Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Living Religions A Brief Introduction...

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Living ReligionsA Brief Introduction

3rd Edition

Mary Pat Fisher


Ancient traditions

Daoism--the way of nature and immortality

Confucianism--the practice of virtue

Chapter 6 Daoism and Confucianism


Celestial Master Shangdi (Shang Ti)Complete Perfection Taiji quan (T’ai chi ch’uan)Dao (Tao) wu weiFalun Dafa yangFalun Gong yifeng shui yinHighest Purity DaoismliNeo-Confucianismqi (ch’i)qigongren (jen)RujiaoA

Key terms


DynastiesShang (1751-1123)Zhou (1122-221)Jin or Qin (221-206 BCE)Han (206 BCE-220 CE)Tang (618-907 CE)Song (960-1280)Republic (1912-1949)People’s Republic (1949-)

TimelineAncient traditionsConfucius (551-479)Mengzi (390-305)Xunzi (340-245)PersecutionCivil service examsRevivalZhu Xi (1130-1200)DisestablishmentPersecutionRevival

DaoismAncient traditionsLaozi (600?-300?)Zhuangzi (365-290)Immortality movementsHeavenly Masters originateBuddhist influenceCanon formed (748)Taiji quan appearsPersecutionFalun Gong/Dafa


Ancient Traditions

Spiritual ways of ancient Chinese civilization influence all later developments

Ancestor worship

Invisible spirits

Various rites to ward off demons

Rulers played major spiritual roles


Cosmic Balance

Belief that the cosmos is a manifestation of an impersonal spiritual substanceqi (ch’i): the stuff of which all things are composed; has 2 aspects

–yin is the dark, receptive “female”–yang is the bright assertive “male”

Dao (way): the creative rhythm of the universe


Daoism—the way of nature and immortality

Scholarly label applied to an array of beliefs and practices

May involve Daoist practices and Confucian virtues and Buddhist-style rituals

Institutional Daoism has tried to distance itself from popular religion


Teachings of Daoist Sages

Two major texts of philosophical traditionDao de jing (The Classic of the Way and its Power)

–Written by Laozi –Can live happily by harmonizing self with the

universe, being receptive to beauty and nature, and being silent

Zhuangzi–Best approach to life is detachment

Daoist paradox of wu wei: actionless action


Popular Religion and Organized Daoism

Became intertwined when Daoist specialists took charge of spiritual tasks such as alchemy, faith healing, and the use of talismans

Burning incense and making offerings is a way to communicate with invisible spirits

Feng shui: one means of seeking harmony

Kitchen God


Inner Alchemy

Individual spiritual practices for self-cultivation, longevity, and perhaps immortality

Practices passed secretly from teacher to pupil

Seek to use the energy available to the body for physical health and intuitive perception

Three treasures: generative force (jing), vital life force (qi), spirit (shen)

Queen Mother of the West guards the elixir of life


Daoism SectsOrganized sects developed complex rituals, texts, and had organized clergy

Highest Purity Daoism advocated celibacy

Numinous Treasure assimilated elements of Buddhism

Complete Perfection is the dominant monastic schoolUnites Daoist inner alchemy with Chan Buddhist meditation and Confucian social moralityWhite Cloud Monastery in Beijing


Daoism Today

Continues in 3 major forms

Organized religious institutionsSocieties for self-cultivation

–QigongPractitioners of spiritual development, health, and longevity

–Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, energy training practice (Taiji quan)


Confucianism: The Practice of Virtue

Originated about the same time as Daoism

In Chinese Confucious is known as Kong fuzi and his teachings are called Rujiao: the teaching of the scholars

Based on ancient Chinese beliefs in the Mandate of Heaven, ancestor worship, spirits, and the power of ritual


Master Kong’s Life

Father died when he was 3 and his mother when he was 23.

Mourning period after his mother’s death; studied ancient ceremonial rites

Instructed students in the Six Classics of China’s cultural heritage: the Yijing, poetry, history, rituals, music, dance

His teaching was recognized only in the centuries after his death


The Confucian Virtues

Ren is the most importantinnate goodness, love, benevolence, humaneness, human heartedness

Strong government required rulers who lead virtuous lives to set a good example

Emphasizes relationships over individuality (parent/child, older/younger siblings, husband/wife, older/younger friend, ruler/subject


Divergent Followers

Mengzi (Mencius) stressed the goodness of human nature and the virtue of yi (righteous conduct)

Xunzi argued that humans are self-centered by nature and that heaven operates according to natural laws


The State Cult

Confucianism was adopted by the state during the Han dynasty (205 BCE – 220 CE)

Men seeking government positions had to pass examinations based on the six classics


Neo-Confucianism

Stressed the importance of meditation and dedication to becoming a noble person

Encouraged women to offer themselves in total sacrifice to others

Premised on the idea that Buddhism and Daoism brought moral and political weakness into Chinese society


Confucianism under Communism

During Cultural Revolution attacked as one of the “Four Olds”: old ideas, culture, customs, habits

Recent Communist leaders have advocated Confucian virtues without naming them

Not officially recognized as a religion

Confucian morality forms the basis of Chinese ethics

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