The Chinese Religious Tradition
World Religions
Fr. Llane Briese
Overview of the History
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Back to ABBA: What is Religion?
◦ Religion in the Mediterranean World
◦ Religion in India
◦ Religion in China
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Three Roots in China:
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Chinese Folk Religions (i.e. Ancestor Cult)
Confucianism (ethics)
Taoism (philosophy of the universe)
Buddhism (philosophy of nature)
Philosophy and Religion
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Philosophy: “The love of wisdom”
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Ontology / Metaphysics
Epistemology
Ethics
Anthropology
Natural Theology
Religion: The Search for ABBA (the
sacred)
◦ Can overlap with philosophy
◦ Theology: Deals with Divine Revelation
Fr. Adolfo Nicolas
Superior General of
the Society of Jesus
Courtesy: The Jesuit Curia of Rome (www.sjweb.info)
Section One
THE HISTORY
Historical Overview
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The history of the Chinese religions can
be summarized by the four seasons:
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Spring (Prehistory–206 B.C.)
Summer (206 B.C. – ca. 900 A.D.)
Autumn (900–1912)
Winter (20th century–Present)
Eclecticism in China
 Religion, Philosophy, and Culture
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Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C.
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Shang Dynasty (1766–1123 B.C.)
◦ Folk Religion:
 Archaeological Evidence: Belief of an afterlife
mirroring earthly life.
 Ancestor Veneration (NOT worship): Mediation
 Importance of Patrilineage (tsu): headship on
eldest son
 Highest Deity: Ti (singular or plural?)
 Divination/Astrology: Messages from beyond;
reading signs from omens or nature to acquire
supernatural knowledge.
Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C.
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Chou Dynasty (1122-256)
◦ Folk Religion:
 T’ien: “Heaven”
 Royal ancestors = intermediaries to bestow good
fortune on earth.
 Mandate of Heaven: A right granted to kings to
represent Heaven on Earth.
 Political Corruption making China ripe for religious
reform.
Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C.
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Confucianism: Based on the teachings
of K’ung Fu-tzu who wrote the Analects.
◦ Confucius: An accidental teacher (551–479
B.C.)
◦ Legacy:
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Central doctrine: jen (being a real gentleman)
Work ethic and family loyalty
Learning: Building both knowledge and character
Egalitarianism
◦ Contrast from the origins of Buddhism and
Christianity.
Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C.
Meng-tzo (ca. 371–289 B.C.): Human
nature = good. Taught that evil would take
over if humans did not cultivate their
inherent goodness.
 Hsun-tzu (298–230 B.C.): Human
nature = evil (would lead to legalism).
Morality required in order to temper
one’s evilness and become good.
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Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C.
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Taoism:
◦ Lao-tzu: Articulated the central principles in
Tao-te Ching (The Way and Its Power)
◦ Yin and Yang: Cosmological harmony and
complementarity.
◦ 2 Forms (not mutually exclusive):
 Tao-chia: More philosophical
 Tao-chiao: More religious
◦ What kind of person should I be?
◦ Goal: To live the balance between yin and
yang.
Summer: 206 B.C.–ca. 900 A.D.
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Continued expansion of Taoism and
Confucianism: A synthesis between the
two religions develops:
◦ Taoism: Rituals of popular religion.
◦ Confucianism: Ethics and organization of
political and social life
Han dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.):
Confucius’ teaching becomes state policy.
 By I A.D., Confucius had come to viewed
as a nearly divine figure.
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Summer: 206 B.C.-ca. 900 A.D.
Also, in the 1st century A.D., Buddhism arrived in
China. (Flourished under the Sui and Tang
dynasties from 581–907.)
 2 main (non-exclusive) types of Mahayana
Buddhism:
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◦ Pure Land Buddhism: Amitabha was a bodhisattva
and created a pure land without evil where people
could reach nirvana.
◦ Ch’an Buddhism: Heavy emphasis on meditation;
Paradoxical stories such as “What is the sound of one
hand clapping?” (Would evolve into Japanese Zen
Buddhism.)
III A.D. and later: Synthesis between Buddhism,
Taoism, and Confucianism.
 By VI A.D.: Confucian temples arrived.
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Autumn: 900–1912
Period of reformation leading also to an
increase in individualism.
 Neo-Confucianism reinterpreted the
teachings of Confucius in light of
Buddhism and Taoism.
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◦ Taoist metaphysics/epistemology
◦ Buddhist anthropology
◦ Confucian ethics
Autumn: 900-1912
This trend would reverse during the
Qing dynasty (1644–1911) when
culture moved towards a more traditional
understanding of Confucianism.
 Arrival of Europeans (and Christianity)
 Fr. Matteo Ricci: Chinese Rites
Controversy
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Winter: 1912-Present
1912: Founding of the Republic of China
 WW2: Japanese Domination
 After WW2: Chinese Civil War (ended
1949).
 Excursus: The Philosophy of Karl Marx
(1818–1883):
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◦ Das Kapital (1867–1894)
◦ The Communist Manifesto (1848)
◦ Religion as “the opium of the people.”
Section Two
CONFUCIAN AND
TAOIST SACRED TEXTS
AND BELIEFS
The Writings of Confucius
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Five Classics: Texts traditionally attributed
to Confucius but which actually predate him.
Four Books: Compiled by Confucius’
followers:
◦ The Analects: Sayings of Confucius
◦ The Great Learning: How perfection helps
society
◦ Doctrine of the Mean: Philosophical reflections
◦ Book of Meng-tzu: Sayings of Meng-tzu, the
follower of Confucius.
Confucian Teachings
Confucius believed in T’ien (Heaven) and
other Chinese deities. Was suspicious of
excesses of Chinese devotional life.
 Confucian Ethical Concepts:
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◦ Chun-tzu: the “superior one”
◦ Li: The proper way to live; includes courtesy,
etiquette, formality, and respect. (A
hierarchical view of human relationships)
◦ Jen: “Humanity” or “benevolence” (interior
disposition)
The Writings of Taoism
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Tao-te Ching: One of the most famous
texts in world history, traditionally attributed
to Lao-tzu.
Holds that Tao is the nature of things, and
that all are called to live in harmony with Tao
(“the way things are”)
Excerpt:
The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born; thus, it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desires for itself; thus, it is present for all beings.
Taoist Teachings
Taoism defies definition; very abstract.
 Taoism: Describes “the way things are”; all
that exists flows with Tao. Hence, Tao could
be viewed as an entirely transcendent,
impersonal god.
 Wu-wei: “Non-action” or “actions without
actions”—allowing nature to evolve without
interference; deference to Tao.
 Goal: Immortality (via breath control, good
hygiene, meditation, etc.)
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Section Three
THE JAPANESE
RELIGIOUS TRADITION:
SHINTO
An Introduction to Shinto
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Like China, Japan has an diversity of religious
thought: Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, and
Taoism.
Shinto:
◦ Animist in focus; Kami are spirits present since
the beginning.
◦ Part of the national myth; would be devastated in
1945.
◦ XVI c.: Christian missionaries came (including St.
Francis Xavier)
◦ Home shrines dedicated to kami: Kamidana