By Erica Davisson Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism  Confucianism=Political ideas and social harmony  Taoism=Health of the human body  Buddhism=Psychology and nature of the mind. Confucianism

Seldom do the Chinese cease to be Confucians. Self-cultivation=social harmony Confucius was a social philosopher who lived around 500 B.C. and lived in Qufu. He developed concepts about education, society, and government that he hoped to put into practice in a political career. At 56, he left the country, as his superiors were uninterested in his policies. His reputation as a man of vision spread . Confucianism  Confucius taught his philosophy to others in the Apricot Terrace.  In many of his temples, modesty was emphasized.  Confucius taught that everyone must assume their rightful place in society according to their particular ability. An examination was developed for civil service recruitment during the Han Dynasty (206B.C.-220 A.D.)  Abolished in 1905, Imperial Examination System

 The basis of social status  The texts studied were the Confucian classics  The Emperor received those men who scored the highest. He identified individuals who would either immediately or eventually serve in high-power positions (grand councilors, provincial governors).  Cheating was often an issue, and it resulted in serious consequences; if you were caught.  Some examinees used hired substitutes to take the exams for them.  Severe punishments=being caned, being placed in stocks, and even execution.  Prison-like exam compounds were built with armed guards, thorny bushes around the outer walls, and watchtowers. Confucianism Teachings  The Golden Rule arises in Confucianism: What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.  It opposes war and enforcement of too many laws.  Parent -child relationships (filial piety) and respecting elders is emphasized. Quing (Ching) Dynasty (1644-1911)  A new style of government based on the principles of the Legalists was developed.  They believed laws were effective only if punishments were severe.  They also believed in centralized thinking, and were fearful that any non-Legalist ways of thinking could lead to disruption and revolution. So the schools of Confucianism and their books were burned.  Confucianism continues to influence the Chinese family system, and the traditional Chinese respect for authority. Confucian temples have reopened in recent year following the cultural revolution (1966-1976) where religious temples were looted and many artifacts destroyed. Taoism  Taoism promotes the health of the human body and harmony with the natural environment—doing so would bring one genuine happiness. Not living in harmony with nature would bring disease and misery.  Primarily centered in Taiwan.  A 2500 + year-old spiritual practice.  Founded by Lao Tse (630 B.C.-531 B.C.), a contemporary of Confucius. Lao Tse  Keeper of the archives of the imperial court.  Searched for a way to avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted sociey during his lifetime.  At the age of 80, he set out for the western border of China on an ox, toward what is now Tibet. He weas saddened and disillusioned that men were unwilling to follow the path to natural goodness.  He left his teachings, written as the Tao Te Ching (“The Way and Its Power”), and left it to the border guard. It describes the nature of life, the way to peace, and how a ruler should lead his life.  Tao Te Ching opening phrases are the most quoted passages of Chinese philosophy: “The way that can be spoken of is not the timeless way. The names of what can be named are not the timeless name. For the way is the nameless roigin of heaven and earth. And the mother of all things with names.” Taoism Teachings  Lao Tse taught that all straining and striving are vain and counterproductive. One should endeavor to do nothing (wu wei).  Not literally do nothing, but follow the natural forces – to shape the flow of events and not put oneself against the natural order of things.  ‘Doing nothing’ can ‘accomplish everything’ Deities  2 Kinds  1. Formed spontaneously at the beginning of the world  Highest gods of Taoism (Celestial Worthies or )  2. Human beings who have purified themselves of mortal imperfections and become gods (“ascending to the heavens in broad daylight”). The gods  There are Taoist gods for almost every activity and profession—Industry god and Patron of Barbers, for example.  The are popularly worshiped by Daoist sects as well as ordinary people. They are immortal because they ate golden and “long-life” mushrooms, a delicacy.

Longmen Dong ( Gate Grotto) Longmen Mountains near Longxian, Shaanxi. Yin Yang  A well known Taoist symbol representing the balance of opposites in the universe.  The two swirling shapes inside the symbol give the impression of change—the only constant factor.  The Yin and Yang can symbolize any two polarized forces in nature.  Since nothing is purely black or purely white, the symbol includes a small black spot in the white swirl, and a corresponding white spot in the black swirl.  Taoists believe that humans often intervene in nature and upset the balance of Yin and Yang. Taoism v. Confucianism Taoism Confucianism  Has a more individualistic  Concerned with social and mystical character, relations, conduct, and greatly influenced by nature. human society —respecting elders and finding one’s rightful place in society. Taoism  In 440 C.E. (Christian Era), Taoism was adopted as a state religion, but much of the Taoist heritage was destroyed during the next period of warlordism.  After the Communist victory in 1949, Taoism was severely restricted.  A comeback has been made=temples have reopened and are sites of Taoist worship.  Has only regained a small part of its past prominence. Buddhism  Has experienced the biggest and most obvious resurgence.  30 million Chinese formally identify themselves as Buddhists, and people who follow the religion is some less open way is much larger.  Not native to China, but imported from India, which was Buddha’s home 2,000 yrs. ago The Journey to China Sutras (Buddhist scriptures) started arriving in China in the 1 st century along the silk road on a white horse, according to legend. The Han dynasty emperor established the White Horse Temple in Louyang—the starting point of Buddhism in Chna. How it all began…  Siddhartha Gautama, who lived around 500 B.C. (about the same time as Confucius and Lao Tse, was a prince who lived a very sheltered life in India.  When he learned of the suffering going on inside the world, he left the life of luxury to live as a wanderer.  He neared starvation from his life of fasting and self- denial until a woman took him into her home. He came to the realization that to live without harming others or oneself, one must live by the Middle Way.  Middle Way=one eats enough to sustain oneself, but not so much that another is deprived of food.

The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path Wisdom  1. Suffering exists. 1. Right View  2. Desire is the root of suffering.  3. There is a way to rid oneself of 2. Right Intention 3. desire, and consequently, suffering. Right Speech  4. The Eightfold Path is the way out of desire and suffering. Ethical Conduct  The Eightfold Path: A person must 4. Right Action 5. Right have the right view, the right intention, the right speech, the right Livelihood action, the right livelihood, the right effort, the right mindfulness, and the 6. Right Effort right concentration to attain wisdom, Mental Development the right ethical conduct, and mental development. 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration  Life is characterized by suffering which arises from people’s greed, hatred, and delusions.  Buddha gained enlightenment (often called “Enlightened one”), which can be thought to be an insight into the true nature of life and the mind.  Enlightenment liberated Buddha from the delusions and false beliefs that afflict mankind. Thus, in most temples, he sits in tranquil repose, unruffled by the chaotic world.  Most temples in China are Buddhist. Recumbent Buddha--Shanghai  Like Daoism, Buddhism evolved from a system of rather simple and attractive understandings to be an elaborate religion of supernatural beliefs, deities, and practices. This is partly because Buddhism was everywhere mixed into local cultures and religions that had their own gods.  Countering this trend, the Zen school of Buddhism developed in China around the 6 th century. Zen Buddhism  Based its teachings on certain sutras that emphasized that Buddha’s enlightenment came from clearly understanding the true nature of the human mind.  Founder of the Zen school of Buddhism: Bodhidharma  He traveled from India to China by ship around 500 A.D., arriving is what is now Guangzhou.  Famous teaching: “Point directly at the human mind, see it’s true nature, become Buddha.”  Important aspect: meditation  “Mind is Buddha”  Typical example of Zen teachings from Master Huang Bo who said, “All the Buddhas and all beings are just one mind, there isn’t anything else. This mind has no beginning and has never been subject to birth and death. It has no characteristics. It has no shape or form. It is just what has always manifested. Just this mind is Buddha.” Pureland School of Buddhism Pureland School—a type of Buddhism that councils its believers to attain salvation by chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha. According to this sect, Amitabha Buddha awaits his believers in a Western Paradise, or Western heaven, where those who chant his name will be reborn after their death. Amitabha Buddha statues are standing in this pose where he is seen greeting and welcoming his believers into this western paradise. Tantric Buddhism  The traditional religion of Tibet and Mongolia.  Fundamental teachings are the same of those as the historical Buddha and of Zen Buddhism. Maitreya Buddha  The Buddha of the future  Known as the “Laughing Buddha”  He waits in heaven for the moment he is to appear on earth.’  Like Siddartha, he will be a mortal on earth to teach mankind the doctrine.  Widely worshipped in Himalayan regions.  Regardless of the form, all Buddhists believe in reincarnation where everyone is bound to a cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth until they gain enlightenment and can, as they put it, ‘step off the wheel.’  Certain enlightened ones volunteer to ‘stay off the wheel,’ called Bodhisattvas .  In Tibet, the regional form of Buddhism has developed a kind of inheritance.  The inheritance flows from deceased to his reincarnation.  Recognized reincarnates proliferate in Tibet and are called tulkus .  The most famous tulku is the Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama  First recognized in the 16 th century  The 5 th Dalai Lama became the state ruler and the religious leader of Tibet.  ‘Dalai Lama’ means Ocean of Wisdom, and all holders of the title are assumed to be the earthly incarnation of Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.  Tulkus are discovered in early childhood after the death of their previous incarnation.  Found by following clues their predecessor may have left in writing and by examination of the child to include the tulku-candidate’s being able to correctly identify common household items from his previous life mixed among a collection of similar items. The Current Dalai Lama  The 14 th of his line, he was born to a farming family in 1935.  Recognized at the age of two and brought to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet where he was reared and educated to the equivalent of PhD.  When China annexed Tibet in 1959, the Dalai Lama and thousands of his supporters fled into exile.  He has lived in India since 1960, and heads the Tibetan government in exile.  Recognized in 1989 with the Nobel Peace Prize  Remains one of the most respected religious leaders in the world. Religious Minorities  Since 1978 (Cultural Revolution), officially registered religious groups are tolerated and have some representation in a national forum.  Unofficial groups are unpatriotic —Christianity and Islam in particular. Conclusion  As Chinese society transforms its appearance into something evermore like those of western countries, it is easy to forget the deep and ancient culture beneath the surface of its modern cities and expanding economy.  They try to find a proper balance between traditional identity and new personality.  The 3 teachings of traditional China are a major part of their rich legacy.