Philosophy & Religion in China

1. Philosophy & Religion in China Taoism Confucianism By Laura Ellen Shulman

2. 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 nature • Heaven (t’ien) and Earth • “Mandate of Heaven” • Practical applications: I-Ching and Feng Shui

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Religious Taoism • Deification of Lao Tzu • Taoist sects develop beginning in 1st century, additional teachers and texts

9. Confucianism A 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

10. Confucianism - Origins Kung-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 years Meng-Tzu (Mencius) (4th century) continues to develop teachings of Confucius

11. 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)

12. Goal of Confucianism To 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…

13. Confucian Virtues Filial 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Nature does not seek power, it merely is powerful. For example, waves do not seek power, however, they are powerful.

18. 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.

19. Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

23. 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.

24. Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?

25. 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.

26. 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.