Rel 150 Chinese religions- Daoism and Confucianism
What zodiac animal sign is it this year?
2017 is Fire Rooster year.
How do the five elements respond differently between the production sequence and the conquest sequence?
As to 2 general patterns 5 elements follow, in production sequence, fire produces earth, earth produces metal, metal produces water, water produces wood, wood produces fire, and in conquest sequence, fire is conquered by water, water is conquered by earth, earth is conquered by wood, wood is conquered by metal, metal is conquered by fire. This pattern knowledge is useful for acupuncture, feng shui, as well as other health and divination purposes.
What are the Confucian inner and outer virtues?
Confucian inner virtues are numerous, but Ren 'humaneness, compassion, and loving kindness' is most important. Confucian outer virtues are numerous too, but Li 'property, courtesy, ceremony, and etiquette' is most important.
Confucianism views people as..
Confucianism views people as social beings
Why is Confucianism not recognized as a religion in contemporary China?
Confucianism was targeted during Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) Because it was viewed as being at odds with Communist government ideology.
What are the Four Books and how do they differ from the Five Classics?
Confucianism's 4 Books illustrate its core value, belief systems, and help to decipher 5 Classics. Lun Yu 'Analects' is collection of notes from Confucius. Daxue 'Great Learning' serves as introductory text for student beginning their study of Confucian ethics. Zhongyong 'Doctrine of the Mean' deals with relationship between humanity and moral order. Mengzi 'Book of Mencius' consists of conversations with kings and long dialogues with extensive prose.
Delineate the scriptural tradition in Confucianism
Confucianism's scriptural tradition contains 5 Classics compiled by Confucius (Yijing, 'Book of Changes', Shujing 'Book of History', Shijing, 'Book of Poems', Liji 'Book of Rites', and Chunqiu 'Spring and Autumn Annals') plus 4 Books compiled by his disciples (Lunyu 'Analects', Daxue 'Great Learning', Zhongyong 'Doctrine of the Mean', and Mengzi 'Book of Mencius').
Who are the founders of Confucianism and Daoism?
Confucius 'Kong Qiu' (551-479 B.C.E.) and Laozi 'Li Er' (604-531 B.C.E.) founded Confucianism and Daoism respectively. Laozi means 'old master'.
What is the tradition behind the Dragon Boat Festival and how is it currently celebrated?
Dragon Boat Festival commemorates drown poet Qu Yuan (340-278 B.C.E.) with dragon boat races and rice dumplings. People race out in boats to spot where Qu Yuan drowned.
Why is the dragon the most prominent zodiac animal sign?
Dragon is seen as imperial, unrelenting, and pioneering. With special power over water, it can go in all in all directions in elements and has no limits.
What is hua?
Hua 'transformation' implies Dao is not static nor is reality. Life is eternal transformation from one form or state to another.
What is the Dao?
Dao is Chinese word signifying 'way', 'path', 'route', 'road', 'choose', 'key' or more loosely 'doctrine', 'principle' or 'holistic science'. In Daoism, it is formless, nameless, undefinable, imperceptible, indiscernible, mysterious, primordial, eternal entity, cosmic force, or natural order underlying all phenomena, exists beyond spacetime, and is symbolized by Bagua
What are the Legalist, Confucian, and Daoist views regarding human nature and how society should be governed?
Daoism views human nature as basically good needing little or no government interference (laissez-faire). Confucianism views human nature as basically good so government provides moral and ethical leadership, ideally without laws. Legalism, founded by Han Fei (280-233 B.C.E.), views human nature as corrupt so government provides strong leadership with strict laws.
Daoism views people as...
Daoism views people as natural beings.
What are the scriptural traditions in Daoism?
Daoism's scriptural tradition comprises more philosophy than religion. Its 2 main works are Daodejing or Tao Te Ching 'Classic of Way of Virtue' and Zhuangzi large collection of stories, anecdotes, allegories, parables, and fables, often humorous or irreverent in nature, that exemplify carefree nature of ideal Daoist sage. Supplementary work Daozang 'Taoist Canon' consists of around 1,400 texts that were collected c. 400 by Taoist monks to bring together all teachings of Taoism, including all commentaries and expositions of various masters from original teachings found in Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi.
What is in the Daozang?
Daozang 'Taoist Canon' or 'Storehouse of Dao' contains around 1,400 texts that were collected c. 400 by Taoist monks to bring together all commentaries and expositions of various masters from original teachings found in Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi, split into 3 grottoes based on main focus of Taoism in Southern China during time it was made, namely; meditation, ritual, and exorcism. These 3 grottoes were used as levels for initiation of Taoist masters, from lowest (exorcism) to highest (meditation), and include ritual instructions, magical rites, hymns, cures and biographies of famous Daoist masters.
What are some of the customs observed during death rites?
During death rites, 3-day or week ceremony is held, white is worn, and personal items are burned to be enjoyed in death.
How are time and space a reflection of yin-yang?
Exemplifying universal energies, time is yin while space is yang.
What is feng-shui and how can it be viewed as an expression of Daoist cosmogony?
Feng shui 'wind-water' is form of geomancy, ancient system of site analysis to determine suitability for home, temple, grave, etc. As everything is product of yin-yang and 5 elements, physical space can be manipulated to create more peaceful and prosperous environment. Feng shui is one of Five Arts of Chinese Metaphysics, classified as physiognomy, Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with surrounding environment and closely linked to Daoism. Feng shui practice discusses architecture in metaphoric terms of invisible forces that bind universe, earth, and humanity together, known as qi or chi.
What are the five elements?
Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood are 5 Daoist elements, basis of Chinese metaphysics and philosophy, having practical applications including feng shui, astrology/astronomy, and traditional Chinese medicine.
What happens during the Ghost Festival?
Ghosts are spirits that have been neglected, elaborate ceremonies and generous offerings are made to temples and shrines with intent of pacifying hungry spirits. Business openings, hospital surgeries, relocation, photographs, weddings, and air travel, etc. are discouraged at this time.
Delineate the Five Great Human Relationships
Great Human Relationships are 5: father - son, ruler - subject, husband - wife, older brother - younger brother, older Friend - younger friend.
Why are the Five Great Human Relationships significant?
If 5 relationships are harmonious, universe will be too. When there is harmony at home there is harmony in society, society to nation, nation to world peace. There is strong hierarchical character to understanding Chinese views of relationships. All participants have responsibilities to fulfill.
How can one know when a ruler has or has lost the Mandate of Heaven?
If ruler failed to rule with wisdom and virtue, Heaven caused social disharmony and economic disaster, then people had right to revolt
What roles do yin/yang and the five elements have in Chinese cosmogony?
In Chinese cosmogony, Dao gives birth to One (Taiji, primordial breath), One gives birth to Two (yin-yang), Two give birth to Three (space: heaven, earth, hell), Three give birth to Four (time: summer, spring, fall, winter), Four give birth to Five (elements: fire, wood, earth, metal, water), Five give birth to myriad creatures and rest of creation.
Who was the Zhuangzi named after and what does it emphasize?
It was named after its author Master Zhuang Zhou. Zhuangzi emphasizes plurality of natural stances or points of view from which one may see paths of possible behavior as natural.
What is junzi?
Junzi, originally aristocrat of noble birth, is sage, ideal person, superior human being, achievable by living virtuous life.
What are the lai see/hong bao?
Lai see/hong bao are red packets, good luck sayings affixed to strips of red paper.
What traditions are associated with the New Year Festival?
Lunar calendar first day of month. Most important and most celebrated 2-week-long festival.
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
Mandate of Heaven is rulers' divine sanction, which focuses on ruler -
What traditions are associated with the Moon Cake Festival?
Moon Cake fest on year's brightest full moon, 15th night of 8th lunar month, commemorates story of archer and his wife. People feast outdoors until late, enjoying glorious moon.
What are moon blocks?
Moon blocks are 2 blocks, each crescent-shaped with flat side yin and curved side yang used to determine the will of the gods. After throwing, if blocks end up yin/yang, god's answer is positive, otherwise 2 yins or 2 yangs, god's answer is negative.
What is Neo-Confucianism and what are its two main representatives?
Neo-Confucianism can be considered expansion of Confucianism to include metaphysics and new methods for self-cultivating and enlightenment via Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming.
What happened to the puberty rituals in contemporary Chinese customs?
No general contemporary Chinese puberty rite exist. Marriage functions as puberty rite. South Central Chinese Mosuo coming-of-age ceremony, which occurs at age 13, is one of most important events in Mosuo child's life. Before this ceremony, Mosuo children all dress same and are restricted from certain aspects of Mosuo life, particularly those that involve religious rites. Also, child who dies before this ceremony does not receive traditional funeral. Once they come of age, girls are given their skirts, and boys are given their trousers (thus, it is called 'skirt ceremony' for girls, and 'trouser ceremony' for boys). After coming of age, Mosuo females can get their own private bedroom, called 'flowering room' and can begin to invite partners for 'walking marriages'.
Why did the Beijing Olympics start at 8:08, 08/08/08?
Numbers have meaning. 8 is considered lucky, sounding like the word prosperity in Cantonese.
What do you know about yin-yang?
Principle of Yin and Yang is fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy and culture for over 2 millennia in which all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites. Yin: feminine, dark, heavy, cold, wet, passive. Yang: masculine, light, light, hot, dry, active. Balance of yin-yang and 5 elements yields health, harmony, and prosperity.
What is Qing Ming and how is it observed?
Qing Ming 'clear and bright fest' is observed with ancestral graves cleaning, visits, and sacrifices to ancestors.
What is the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) sect of Daoism and what does it emphasize?
Quanzhen sect of Daoism is prominent in northern China, with its Beijing White Cloud Temple headquarters of Daoist Association of China. It focuses on cosmos in self with emphasis on training in monasteries and individual practices such as inner alchemy.
What is involved in a wedding ceremony in the Chinese religious tradition?
Several rituals are involved in traditional wedding ceremony, including offerings made to ancestors and tea ceremony.
What functions do spirit-mediums have?
Spirit-mediums are used for both manifesting god presence during temple festivals or rituals and divination purposes, self-inducing trances to answer clients' questions or 'spirit writing' to ward off evil and bring good luck. .
It is stated that the Dao that can be described is not the Dao. Why?
Stating it that way discourages futile efforts to describe undescribable. No definition of Dao is found in Daodejing, nor systematic discussion of what that term might mean.
What traits should govern the Five Great Human Relationships?
Superior side should be patient, compassionate, willing to teach, etc. Subordinate side should be respectful, obedient, desiring to learn, etc.
What is the function of the tea ceremony?
Tea ceremony prominently affirms family hierarchy and harmony, as well as helps incorporate outsider into family
What themes characterize the Daodejing?
Themes that characterize Daodejing include nature, harmony, simplicity, humility, compassion, forgiveness, selflessness, wisdom, mysticism, governmental advice, wu-wei 'non-striving', 'flowing', or 'effortless action'.
Explain the Daoist term that means "non-striving"
Wu-wei 'non-striving', 'flowing', or 'effortless action' means ability to flow with changes and adjust to existing circumstances.
What is confinement period and what function does it have?
Woman who gave birth is confined for month to limited space, such as her room or house with windows closed, along with special foods to recover quickly from weakened state.
What are the Five Classics and why are they so called?
Yi Jing 'Book of Changes' is best known ancient divination system based on symbolic interpretation of broken and unbroken line combinations forming trigrams and hexagrams, predating Confucius. Shu Jing 'Book of History' is expressed political vision from legendary history, metaphysics, religion, and ethics. Shi Jing 'Book of Poems' is millennium collection of 305 poems and folk songs with poetic vision of good life. Li Ji 'Records of Ceremonies or Rituals' is social vision that states and explains myriad of traditional, respectful behavioral rules. Chun Qui 'Spring and Autumn Annals' is early accurate Chinese historical text of Confucius' native province of Lu. Together these comprise 5 Classics of Confucianism.
What do the hun and po parts of the soul refer to?
Yin and yang separate and divide at death, but relationships continue. Hun and Po are soul's yang and yin aspects respectively.
What is the Zhengyi (Orthodox One) sect of Daoism and what themes characterize it?
Zhengyi sect of Daoism claims to be the continuation of original way of Celestial Masters and performs rituals of healing and renewal for local communities with outer universe focus.
What is ziran?
Ziran 'spontaneity' allows one natural freedom to react and respond to any situation, to not be tied to predetermined course of actions.
3. New Year's Festival
a) involves cleaning ancestral graves b) is also referred to as the Moon Cake Festival c) is a time to send Zaojun (Kitchen God) to the Jade Emperor to make his family report * d) is observed by not eating meat for several days as a means to purify the body e) none of the above
5. The Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) sect of Daoism
a) is based on a hereditary priesthood b) Focuses more on individual practices and personal liberation * c) Focuses on community rituals d) Was originally a Theravada Buddhist sect e) All of the above
1. The Daodejing
a) is concerned in part with social harmony * b) contains spells and recipes for magic potions c) is named after a disciple of Laozi d) supports the creation of a strong government e) none of the above
4. Mandate of Heaven
a) refers to the idea that "the way" is in constant transformation b) provides rulers with a reign characterized by peace and prosperity * c) is the superior person d) means "non-striving" e) none of the above
2. The Five elements
a) symbolize 5 great emperors in China's past b) influence the traits and personalities of people * c) are prayed to every morning to ensure social harmony d) is the ultimate source behind the Dao e) a and c only
