THE CIVILIZATIONS OF INDIA, CHINA AND JAPAN

1. THE CIVILIZATIONS OF INDIA, CHINA AND JAPAN

2. Early Indian Civilization • Harappan Civilization • The Vedic Age • Hinduism • The Caste System • Birth of Buddhism in India

3. The Harappan Civilization 3300 BCE - 2400 BCE

4. Aerial View of Mohenjo-Daro

5. Wide View, Mohenjo-Daro

6. Harappan Writing Undecipherable to date.

7. The Vedic Age (1500 BCE - 500 BCE)

8. Aryan Migration • Invaders on horseback from Persia (Iran) and Central Asia

9. Sanskrit writing

10. What is Hinduism? • One of the oldest religions of humanity • The religion of the Indian people • Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism • Tolerance and diversity: "Truth is one, paths are many" • Many deities but a single, impersonal Ultimate Reality • A philosophy and a way of life – focused both on this world and beyond

11. No universally accepted definition “The Hindu religion, unlike other religions in the world, does not claim any one prophet; it does not worship any one god; it does not subscribe to any one dogma; it does not believe in any one philosophic concept; it does not follow any one set of religious rites; in fact it does not appear to satisfy the narrow traditional features of any religion or creed. It may broadly be described as a way of life and nothing more” Chief Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar (Supreme Court Ruling, 1995)

12. What are the Sacred Texts? • The four Vedas (“truths”) the basic texts of Hinduism – stories, rituals, chants • Upanishads - metaphysical speculation on how the soul can be united with Brahma The Great Indian Epics: • Ramayana: the story of Rama and Sita • Mahabharata (includes the Bhagavad-Gita, the story of Krishna) • The Laws of Manu: Hindu ten commandments and four stages of life

13. What do Hindus believe? • One impersonal Ultimate Reality – Brahman • Manifest as many personal deities • True essence of life – Atman, the soul, is Brahman trapped in matter (“That art thou”) • Reincarnation – atman is continually born into this world lifetime after lifetime (Samsara) • Karma – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us bound to this world (good and bad) • Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with Brahman (Moksha)

14. Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Brahma, the creator god

15. Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Vishnu, the preserver god Incarnates as ten avatars (descents) including: Rama (featured in the Ramayana) Krishna (featured in the Mahabharata) (Each shown with his consort, Sita and Radha, respectively)

16. The major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Shiva, god of constructive destruction(the transformer) Appears as Shiva Nataraj,lord of the dance of creation… and with his wife, Parvati, and son Ganesha(the elephant headed remover of obstacles)

17. What about the goddesses?Devi – the feminine divine essence. She is the core from which all other goddesses derive. Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune, consortof Vishnu

18. What about the goddesses? Parvati, divine mother, wife ofShiva

19. What about the goddesses? Durga, protectress Kali, destroyer of demons

20. All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman

21. Varna (Caste Hierarchy) Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Shudras Pariahs [Harijan]  Untouchables

22. The Caste System Brahmins Kshatriyas • Each member of a varna is also associated with a jati—a community based on a specific job function. • A person’s surname usually indicates the profession of one’s ancestors. For example: Gandhi= perfume maker Vaishyas Shudras

23. Goal of Hinduism Moksha: “release or liberation United forever with the divine Infinite bliss and awareness

24. Reincarnation (Samsara) • Samsara is the wheel of rebirth which means the soul is reborn from one life form to another. • People may be reincarnated at a higher or lower level of existence depending on their karma from their present life. • People may be reborn as plants or animals or they may be elevated to a higher caste as a human. • Death is not final for Hindus as they expect to be reborn many times.

25. Karma & Dharma • Karma: “action” or “deeds” • Every action produces a Justified effect based on its moral worthiness. • Karma determines all the particular circumstances and Situations of one’s life. • Dharma: ethical duty based on the divine order of reality. The word is the closest equivalent to “religion.”

27. Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE) • Born in NE India (Nepal). • Raised in great luxuryto be a king. • At 29 he rejectedhis luxurious life toseek enlightenmentand the source ofsuffering. • Lived a strict,ascetic life for 6 yrs. • Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana. • Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.

28. What is the fundamental cause of all suffering? Desire! • Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.

29. Four Noble Truths • There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer. (Dukkha) • The Buddha found this out when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others.

30. Four Noble Truths The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments. (Tanha)

31. Four Noble Truths The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments. (Nirvana = “extinction”)

32. Four Noble Truths To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

33. Eightfold Path Nirvana • The union with the ultimate spiritual reality. • Escape from the cycle of rebirth.

34. Buddha – 19c Thailand

35. Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

37. Chinese Civilization Institutions, World Views, and Significance, 2205 B. C. E. - 1644

38. Generalizations About Chinese Civilization • Zhong guo mentality – China the center of the universe • Powerful Central Authority—emperor. But mandate of heaven can justify dynasty change • Importance of family; veneration of Ancestors • Confucianism is official governing philosophy until 20th c. • Scholars the most respected social class • Chinese citizens mix Confucian beliefs with Daoism • Perennial problems—food production, invasion, and internal strife

39. Confucianism

40. Confucius • Kung Fu Tsu 551 – 479 B.C.E. • Born in the feudal state of Liu. • Became a teacher and editor of books.

41. Major Confucian Principles • Li--> Rite, rules, ritual decorum (Binding force of an enduring stable society) • Jen --> humaneness, benevolence, humanity, politeness • Shu --> Reciprocity, empathy Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you. Yi--> Righteousness (do the right thing) Xiao --> Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)

42. 5 Principle Relationships 1.Ruler Subject 2. Father Son 3. Husband Wife 4. Older Brother YoungerBrother 5. Older Friend YoungerFriend

43. Organizing Principles • Status • Age • Gender

44. The Analects • The single most important Confucian work. • In Chinese, it means “conversation.” • Focus on practicalities of interpersonal relationships and the relationship of the role of rulers and ministers to the conduct of government.

45. Sayings from The Analects • Knowing what he knows and knowing what he doesn’t know, is characteristics of the person who knows. • Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake. • The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others. • To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.

46. Confucius' Tomb

47. Mencius • 372 - 289 B.C.E. • Disciple of Confucius. • Starts off with the assumption that “people are basically good.” • If someone does something bad, education, not punishment, is the answer. • Good people will mend their ways in accordance to their inherent goodness.

48. Social Cohesion is Paramount! • A secular code of behavior—nothing religious or spiritual • The emperor is the example of proper behavior --> “big daddy” • Social relationships are based on “rites” or “rituals.” • Even religious rituals are important for SOCIAL, not religious reasons, acc. to Confucius.

49. Differences in Cultures INDIA CHINA 1.Brahmin 1.Scholar-Gentry 2.Kshatriyas 2.Peasants 3.Vaishyas 3.Artisans 4.Shudras 4.Merchants Untouchables Soldiers Domestic Slaves

50. Daoism