Overview of Chinese Religions: Daoism and Confucianism

Daoism

Religion of the natural Way, refers to diverse but related Chinese traditions that have shaped Asia for more than two thousand years and have had an influence on the western world since the nineteenth century.

Confucianism

Western term, religion based on reforms by Confucius.

Daoism Population

8 million.

Confucianism Population

6 million.

Combined Population

300 million.

Oracle Bones

Animal bones inscribed with writing used to foretell the future and maintain good connections with ancestral spirits and nature spirits.

Yin

What is feminine.

Yang

What is masculine.

Jing

'Classics,' books that have scriptural standing.

Yi Jing

Classic of Changes also spelled I Ching; a diviner's manual, earliest of the Chinese classical books.

Laozi

Founder of Daoism, whose name means 'Old Master.'

Martial Arts

Products that came from monastic orders originally a meditational technique, including judo, karate, ju-jitsu, taekwondo.

Feng Shui

A practice that began during the Shang dynasty, applied to furniture layout and decorative items.

Taiji

Another name for the most common symbol of Chinese religion, also known as 'Great Ultimate.'

Cultural Revolution Impact on Daoism

After the Communist takeover of China in 1949, Daoism was banned and most temples and monasteries were closed.

Daoist Monasteries Period

From 200 CE to 1664 CE, many monasteries were built.

Manchurians' Impact on Daoism

Greatly reduced the political and cultural power of Daoism from 1644 to 1980.

Great Wall of China

One of the world's most visited tourist attractions.

Terracotta Army

Another one of the world's most visited tourist attractions.

Mencius

A wandering advisor who helped keep Confucianism alive and recognized it as a state religion.

Neo-Confucianism

A revival of Confucian thought starting in the 12th century that incorporates Daoist and Buddhist ideas.

Dao

Cosmic Way of life.

De

Virtue, morality that may be confusing.

Qi

Cosmic energy that enables beings to live and links them to the universe as a whole, the basic material of all that exists.

Tian

'Heaven,' an impersonal cosmic force that guides events on earth and a cosmic principle that distinguishes right from wrong.

Wu wei

'Not asserting,' going along with the nature of the world.

Jade Emperor

The supreme deity in Daoism, also known as Yu Huang.

Earth God

A deity with 1000s of incarnated spirits that looks after plots of land and the people residing on them.

Mazu

The most highly venerated female Daoist deity.

City Gods

Deities worshiped in select locales to protect people from being dragged into the underworld by evil ghosts.

Lords of Pestilence

Deities that protect people from evil spirits and epidemics.

Tai qi

A practice related to the flow of qi, often depicted in traditional Chinese medicine.

Immortal

A person whose spirit lives forever in a wonderful paradise after following the Daoist Quest for Immortality.

Daode Jing

The basis of Daoist ethics that teaches one must follow the way of the Dao to live a good life.

Confucius

A philosopher who believed that people are basically good and will follow the truth when they know it.

Respect for advanced age

A value emphasized in both Daoist and Confucian ethics.

Cosmic reality

The concept that the Dao is not a thing, being, or substance, but gives rise to all being.

Impersonal force of Tian

Refers to an order or principle that transcends the world and is deeply embedded in it.

Traditional Chinese medicines

Practices that help with the proper flow of qi.

Acupuncture

A method used in traditional Chinese medicine to promote the smooth flow of qi.

filial piety

Honor and obedience to parents and ancestors.

xiao

The concept of filial piety in Confucian ethics.

Five Relationships

Central relationships in Confucian ethics: ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger brother, older and younger friend.

ren

Reciprocity, translated as 'humaneness, virtue', emphasizing humane treatment by the powerful towards the less powerful.

Golden Rule

The principle of treating others as one wants to be treated, similar to Confucius' teaching.

Loyalty

A key Confucian ethic emphasizing fidelity and allegiance.

the perfect man

An ideal in Confucian ethics representing moral integrity and virtue.

Daoist temples

Temples that are colorful and elaborate, honoring statues of gods.

Reds

Color seen as bringing blessing and good luck in Daoist temples.

Confucian temples

Temples built to honor Confucius' teachings rather than Confucius himself.

Life-cycle rituals

Cultural practices surrounding significant life events, with marriage as a social arrangement and funerals as significant.

Cremation

Considered unthinkable for Daoists and Confucianists as it destroys the qi that remains in the bones of the dead.

traditional Chinese funeral

A cultural practice reflecting beliefs about life, death, and the afterlife.

mourning and crying

Important practices for the deceased, seen as signs of respect and loyalty.

symbolic paper money

Burned to provide the deceased with income in the afterlife.

chanting by monks

Important for easing the passage of the deceased's soul into a happy afterlife.

cemeteries on hillsides

Chosen for the best feng shui.

mourner's clothes

Burned to avoid bad fortune associated with death.

period of mourning

Lasts for 100 days.

Confucius Institutes

More than 100 institutes established by the People's Republic of China since 1990 to enhance understanding of Chinese culture and language.

Immigration Act of 1965

Legislation that increased Chinese immigration to North America, leading to the revival of Daoist temples and the establishment of 'healing Tao' centers.

Number of Daoists in North America

8 million.

Number of Confucianists in North America

6 million.

Common symbol for Daoism and Confucianism

Yin and yang.

Traditional founder of Daoism

Many historians conclude there is no direct, dependable evidence that he ever existed.

qi in health

Every living person has a normal, healthy amount of qi, and personal health results from its balance, harmony, and smooth flow.

Daoist views of immortality

According to Daoism, after death, the spirit lives forever in a wonderful paradise, and the person is said to be an immortal.

Daoist ethics

Based on the Daode Jing, which teaches that one must follow the way of the Dao to live a good life.

Key moral teaching of Confucius

'Ren', summarized as 'What you don't want done to yourself, don't do to others'.

Confucianism as philosophy or religion

There is discussion about whether Confucianism is a philosophy or a religion.

Largest family cemetery of Confucius

The oldest still in operation where more than 100,000 of Confucius' descendants are buried.

Cultural heritage of Confucianism and Daoism

Both religions have a cultural heritage of honoring the elderly.

The good life

Depends entirely upon cultivating moral character and fulfilling one's roles and responsibilities within relationships and society.

Moral law

Referred to as Tao.

Truly moral people

Live as noble persons.

Five duties of universal obligation

Parent and child, Ruler and Subject, Husband and Wife, Elder and Younger Brother, older and younger friend.

Three universally recognized moral qualities

Wisdom, compassion, and courage.

Confucius' golden rule

Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.

Master's Way

The single thread that was loyalty and compassion.

Noble person

Referred to as junzi, characterized by virtue, respect, sincerity, self-discipline, fulfilling social and moral duties, leading by example, and seeking harmony.

Small person

The opposite of the noble person, lacking the qualities of virtue and moral responsibility.

Yin-yang

Symbol of opposing cosmic forces such as passivity and activity, and darkness and light

Daozang

Daoist canon

Heaven

Impersonal cosmic force working for the continuation and enrichment of life

Mandate of Heaven

Right to rule as king emperor, given by Heaven by means of order and prosperity in the land

Neo-Daoism

Rebirth and reform of Daoism after the Han dynasty

Junzi

Literally, "a prince's son"; in the teaching of Confucius, a "superior man"

Zhong

Loyalty, duties to friends and family

Sikhism

A religion with roughly 2.5 million followers in 2010, primarily ethnic Punjabis in NW India, considered the 5th largest worldwide.

Founding Period of Sikhism

Founded between 1500 and 1700 CE, influenced by mystical, devotional movements in Hinduism and Islam.

Roots of Sikhism

Initially pacifist, Sikhism shifted to militancy for self-defense, symbolized by the dominance of swords.

Sikh

Means disciple or student, reflecting the religion's foundation by a line of gurus or teachers.

Guru Nanak

The founder of Sikhism, considered the first guru.

10th Guru's Contribution

Introduced the five Ks, which are essential articles of faith for Sikhs.

Guru Granth

The sacred scripture of Sikhism, believed to house the souls of the ten gurus.

Sikh Symbol

Unique among world religions for its military features.

Nanak's Teachings

Promoted universal love and tolerance, emphasizing similarities between religions and the importance of devotion to God.

4th Sikh Guru's City

Founded Amritsar, the center of Sikhism, and built Darbar Sahib (Sacred Court) and Harmandir Sahib (House of God) there.

Khalsa

A select society formed by the 10th guru in 1699, consisting of soldier-saints.

1984 Assassination of Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in response to Sikh persecution.