Asian Religions:

1. Asian Religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism & Hinduism

2. Hinduism • No founder, no time, began in India • Beliefs: • Dharma: duties to perform in life, determined by caste • Karma: good and bad deeds you do • Moksha: ultimate goal, release from reincarnation & achieving oneness with the Universe • Samsara: the level of births and deaths you are at; if you have good Karma, you will move up the level of Samsara

3. More Hinduism • Ganges river is holy • Gods: (polytheistic) • Brahma: the creator • Shiva: creator and destroyer • Vishnu: Preserver, transcendent love • Krishna: lover and trickster, seducer of wives and daughters • Associated with purity and pollution • Those who work more intellectual jobs are more pure • Pollution is when people come into contact with sweat or excrement; to ensure purity you must marry within own caste

4. Jainism • Indian belief system • Founded by Vardhamana Mahavira • Practice Ahimsa nonviolence toward all things • Extremists sweep the ground as they walk to avoid killing insects • Popular among lower class because if all things have a soul there should not be classes; rejected caste system

5. Buddhism • Founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama, a Prince • Later called Buddha, “Enlightened One” • Spread on Silk Road • Taught Four Noble Truths • Life is suffering • Suffering caused by desire • There is a way out of suffering • Must follow the Eightfold Path • Eightfold Path • Tells how to stop desiring by living a righteous manner

6. Buddhism comes from Hinduism • Goal is to reach Nirvana by breaking cycle of reincarnation and becoming one with universe • Altered ideas of • Dharma: combined beliefs of 4NT & 8FP • Karma • Samsara: coming into existence as a moral creature • Brahmins are not necessary, everyone can achieve enlightenment on their own without gods or goddesses • Equality among all believers

7. Era of Warring States • Last 200 years of Zhou (441-221 BCE) • Began three philosophies • Confucianism • Daoism • Legalism

8. Confucianism • Confucius • Philosopher, believed he could bring an end to existing warfare • Key was finding good leaders • Most important concepts • Ren:appropriate feelings • Li: correct actions • Filial Piety: respect for one’s parents • Five Relationships: • Ruler to subject • Father to son • Husband to wife • Sibling to sibling • Friend to friend • Became major philosophy during Han • Students compiled his sayings into Analects

9. Daoism • Laozi wrote book called Tao De Ching (Daodejing) during Era of Warring States • Dao: “the way (of nature of the cosmos)” • Concept of wu weiact by not acting and problems will solve themselves • The less government the better • Symbol of Yin Yang, represents balance • How does this work with Confucianism? • Be Confucian at work, Daoist in time off

10. Legalism • Principle that men is inherently evil and needs strict laws and punishment to behave properly • Strong government = stable society • Used by Qin to end Era of Warring States

11. Zoroastrianism • Ancient Persian religion (600 BCE -1500 CE) founded by Zarathustra • Left his family in search of wisdom, God spoke to him • Beliefs • World is a blessing and one should take enjoyment of it (wealth, sexual pleasure, social status) • World is battleground between good and evil, each person takes part in the struggle • At the end of time god will judge and send to heaven or hell