Eastern Religions Exam

eastern religions

axial age between 5th and 6th century BC
far east- you look outward to the cosmos around you to discover reality

chinese religions

not a religion of either or- they are a religion of and
shame and honor

daoism

is a philosophy - way of life
- nature, mysticism, harmony

confucianism

is a moral ethic - how you live it out
the life of morality and social ethics

daoism founder

Lao-tzu

confucian founder

confucius

daoism texts

doedejing

dao de jing

split in two parts: first one deals with the Dao (Way), second deals
with De (Power)

The Daoist Cannon "Daozang"

three sections broken down into twelve section
contains scriptures, commentaries, hagiographies, cultivation manuals, and liturgies

confucian texts

analects of confucius

in eastern religions, there is always a struggle between doing what is right and staying loyal to someone

true

Ch’i force

life force behind everything (harnessed through meditative techniques and martial)

Sheng

noble sage who contemplates on nature to arrive at original state of oneness

yin yang

harmonious interaction between opposing universal forces- symbols of faith
represents balance. Darkness (yin) and light (yang). You need both

Analects

Collection of conversations between Confucius and others
- You have to do what is right (Yi), to become right in your character (Li), which gives you wren (quality of goodness, character) to become a Junzi (goal)

beginning of daoism

original indigenous religion of china
began around 400 BC

daoism was founded by

Lao Tzu but zhuangzi played a role

Lao Tzu

born as an old man, highly respected. some believe that when he died, his body changed and formed parts of the earth

Three pure ones

jade pure, upper pure, great pure
They are regarded as pure manifestation of the Tao and the origin of all sentient beings.

daoism has a big _____ influence

buddhist

general daoism beliefs

emphasize a contemplative lifestyle/renunciation of social
conventions/government in order to achieve a fusion with the Dao

- great respect for the natural world/nature
- belief in spirits of nature
- belief in the three jewels: moderation, compassion, and humility
- belief in the Dao rather than god, heaven, or hell

religious daoism

- older magical and ritual-based traditions
- characterized by alchemy
- belief in pantheon of immortal sages
- search for bodily immortality

philosophical daoism

- form of nature mysticism
- Daoist ideal – sage who contemplates nature to return to an original state of harmony with the mysterious principles (The Dao)

the dao

explained as the mystery of mysteries
- source of all things created and uncreated
- similar to a god, but is not a being with form or body
- is the "creator" of all things but is also manifested in all things
- cannot be easily understood or explained
- reaching oneness with the Dao is how you achieve ultimate immortality

Wu-wei

“non-action,” more like going with the flow

dao rituals

meditation - creates a way to become one with the Dao
tai chi
feng shui

confucianism was not popular during the life of confucius

true

founded by confucius in ____

500 BC but nearly died out during the Qin Dynasty (~210 BC)

Emperor Wu the Great established it as the national philosophy

true

master kong is also known as

confucius

master kong

Born in 551 BC into the shi class (administrators, advisors, etc)
- helped provide for his family at a young age
- held positions in the local governments
- gained a following as he travelled
- teachings were shaped by his experiences
- desired to bring China into another golden age by returning to ethical behavior

confucianism core values

devotion to family (respect toward parents, older family members)
education and Learning (life-long process)

Junzi

– goal of Confucianism
- culture individual who is revered for moral influence

junzi prioritizes...

personal qualities and achievements rather than social status
- embodies the 5 virtues, adheres to the 5 relationships, etc.

Shu and Confucius’s Golden Rule

reciprocity

“Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself.”

mandate of heaven

did not originate from Confucianism, but is supported by its principles
- belief that the ruler was divinely chosen by the Heavens (Tian)
- ruler has absolute power but absolute responsibility
- can be lost, leading to changes in dynasties

five relationships in confucianism

ruler and subject
father and son
husband and wife
older sibling and younger sibling
older friend and younger friend

Ren

benevolence

yi

righteousness, your character

li

propriety, ritual
**what you do in terms of ritual (Li comes out of Yi)

Zhi

wisdom, knowledge

Xin

trustworthiness, integrity

wren

quality of being good

divination

Practice seeking knowledge of future engaging with the spirit world

shaman

Person posses able to engage with the world of spirit and bring healing

taboo

A social custom prohibiting to talk about a person or substance

evil eye

Curses are brought about by such a malevolent glance that can cause injury

confucian traditions

bowing is respect
ancestor worship
formal mourning period
capping and hair pinning (entry to adulthood)
marriage ceremony

Mencius and Idealistic Confucianism

- emphasized that rulers should be benevolent to their subjects
- belief that humans are naturally good

Xunzi and Realistic Confucianism

- emphasized education and tradition
- belief that humans are naturally selfish

Zhu Xi and Neo-Confucianism

- combined ideas from traditional Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism
- belief that all humans have qi that must be cultivated
- used meditation as a means of achieving moral perfection

daoism and confucianism festivals

Chinese New Year – late January/early February
Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) – April 4th or 5th
Dragon Boat Festival – late May/June
Mid-Autumn Festival – mid-September/early October

japanese shinto founder

none, established in 6 AD

shinto

the way of the spirits
- animstic faith. principles of buddhism and confucianism integrated (buddha as kami, confucian moral principles)

shinto god

kami

kami

general term for the entire range of divine beings that inhabit the world

primary kami

amarterasu, the sun goddess

kojiki

provides basic shinto mythology
record of ancient matters AD 620, story of kami

torii

A magical gateway arch to the shinto shrine or holy powerful space

misogi

Water purification ritual to cleanse evil used ceremonially in groups

miko

Female shinto worship leader as a medium assisting the shine priest

Nihongi

chronicles of japan AD 720, more comprehensive record of nations history

After death, they are kami

true

Yata no Kagami

representative of wisdom (mirror)

Kusanagi

valor (nail)

Yasakani no magatama

benevolence (beads)

Tomow

earth, man, and sky

Shide

acts as a boundary to the sacred

susanoo

The god of the storms, brother to eh sun goddess exiled for misdeeds

izanagi

This father god stirs waters with radial spear creates land of Japan

motoori norinaga

Scholar reached shinto spirits, rejected other faiths to affirm the Kolki

analects are like proverbs

true

shrine categories

Imperial - created during the state shinto period
Inari - created for the kami of rice
Hachiman - created for the kami of war
Tenjin - created for the kami sugawara michizane
Engen - created for the kami of mount fuji

izumo

annual collection of the kami at the yaisha shrine (relationship/marriage)

ise

celebration of the amatesau, the sun goddess

for festivals, kami is...

carried to the location of the festival on sacred vehicles called mokoshi

japanese culture

endurance/stamina, omiyari (think of others), know role in society, respect based on role

sickness = impurity

true

shinto are spiritual, not religious

true
- not as many strict rules, no hierarchy- see each other as equals.
- peace between religions.
- emphasis on tradition and rules.

challenges of faith

no absolute guidelines for faith, not a confirmed afterlife, death has a negative connotation.

highest virtue in chinese religions

nobility

who are the 3 noble sages?

Siddhartha Gautama (buddha seated in lotus position)
Confucius (prim and proper/ people can be redeemed by knowledge)
Lao Tzu (old master or old man/daodijing)

buddhism can _____ the culture and context it is in

adapt

counfcius analects and because of it he is made god

true

golden rule

kunfutzu - treat others the way you want to be treated

Japan is known as the

land of the rising sun

neo-confucianism

buddha and daoism

the japanese do not separate _______

material from the spiritual

big picture in shinto religion

nationalism, power, pollution and purity (you can resist a power but you can only grieve person)

big picture in confucianism

life philosophy and practical social ethics

big picture in christianity

faith that works (divine grace)

big picture in doaism

cosmic beauty and harmony with nature

big picture in buddhism

life is transitory and enlightenment bliss

dao is not a path

true, it is impersonal

logos =

personal

confucisnism boat festivals

Rice cakes eaten, and dragons made to war off evil spirits

shinto haraigushi

Wade with White paper waves or placed for purification. Protection

daoisms' taiji

Slow flow of martial arts movement beyond self-defense that

buddhist oobon

Funeral Dance for the dead, offering prayers at their graves

dao salvation

Becoming one with nature's mystical path and its spontaneous power