shang dynasty (11th
century BC) was
polytheistic
ancestor worship
Chou dynasty (11th century BC) until
common era had
one supreme god above other gods
and spirits
focus on morality
Lao-Tzu
Confucious
5. History, cont
CE – 11th century Buddhism & Taoism
developed
11th century – present = eclectic synthesis
6. Basic Chinese Religious Concepts
Multiple gods & spirits
Focus on gods of heaven & earth
Local deities & spirits
7. Basic concepts
Yin Yang
Yin Yang
Darkness Brightness
Coolness Warmth
Femaleness Maleness
Dampness Dryness
Moon Sun
8. Basic concepts
Filial Piety & Ancestor Worship
Old & aged = worthy of respect
Life begins at 60
Aged rule the home
Children support elders
Give elders proper burial
Maintain grave sites
9. Basic concepts
Ancestor worship
Ancestors can help family after death
Forget ancestors and you may become
a homeless ghost
Forget ancestors and you may be
afflicted by dangerous spirits
Small shrine in home w/names and
deeds of previous generations
Offerings of wine & rice
Paper money
10. Basic concepts
Divination
Unity of universe means future is
predictable
One way to tell future by looking at shell
of tortoise
I Ching
11. Basic concepts
Shang Ti (Supreme God)
Chou dynasty – 11th century BC
Right to rule based on morality and
religion
One Supreme God controlled destiny of
humankind
Responsible for fall of previous
dynasty – they were bad
Govt should be based on virtue
12. Decline of feudal system
By 3rd century BC, feudal system declining
New schools of thought (Confucianism,
Taolism, Legalism) to address problems of
society
13. Taoism
Lao-Tzu (old master)
6th century BC
50 years before Confucius
Left life at royal court to seek nature
Gatekeeper: write Tao Te Ching
14. Tao Te Ching
“The Classic of the Way and Its Power and
Virtue”
81 chapters of poetry
Debate over author/s
Theme: Folly of human achievement,
especially govt
15. Do Now: True or False 2 minutes
1. Chinese religion focuses on one supreme
god.
2. Some Chinese religion focuses on
morality and one supreme god.
3. Lao-tzu’s nickname meant “Silly old goat”
4. Chinese religion generally allows its
followers to be Buddhist and Confucius at
the same time.
5. The govt system in China has affected its
religious movements.
16. Do Now: Finish the statement
4 minutes
1. Lao-tzu __________________________.
2. Taoism __________________________.
3. _____________ is important to many
Chinese religious practices.
4. Early ________________, believed
_____________________.
5. Yin and yang ____________________.
17. Early Taoist Teaching
Basic unity of universe is mysterious force
called Tao – “The Way” yet impossible to
define
Life is greatest of all possessions (fame,
wealth power will all decay)
Life is to be lived simply
Pomp & glory are to be despised
18. Later Taoist Developments
One group followed teachings of LaoTzu
(not popular appeal)
Another group looking for very long life
Properly attuned to the Tao = long life
Food, fasting, breath control
Alchemy – preserve life via minerals
Persecution between Taoists/Buddhists,
then merging to common religion
19. Confucianism
Debate about religion
Life – 551 BC - 497
Kung
Kung Fu-tzu (Kung the master)
Analects of Confucius
Childhood
Teens – govt worker
Twenties – teacher
50s – prime minister
55 – retired, then wandering teacher
20. Confucian Teaching
Focus on social order
Religion should not interfere with social
duty
System of ethics
21. Confucian Teaching
Central Themes
Li – properties, rites, ceremonies,
courtesy
Five Lis
Father to son
Elder brother to younger brother
Husband to wife
Elder to junior
Ruler to subject
22. Confucian Teaching
Jen – inward expression of Confucian
ideals – love, goodness, human-
heartedness
Reciprocity – “Do not do to others what
you would not want others to do to you.”
Humans are naturally good
People need good government so that
they can be good
Good conduct is its own reward