RELS 1000 FINAL

Bodhisattva

a person who has attained enlightenment but who has postponed nirvana in order to help others achieve enlightenment

Buddhism

A religion based on the teachings of the Buddha.

Confucianism

A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses a moral code of conduct.

Dao

mysterious, powerful source of all

(way)

Daoism

Chinese religion that believes the world is always changing and is devoid of absolute morality or meaning. They accept the world as they find it, avoid futile struggles, and deviate as little as possible from 'the way' or 'path' of nature.

-challenged Confucianism and believed humans did not have to be taught, they had an innate nature

De

virtue, own try nature

-intrinsic nature, what makes something itself

Divination

the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means

Feng-shui

-wind and water

-rules in Chinese philosophy that govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to patterns

Filial Piety

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

Ancestor Veneration/Worship

-early as Shang times

-offerings to ancestors and divination

-burning of imitation paper to give ancestors things they may need in the afterlife

Spirit Money

money burned to help souls in afterlife

-aka joss paper

Joss Paper

paper offerings burnt in Chinese funerals to provide the dead with all their needs

joss=god

Junzi

"cultivated person"; the refined human ideal of Confucianism

Li

proper behaviour in Confucianism

Yi

righteousness in Confucianism

-external behaviours grow out of internal attitudes

Ren

human heartedness in Confucianism

symbol= human + 2

-social ethics

5 Relationships in Confucianism

1. Ruler and government official

2. parent and child

3. husband and wife

4. elder sibling and younger sibling

5. friend and friend

*hierarchical

-lower shows respect for higher

-higher looks out for lower

Reciprocity in Confucianism

-closely associated with Li

-golden rule

Analects

main text of Confucianism

-thoughts on spiritual development

-learn for things to become innate, takes time

Legalists

-challenged Confucianism, believed human nature is bad/selfish but could be guided by incentive and penalty

Mencius (Mengzi)

300BCE

2nd most important person in Confucianism

-"second sage"

-believed human nature is innately good but should be cultivated

Xunzi (Hsun-tzu)

250BCE

-Confucianist

-believed human nature was bad/selfish

-people needed to be educated in proper conduct/ nature

Neo-Confucianism

The Confucian response to Buddhism by taking Confucian and Buddhist beliefs and combining them into this. However, it is still very much Confucian in belief.

Zhu Xi

-most prominent neo-Confucianist

-philosophy incorporated ideas from Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism

Laozi (Lao-tzu)

"old master" of Daoism

-Daoist sage

-author of the Daodejing

Zhuangzi (Chuang-tzu) (person)

-Daoist sage

-author of the Zhuangzi

-more humorous/literary in writing

Daodejing (Tao Te Ching)

The book of Daoism supposedly written by Laozi

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) (book)

book of Daoism written by Zhuangzi

Wu-wei

non-action (Daoism)

-sages practice is allowing things to be

Alchemy

medieval chemistry; attempt to change base metal into gold

Taiji Quan (T'ai chi ch'uan)

An ancient Chinese system of physical exercises, which uses slow movements to help one become part of the universal flow of energy

-developed into martial arts

Daoist Immortality

Reach harmony with Dao and gain immortality

Yin-Yang symbol (Supreme Ultimate)

cosmic forces that are opposite and complimentary (cannot exist without the other)

most closely associated with Daoism

Yin

like a "shady side of a hill"

dark

passive

cool

moist

female

earth

Yang

like a "sunny side of a hill"

bright

active

hot

dry

male

heaven

5 Phases (agents) Wuxing

Daoism

1. wood

2. fire

3. earth

4. metal

5. water

-in the middle is the yin-yang symbol

Chinese New Year

The most important family holiday in China. Chinese New Year is the first day of the lunar calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. The date varies according to the Western calendar, but Chinese New Year usually occurs in late January or early February.

-lantern festival

Buddha

the "Enlightened One"

-historical Buddha: Siddhartha Gautama

Budai (Pu-tai)

laughing buddha- future Buddha

Confucius (Kong Fuzi)

founder of Confucianism

"Master Kong"

Guanyin (Kuan-yin)/Kannon

Chinese Bodhisattva of Compassion

Bodhisattva of Compassion

Avalokitesvara and Guanyin (Kuan-yin)/Kannon

Maitreya

future buddha

Bodhidharma

founder of Zen Buddhism

Amitabha/Amida

celestial Buddha whose Pure Land became the most popular in East Asia

Upaya

"Skillful Means" was developed into a form of Buddhist practice that encourages imaginatively applying wisdom to whatever circumstances one is in to assist in easing suffering or cultivating insight

Tian

heaven

Spontaneity (Daoism)

going with the flow

Pure Land

a Buddhist sect in China and Japan that centers on faith in Amida Buddha, who promised to welcome believers to the paradise of the Pure Land, a metaphor for enlightenment

Merit (Buddhism)

a force that results from good deeds done; it is capable of attracting good circumstances in a person's life, as well as improving the person's mind and inner well-being.

Monastic Community

monks and nuns

Buddhism: Sangha

Sangha

Buddhist community of monks and nuns

3 Sages (representing 3 traditions in China)

Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism

Animism

Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, have a discrete spirit and conscious life

-SHINTO

Bushido

"the way of the warrior"

Samurai in Japan

Buddhist and Confucianist influences

Creation Myth (Japan)

co-creators- Izanami and Izanagi

-Izanagi stirs the ocean with a jewelled spear, creating the islands of Japan

-intercourse creates kami

-creates god of fire, and sun goddess Amaterasu

Ema (Wish Tablet)

-Shinto worshippers write wishes and hang at Shinto shrines in the hopes the kami receive them

Hexagram

a figure formed of six straight lines having to do with divination

these reveal dominant forces in life at the moment, what changes are about to occur, and how a sage would harmonize with these forces/changes

Imperial Regalia/Treasures (Japan, Shinto)

sword, mirror, and gemstone

Torii

Gateway of a Shinto shrine that separates the sacred world from the rest of the world

Trigram

a set of three lines

sold=yang

broken=yin

Kami

a divine being in the Shinto religion.

Kami-dana

Household shrine where prayers and daily offerings to the kami are made.

Kamikaze

a fighter plane used for suicide missions by Japanese pilots in World War II

Mahayana

"the Great Vehicle" - The largest of Buddhism's three divisions, prevalent in China, Japan and Korea, encompasses a variety of forms, including those that emphasize devotion and prayer to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Mandate of Heaven

the belief that the Chinese king's right to rule came from the gods

Oracle Bone

one of the animal bones or tortoise shells used by ancient Chinese priests to communicate with the gods

Popular Religion

Chinese folk religion

Daoshi

Daoist priest

Kannushi/Jinshu

Shinto priest

Purification and Pollution (Shinto)

death and bodily outflows are polluting

impurity does not equal moral guilt

Rebuilding cycle at Ise

Shinto shrine rebuilt every 20 years

Shinto

The traditional religion of Japan

Shrine

A place of worship that is often dedicated to a sacred object or person

Qi

fundamental life force

Qingming

Chinese holiday that marks the renewal of spring; day for families to remember ancestors publicly

Shimenawa

twisted rope, marking a sacred spot

Sun as a symbol for Japan

"Land of the Rising Sun"

-represents sun goddess Amaterasu

Zen/Chan Buddhism

Form of Mahayana Buddhism that teaches that the real truth about life comes from intuitive flashes of insight.

Amaterasu

Japanese sun goddess

Dainichi

the "Great Sun" who was believed to preside over the universe

-Japanese Buddhism

Duke of Zhou

Confucian model of a perfect servant, observing law over family benefit

Huineng

- the sixth patriarch of Buddhism in China who is said to be the author of the Platform Sutra even though he is an "illiterate woodcutter" from Southern China

- won in poetry contest between him and high monk Shenxiu

- his becoming a patriarch is viewed as Chan Buddhism opening up to all stratum of society

- promoted "sudden enlightenment"

- his teachings became prominent through the efforts of his student Shenhui

Izanagi

The male kami who is the procreator of the Japanese islands.

Izanami

The female kami who is the procreator of the Japanese islands.

Jimmu

First emperor of Japan

-descendent of sun goddess Amaterasu

Kumarajiva

"The Master Translator." He was a Buddhist monk who translated many Buddhist texts into Chinese and ended the "Dark Learning period" in Chinese history.

Manjushri

Bodhisattva of wisdom

Mozi (Mo-tzu)

founder of Mohists

-taught universal brotherhood

challenged Confucianist thought

Qin Emperor

The leader of the Qin territory created the Qin dynasty in 221

b.c. and named himself Qin Shihuangdi, which means "the First

Qin Emperor." The Qin dynasty only lasted until 206 b.c.

• Qin was a dictator with absolute power.

• He followed legalism and imposed strict laws and harsh

punishments.

• He joined and strengthened walls other rulers had built for

protection in the north and extending west, called the Great

Wall.

• He built a massive tomb for himself, filled with life-sized

warrior statues

Queen Himiko/Pimiko

legendary ruler of the yamatai polity (reign c. 200 CE) in Japan

Shotoku

This prince established Buddhism as a favored religion in the Yamato period

Susanoo

storm kami in Japanese mythology, unruly brother of Amaterasu

Yu the Great

-First Ruler of the Xia Dynasty

-Known as the "Controller of the Waters" for successfully controlling the Yellow River's flooding

Xuanzang (Hsuan Tsang)

Chinese-Buddhist monk

Xia Dynasty

2000 BCE

ruled by emperor Yu- a culture hero

Shang Dynasty

1600 BCE-1000 BCE

-divination, sacrifice/offerings

-ancestor worship

Zhou Dynasty

developed confucianism

Duke of Zhou

-often idealized as a glorious period in Chinese history

-emphasis on ritual morality

Qin Dynasty

Great Wall of China

Han Dynasty

Buddhism arrives in China