RELG 1040 Confucianism and Daoism

The Three Teachings (sanjiao)

Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism; the fundamental pillars of Chinese society; beliefs often overlapped

li

rituals, social interactions, relationships with the people around us

Self-Cultivation

process of personal development focused on enhancing and changing one's moral character and social behavior to achieve a harmonious and virtuous life through li

junzi

“gentleman” ; a person of exemplary or authoritative behavior ; originally meant people with high birth, but Confucius said anyone could become one

ren

goodness, benevolence, humaneness ; arises from interaction between people

filial piety

emphasizes respecting and caring for one's parents and elders

Qingming

: festival for burying; family comes together from all over; takes place in the spring annually; “tomb sweeping festival” ; eat food like thanksgiving

Dao

the Way ; the moral order of the cosmos and the sense of path taken by the followers

wuwei

“non-action” ; acting without intention or self-interest;

Ziran

“thus and so of itself” ; spontaneity and naturalness ; referring to the natural state of things, the natural order of the universe, and the spontaneous unfolding of events

alchemy

the pursuit of immortality and a long, healthy life is a central focus ; external – focused on. Creating a pill or elixir that would grant immortality ; internal – practices of meditation and balance of qi would grand immortality

qi

energy, vital energy, breath ; humans goal is to keep it flowing through body ; stress and other things block it

yin-yang

encompases harmony of opposed principles ; everything in the universe corresponds with yin and yang

The Cultural Revolution

Confucians, Buddhists, and daoists were attacked; religious symbols were destroyed ; goal was to preserve Chinese socialism by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society

No, he saw himself as a transmitter and not a creator, and as a believer in and lover of antiquity

Did Confucius see himself as the founder of Confucianism?

Arguments against labeling confucianism as a religion

• Confucianism is a belief system that includes ethical, political, and philisophical teachings, rather than religious

• Confucius was agnostic towards the afterlife, and there is no specific doctrine of gods, spirits, or the afterlife

Arguments for labeling confucianism as a religion

• Refers to “heaven” in the Analects as a source of moral authority

• IN Finagarette’s essay, he thinks Confucius thought secular practices to be sacred, especially social interactions and rituals

Purpose of life for Confucians

to become a junzi, or a gentleman

Purpose of life for Daoists

to become a sage or immortal

Five Relationships of Confucianism

Child —> Parents

Younger Sibling —> Older Sibling

Wife —> Husband

Subject —> Ruler

Friend —> Friend

important to follow as they promote the ideals of hierarchy, harmony, and respect

How to become a junzi according to Confucianism

studying and practicing li

annually in the spring by bringing together the family and sweeping the tombs, presenting offeringgs, and eating a meal with the entire family to recognize your ancestors

When and how is Qingmming celebrated

Shows respect to your elders, even after their death

How does Qingming embody Confucian values

external alchemy

focused on creating a pill or elixir that would grant immortality

internal alchemy

practices of mediation and balance of qi to grand immortality.

Practicing both Confucianism and Daoism

Confucianism provides a basic ethical framework and emphasizes self-cultivation through rituals, social interactions, and respect within our relationships through the practice of li.

While Daoism gives teachings about the nature of the universe and reality, and how to act in accordance with the natural flow of the universe.

the arts including paintings, sculptures, and architecture, and the promise of enlightenment in this life

Why were people in China attracted to Buddhism

interpreted Buddhist’s monks ascetic withdrawal from society as a shrinking of responsibility

argued Buddhism lacked authority because it had not originated in Chinese Antiquity

Why were Confucians sometimes critical of Buddhism?

The Great Learning

a short Confucian text that outlines a path to personal and social transformation. It emphasizes the importance of self-cultivation, knowledge, and moral character as the foundation for a well-ordered society.

The Analects

: It teaches how to live a moral life through respect, learning, and proper behavior

Mencius

Teaches that human nature is inherently good and emphasized the importance of cultivating moral virtue through self-reflection and education

Xunzi

teaches that human nature is inherently bad, and that goodness is a learned behavior that benefits individuals. compares people to crooked wood, needing steaming and straightening to become “straight,” or good. He also mentions the necessity of teachers, stating, “Now since people’s nature is bad, they must await teachers and proper models, and only then do they become correct in their behavior.”

Fingarette’s Essay

It’s about how rituals create harmony and make ordinary actions feel sacred. Focuses on ritual (li) and its relationship to the development of a moral society.

Daodejing

explains “wu-wei” which translates to non-action or going with the natural flow of the universe, and explains how the dao is in everything like water

The Zhuangzi

uses the story of the Ox to show trained spontaneity, or letting things be how they are, and to cultivate ourselves through non-action

ren

means goodness, benevolence, and humaneness.

yin-yang

It symbolizes harmony of opposed principles, and that everything in the universe corresponds and flows within Yin and Yang.

the Dao is the moral order of the cosmos

What do Confucians believe about the Way?

the Dao is the mysterious source of the cosmos

What do Daoists believe about the Way?

self-cultivation can be achieved through rituals and li

What do Confucians believe about self-cultivation and trained spontaneity?

self-cultivation can be achieved through wu-wei and non-action

What do Daoists believe about self-cultivation and trained spontaneity?

achieving social harmony

Confucian ideals

achieving harmony with nature

Daoist ideals

combines the words Chinese characters for “person” and two, suggesting that it arises from interaction between people, and that we can cultivate ourselves with other people.

etymology for ren

harmony of opposed principles, and that everything in the unverse corresponds and flows within Yin and Yang

symbolizing of yin-yang

goodness, benevolence, humaneness

ren