WR Ch. 7,8,9,10 - Confucianism, Taoism, Zen, Shinto

Filial Piety

The respect one owe's towards one's superiors - like a son to a father - if people act with this, society will be in right order

Rectification of Names

Each person in society should act with the dignity of their position - ex. - emperor, government counselor, etc.

Li

Virtue of propriety - behaving properly, even when performing mundane tasks, carries the significance of sacred ritual

Jen

Supreme virtue in Confucianism - goodness, benevolence, love, human-heartedness; but you should treat your enemies with JUSTICE

Shu

The law of reciprocity - negative counterpart of the Golden Rule - "Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you."

Wen

The cultural arts - Confucius believed that they could make a person more virtuous - ex. - calligraphy, poetry, painting, archery, etc.

Te

In Confucianism, this is the power of a good example, gained by living in harmony with the Tao

Tao (in Confucianism)

The moral order - similar to the Natural Law that all things need to be in accord with to prosper

Chun Tzu

"Superior Man" - the ideal person in Confucianism - someone who is mature, is characterized by virtue and is the ideal host/ hostess

Analects

Collection of sayings of Confucius - collected by his disciples

Mencius

2nd founder of Confucianism - made the point that humans are naturally good, and to do evil they violate human nature

Chu Hsi

Began the Neo-Confucian movement as a response to Taoism + Buddhism - made the determination of what the most important books of Confucianism were

Yin

Power that needs to be held in balance in the universe - feminine, dark, hidden, receptive, contemplative, cool, soft, negative - represented by the earth, the moon, metal, water, the moon

Yang

Power that needs to be held in balance in the universe - masculine, illuminated, evident, active, hot, light, strong, positive - represented by the sun, wood

Tao (in Taoism)

The Way of nature - everything exists in it - unseen force, order and origin of the universe - both transcendent (above us) and immanent (with us)

Chi (qi)

Energy of the Tao that flows through a person - thought to flow through meridians in the body

Jade Emperor

Chief deity in Taoism - not the creator, but an all-powerful administrator and keeps records of people's good deeds

Guardian of the Tao + Kitchen God

Taoist deities that embody virtue, wisdom, and compassion - reincarnations of heavenly lords - report the deeds that people do to the Jade Emperor (one in the world, and one at home)

Philosophical Taoism

Focuses on the idea that humanity is interconnected in a web of interacting natural forces, and in cultivating one's connection with the Tao

Religious/ Popular Taoism

Comes from Chinese folk religion - practices to strive for physical longevity or immortality - such practices as medicine, herbs, minerals, etc.

Lao Tzu

"Old Master" - founder of Taoism + author of the Tao Te Ching - "the Book of the Way and its Power" - very paradoxical

Chuang Tzu

His eponymous book focused on the relativity of things - one example is the Butterfly Dream

Sage

The person who lives in accordance with the Tao, and therefore reaches spiritual perfection - is able to transcend self-interests

Alchemy

In Taoism, turning ordinary things into extraordinary - trying to gain vital health

Feng Shui

Taoist practice of balancing yin and yang energies in one's environment, especially in one's home

Acupuncture

Practice originating in Taoism in which there is an attempt to balance spiritual forces in one's body by placing needles at specific points in the skin and heating them to release toxic energy

Tai Chi

Practice based in Taoism which a person moves his/ her body so that spiritual energies can be balanced

Zuowang

"Sitting and forgetting" - Taoist practice of meditation so that one can get in touch with the Tao

Wu-wei

Chief virtue of Taoism - doing nothing unnatural, "going with the flow" - action is achieved without acting - manifested in non-competition, humility, etc.

Simplicity

Virtue in Taoism where a person can live in this manner in order to achieve peace + justice in society

Naturalism

Resisting the temptation to meddle with nature

Naturalness

Behaving as nature dictates, not as social pressure or personal pride demand

Shinto

"Way of the Kami" - from Shin + Tao - native religion of Japan that goes back to prehistoric times

Kami

Nature spirits that are thought to be gods and goddesses in Shinto - could be human emperors, animals, natural phenomena, etc. - could exist in anything that inspires awe

Amaterasu

Sun goddess from the creation myth of Japan - the emperor was believed to descend from her

Middle Present

Shinto belief that the present moment is the very center of all conceivable times - Shintoists should live fully each moment of life

Makoto

Principle of a sincerity of heart - the pure or truthful way in Shinto - connection to the Natural Law - Shintoists believe that if they are devoted to the kami, they will be granted this

Torii

Archway that marks the entrance to the sacred space of a Shinto shrine

Kamidana

"Shelf of the Gods" - small altar for home worship in Shinto - holds the names of deceased ancestors + statues of favorite deities

Rinzai

Zen school of "Sudden Awakening" - smaller school founded by Myoan Eisai - mixed w/ samurai beliefs - popularized by D.T. Suzuki in the West

Soto

Zen school of "Gradual Awakening" - larger school founded by Dogen - set up the first Zen monastery in Japan

Dokusan/ Sanzen

Meeting between a master and student in Zen where a student offers the solution to a koan

Koan

A succinct paradoxical statement or question used as a meditation discipline for novices, particularly in the Rinzai sect

Satori

"Sudden Enlightenment" - seeing one's true nature in Zen - an experience of nirvana

Zazen

Seated meditation in Zen - practicing enlightenment - meant to clear the mind so that a person can be fully present in the moment

Sutra

Sermon of the Buddha - used in Zen to enhance meditation

Zendo

Meditation hall in Zen - in Soto centers, those who meditate face the walls, and in Rinzai, they face the center

Roshi

A master in Zen who is competent to teach others and lead them in meditation

Hondo

Main hall of the Zen temple, where ceremonies take place

Hojo

In Zen, the abbot's residence, where Zen gardens are typically found

Enso

Symbol of Zen - painted circle which symbolizes absolute enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and the void

Mu

"Nothing" - symbol of Zen - symbolizes the empty mind

Mushin

"No mind" - principle of non-attachment or the immovable mind - to clear one's mind so that they can act with clarity

Bushido

Samurai code of honor that embodies principles from Shinto, Zen, and Confucianism

Dhyana

Sanskrit word that later became Chan in Chinese, and Zen in Japanese - "meditation"

Chan

Chinese word from the Sanskrit word "dhyana" which later became Zen in Japanese - "meditation"

Haiku

Simple poetry which is influenced by Zen

Sumie

Simple black ink painting - an example of Zen's influence on the visual arts

D.T. Suzuki

Rinzai Zen practitioner from the 20th century - popularized Zen in the West, and met with the Christian monk Thomas Merton