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Unit 4: Chinese Traditions (Overview & Introduction)

Unit 4: Chinese Traditions (Overview & Introduction). RELS 120 Religion, Spirituality, and Health 5 November 2013. Unit 4 Overview. 5 Nov: Introduction to Ancient Chinese Traditions Spiritual Self-Assessment: Developing your Spirituality 12 Nov: China’s Sages: Confucius and Laozi

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Unit 4: Chinese Traditions (Overview & Introduction)

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  1. Unit 4: Chinese Traditions(Overview & Introduction) RELS 120 Religion, Spirituality, and Health 5 November 2013

  2. Unit 4 Overview • 5Nov: Introduction to Ancient Chinese Traditions • Spiritual Self-Assessment: Developing your Spirituality • 12Nov: China’s Sages: Confucius and Laozi • Spiritual Harmony through the practice of Forgiveness • 15 Nov: Teachings of the Sages • 19 Nov: Spiritual Harmony & Health • 22Nov: Mystery of Qi (film and guide) • 26 Nov: Chinese Medicine • 29 Nov: In-class QUIZ; Portfolio due today; 1stterm review 120 - appleby

  3. Unit 4 Objectives • To understand the Indigenous elements of ancient Chinese traditions; • To identify the Chinese sages who were the foundational for Confucian and Daoist traditions; • To detect significant developments within Chinese history and implications for promoting or limiting Confucian and Daoist practices; • To articulate elements of Daoist spirituality and the Confucian vision of the just society; • To provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the components of well-being in Traditional Chinese Medicine; and, • To explore contemporary forms of alternative and complementary medicine rooted in Chinese traditions. 120 - appleby

  4. Ancient Chinese History and Traditions

  5. Imperial China – main Dynasties 120 - appleby

  6. Premodern China Shang dynasty – 1766 to 1122 BCE • Agricultural society; bronze age; earliest written records of Chinese inscriptions • Worship gods and ancestors • Offered food and devotion • Received blessing and assistance • King was both head of state and ritual leader • Cult of the dead • Kings buried in large tombs with tools, weapons, and servants; ready for life in the next world • Terra cotta warriors later replaced sacrificed humans 120 - appleby

  7. Terracotta Warriors (Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor)http://www.globalmountainsummit.org/terra-cotta-warriors.html 120 - appleby

  8. Gods of the Shang(1766 to 1122 BCE) • Gods immanent in nature: in rain, mountains, rivers, seasons • Spirits of ancestors: intervened in battles, economies, marriage, health status • Spirit mediums: male and female – interceded on behalf of people to the spirits and gods • Shang-di: the “Lord Above” – an ancestral spirit with supreme status and power 120 - appleby

  9. Statue of XuanTian Shang-Di, Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven Picture taken by: Orien Harvey • http://www.postersguide.com/posters/statue-of-xuan-tian-shang-di-supreme-emperor-of-the-dark-heaven-4227944.html 120 - appleby

  10. Zhou Dynasty • Tribal chieftain, Zhou, defeated Shang ruler • Developed city-states, increased centralized governmental control, introduced agricultural taxation • Western Zhou era – 1027 to 771 BCE • King killed, court fled eastward – Eastern Zhou era – 770 to 221 BCE • Diminishing control, warring tribes, increasing fragmentation • Confucius born 551 BCE (died 479 BCE) • Laozi (Lao-tzu) – born c.600 BCE 120 - appleby

  11. Enduring Chinese beliefs • Indigenous roots • Shamanism • Ancestor worship; provide good afterlife for dead; receive blessings in life • Sacred geography; mountains, rivers • Rituals to influence deities and ancestors; also to seek guidance and aid • Cult of the dead – large tombs; buried with essential servants and items for afterlife 120 - appleby

  12. Qingming Festival Qingmingmeans"clear and bright" • 105 days after the winter solstice – 1st week in April – spring season begins • Families celebrate their family lineage by cleaning and restoring the graves of their ancestors • All pictures from http://viewthrumygloballens.blogspot.ca/2012/04/qingming-rituals.html

  13. When the grave has been cleaned, the family members place amulets (good luck charms) around it to protect against wandering ghosts

  14. Bright red candles and sticks of incense are burned to honourthe ancestors

  15. Foods and drink are placed in front of the tomb • roasted suckling pig, boiled chicken, barbecued pork, rice, fruits, bottles of wine

  16. Paper “money” and other symbols of wealth like gold, silver, clothes, jewelry, gadgets, and miniature cars are placed on the graves • when burned, these symbols are transformed into real wealth for the ancestors to enjoy in their life beyond

  17. Family members bow before the ancestors and pray to them

  18. Strings of firecrackers are placed around the graves and lit to ward off any remaining ghosts

  19. After taking a family picture in front of the graves, the families divide up the food and drinks to be eaten http://www.travel2singapore.com.sg/lightbox/images/qingming05.jpg

  20. The Qingming Festival is held in Stockton, California • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPmABKylgd4

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