• Confucianism is practiced primarily by followers in East
Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
• It is not meant as a means for understanding human destiny.
• Confucianism concern itself with learning to be human.
It focuses on ethical standards for behavior, with moral values and principles being emphasized.
• It is often practiced by many who claim another faith as their religion.
• The basic Confucian question: How must one behave so that all humanity will move towards a happier, healthier existence?

Lifespan (552 B.C.E-479 B.C.E.)
•
Born to a family of humble, but respected existence,
K’ung Fu-tzu (Master K’ung) spent his early life becoming educated.
• As he learned, he spent his time teaching others and traveled his country teaching.
• It is from his disciples that his teachings and wisdom have passed through the centuries and that his name has become synonymous with wisdom and moral living.
• His life was not particularly monumental. He struggled to have his message heard by influential members of society.
•
His philosophies were tempered by the political and social issues affecting East Asia during his lifetime, such as war, feudal civil unrest, moral decay and oppression.
•
Believed harmony and happiness centered around human relationships.
Analects
• The Analects are the teachings, stories and sayings of Confucius as collected and written by his disciples.
– Justice in dealing with enemies.
– Believed in the tradition of ancestor worship.
– Did not focus on the afterlife.
– Was excited about learning and teaching and expected the same from his students.

• Tao: “The Way,” which is universal; what should be followed by everyone
• Chun-tzu: Human Ideal or Superior Person
– One must give credit to the heavens
– Righteousness, humility and sincerity is essential
– Acquired through learning (rather than inherited nobility)
– Living a virtuous life so as to contribute to society
– Respectful, reverent, generous and just
• Jen (ruhn): Humaneness (the most supreme of all virtues)
– Goodness, love, benevolence
– Reciprocity is the one word to guide us

• Li: Ritual etiquette and proper behavior
– Behaving properly in a given situation
– Great respect for ancient Chinese traditions
– Wherever you are in society, you should behave accordingly and with decency
– Sincerity and reverence are the most important aspects of ceremony
• Wen: Cultural arts and music
– Harmony and flow
– Proper music for the proper occasion
– Poetry and calligraphy
– Ensure unity and continuity within society
– Appreciation of improves ones moral quality and therefore society
• Te: moral example
– effective moral leadership
– nurturing a society’s moral conscience
– refers to lawmaking and government

Confucius believed that there are relationships that all human beings are involved in at all times.
• Self: the core of all human relationships
– Determined by one’s social status
– Learning and growing in maturity is the process of self-cultivation
– Self-reflection and learning are lifelong
– As the self is cultivated, society is improved
• Family: one’s role in the family is extremely significant
– Each member has responsibilities towards the others
– Relations between elders and children should be one of respect
– Everyone must live up to his/her moral responsibilities towards each other
– Deep respect for elders
• Ancestor worship is important because the dead can intercede for us.

• Nation: concern for good government
– Leaders should be educated and morally righteous.
– Leaders should ensure the happiness of its citizens.
– Everyone takes an active role in government when they live rightly.
• Heaven: least spoken concept in Confucian tradition
– Believed humanity must grow in its ability to serve those on earth before it had any hope of serving the spirit world.
– Believed Heaven was the authority to be followed.
– Heaven guides and nurtures humanity as the ultimate moral force.

Tao means
“The Way” or “The Path”
• Practiced primarily in East Asia, often in conjunction with
Confucianism or Buddhism
• More of a philosophy than a religious belief system
Lao-Tzu, the “founder” of Taoism
• Some believe he is only a mythical character
• Believed to have lived around the 6th century B.C.E.
and a contemporary of Confucius
• Worked for the government and saw the social and political problems of his people
• Believed to be the author of Tao’s sacred text, Tao Te
Ching (dou day jing)
• Philosophical wisdom serves as a foundation for Tao practice
• Speaks of heavens and earth differently from the
Western concept
• Uses paradoxes (“Those with nothing to say speak often.
”)

• Lived about 250 years after Lao-Tzu.
• His wisdom is compiled in the second sacred text, which is named for him.
• It is indefinable. Tao must be experienced.
• A power which surrounds and flows through all things.
• Sees the need for nature, humans and the universe to be in harmony and balance.
• Tao is the cause of the universe; the universe flows from Tao; Tao is immanent.
• Tao surrounds everyone and all must listen to it to find enlightenment.
• The goal is to become one with Tao.

Yin and Yang
• All things have balance
• All things have an opposite
• Only constant factor in life is change
• Yin: the dark side; formed the earth; represents the feminine; calm, passive, introspective; healing; night; Taoism
• Yang: the light side; formed the heavens; represents masculinity; energetic, agitation, aggression; day; Confucianism
• All things have a combination of these two forces. Their opposition keeps them in balance.
– Values are relative to one another.
– We know good because we know evil.
– Death is also change, though Taoism does not focus on questions of an afterlife.

The Tradition of the Sage
• One who has mastered living with Tao and has achieved a state of spiritual perfection.
• Living with Tao means living in harmony, unity and simplicity every day.
Wu-Wei
• Primary virtue; living in harmony with Tao; belief in kindness due to reciprocity.
• Three jewels: compassion, moderation, humility
• Involves martial arts for many practitioners; noncompetition
(judo uses the energy of another)
• Paradoxes and opposites (action-less activity, giving up to win)
• Cooperation with nature and ‘hands-off’ approach (avoids human interference)
• Non-aggression and passivity in daily life: leaving well enough alone.

• The ancient and native religion of Japan
• Shinto has adapted over time.
• Incorporates Buddhism, Zen and Taoism as well as other Chinese traditions.
• Generates patriotism and respect for the Japanese heritage.
• Veneration and love of nature.
• Ritual is primary (Shinto is not concerned with doctrine.)
• Moral codes adopted from Confucianism .
• Warrior traditions: bushido and samurai
• Kami: Shinto is translated as “the way of the Kami”
– Ancient divine ancestors
– Overall, kami refers to anything that can be wondered about or is mysteriousnature, people, animals
– Creation myth gives the Japanese people a sense of pride and divine connection
–
Kami has lead to emperor worship and the belief that the emperor is divine
• WWII crushed this belief

• Ceremonial worship at Shinto shrines
– Original shrines were beautiful natural spots
(waterfalls, mountains, etc.)
– Leaving the everyday surroundings to be more focused in the presence of the sacred
– “Torii” (archway) marks the entrance to a shrine
– Ritual washing for purification
– Prayers and invocations to the kami are offered
– Unity with the kami is the desired end.

– A festival of purification; transfer the impurities of the people.
– Everyone is on vacation and spends time worshiping at shrines and temples.
– These are often included in Japanese calendars as holidays and special occasions.

1.
Tradition and the family
– The family is seen as the main mechanism by which traditions are preserved.
Their main celebrations relate to birth and marriage.
2.
Love of nature
– Nature is sacred; to be in contact with nature is to be close to the gods. Natural objects are worshipped as sacred spirits.
3.
Physical cleanliness
– Followers of Shinto take baths, wash their hands, and rinse out their mouth often.
4.
"Matsuri “
– The worship and honor given to the Kami and ancestral spirits.
Three main Shinto sects:
– Shrine Shinto (nationalism and patriotism)
– Sect Shinto (primarily lead by women)
– Popular/folk Shinto (less formalized)