E ASTERN P HILOSOPHIES. B ACKGROUND Located in China Not religions, but ways of life The solutions...
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Transcript of E ASTERN P HILOSOPHIES. B ACKGROUND Located in China Not religions, but ways of life The solutions...
EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES
BACKGROUND
Located in China Not religions, but ways
of life The solutions to
political breakdown and social disorder
Combination of Confucianism, Legalism, Daoism and Buddhism
Focused on life in this world and not the after-life
BUDDHISM
BACKGROUND Founded by Siddhartha
Gautama Four Noble Truths Eight Fold Path Nirvana (rebirth) Two Branches:
Mahayana, Theravada, Ceremonies performed
by Monks Can be a part of another
Eastern Religion due to the emphasis on personal salvation.
CONFUCIANISM
BASIS Founded on the beliefs of
Kung Fu Tzu (Confucius) Teachings were collected in
The Analects Deals with individual and
moral ethics and the proper use of political power.
Six ethical teachings: Li: etiquette Hsiao: Love within the family Yi: righteousness Xin: honesty/trustworthiness Jen: humaneness towards
others Chung: loyalty
FILIAL PIETY
5 Relationships Sovereign to Subject Parent to Child Husband to Wife Old to Young Friend to Friend
Each person had their own duties to each other and extended to the dead
Eventually led its way into the legal system
“CEREMONIES” Four life passages are
recognized: Birth: a special ceremony for the
placenta. The mother is allowed rest for a month and follows a special diet. The family gives gifts on the first, fourth and twelfth month of the anniversary of the birth.
Reaching Maturity: has tapered off now days. A group meal where the young adult is served chicken
Marriage: six phases; proposal, Engagement, Dowry, Procession, Marriage and Reception, and Morning After.
Death: Relatives cry out loud to inform neighbors. Coffin and burial service. Latter is carried back to the family’s alter so the spirit will not be forgotten.
TEXTS Si Shu
Lun Wu: Analects of Confucius
Chung Yung: Doctrine of the Mean
Ta Hsueh: Great Learning Meng Tzu: the writings of
Meng Tzu, a philosopher Wu Jing
Shu Ching: Classic of History Shih Ching: Classic of Odes;
300 poems and songs I Ching: Classic of Changes Ch’un Ch’iu: Spring and
Autumn annals; history of Lu Li Ching: Classic of Rites.
LEGALISM
BACKGROUND
Based on the ideas of Hsün Tzu and his pupil, Han Fei Tzu
Opposite to Confucianism
Believed that humans were evil, but could be made good by strict laws and education
Had harsh punishments Primary way of
government in the Qin Dynasty
BACKGROUND CONT.
Set the standard in China that Laws are above the people, including the emperor
No need for individual leadership.
Laws were based on diminishing human selfishness
PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNING Fa: “Law or Principle” Law code
is clearly written and displayed to the public. Everyone is under the law. Those who obey the law are rewarded and those who disregard them are punished.
Shu: “Method, tactic or art” special tactics are used by the ruler so that nobody takes control of the state. Nobody fathoms the ruler’s motivation; nobody knows what will help them get ahead or harm them except for following the rules.
Shi: “Legitimacy, power, charisma” The position of a ruler holds the power, not the person ruling.
DAOISM
HISTORY
Began in the Han Dynasty
Written records of Laozi Two Texts: Daodejing
and Zhuangzi Term Daoism
encompasses Daojia (“School of the Dao”) and Daojiao (“Teaching of the Dao”)
DAO Dao means way or path Power (de or te) can be
drawn from being absorbed in Dao
Cannot be reached through reason and knowledge Not everything is knowable
Can only be found by avoiding daily activities and renouncing wordy ambitions
Flow of the Universe Nature and Simplicity Deeply influenced arts
Painting and poetry
WU WEI “without action” goal: to align oneself with
Dao to reveal the soft but powerful power within all things and enter the state of Pu.
Often associated with water
Pu = “uncarved block” “simplicity” A state of pure potential
and perception with out prejudice
Only existence and awareness
No right or wrong
TEXTS
Consists of 81 “chapters”. A little more than
5000 characters Dao Jing (chs.1-37)
Explains about the Dao
De Jing (chs. 38-81) Explains about de or
virtue
Originally Consisted of 52 “chapters” Reduced to 33 by Guo
Xiang Contains treatises, stories,
poetry and aphorisms Material from Zhuang
Zhou Consists of “inner
chapters” “outer chapters” and “mixed chapters”
Daodejing Zhuangzi
YIN YANG Two opposing yet
complimentary forces Yin: shady, female, soft, slow,
wet, cold, conserving, tranquil, gentle, night.
Yang: sunny, male, hard, fast, substantial, dry, hot, excited, aggressive, day.
Not the concept of “good and evil”
Four “Laws”: Opposing Mutually rooted Mutually transform Mutually wax and wane
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/YinYang.htm
WORKS CITED
Hooker, Richard. Chinese Philosophy: Legalism. 28 Sept. 2008. <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CHPHIL/LEGALISM.HTM>.
ReligiousTolerance.org. Confucianism: founded by Kung Fu Tzu. 28 Sept. 2008. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/confuciu.htm>.
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Daoist Philosophy. 28 Sept. 2008. <http://www.iep.utm.edu/d/daoism.htm>.
Taoism. Confucianism. Legalism. 29 Sept. 2008. <http://en.wikipedia.org>.