Chapter 6 — Taoism and Confucianism
Li Qi
"Book of Ritual"; one of the Six Classics of Confucianism; set of codes of behavior for the privileged classes, with emphasis on morality, geared toward regulating human conduct.
karma
Ancient Indian notion of action, both mental and physical, that causes the cycle of life and death (samsara); that which binds one to existence.
Analects (Lunyu)
Collection of the words and actions of Confucius and his disciples as well as the discussions they held; most important text in Confucianism.
Lunyu (Analects)
Collection of the words and actions of Confucius and his disciples as well as the discussions they held; most important text in Confucianism.
xiao
Confucian concept of filial piety.
Shi Huang Di, Emperor(260-210 BCE)
King of the Chinese State of Qin during the Warring States Period; became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BCE; first to call himself the emperor of China.
Zhung Yung
One of the four books of Confucian philosophy, "Doctrine of the Mean"; philosophical treatment of Confucian metaphysics, politics, and ethics.
Siddhartha
Personal name of the his- toric Buddha (Gautama Buddha).
Axial Age
Term coined by German philosopher Karl Jaspers to describe a period in which revolutionary thinking emerged in Persia, India, China, and the West (c. 800-200 BCE).
I Ching
"Classic of Changes"; contains a divination system; a book of the Six Classics of Confucianism.
Shu Ching
"Classic of History"; one of the Six Classics of Confucianism, among the earliest examples of Chinese prose recording speeches from the early Zhou Dynasty (eleventh century BCE); preserves sayings and recalls deeds of ideal leaders.
Shih Ching
"Classic of Poetry"; one of the Six Classics of Confucianism, containing the oldest authenticated Chinese poems, dating from the Western Zhou period (1046-771 BCE).
Tao Te Ching
"Classic of the Way and Its Virtue"; Chinese classic text, ascribed to Laozi; fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism.
Falun Gong
"Dharma Wheel Practice"; a spiritual practice first introduced in China in 1992, combining meditation, slow-moving qigong (balancing intrinsic life energy), and moral philosophy.
men
"Door"; Confucian concept referring to the door that leads to long life, enlightenment, and immortality.
Zhu Xi
A Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who led the School of Principle; the most influential Neo-Confucian in China.
alchemy
Art of transmuting common metals, often into gold, for use in the attempt to achieve perfection, longevity or immortality; practice of the attempt to create an elixir of immorality.
xin
Chinese Confucian concept of mind; refers to one's disposition or feeling, since ancient Chinese people believed the heart was the center of human cognition.
Ch'un-ch'iu
Chinese classic text; Confucianism's "Spring and Autumn Annals," which chronicles the history of the State of Lu (772-481 BCE).
Tao
Chinese concept signifying "path," "way," or "principle": metaphysical concept originating with Laozi that became the basis for religious and philosophical Taoism as well as Confucianism and Zen Buddhism.
tai chi
Chinese martial art practiced for defense and health benefits; use of leverage through the joints based on coordination and relaxation in order to balance chi; seeks a healthy balance of yin and yang forces, thereby aiding the flow of chi; also known as tai chi chuan.
tai chi chuan
Chinese martial art practiced for defense and health benefits; use of leverage through the joints based on coordination and relaxation in order to balance chi; seeks a healthy balance of yin and yang forces, thereby aiding the flow of chi; also known as tai chi.
Laozi (c. sixth century BCE)
Chinese philosopher credited as founder of philosophical Taoism and author of Tao Te Ching; revered as a deity in most religious forms of Taoist philosophy.
Mozi
Chinese philosopher during early Warring States Period; founded school of Mohism, strongly arguing against Confucianism and Taoism by emphasizing self-reflection and authenticity rather than obedience to ritual; advocated "universal love."
Mengzi (372-289 BCE)
Chinese philosopher who was the most famous Confucian after Confucius himself; one of the principal interpreters of Confucianism.
feng shui
Chinese system of geomancy, method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or patterns on the earth, to improve life; "wind- water"; used to orient the human environment on spots with good chi (qi), life force.
Confucius (551-479 BCE)
Chinese teacher and philosopher who emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness in human relationships, and justice; Confucius's thoughts were adopted during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) as state ideology in China.
li
Confucian concept of ritual and behavioral protocol; customs, etiquette, morals; rules of proper behavior.
junzi
Confucian notion of ideal human being; "superior person" or "exemplary person"; a ruler animated by superior ethics and morality who serves as a role model by acting virtuously.
jen
Confucian virtue of "fellow feeling," the good feeling a virtuous person experiences when being altruistic; as an expression of Confucian ideals, an inner virtue from which all other Confucian virtues emanate.
filial piety
Confucian virtue of respect for one's parents and ancestors; to be good to one's parents, engage in good conduct inside and outside the home in order to reflect favorably on one's parents and ancestors.
nonbeing
Emptiness; forms of reality that do not have substance, particularly important in Buddhism and Taoism.
Boston Confucianism
Group of "New Confucians" from Boston, of whom the best known are Tu Wei-ming, of Harvard University, and Robert Neville, of Boston University; the perspective attempts to adapt Confucianism to Western culture.
samsara
Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cycle of death and rebirth; "continuous flow"; existence; reincarnation.
Zhuangzi
In Chinese religion, known as "Master Zhuang," a defining historical figure in Chinese Taoism and writer of the book Zhuangzi.
yin
In Chinese religion, one of two fundamental cosmic forces of the universe; considered the negative principle of dark, wetness, cold, passivity, and femaleness.
yang
In Chinese religion, one of two fundamental cosmic forces of the universe; considered the positive principle of light, warmth, dryness, maleness, and activity.
T'ien Shih
In religious Taosim, "Celestial Master" or "Heavenly Lord"; applied to Chang Lu, who introduced the role of Taoist priests, the scholars and ritual functionaries of religious Taoism who organize Taoist communities and are sometimes marked by a monastic lifestyle.
chi
In traditional Chinese culture, an active principle forming part of any living thing; life energy; life force; energy flow; central energy underlying traditional Chinese medicine; "breath."
yanban
Korean concept of ruling class or nobles during Joseon Dynasty.
T'ien ming
Mandate of Heaven; in Confucian thought, notion that Heaven (t'ien) conferred the right to rule directly upon an emperor; continuation of the Mandate of Heaven is conditioned by the personal behavior of the ruler, who is expected to possess righteousness and benevolence.
Neo-Confucianism
Moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy based on Confucianism, originating in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), that emphasized rationalism over against superstitious and mystical elements of Taoism and Buddhism that had influenced Confucianism during the Han Dynasty.
School of the Heart/Mind
Neo- Confucian school, started by Wang Yangming, that emphasized that one should look to one's own heart or mind to understand morality; regarded as heterodox by some Confucians.
School of Principle
Neo-Confucian school, started by Zhu Xi, that saw knowledge as a preparation for action.
nonanthropomorphic
Not comparable in form to a person or human being.
Yueh Ching
One of the Six Classics of Confucianism, "Classic of Music" lost by the time of the Han Dynasty; argued that the scholarly gentleman should be adept at music.
Legalists
One of the major traditional Chinese schools of philosophy; upholds the rule of law as a means to restore harmony in society; notion that a ruler should govern his subjects by the law, method, and charisma.
t'ien
One of the oldest Chinese terms for the cosmos; a key concept in Chinese mythology, philosophy, and religion; in Taoism and Confucianism, t'ien means "Heaven."
Yin-Yang Cosmologists
One of the six major Chinese schools of philosophy that emerged during the Warring States Period (403-221 BCE), it promoted the investigation of the art of yin and yang; based rituals, actions, and divination on natural rhythms of the universe, particularly the patterns of the four seasons.
yogic breathing
Originally a Hindu discipline of seeking to control breath as part of the overall practice of yoga; means "extension of the life force," used by many South Asian religions and New Religious Movements.
etic
Outsider perspective; analysis of cultural phenomena from the perspective of one who does not participate in the culture being studied.
Warring States Period
Period in ancient China that culminated in the unification of China (475-221 BCE) under the Qin Dynasty; a period of violent civil disorders when smaller states disappeared and seven larger states remained to fight ruthlessly for supremacy until 221 BCE.
monotheistic
Pertaining to belief in one God.
Mahavira
Propagator of Jain tradition, regarded as the twenty-fourth, and last, tirthankara, Jain name for a human being who helps others achieve liberation by being a role model and leader; also known as "fordfinder" and jina.
Wang Yangming (1472-1529)
Regarded as the most important Chinese Neo-Confucian philosopher, he denied the rationalist dualism of the orthodox philosophy of Zhu Xi.
sages
Spiritual guides, holy teachers, learned persons, pious persons.
wu-wei
Taoist concept of nonaction, nondoing; notion that beings that are wholly in harmony with the Tao behave in a completely natural way; action without action.
Taoshi
Taoist priests; the scholars and ritual functionaries of religious Taoism.
yi
The Confucian virtue of righteousness and justice; the moral disposition to do good.
Da Xue
The Great Learning, one of the four books in the Confucian Canon.
