Confucianism/Daoism

(sanjiao)

Buddhism

Confucianism

Daoism

(because they are often practiced together)

Li

Ritual, ritual propriety- also embraces inner attitudes

Also means everyday etiquette (posture, shaking hands)

These little things (li) are how you cultivate yourself

Refers to ritual practice and decorum and is usually translated as "rites'

Self-cultivation:

Comes from li, practice, the little things daily

The book of Rites explains how Li serve ultimate goal of confucianism: careful self cultivation (not for sake of self but for sake of society) to create harmonious society

Confucians believe Self cultivation of correctness in human relationships is crucial to the establishment of a safe, secure and stable society.

Junzi:

A person of exemplary behavior in Confucianism; traditionally translated in english as "gentlemen" implying the virtues of the upper class; a superior person, or one of virtue and exceptional character

Noble person, per superior person→ sage

Becoming a Junzi is the goal, done through li and studying and learning about sages

Junzi operate thru trained spontaneity (analects 2:4)

Ren

Central confucian virtue, Humanness, goodness, benevolence, compassion (all about relationships)

Guides the five types of hierarchical relationships

filial piety:

Respect for your elders, parents, and ancestors

Qingming:

"Pure and bright festival"

Tomb sweeping festival

Kids go to tombs, clean them, leave gifts, and eat meals around ancestors

April 4-6

Dao:

"The way/path" -represents moral order of cosmos

The meaning is embedded in the symbol, that it is the path, the way, or the road that we are supposed to walk

Human beings uniquely have the ability to depart from the way through artifice, or thinking

The Dao conducts the universe without itself having to act at all

Wuwei:

"Not doing" as a way of being in the world; a state of doing nothing but acting without intention of self-interest

An ideal of both Daoists and Confucians, but mostly Daoist

Ziran:

Spontaneity or "self-so-ness"

The state of being thus of itself, or naturalist, spontaneity

The state of being as one naturally is

We are the ones who interfere with being as we naturally are

Zhuangzi believed that artificiality, or thinking and calculating to do what we naturally are not, is the reason we struggle with ziran

Alchemy:

Internal alchemy: manipulating one's chi (inner furnace creates embryo of true/new/immortal self)

Example: tai chi

Can be seen as health practice bc it prolongs health

External alchemy: Medical, chemical remedy to increase long life and health (focus on immortality)

Qi:

Our vital breath, energy; material force

Somehow we need to achieve harmony through controlling our energy

Imbalance of energy needs to be directed properly to achieve its harmony

Yin-yang:

"Yin" and "yang" originally referred to shady and sunny sides of a mountain, but in time they came to be associated with female and male qualities and more broadly, complementary forces in the universe

Some darkness penetrated by light, and vice-versa

These two forces are responsible for every natural phenomenon in the universe

Yin: Death, stillness, female, moon, cold, soft, dark, passive

Yang: Life, movement, male, sun, hot, hard, light, aggressive

The Cultural Revolution:

State-administered Buddhist Association replaces nationalist government in 1950, and in 1966 the government launches the cultural revolution

Fueled by the Marxist notion of religion as an opiate that blunts the masses instinct for justice and hinders advancement toward utopian society, the revolutionaries targeted temples and shrines of all traditions- Daoism, confucianism and buddhism- and persecuted people of fait

What are the arguments for and against labeling Confucianism a "religion"? (Be prepared to give at least two arguments for and two arguments against.)

Against:

It is an ethical/ political/ philosophical teaching rather than a religion

Agnosticism towards afterlife/ transcendent reality (analects)

For:

It discusses the secular as sacred

Makes references to heaven (tian)

Did Confucius see himself as the founder of Confucianism?

No. He was conservative and saw himself as a transmitter of venerable traditions (aka a transmitter/recovered of past ideals).

Did not see himself as a founder because he did not seem himself as an innovator, but a translator of past wisdom

Wanted to conserve the very best of antiquity

Referred to himself as "a transmitter and not a creator, a believer in and lover of antiquity" (Analects 7.1)

How might a Confucian answer the question, "What is my purpose in life?" How might a Daoist answer the same question?

Goal in Confucianism: to reach state of trained spontaneity through self-cultivation

Goal in Daoism: self cultivation through wu-wei (non action)

become a sage

What are the "five relationships" in Confucianism? Why are they important?

1. Child → Parent

-Should be caring for our parents, - should be a top priority

2.Subject → Ruler

3. Younger Sibling → Older Sibling

4. Wife → Husband

5. Friend → Friend

they are hierarchical

Confucians believe Self cultivation of correctness in human relationships is crucial to the establishment of a safe, secure and stable society.

How does one become a superior person (junzi), according to Confucianism?

A junzi is a gentleman/superior person. The opposite of a junzi is a petty person-- someone who is not working on themselves. According to Confucianism, one becomes a superior person (junzi) through 2 ways.

studying/learning

li

How is Qingming celebrated? How does it embody Confucian values?

Literally translates to the "pure" and "bright" festival

More colloquially known as the tomb sweeping festival

On April 4th/5th

Sweep the tombs, present offerings, and eat a meal with the entire family to recognize your ancestors

What does it mean to practice alchemy, in the context of Daoism?

internal= changing qi

external= accupuncture

How is it possible for some people to practice both Confucianism and Daoism?

Confucianism tells us about social aspects of how we should live our lives, provides basic ethical framework

Daoism gives us esoteric teachings that teach us about reality and gives us internal practices to focus our spirituality

Why were people in China attracted to Buddhism? Give two specific reasons. (See the textbook for this one.)

Art (paintings and sculptures) and architecture

Promise of enlightenment, or better chance at happiness in this life

Well-tested, progressive program of precept taking, chanting, meditation

Why were Confucians sometimes critical of Buddhism? Give two specific reasons. (See the textbook.)

Leaving family to become monk = abandoning duties of filial piety and ancestor veneration

Monastic celibacy meant producing no children- to produce no offspring is most unfilial act of all (according to Mencius)