ASIAN RELIGIONS
A ridiculously brief overview
ANIMISM / SHAMANISM
• General belief among the masses that the
world is full of spirits who interact with
humans.
• Certain natural objects (waterfalls,
mountains, huge trees) are deities.
• Nature, then, is considered to have spiritual
value.
• Humans interact with the spiritual world,
especially through shamans.
“HINDUISM”
• Native religious tradition of India. No real
founder: began before historical records.
• Vast in complexity and diversity: no single
thing “Hinduism.”
• Mystical tradition focuses on liberation from
suffering through spiritual disciplines such
as meditation and yoga.
• Ideals include radically new view of the self
and a state of tranquility.
BUDDHISM
• Began in India around 500 bce with the
Buddha (the Awakened One).
• A kind of reformation of the existing
“Hindu” mystical tradition.
• Continues focus on spiritual discipline
that cultivate a new sense of self,
tranquility, and detachment from
normal desires.
THE SPREAD OF BUDDHISM
• One branch spreads through India and
Southeast Asia.
• Another branch, “Mahayana,” spreads into
China (200 ce), Tibet, Korea, and Japan (500
ce).
• Mahayana includes many different schools
with diverse characteristics, including the
salvation oriented Pure Land Buddhism.
• Zen focuses on the meditative, mystical
tradition.
DAOISM (TAOISM)
• Native Chinese tradition, began to develop around
500 bce.
• Focus on being in harmony with the cosmos and
with one’s inner nature. Thus, nature is valued
highly and spontaneity is prized.
• Skeptical about the reliability of human intellect,
will, desires, and our normal view of the self.
• Social ideal is a simple communal society, or
solitude.
• Blended with Buddhism after its arrival (200 ce).
CONFUCIANISM
• Native Chinese tradition, which began with
Confucius around 500 bce.
• Focus on ethics, the family, and social
harmony.
• Develops a strong view of the goodness of
human nature, and thus morality is natural.
• Influenced by Daoism and Buddhism,
developing a complex view of nature and an
emphasis on spontaneity, while continuing a
concern with ethics, family, and society.
SHINTO
• Native religious tradition in Japan. Began as
indigenous animism and shamanism among
various clans in different regions.
• When Chinese religions came to Japan (ca.
500 ce), the native traditions were given a
single name: “The Way of the Gods.”
• Nature highly prized and considered spiritual.
• Ideal is harmony with the spirit world and
purity in living one’s life.