Asian Studies Chinese Philosophies

Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Shintoism, Bahai, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism.

Confucius

(551-479 BCE) A Chinese philosopher known also as Kong Fuzi and created one of the most influential philosophies in Chinese history.

Lao Tzu

Chinese philosopher; taught about Taoism (following the way of nature) and yin/yang

Confucianism

The system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct.

Analects

a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius and his disciples

Filial Piety

In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.

Ren

An attitude of kindness and benevolence or a sense of humanity for Confucianism.

Gentleman

Confucius states that there are five major characteristics that make up a true gentleman which are humility, sincerity, graciousness, magnanimity, and diligence. According to him, an individual who can practice all five of them can be considered as a superior man/ a portrayer of true manhood or put a gentleman.

Li

Called for individuals to behave in conventionally appropriate fashion in Confucianism.Confucian concept often rendered as "ritual," "proper conduct," or "propriety." Originally denoted court rites performed to sustain social and cosmic order.

Civil Service Exam

In Imperial China starting in the Han dynasty, it was an exam based on Confucian teachings that was used to select people for various government service jobs in the nationwide administrative bureaucracy.

Taoism

religion believed to have been founded by Lao-Tsu and based upon his book entitled "Tao-te-ching," or "Book of the Way." Lao-Tsu focused on the proper form of political rule and on the oneness of humanity and nature.

Tao

the way of nature, the energy in all beings, indescribable, intangable

Tao Te Ching

Book with the teachings of Taoism

P'u

"unworked wood; inherent quality; simple" that was an early Daoist metaphor for the natural state of humanity, and relates with the Daoist keyword ziran (literally "self so") "natural; spontaneous, uncarved block

Yin and Yang

In Taoist belief, complementary factors that help to maintain the equilibrium of the world. One is associated with masculine, light, and active qualities while the other with feminine, dark, and passive qualities.

Wu Wei

In Daoism, "not doing" in the sense of taking no action contrary to the natural flow, action with nonaction. horse in the street, walk around it.

The three jewels

humility, compassion, frugality

Legalism

Chinese philosophy developed by Hanfeizi; taught that humans are naturally evil and therefore need to be ruled by harsh laws

Han Fei

Founder of legalism, a system justifying rule by a strong authority

Fa

a model or standard imposed by superior authority, to which the. people must conform'. While fa connotes a set of rules promulgated by a ruler, a. system of governance and civil obedience, as well as a set of punishments designed.

Shu

A bureaucratic administration under the control of the ruler enforces the laws and performs the task of running the state. The ruler employs special techniques to ensure that administrators carry out their duties and do not abuse their positions.

rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Reincarnation

the process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding

Karma

The belief that actions in this life, whether good or bad, will decide your place in the next life.

Dharma

an individual's duty fulfilled by observance of custom or law. Hinduism and Buddhism. : the basic principles of cosmic or individual existence : divine law. : conformity to one's duty and nature.

Sikhism

the doctrines of a monotheistic religion founded in northern India in the 16th century by Guru Nanak and combining elements of Hinduism and Islam

Guru Nanek

founder of the Sikh religion

Guru

From the Sanskrit for "teacher," Hindu teachers and guides in philosophical and spiritual matters.

Golden Temple

the holiest shrine of Sikhism. It is located in Amritsar, and was founded by the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das.

Guru Granth Sahib

Holy scripture of Sikhism, which has the sayings and teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus. Last guru.

Five Vices

lust, anger, greed, worldly attachment, pride

Gurdwara

Sikh place of worship

Jainism

a religion founded in India in the sixth century BC, whose members believe that everything in the universe has a soul and therefore shouldn't be harmed. Mahavira founded this religion.

Mahavira

regarded as the man who gave Jainism its present-day form; although this is true only in the widest sense. He is sometimes wrongly called "the founder of Jainism". \__________ is only this world's most recent tirthankara (and will be the last one in this age).

The Five Principles

nonviolence, chaste living, not stealing, truthfulness, avoiding materialism.

The five K's

Kesh-uncut hair, Kara- steel bracelet, Kanga- wooden comb, Kachera-white shirt, Kirpan- short sword

Ahimsa

the principle of nonviolence toward all living things

Tirthankara

Teachers in Jainism, one of the twenty-four ideal human beings of the past, Mahavira being the most recent.

Bahai

Religion founded by Baha'ullah who declared himself as a prophet of God/"the promised one". Teachings: World peace through unity of all religions, live a simple life, dedication to serving others.

Bahaullah

Founder of the Baha'i faith.

Progressive Revelation

suggests that religious truth is revealed by God progressively and cyclically over time through a series of divine Messengers, and that the teachings are tailored to suit the needs of the time and place of their appearance.

Universal House of Justice

administrative headquarters of Baha'i, located in Haifa, Israel

Unity

all humans have been created equal in the image of God, and that God does not make any distinction between people.

Shinto

A Japanese religion whose followers believe that all things in the natural world are filled with divine spirits

Kami

Any sacred being worshipped in Shinto including nature spirits and ancestors can take form in intimate objects.

Amaterasu

is a deity of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is seen as the goddess of the sun and the universe. The name Amaterasu is derived from Amateru and means "shining in heaven".

Shrines

areas dedicated to the honor of gods and goddesses

Purity

does not accept that human beings are born bad or impure; in fact Shinto states that humans are born pure, and sharing in the divine soul. Badness, impurity or sin are things that come later in life, and that can usually be got rid of by simple cleansing or purifying rituals.

Loyalty

As the state system, the \_______ system under the eternal ruling of a single imperial family has obvious religious characteristics and the "loyalty" to the emperor has the "devoting spirit" and "unconditional respect" required by the religion

Zoroastrianism

One of the first monotheistic religions, particularly one with a wide following. It was central to the political and religious culture of ancient Persia.

Zoroaster

The founder of Persia's classical pre-Islamic religion, Zoroastrianism.

Ahura Mazda

Main god of Zoroastrianism who represented truth and goodness and was perceived to be in an eternal struggle with the malign spirit Angra Mainyu.

Avesta

Book that contains the holy writings of Zoroastrianism. Also known as gathas

Parsi

whose name means "Persians," are descended from Persian Zoroastrians who emigrated to India to avoid religious persecution by Muslims.

Fire Temples

Fire remained an important symbol in Zoroastrianism; always had a fire maintained at temples

good thoughts, good words, good deeds

Motto of Zoroastrianism