RELG 1040: Cofucianism & Daoism

Sanjiao

- the Three Teachings: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism

> often practiced simultaneously

Li

- ritual, propriety, ritual propriety

> the day-to-day acts of good etiquette that were thought to shape your character

Self-cutlivation

- involves self-betterment for the sake of becoming a junzi, which occurs through learning and performing li

- crucial to create a safe and harmonious society

- book of Rites = li

- Daoism = focus is on nature through wuwei

Junzi

- gentlemen / superior moral person in Confucianism

- can become one regardless of birth

- become one by practicing li

- operate through trained spontaneity

Ren

- goodness, benevolence

> cultivating proper attitudes and virtue

> emphasize relationships between 2 human beings

> guides the 5 hierarchical relationships

Filial piety

- respect shown by children for their parents, elders, and ancestors

Qingming

- the Chinese tomb-sweeping festival important in the tradition of ancestor veneration

> offer food and incense

> pure and bright festival

Dao

- the Way

> Confucianism = the moral order of the cosmos, follow it by practicing li and cultivating ren

> Daoism = the "transcendent way," a life force that pervades all nature

Wuwei

- non-action; the Daoist way of self-cultivation

- analogy to water

Ziran

- naturalness, spontaneity

> the state of being as you are, everything you need to do comes easily and naturally

> zi = by/of itself, ran = so, thus... being thus of itself

Alchemy

- internal alchemy = manipulating one's qi to become immortal and live longer

> tai chi, kung fu

- external alchemy = medical, chemical remedy to increase long life and health

Qi

- energy, vital energy, breath

> always leaking qi unless you fully obtain harmony and can act with the dao without expending qi = then you will become immortal

> proceeds from the dao

Yin-yang

- the symbol of the harmony the way provides; yield to each other (cyclic)

- these two forces are responsible for every natural phenomenon in the universe

> Yin = dark, passive, feminine

> Yang = light, active, masculine

The Cultural Revolution

- movement by the Communist Party in China that involved massive amounts of religious persecution,

> targeted temples and shrines of all traditions: Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism

> Mao, images burned, monks murdered

> 1966 - 1976 = know

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

For:

- Confucianism has ritualistic practices, such as ancestor veneration

- "Heaven" is a source of moral authority

- the secular is the sacred

Against:

- Confucianism only addresses ethical / political philosophy (no theology)

- There is no explicit doctrine of gods, spirits, or afterlife

- It can be combined with Buddhism, Daoism

Did Confucius see himself as the founder of Confucianism?

- Confucius did not see himself as the founder

- Rather, he saw himself as the "transmitter" of past knowledge and teachings

- He believed in studying the past (old ways of sages) in order to better understand the present

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

Confucian:

- purpose in life is to become a junzi (gentleman) and self-cultivate themself by practicing li

Daoist:

- purpose in life is to become immortal or a sage by practicing self-cultivation through wuwei

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

1) child --> parents

2) younger sibling --> older sibling

3) wife --> husband

4) subject --> ruler

5) friend --> friend

- They are important because they emphasize the ideals of hierarchy, harmony, respect

- essential for a stable society

- filial piety, guided by ren

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

- cultivate ren throughout one's entire life

- practice li and self-cultivation

> high ceremonies and everyday etiquette, focus on the little things, be kind to others

- have exceptional virtue and character, correct human relationships

When and how is Qingming celebrated? How does it embody Confucian values?

- It is celebrating by gathering the whole family to go to ancestors' tombs

- Clean the graves and lay flowers and give offerings and perform songs (ancestor veneration and filial piety)

- It embodies Confucian values because it remembers one's ancestors through veneration and respect to parents even after death (filial)

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

- Practicing alchemy means to transfer human beings into an immortal body

> internal = meditation to circulate one's qi, tai chi

> external = medication, elixir

- have qi regulated so it will not leak

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

- They do not directly contradict each other

> Confucianism = foced on external, moral practices and ethical framework

> Daoism = focused on internal, spiritual practices (circulating qi)

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

- its art (paintings and sculptures)

- the promise of enlightenment / better chance at happiness

- attracted to the idea of a religious community separate from the family and clan

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

- leaving the family to become a monk = abandoning filial piety and ancestor veneration

- producing no offspring was unfilial

- shaving one's head = gross disrespect (harming one's body that was given)

Be prepared to write a short essay (2 paragraphs)comparing Confucianism and Daoism. Begin by identifying the two images below and explaining their significance. For the image on the left, you should know the meaning of the character, its (folk) etymology, the tradition with which it is associated (i.e., Confucianism or Daoism), and why it is important. For the image on the right, you should know the name of the image, the tradition with which it is chiefly associated, and why it is important.

- The symbol on the left is the character for "ren," which means goodness / benevolence. The first horizontal line is "one" and the second is "two" (all together 2). A relationship between two people. The diagonal line with the vertical line represents a person / man. This symbol is associated with Confucianism. It is important because it reminds us to cultivate ren by working and interacting with others to become a junzi nd being altruistic.

- The image on the right is the yin-yang, which is associated with Daoism. It is important because it represents harmony through the two opposing forces which are responsible for all occurrences in the universe. Everything in the cosmos is a balance of yin and yang. Daoists. Yin = dark, passive, feminine. Yang = light, active, masculine.

Then, briefly compare the two traditions, considering similarities as well as differences.

- Both Confucianism and Daoism contain dao (the way). In Confucianism, dao is the moral order of the cosmos, but in Daoism, it is the transcendent and mysterious source that pervades all. Both have self-culivation, (Confucianism through li, Daoism through wuwei). Confucianists want to become a junzi, while Daoists want to be immortal or a sage. Confucianism seeks harmony thought social order, while Daoism does so through nature.