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Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto
Week 8
Ancient Chinese Beliefs:
Spirits: Shen (beneficial spirits-bright, light, sun, spring) Why would those be positive?
Kuei (dark, gloomy spirits). What’s the purpose of sacrificing to these spirits?
Tian (Heaven)
Filial Piety: Veneration of ancestors and respect for elders
Yang and Yin
Divination:Tortoise shells, grains, I Ching can be cast with stalks or coins
Chi: Life force, life energy
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Tian: Heaven
Completed in the Ming Dynasty (1420), the Temple of Heaven, called Tian Tan in Chinese, served as a place for Ming and Qing emperors to pray and make sacrifices. Tablets of the ancestors are stored inside.
TianScholars still debate the meaning of ‘heaven’ to the
ancient Chinese. Is it an impersonal force, a god or benevolent energy?
I know Heaven loves men dearly not without reason. Heaven ordered the sun, the moon, and the stars to enlighten and guide them.
-Mozi
I have heard that life and death are allotted, that wealth and honors are in Heaven’s hand.
-Confucius
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Ancestor Veneration
Family members try to provide a deceased family member with continuous happiness and well-being in the afterlife by showing respect toward them. Examples of other cultures that do this?
The unity of family, lineage, and filial piety (remaining loyal to parents) is continued through this practice.
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Ancestor Veneration
Despite the death of a loved one, the original relationship remains intact, and the deceased possesses more spiritual power than they did in life.
The ancestors are thought of as deities who had the ability to interact and have an effect on the lives of those still living. How do you view your ancestors?
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Chi or Qi
An active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, life force, or energy flow.
Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts. The literal translation of "qi" is breath, air, or gas. 5-minute Tai Chi for Health and Relaxation Part 1 of 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiYFxzh0ol4
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Yin: female, passive, negative principle in nature, the moon, shaded orientation, north or shady side of a hill, south of a river.
Yang: male, positive, active principle in nature, south or sunny side of a hill, north of a river.
Yin Yang
One of the most fundamental concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine; the foundation of diagnosis and treatment.
The earliest reference to Yin and Yang is in the I Ching (Book of Changes) in approximately in 700 BC. In this work, all phenomena are said to be reduced to Yin-Yang.
Taoism: The Way
The Tao Te Ching
‘The classical book about the Way and its power’
Dates to 350 BCE (orally) its author, Lao Tzu, lived in 600 BCE.
Poetic, mystical, shamanistic- some chapters discuss trance states and immortality.
Seeks to bring human beings into union with the Tao through imitating certain qualities in nature— harmony, lack of strain, and flowing mystery.
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Lao Tzu
Author of the Tao de Ching and founder of Philosophical Taoism, which aims at wisdom and ‘pure’ consciousness.
The legend surrounding his life has themes important to Chinese culture: elders, education, the life of the hermit, the importance of writing and passing down wisdom of the elders.
The Tao
There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born.
It is serene. Empty. Solitary. Unchanging.Infinite. Eternally present.
It is the mother of the universe.For lack of a better name,
I call it the Tao. It flows through all things,inside and outside, and returns
to the origin of all things.The Tao is great.
The universe is great.Earth is great.
Humanity is great.These are the four great powers.
Humanity follows the earth.Earth follows the universe.
The universe follows the Tao.The Tao follows only itself.
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The Tao is like Water
Flowing water is a Taoist model for being: Water bypasses and gently wears away obstacles like rock, effortlessly nourishes all living things, works without struggling, and leaves all accomplishments behind without possessing them.
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Water and the Tao
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The Tao de Ching says:
“Water is the softest thing on earth,
Yet its silken gentleness will easily wear away the hardest stone.
Everyone knows this; yet few use it in their daily lives.
Those of Tao yield and overcome.”
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Other Taoist Symbols
Woman: sensitive and receptive, yet effective and powerful.
Child: full of energy, wonder, and naturalness.
Valley: receptive and mysterious.
Darkness: can be safe, full of silence and possibility.
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The Tao
The Tao that can be named is not the Tao.
The Tao is nameless, formless, but can be experienced.
The Tao is the origin of all things, all is manifested from the Tao.
(What does this sound like that we have studied?)
Retrieved April 5, 2012, from:http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090310/full/news.2009.143.html
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Wu-Wei
Taoists observe that things happen effectively in nature: they are balanced and in harmony.
Humans should live effectively, without friction, with balance and harmony, in personal relationships and in relationship to nature.
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Wu Wei
'Wu wei', taking no action contrary to nature.
Wu wei is spontaneous, creative activity proceeding from the Tao, action in nature without ego-assertion.
Lao Tzu wrote about the result of wu-wei being non-interference with the Tao. He thought nothing is evil, but it may be out of balance.
The world is naturally harmonious; the Tao is our original state.
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Wu-Wei
The Sage is occupied with the
unspokenand acts without
effort.Producing without
possessing,creating without regard to result,
claiming nothing,the Sage has
nothing to lose.
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Basic Principles of Taoism
Early Taoism was syncretic: includes shamanism, the hermit ideal, desire for unity with nature, and fascination with health, long life, breathing, meditation, and trance. (Sounds like…?)
Mystical: what does a mystic want to experience?
Life in harmony with the Dao includes:
Experiencing the transcendent unity of all things, rather than division. (Which other traditions have this ‘unified vision’ idea?)
The Tao is transcendent. The Tao is the way of ultimate reality-- above, behind and beneath everything; it is also the womb from which everything is born and where everything goes when it dies.
The Tao is immanent, in everything as an animating spirit, the driving power of all nature.
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The Taoist vision of unity:
Experiencing this unity means functioning on a higher level of consciousness: this level can only be attained when one stops having personal preferences.
“Everything has its own nature and function,” says Chuan Tzu. “Be it disfigured or beautiful, small or large, all are one in Tao.”
What other tradition maintains that the loss of personal preferences is a sign of a person’s enlightenment?
Taoism is concerned with the direct experience of the universe, accepting and cooperating with things as they are, not with setting standards of morality, not with labeling things as good/bad, negative/positive, etc.
Basic Principles for Life in Harmony with the Tao
Simplicity: Eliminate whatever is unnecessary or artificial and appreciate the simple and the apparently ordinary. Examples of this?
The sage takes a low profile in the world--be like a valley, allowing everything needed to flow into our lives, rather than aggressively seeking things out.
Sages were wise, but not a learned and moral paragons like Confucian sages.
Sages were often artisans, like woodcarvers. Artisans understood the secret of art and the art of living--to be skillful and creative, they had to have inner spiritual concentration and put aside externals, such as money, fame, and praise.
The Tao Te ChingHandout #2 Group questions and discussion
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What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) means “wind and water.”
Feng shui is the ancient Chinese science and art of living in harmony with the environment.
There are many different approaches to Feng Shui and it can be very complicated. We are using the Western style or Black Hat in this presention.
Feng Shui looks at how Chi moves in an environment!
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Chi and The Bagua Map
Chi: A form of life force energy associated with the environment (also the body).
A Feng Shui practitioner aids clients to create harmonious chi - to encourage health and prosperity, and deter negative chi that might be creating illness or stress in the client's environment.
Feng Shui is the study of chi in a location and uses a Bagua map.
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A Bagua Map
A Bagua is a map that overlays the house or office plan and divides the areas into 8 sections:
Career Helpful people and travel Creativity and children Love and marriage Fame and reputation Wealth and prosperity Health and family Knowledge and self-cultivation. Also a Center section considered an “earth” or “grounding”
section
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Week 9 Taoism, Confucianism & Shinto
Hell realms & kuei at Tiger Balm Gardens, Singapore
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Three Schools of Taoism
Taoism split into three schools:
The Philosopical: individual, and a person tries to adjust to the flow of energy called the Tao. These Taoists seek to conserve chi (vital energy) by using it effectively.
The Physical: increasing chi through Taoist yoga (Tai Chi).
The Religious: The church of Taoism was founded in the second century AD. In this church Lao Tzu has become a deity. Priests sacrifice to the immortals, people make offerings. Ancestor worship shows continuity of a family lineage; descendants venerate their deceased ancestors to show appreciation for bringing them up and educating them.
The Taoist immortals and…
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Taoist Temples
Taoist temples include statues and paintings, and offerings of food, water, and incense are regularly placed in front of the images.
(What other traditions do this?)
Religious Taoism
Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-mythical Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality.
A legendary cultural hero, Zhang Sanfeng is credited by modern practitioners as having originated the concepts of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, as a result of a Confucian syncretism of Chán (Zen)Buddhist Shaolin martial arts with his mastery of Taoist Tao Yin principles.
▪Chi Energy Amazing Footage▪Fight Scene from ‘Kung Fu Hustle’
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Taoism here and now
Taoist influences and concepts like ‘chi’ in pop culture.
Homework Questions
1. What is Confucianism— a religion (beliefs concerning the cause, nature & purpose of the universe involving devotional and ritual observances, and often a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs) or a philosophy (the study of general and fundamental problems, such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and ethics)?
2. In your own words, explain what Confucius means by this statement, “He whose heart is in the smallest degree set upon Goodness will dislike no one.”
3.Explain what he means by this statement, “A Knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating course food, is not worth calling into counsel.”
4. What is the connection between Shinto and the samurai class?
5. How does the Zoroastrianism scheme of the afterlife affect the ethical teachings of this religion?
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Confucianism
2. In your own words, explain what Confucius means by this statement, “He whose heart is in the smallest degree set upon Goodness will dislike no one.”
3.Explain what he means by this statement, “A Knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating course food, is not worth calling into counsel.”
1. What is Confucianism— a religion (beliefs concerning the cause,nature & purpose of the universe involving devotional & ritualobservances & often a moral code governing human affairs) or aphilosophy (the study of general and fundamental problems?
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The Life of Confucius
▪Confucius was born in 551 B.C.E., in a China that was then a group of small kingdoms, during the time feudalism was ending. Society and families were undergoing stress!
▪Born to a noble put poor family. Was educated as a gentleman. In his teens, he became serious scholar, later was a tax collector, a teacher and a government minister.
Confucius’ Beliefs
Seeing suffering caused by social disorder, Confucius thought society would function properly only if virtues were taught and lived.
Confucius wanted to create a superior person and a harmonious society:
Cultivating “excellent” individuals
as social leaders would create aharmonious society. In turn, aharmonious society would
nurtureexcellent individuals.
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Confucian Beliefs
Each human being is capable of being good, refined, and even great, through education, the contributions of other people, and fulfilling one’s obligations to them.
Confucius was mostly silent on the afterlife . His attitude on the subject is summed up in his statement: “If you are not able to serve men, how can you worship the gods?”
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The Confucian path to excellence
According to Confucius, excellence comes from the cultivation of an individual’s virtues and intellect, so education is essential.
Knowledge and the development of skills in poetry, music, artistic appreciation, manners, and religious ritual are important.
Confucius thought that education shows the way to wise and happy living.
The Five Great Relationships:
Father-son
Elder brother–younger brother
Husband-wife
Elder-younger
Ruler-Subject
Confucianism Worksheet
Handout # 1: The Five Great Relationships
Handout 1 Handout 3: A Confucian FamilyDirections: On this page you have a description of a Chinese family. With your group,
decide on how this family should be ranked with the most powerful on top and the least on the bottom. Design a chart to show the ranking of each person according to Confucius. Be prepared to share the chart with the class, and to explain why you ordered it in this way.
Here is a brief description of Confucius’ Five great Relationships:Father-son, oldest son has unique responsibilities.Elder brother–younger brotherHusband-wifeElder-youngerRuler-subject A Chinese family ranked in the Confucian Way: The Kongs live together as an extended family with many members. Albert Kong is the
father of four children. He is married to Anna. Albert has a high-level government job, and he is the oldest son of his parents. Albert’s parents, Granny and Gramps Kong, live with Albert’s family. Gramps’ Kong has a younger brother, Hank, who lives with them and is looking for a job. Albert’s four children are : Nancy, 22, Bert, 19, John, 14, and little Mary, who is seven.
Sketch your ideas for a chart!
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Confucian Virtues
▪Ren: To think of the other
▪Li: Doing what is proper
▪Shu :The Silver Rule
▪Xiao: Devotion to family
▪Wen: Culture (appreciation and skill)
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In the Confucian system,the person who follows the normative values of filial piety, propriety and harmony ends up with a lesser ego.
In Western societies, the person who follows the normative values of differentiation, self-determination and self-assertion ends up with an assertive ego.
Confucian vs. Western Psychological Norms
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ShintoJapan’s indigenous religion
Shinto
▪Kami-no-michi: the ‘Way of the Gods.’
▪Shinto is ancient, animistic, shamanistic, in contact with nature spirits, and mysterious healing.
▪Human awareness of the power of nature and the need to be in harmony with nature is very evident in Shinto.
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Shinto
Worshipped spirits include thespirits of departed family members,distant ancestors of one’s clan, andgreat leaders and animal and
naturespirits.
Shinto still exists in modern Japan.
Birth of the Kami
Primeval chaos, was populated by deities, or spirits, called kami.
Two kami—Izanami (“female who invites”) and Izanagi (“male who invites”)—became the cosmic parents who created the first islands of Japan.
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Izanagi and Izanami gave birth to additional kami, many of them nature deities, like a fire god who burned and killed Izanami as she gave birth to him.
Izanagi travels to the underworld to find Izanami, but she is disfigured.
From his tear-filled eyes emerge the spirit of the sun, Amaterasu (“shining in heaven”), and the spirit of the moon, Tsukiyomi (“moon night possessor”).
Izanami and Izanagi
The Kami
▪The Kami: powers in or near this world, energies that animate nature. The kamis’ presence might be felt in a peaceful way in nature.
▪The kami can also be felt in the midst of a terrible storm. In Japan, typhoons are called kamikaze, or divine wind.
▪Ancestors who become kami live close by, ready to return to see how their descendants are doing.
▪Etrieved April 6, 2012, from:http://www.jref.com/japan/culture/religion/kami.shtml
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Basic Shinto Beliefs
Human beings are fundamentally good, the body is good, and this earthly life is good. Shinto worships fertility and new life, and sex is viewed positively, without guilt.
Shinto is focused away from death, thought of as the opposite of life and growth.
Shinto worships the life force, and works to counteract whatever brings sickness or death.
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Shinto Beliefs
According to Shinto, we must keep our bodies, houses, and clothes clean and bright.
When they become dirty or contaminated, we must wash them, get rid of the dirt, and purify them with blessings.
Shinto & Buddhism in Japan, Confucianism & Buddhism in China
Shinto was often associated with agriculture, fertility, and birth.
Shinto shrines have Buddha images and adopted Buddhist practices.
Ancestors venerated as kami.
Shinto practices loyalty to family and clan.
Buddhism with philosophy, serious illnesses, funerals, and the afterlife.
In Japan, Buddhist shrines have images of kami, and often have Chinese architectural details.
Ancient Chinese & Confucians venerate ancestors.
Ancient Chinese & Confucians practice loyalty to family and clan.
Shinto, Taoism and Confucianism Diagram
Handout #2 Venn Diagram
Handout 3: Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto Venn Diagram Directions: With your group decide which characteristics represent Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Place their overlapping characteristics in the place where the circles overlap. Ancestor veneration birth loyalty to family respect elders ancestors venerated as kami transcendent unity of everything education higher level of consciousness spirits animistic virtues nature venerated letting things flow developing a cultured outlook fertility
using energy skillfully cleanliness hierarchy
Taoism
Confucianism Shinto
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Shinto’s Religious Practices:
People visit shrines to pray for health, success in school and career, and for those they love.
A visit begins by passing under the torii gateway.
Worshipers wash their hands and mouths at a water basin.
They walk to the building where the kami is worshiped, then ascend the stairs to the space in front of the room where the kami is enshrined.
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Shinto Ritual
They bow, donate a coin, then ring a bell and clap several times to gain the kami’s attention. They bow again and pray.
When worshipers visit a shrine for a blessing, a priest says a prayer, & waves a branch or wand adorned with paper streamers to purify the devotees and the surrounding area.
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A Shinto ceremony was performed at the beginning of filming ‘Godzilla vs. King Kong.’
Guess who won?
Shinto & Godzilla