PHILOSOPHIES & RELIGIONS OF

EAST ASIAConfucianism; Daoism;

Legalism; Buddhism; Shinto; Secularism

CONFUCIANISM… Founded by Confucius (Kong Zi) who lived in China

during 5th – 6th centuries; a very turbulent time in Chinese history. His goal was to create a philosophy that would generate social stability. Because he was more focused on the here & now than the afterlife, Confucius’ ideas are considered a philosophy rather than a religion.

Key ideas/beliefs: Confucius stressed strength of character (family, benevolence, loyalty, virtue). It has no specific rituals or practices but instead is based on teachings & “sayings” of Confucius, which provided a framework for how to live one’s life. The “mandate of heaven” was a belief that rulers held power with the consent of the heavens, but Confucius believed that with that power came the responsibility of a higher moral order – meaning the Emperor had an obligation to be morally responsible.

THE CONFUCIAN IMPACT REGIONALLY… Confucianism never had the influence in

Japan that it did in China & Korea; Japanese excluded Confucian beliefs

they found “dangerous” like the idea of divine right to rule. The Japanese disliked the idea that this divine right could be “lost” & then the people had the right to replace that dynasty with another. In Japanese practice a single, imperial dynasty has persisted throughout their entire history.

MAHAYANA BUDDHISM Buddhism reached China by 2nd century & w/in a

few hundred yrs. spread thru the region & remains widespread today.

Most East Asians practice Mahayana Buddhism, a sect Buddhism that simplifies the quest for nirvana & allows its followers to believe in other faiths as well. Many Chinese are Buddhist/Taoists or Confucianists; many Japanese are Buddhist/Shinto.

The Japanese added a new sect to Buddhism; Japanese zen has a strong emphasis on self-discipline & physical exercises to bring mind & body together.

"The nature of Zen"

SHINTO A religion unique to Japan (“it is questionable

whether a non-Japanese person can truly follow the religion”), this faith entails animistic worship of nature spirits & stresses deep connections between people and nature. It emphasizes the harmony between nature & human existence.

Shinto is place & nature centered; Mts. Fuji & Ontake are considered sacred & draw many pilgrims for worship annually. Smaller Shinto shrines are found in most Japanese urban neighborhoods & are often the only spots of “green” that those urban areas offer.

Shinto explained

EAST ASIA’S MINORITY RELIGIONS… There are millions of Christians in

China & Japan, although they constitute less than 1% of the population in either country;

Approximately 6 million S. Koreans are Christian;

Chinese Christians face persecution (official state religion is atheism) so numbers are difficult to verify.

Islam is more prevalent in China; Hui are Chinese speaking Muslims; impact of Islam in Japan is not significant.

SECULARISM… According to your text, “East Asia is one of

the most secular regions of the world.” For large numbers of people in E. Asia, religion is not a significant factor in their daily lives & it does not drive governments;

China’s Communist government discouraged and severely repressed the influence of philosophies & religion in its early years. Marxist ideology, which became official in China in the 1960’s, is atheistic. Although the Chinese gov’t. has eased its prosecution of openly practicing religions, that is not the case in N. Korea.

COMMUNISM & CONFUCIANISM

A Communist regime took control of China in 1949 and all forms of religion and traditional philosophy (including Confucianism) were discouraged & even severely repressed.

Marxist philosophy takes a dim view of religion, and instead encourages the loyalty & devotion that one would normally give to a religion be given to the state instead.

German sociologist Karl Marx’s attitude toward religion was that it was primarily "the opiate of the people" that had been used by the ruling classes to give the working class false hope. He also saw religion as a form of protest by the working classes against their poor economic conditions. In the end, Marx rejects religion.

THE CHINESE CONSTITUTION & RELIGION…

“Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief.No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion.”

The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state.”

Despite the above excerpts, the “official” religion of China is Atheism (a doctrine or belief that there is no God). This fact combined with the strict censorship of expression & media in China bring into question China’s ability to have a truly global impact.

IMPACT OF PHILOSOPHIES…

In section 4 we will discuss China’s dynasties. The philosophy embraced by the Emperor influenced how they ruled and consequently the lives of the people living under their rule.

Tomorrow in class you will research the 3 major philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism & Legalism & consider how society would run under each philosophy.

CONFUCIANISM… Analects are the most revered scripture in the

Confucian tradition. Filial Piety – duty & respect that children owe their

parents. Taught that relationships are the key to an orderly

society. 5 relationships were identified: RULER & RULED; FATHER & SON; OLDER BROTHER & YOUNGER BROTHER; HUSBAND & WIFE; FRIEND & FRIEND. Each of those relationships involved a SUPERIOR & an INFERIOR person (except friend to friend) & the role of the superior was to be an excellent role model for the inferior. In this way, even rulers had a responsibility to their subjects.

Meritocracy – advancement in society/work place based on personal performance (vs. family connections). Led to China’s Imperial Exam system.

CONFUCIANISM… Confucianism has been followed by the

Chinese for more than two millennia. It has deeply influenced spiritual and political life in China; its influence has also extended to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. East Asians may profess themselves to be Shintoists, Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims, or Christians - but seldom do they cease to be Confucians.

http://www.myrkothum.com/confucius-says-the-top-10-quotes-by-confucius/

DAOISM… based on the teachings of the Tao Te

Ching, a short tract written in the 6th century BC in China. Its emphasis is on spiritual harmony within the individual.

Founded by Lao Zi who was also looking for a way to establish an orderly society.

Since earliest times, Chinese thought has been characterized by an awareness of man's close relationship with nature and the universe. So Daoists believed the best way to live was the natural way (“Dao” means “the way.”)

DAOISM… Unlike Confucianists, Daoists saw rules

for society as useless. In Daoist thought, people should look to nature for their guide & do nothing that was contrary to nature.

Good governments should have few rules; simplicity was valued;

Yin & Yang – idea that these forces in nature should be balanced (yin is female, passive & earthly; yang is male, active & heavenly). All humans have both yin & yang & they must be kept in balance through actions, thought, diet, etc.

LEGALISM… Legalism is a Classical Chinese

philosophy that emphasizes the need for order above all other human concerns. It developed during the brutal years of the Fourth Century , which were marked with conflict.

Legalists believed the people needed a strong government and a carefully devised code of law, along with a policing force that would stringently and impartially enforce these rules and punish harshly even the most minor infractions.

LEGALISM… The founder of the Legalistic school

was Hsün Tzu or Han Feizi. The most important principle in his thinking was that humans are inherently evil and inclined toward criminal and selfish behavior. So they would respond to rewards & punishments & not to good examples.

Legalist rulers were strong, harsh & strict. That is how they ensured order in society.

CONNECTING IDEAS… In section 4 we will discuss China’s dynasties. The philosophy embraced by the Emperor influenced how they ruled and consequently the lives of the people living under their rule.