Part 8: Culture and religion in the East

History Midterm

**Kongzi**

6th to 5th century BC

Confucius, founder of Confucianism

**Analects**

collection of Confucian texts

**Ren**

major Confucian principle translated as humanness

**li**

major Confucian principle translated as courtesy

**Xiao**

major Confucian principle translated as respect for family and ancestors

**Mencius and Xunzi**

disciples of Confucius

**Laozi**

**(6th c. BC)**

mythical founder of Daoism

**Daodejing**

short poetic volume written by Laozi containing the main Daoist principles

**Yin and Yang**

Chinese concept expressing belief in the unity of opposites

**Rig Veda**

the most important text of Vedic religion of India

**Aryans**

light-skinned people speaking an Indo-European language

**Dasas**

dark-skinned people living in central and southern India and speaking Dravidian languages

**Jati**

 Indian group related by birth (caste)

**Varna**

Indian traditional social system (class)

**Samsara**

Indian belief in reincarnation

**Atman**

immortal essence (soul)

**Ahimsa**

Indian concept of non-violence

**Artha**

the honest pursuit of economic well-being

__**Indian caste system**__

**Brahmin**

**Kshatriya**

**Vaishya**

**Shudra**

**Brahmin**

priests and scholars

**Kshatriya**

warriors and officials

**Vaishya**

merchants, artisans and landowners

**Shudra**

peasants and laborers

**Siddhartha Gautama**

The Buddha (6th to 5th c. BCE)

**dharma**

Indian religious doctrine

**Mahayana Buddhism**

"The Greater Vehicle," the more popular form of Buddhism

**Hinayana Buddhism**

"The Lesser Vehicle," a more demanding and austere version of Buddhism

**Bodhisattvas**

spiritually developed people, Buddhist “saints”, who delayed their entry into nirvana to help other people reach enlightenment.

**Upanishads**

old Vedic texts

Central gods of Hinduism

Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, and Krishna

Epic poems expressing the principles of reformed 

Hinduism

**Ramayana and Mahabharata**