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
