Chinese Notes 2

Scriptures

  • None per se

  • not from a deity

  • Confucious classics

    • history

    • poetry

    • divination manual

    • records of the state of Lu

    • works on principles of Li

  • four books

    • Analects

    • The Great Learning

    • Doctrine of the Mean- ideas philosophical 

    • Book of Meng-Zu- 

  • Tao-te Ching

    • scripture of Taoism 

    • the Tao simply is

      • nature of things

      • all that flows from the Tao returns to it

      • Wo-Wei- actions without action 

      • all are called to live a life of simplicity in harmony with Lao


Beliefs and Practices


  • Lao-Tzu/ Confucius may have been contemporaries 

  • Confucius- virtuous life

  • Lao-Tzu- way life is 

  • all about human nature, society, sovereignty, Heaven, Universe 


Confucianism 

  • Heaven-Tein

  • other deities 

  • transcendent- strive for perfection 

  • perfect in relation to others

  • Chun-tzu- achieved perfection

  • Jen- don’t be petty, arrogant, mean, vengeful 

    • humanity, heart, benevolence flows into life

  • Confucius would teach anyone intelligent enough to learn 

  • Li- proper why to courtesy, etiquette, formality, respect 

    • 5 Relationships

      • Emperor/subject

        • call subjects to live a virtuous life

      • Father/son

        • model to the son and life a virtuous life, respect his dad and pay respects to ancestors after his parents die

      • husband/wife

        • husband serves head of household, serve household, wife bears sons and obeys husbands

      • elder/younger brother

        • Elder brother is an example, both respect each other, younger brother respects older brother, older brother has responsible of the ancestor rituals 

      • friend/friend

        • Both respect each other, junior friend adheres to elder friend


Taoism

  • Flow

  • harmony with all creation 

  • Tao

    • acts through We-Wei

      • emotion of a painting in a gallery

      • government leader who purifies himself to purify society

  • Goal

    • immortality

    • physical 

    • union with Tao

    • broad central 

    • good hygiene

    • elifers (potions)

    • meditation

    • proper rituals

    • refrain from grain and meat

    • life is a balance of yin and yang

  • Pantheon

    • celebrations

    • costume

    • Complex ritual

    • temples

  • Hsien

    • immortal 


Sacred Time 

-Luner calender-354 days 

-name the years by combining one of the 10 celestials with branches-names repeat every 60 years

-chineses new year 

-kiean

-ching min (ancestor day)

-tin ho

-twin ng 

-dragon boat festival 

-mid autumn festival 

LIfe Cycle 

-boy preferred- boy caries on the name0 takes care of the parents- and deals with the ancestors 

-mother rests for one month after the child is born 

-end of the month there is a party 

-come of age have chicken 

-marriage six stages

-death-body is washed and put in the coffin-signifiact. Piece were put in their coffins to help them transition 

-willow branches sign of honor 



Sacred places

-most destroyed and turned into government buildings 

-temples

-state temple- empire would sacrifice to the high god on behalf of the people 

-home shrine to ancestors 

-ancestor grave site are important because the world of the dead mirror the world of the living