Philosophy & Religion in

China

TaoismConfucianism

By Laura Ellen Shulman

Chinese MetaphysicsConcepts

Chi – life force, life energy (“ultimate”) Yin-Yang – harmony of opposites

– Yin = passive state of energy– Yang = active state of energy

Tao – the “way” of the cosmos, of natureHeaven (t’ien) and Earth“Mandate of Heaven”Practical applications: I-Ching and Feng Shui

TaoismThe Way of Harmony with

Nature A philosophy

– Profound and paradoxical A way of life

– Playful and practical A religion

Originating in 6th century BCE China

Nature knows best

TaoismOrigins and Texts

Legendary founder: Lao Tzu (6th century BCE)

Primary text: Tao Te Ching (the “Book of the Way and the Power”)– 81 short “chapters” containing the basic

philosophy of living in harmony and balance Chuang Tzu (4th century BCE)

– Author of companion text: The Chuang Tzu– Collection of stories exemplifying the

wisdom and nature of the Taoist sage

Philosophical Taoism The Tao (“path” or “way”)

– The “nameless”– The “Mother of ten=thousand things”– The “uncarved block”– All pervading within and beyond nature

Te (“power” or “virtue”)– One’s natural ability brought to peak

potential through following the way The Taoist Sage: learns from observing the

way of nature (flowing water, wind) and letting nature guide his way through life

More Taoist Concepts Wei-wu-wei (“active non-action”)

– Passive non-resistance to the natural forces of life

– Natural way to get things done with least effort and greatest success

– “Go with the flow,” yield to the natural way of things

– Applied in all walks of life Relativity: “good” and “bad” as a

matter of perspective– The Taoist sage is non-judgmental

Taoism as a Way of Living

Seeking Health and Longevity: through diet, meditation, exercise, and a stress-free life

Alchemy: seeking the chemical “elixir of life”to achieve immortality

Meditation: “Inner Alchemy Meditation” – seeking spiritual rather than chemical transformation

Natural/holistic healing: herbal medicine, acupressure, acupuncture, exercise…

T’ai-Chi-Ch’uan (“grand ultimate boxing”)– A slow, graceful martial art stressing movement

in balance

Religious Taoism Deification of Lao Tzu Taoist sects develop beginning in 1st

century, additional teachers and texts

ConfucianismA political and social philosophy seeking

social harmony on all levels:Within the self…the family…the community...the state…the nation…the world…the cosmos

Learning from the past to improve the future

Confucianism - OriginsKung-Fu-tzu (Confucius) “Master Kung” 551 - 479 BCE Embraces the values of the past Political aspirations unfulfilled The “greatest teacher who ever lived” Rejected in his own day, but the model

for Chinese culture for over 2000 yearsMeng-Tzu (Mencius) (4th century) continues

to develop teachings of Confucius

Confucianism - Texts The “Five Classics” (of the past):

– I-Ching– The Book of History (Shu Ching)– The Book of Poems (Shih Ching)– The Spring and Autumn Annals (Ch’un Ch’iu)– The Book of Rituals (Li Chi)

The “Four Books” (Confucian)– Analects (Lun Yu)– Doctrine of the Mean– The Great Learning– The Book of Mencius (Meng-Tzu)

Goal of ConfucianismTo develop one’s Jen: Human

Heartedness - the innate goodness of humanity

Thus becoming a Chun Tzu: the “Great Man” or “Gentle Man”

Jen is developed through intentional living by Confucian virtues…

Confucian VirtuesFilial Piety (Hsiao) - respect for the five

constant relationships:– Parent and child– Husband & wife– Older & younger sibling– Older & younger friend– Ruler & subject

Human-heartedness is developed only within the context of human relationships

More Confucian Virtues

Rectification of names – a person or thing should be true to its name

Recipricity (shu) – the Golden Rule:– “Do not do to others what you would not

want others to do to you” Li (rites, ritual) – the inherent “pattern” in

things– For Confucius, Li is especially significant in

a social context – propriety or etiquette, the “pattern” of humane behavior

Confucianism as a Religion

Deification of Confucius - statues Confucian Temples – honoring

Confucius Veneration of the ancestors Rituals within…

– the household– the village– the state – the nation

Confucianism- During Song Dynasty

Civil service—means service as a government official.

Civil Service Exams:– Students must memorize entire Confucian text– Students might study for more than 20 years!!– Some exams last more than 72 hours and

students were locked in private rooms.– To prevent students from cheating, exam halls

were often locked and guarded. If you passed…You became a scholar official,

A respected member of the government.

Nature does not seek power, it merely is powerful. For

example, waves do not seek power, however, they are

powerful.

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your

full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to

personal excellence.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's

ignorance.

It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole

scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In

work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is

accomplished.

If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my

teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them,

and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.

 

Without feelings of respect, what is there to

distinguish men from beasts?

 

Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way

things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates

sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in

whatever way they like.