Taoism and confuciunism

Being filial-

filial piety- veneration and respect for all members of one's family

2. What practice or discipline aids in gaining knowledge of Tao? What is zhuan?

"Sitting and forgetting"

The rectification of names

- expectation of proper behavior based on one's place in society in any given circumstance

7. When did Neo-Confucianism arise, what challenges was it responding to, and who was its most famous figure

About a thousand years ago; philosopher Chu Hsi's (Zhu Xi) re-interpretations of Confucianism helped as Buddhism & Taoism were taking hold in China; took some ideas from Buddhism & Taoism; gave more formal structure to Confucianism that spread in East Asia

Neo-Confucianism-

About a thousand years ago; philosopher Chu Hsi's (Zhu Xi) re-interpretations of Confucianism helped as Buddhism & Taoism were taking hold in China; took some ideas from Buddhism & Taoism; gave more formal structure to Confucianism that spread in East Asia

6. How did the Confucian teachers and philosophers impact Chinese government and education

Before Confucius's ideas took hold, the civil service jobs were given to the sons of important people. After his ideas were in place, any male could hold a government job based on merit (how well they did the job). Although there was a catch, in order to get a civil service job you had to take an exam and in order to pass you had to be able to read, so this was not easy for a poor farmer to do , but many talented poor young men were able to hold government positions.

4. What is the Confucian understanding of the self

Believed you could become a better person through education, we must learn to be human

What it means to be human; the Confucian self-

hard work, education, capacity of every human to succeed

11. How is Taoism mystical?

Chi- the life force or energy of the tao within the body, feng shui- easy flow and movement

The Analects-

Collected sayings of Confucius

8. How are Confucianism and Taoism complementary?

Confucian and Taoist values have shaped the arts of China. Ultimately, the two are seen to be complementary, with Confucianism dominating the social realm and Taoism informing one's private life.

1. What was Confucius' understanding of the nature of learning, How did this influence his teaching on ideals

Confucian vision of the grand harmony among human relationships and we had to learn to be human. Righteousness → beauty → harmony → order → peace

K'ung Fu-tzu- when, background, failure, reputation-

Confucius; teacher/philosopher; 500's B.C.; model for all teachers; had a vision of humanity that centered on human relationships

4. What is the Tao Te Ching? What is the literal meaning of the name?

Earliest text and one of china's most important texts, teaches that living a perfectly harmonious life is possible if you follow tao "The book of the way and its power"

religious Taoism

Folk Taoism; magic, meditation, and rituals to achieve perfect unity with the Tao, possibly immortality

2. What are the virtues and proper behaviors he advocated

Honesty, self-control, and virtue

6. How does the yin/yang symbol reflect Taoist philosophy?

Just as in the symbol of yin and yang each quality contains a spot of the other, so too is it impossible to make an unqualified distinction between good and evil.

Lao-tzu - when, meaning of name

Literally "old master"; contemporary of Confucius & legendary founder of Taoism

5. Who is considered the 2nd founder of Confucianism, when did he live, what was his teaching on humans, and in what book are his teachings found

Mencius Second founder of Confucianism; 4th c. B.C.; claimed humans are naturally good

Equanimity

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation

5 Constant Relationships-

Most important concept in Confucianism (Huston Smith): parent/child, spouse/spouse, older brother/younger brother, older friend/younger friend, ruler/subject

10. What is wu-wei? How is it different from doing nothing?

Non-action; going with the flow, you still must be active in your life

Book of Mencius-

One of the central texts of Confucianism that was written by the 2nd founder of Confucianism, who lived in the 4th c. BC

Chu Hsi-

One of the world's greatest philosophers of Neo-Confucianism (1100's AD), who determined the 4 most important books of Confucianism

shamans & priests

One who can communicate with the spirit world, a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, control spiritual forces, etc.

9. What are some distinctions between religious/popular Taoism and philosophical Taoism? In which would you find a shaman?

Shaman found in popular taoism strive for physical longevity, combination of classic texts and folk tradition

5. What is the Chuang Tzu? Where does it get its name?

Taoism second father, author of tao te ching, relativity of things

Tao Te Ching

Taoism's fundamental text, authored by Lao Tzu; literally the book of "the Way and it's power"

Chuang tzu- who, what

Taoism's second founder; the second foundational text of Taoism containing teachings from Chuang Tzu

Zhuan

Taoist meditation; "sitting and forgetting"

3. Who was Lao Tzu? What is the literal meaning of the name?

Taoist sage, "old master", founder of taoism the tao te ching is attributed to lao-tzu

chun-tzu-

ideal gentleman with perfect moral character; mature, virtuous, accommodating others

Ancestor worship-

Tradition Confucius helped to transmit; belief that deceased ancestors could influence the welfare of the living for good or for ill; one satisfies ancestors through prayers & sacrificial offerings

7. What are the characteristics of yin? Yang?

Yin- represents everything about the world that is dark, hidden, passive, receptive, yielding, contemplative, cool, soft, feminine. Yang- the positive, active, masculine, heavenly component of the universe, hot, light, strong, illuminated, evident

tai chi

a Chinese martial art and form of stylized, meditative exercise, characterized by methodically slow circular and stretching movements and positions of bodily balance.

Alchemy

a power or process of transforming something common into something precious

Tao

an unseen force: the origin and the order of the universe

1. What is Tao? What role does it play in the philosophy and practice of Taoism?

an unseen force: the origin and the order of the universe, it is immanent and transcended.

feng shui

arrangement of objects to achieve harmony in your environment

Role of the family-

center of Chinese society; 3 of the 5 constant relationships have to do with this; one must be filial in relating to one's elders

Wen-

cultural arts: music, poetry, art, archery, calligraphy

Meridians

energy pathways throughout the body in which chi flows to animate (give life to)

Dimensions emphasized-

ethical

3. What is the doctrine of the Five Constant Relationships

father/son, husband/wife, older brother/younger brother, ruler/subject, older friend/younger friend

Immortality

never die, live forever

relativity of values

no such thing as absolute goodness; it is impossible to make an unqualified distinction between good and evil

Te-

power: virtue as shown through the power of example

Li-

propriety in any given social circumstance

Shu-

reciprocity; component of jen; Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.

12. What was the ultimate goal of Taoist alchemy?

secret doctrines & spiritual practices used to prolong life, achieve unity with the Tao, and become an immortal

The ideal ruler-

status achieved through learning, not being born

Acupuncture

the Chinese practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points to cure disease or relieve pain

Tao-

the Way; the universal moral order

Jen-

the ideal virtue; benevolence, goodness; doing one's best to treat others as one would wish to be treated

13. How is chi/qi related to Tao? to acupuncture? to Tai Chi?

the life force or energy of the Tao within the body travels along pathways/meridians in the body and can be blocked, acupressure and acupuncture help chi flow and release toxins

chi/qi

the life force,or energy of the Tao,within the body

yin characteristics

the negative, passive, feminine, earthly component of the universe. compliments yang

yang characteristics

the positive, active, masculine, heavenly component of the universe. compliments yin

Wu-wei

the supreme taoist virtue of "non action," in which one is so perfectly in harmony with nature that nature's energy infuses and empowers the individual

Paradox

two opposing things that appear to contradict each other

8. How does this ancient philosophy/religion continue to influence East Asian cultures

virtually every chinese student has pored over his sayings for hours. They are part of the chinese mind

Harmony

what they want to live in with nature