Beliefs in Early China
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The world is full of invisible spirits
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Ancestors
Charismatic humans who have died but are still
available to help people
The world is also full of nature spirits
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Plants, animals, rivers, stones, mountains, stars
Vitalized by cosmic energy
Often personified and honored as deities
Beliefs in Early China--Shang Ti
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Lord-on-High
Ruler of the universe
Supreme ancestor of the Chinese
Deities governing aspects of the cosmos
and the local environment are
subordinate to him
Beliefs in Early China--Shang Ti
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Chou dynasty (c. 1122–221 BCE) which
overthrew the Shang
focus shifted to Heaven as an
impersonal power controlling the
universe
Rulers developed the idea of the
“Mandate of Heaven” to justify their
rule
Beliefs in Early China--Shang Ti
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Human destiny is determined by
virtuous deeds
Rulers have a moral duty to maintain
the welfare of the people and a spiritual
duty to conduct
respectful ceremonies for the highest
heavenly beings
Taoism
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Country of origin is China
It began approximately 600 B.C.E.
It originally means road or way
The Tao represents the characteristics or
behavior that makes each thing in the
universe what it is
The world is also used to mean reality as a
whole, which consists of all the individual
“ways”
Taoism—Central Beliefs: Tao
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“unnamable,” “eternally real”
a basic concept that cannot be defined,
like “goodness”
Mystical reality that cannot be grasped
by the mind
Taoism—Central Beliefs: Tao

The Tao-te Ching says:
The Tao that can be told of
Is not the Absolute Tao,
The Names that can be given
Are not Absolute Names.
The Nameless is the origin of Heaven
and Earth;
The Named is the Mother of All Things
...
Taoism—Central Beliefs--Tao
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transcendent unity of all things, rather
than separation.
Chang Chung-yuan :“the value of Tao
lies in its power to reconcile opposites
on a higher level of consciousness.”
This higher level can only be attained
when one ceases to feel any personal
preferences
Taoism-
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Seeks a carefree, natural way of life
Simple life in harmony with nature
Tradition of great mental and physical
discipline
Taoism—Nature of the Divine
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Tao is the source of the universe and
the Way of reality
Tao is part of an amalgam of deities,
spirits, and folk myths and devotions
Texts
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Tao-te-ching (The Classic of
the Way and the Power)
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(Lao-tsu) The author is obscure
I Ching – the five classics (Book of
Changes)
Chuang-tzu
The Taoist Canon
History of the Taoist Canon
Throughout history the "Taoist Canon," or Dàozàng 道藏 "Vault of the Way," has
suffered from:
1.
lack of official status
2.
lack of agreement about the contents across different Taoist sects
3.
the tendency to include ever more works
4.
much overlap among the works making it up, which copied constantly from
each other
5.
little coherence in content from one work to another
6.
the inclusion of liturgical and meditational texts that make little sense
without orally transmitted exegesis, rarely stable and often lost
7.
lack of adequate indexing
8.
a tradition that regarded the details of Taoist practice as secret, so that
different families transmitted different collections of Taoist books, and none
wanted to have their versions published
In the XXth century the last two issues were
addressed, and Chinese and western scholars have
rescued a fairly extensive canon, published it in
multiple copies, and indexed it. Although there are
several distinct themes, and some tend to be
concentrated in certain sections, most themes are
found in most sections, and the traditional
organization of this vast library is both a blessing
(because it represents a kind of standard) and a
(somewhat greater) curse (because it inhibits
understanding).
History of Taoism:
Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be roughly
translated into English as path, or the
way. It is basically indefinable. It has to
be experienced. It "refers to a power
which envelops, surrounds and flows
through all things, living and non-living.
The Tao regulates natural processes and
nourishes balance in the Universe. It
embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e.
there would be no love without hate, no
light without dark, no male without
female.)" 2
The founder of Taoism is believed by
many to be Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE), a
contemporary of Confucius.
(Alternate spellings: Lao Tze, Lao
Tsu, Lao Tzu, Laozi, Laotze, etc.). He
was searching for a way that would
avoid the constant feudal warfare
and other conflicts that disrupted
society during his lifetime. The result
was his book: Tao-te-Ching (a.k.a.
Daodejing). Others believe that he is
a mythical character.
Taoism started as a combination of
psychology and philosophy but evolved
into a religious faith in 440 CE when it was
adopted as a state religion. At that time
Lao-Tse became popularly venerated as a
deity. Taoism, along with Buddhism and
Confucianism, became one of the three
great religions of China.
With the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in
1911, state support for Taoism ended.
Much of the Taoist heritage was destroyed
during the next period of warlordism.

After the Communist victory in 1949,
religious freedom was severely
restricted. "The new government put
monks to manual labor, confiscated
temples, and plundered treasures.
Several million monks were reduced to
fewer than 50,000" by 1960. 3 During
the cultural revolution in China from
1966 to 1976, much of the remaining
Taoist heritage was destroyed. Some
religious tolerance has been restored
under Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 to the
present time.
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Taoism currently has about 20
million followers, and is primarily
centered in Taiwan. About 30,000
Taoists live in North America;
1,720 in Canada (1991 census).
Taoism has had a significant
impact on North American culture
in areas of "acupuncture,
herbalism, holistic medicine,
meditation and martial arts..." 3
Taoism--I Ching (Book of Changes)
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a common source for Taoism and
Confucianism
regarded as a classic text in both
traditions
Taoism--I Ching (Book of Changes)
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To use this subtle system
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one respectfully purifies the divining
objects—such as yarrow stalks or coins,
which symbolize yin and yang
asks a question
casts the objects six times
consults the I Ching for symbolic
interpretation of the yin–yang
combinations
Taoism--I Ching (Book of Changes)
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hexagram number 46--Sheng: “Pushing
Upward,”
likened by some commentators to a tree
emerging from the earth, growing slowly
And invisibly:
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Thus the superior person of devoted character
Heaps up small things
In order to achieve something high and great.
Hexagram 46: Sheng – Moving Upward /
Striving
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Above; Earth, the passive
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Below; wind, gentleness, penetration
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This hexagram represents the action of a shoot
in the earth pushing upward with effort.
Moving upward with effort against restraint
brings success. Seek out the great man and
have no fears.
Basic principles of life
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According to Confucianism, people can live a
good life only in a well-disciplined society that
stresses attention to ceremony, duty, and
public service.
To experience the transcendent unity of all
things, rather than separation.
Taoist sage takes a low profile in the world
Taoist ideal is a person who avoids
conventional social obligations and leads a
simple, spontaneous, and meditative life close
to nature.
Taoism—Central Beliefs: Yin and Yang
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Yin—female (sun)
Yang—male (Moon)
Wisdom lies in recognizing their
ever-shifting but regular and
balanced patterns and moving
with them
Taoism—Central Beliefs: Yin and Yang
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Yin originally meant
"shady, secret, dark,
mysterious, cold."
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Yang in meant
"clear, bright, the
sun, heat."
Taoism—Central Beliefs: Yin and Yang
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each force contains
the seed of the
other, so that they
do not merely
replace each other
but actually become
each other
Taoism—Central Beliefs: Yin and Yang
Historical figures
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1) Lao-tzu (approx. 600 B.C.E.) – a
curator of the royal library of the Chou
dynasty, author of Tao Te Ching
2) Chuang-tzu (365-290 B.C.E.) – a
minor gov’t official who left to become
a hermit, survive chaos by detaching
from it
Taoism--Lao-tzu
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“Old Master”
older contemporary of Confucius
Some think the Tao-te Ching was an
oral tradition, derived from the
teachings of several sages, and
question whether Lao-tzu ever existed
philosophy was addressed to those in
leadership positions
Lao-tzu
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“Water is the softest thing on earth.
Yet its silken gentleness. Will easily
wear away the hardest stone”
Nothing is evil, but things may be out of
balance
The world is naturally in harmony
Who was Lao Tzu?
Lao-tzu lived twenty-five centuries ago
in ancient China. Even though the
details of his existence are shrouded
in the mist of time, we know with a
fair degree of certainty that his name
was Li Er. Legend has it that King Wu
of Zhou appointed him head librarian
of the imperial archives at Luoyang. In
this capacity Lao-tzu was able to
immerse himself in the study of
history, philosophy and literature,
gaining wisdom & insights along the
way.
According to another well known legend,
Confucius visited with Lao-tzu and came
away in awe of Lao-tzu's intellect.
Confucius recognized in Lao-tzu a deep
understanding about the world that was
above his own, and went so far as to liken
Lao-tzu to the mysterious dragon.
Lao-tzu decided to leave civilization behind
when the House of Zhao began its decline.
He departed Luoyang and headed through
the Hangu Pass to some destination beyond
the Great Wall.
Before leaving the gate at the Great
Wall, a guard at the gate asked him to
write down his thoughts on the Tao
for posterity. Lao-tzu agreed, and
wrote a small book in two parts,
expressing his accumulated learnings
in brief, concise yet profound
language. This book survived over
2,500 years and came to be known as
the Tao Te Ching.
Taoism--Chuang-tzu
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Counseled indifference to birth and
death
“The Master came because it was time.
He left because he followed the natural
flow. Be content with the moment, and
be willing to follow the flow.”
Taoism--Chuang-tzu
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asserted that the best way to live in a
chaotic, absurd civilization is to become
detached from it
Ritual and practice
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Meditation
Devotions
Fasting
The members of some Taoist groups have
sought to attain immortality through magic,
meditation, special diets, breath control, or
the recitation of scriptures
Taoist philosophy had a great influence on
Chinese literature and art
Tai-chi chuan
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Developed in the eighteenth century as a training
for martial arts, it is still practiced today by many
Chinese at dawn and dusk for their health
It looks like slow swimming in the air, with
continual circular movement through a series of
dance-like postures
Tai-chi chuan
Feng-shui (geomancy)
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By observing the contours of the land
and the flows of wind and water,
specialist in feng-shui could reportedly
determine the best places for the
harmonious placement of a temple,
dwelling place, or grave
Ethics and Morality
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Wu-wei
 “non-action,” or taking no intentional or
invasive action contrary to the natural flow
of things
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Nothing is evil, but things may be out of
balance
Ethics and Morality
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Wu-wei
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Even when difficulties arise, the sage does not
panic and take unnecessary action:
Sweet music and highly seasoned food
Entertain for a while,
But the clear, tasteless water from the well
Gives life and energy without exhaustion.
Lao-tzu10
Ethics and Morality
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Selflessness
 leads to a higher level of knowledge
beyond the distinctions of life and death
Taoism as a religion
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Taoism has a hereditary priesthood.
The priests conduct public rituals,
during which they submit the people’s
prayers to the gods of folk religion.
The chief priest prays to other divinities
on behalf of the worshipers. These
divinities are not former human beings
but represent aspects of the Tao.
Confucianism
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Country of origin is China
Is a philosophy bases on the ideas of the
Chinese philosopher Confucius.
It originated about 500 B.C.E.
From the 100’s B.C.E. to the 1900s C.E.,
Confucianism was the most important single
force in Chinese life.
It influenced Chinese education,
government, and attitudes toward correct
personal behavior and the individual’s duty
to society
Confucianism as religion
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Confucianism has no clergy and does not
teach the worship of a God or gods or the
existence of a life after death
Confucianism is a guide to morality and
good government
From about 200 to 600 C.E. interest in
Confucianism declined in China. Many
Chinese turned instead to Buddhism and
Taoism
Revival of interest in Confucius philosophy
began in the 600’s
Confucianism-
most effective strategy was for the
rulers to perform classical rites and
music properly so that they would
remain of visibly high moral character
and thus inspire the common people to
be virtuous
Historical figures
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1) Kung Chiu (Confucius) (551-479
B.C.E.)
2) Mencius
3) Hsun Tzu
4) Chu Hsi
Texts
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Six classics (University began to teach
Confucian thoughts)
Analects
Book of Rites
Reflections on Things at Hand
Nature of Divine
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Acceptance of popular deities
Importance of ancestors
K’ung Fu-tzu
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Master K’ung
Juchiao (the teaching of the scholars)
Born in approximately 551 B.C.E.,
during the Chou dynasty, into a family
whose ancestors had been prominent in
the previous dynasty
He married at the age of nineteen and
had at least two children
K’ung Fu-tzu
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He instructed his followers to engage
the world according to a code of moral
conduct and responsibility.
Confucianism is enshrined in the
Chinese way of life
K’ung Fu-tzu
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Constant warfare raged among the many states that
that made up China
Rapid political change altered the structure of
Chinese society, and many people no longer
respected the established standards of behavior
Confucius feared that this threat to orderly social life
would lead to the destruction of civilization
Confucius believed his society would be saved if it
emphasized sincerity in personal and public conduct
Golden Rule
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“What you do not wish for yourself, do
not do to others”
Confucius
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When Confucius died about 479 B.C.E.,
he was largely unknown.
His followers spread his ideas.
Meng Tzu
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Commonly latinized as Mencius
His lifetime (c. 390-305 B.C.E.)
He emphasized the moral duty of rulers to
govern by the principle of humanity and the
good of the people
He believed people were born good.
He stressed the need to preserve “the natural
compassion of the heart” that makes people
human
Confucianism--
Mencius
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major additions to the Confucian
tradition were his belief in the
goodness of human nature and his
focus on the virtue of yi, or
righteous conduct
Confucianism-Mencius
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emphasized the moral duty of rulers to
govern by the principle of humanity and
for the good of the people.
If rulers are guided by profit motives, this
self-centered motivation will be reflected
in all subordinates and social chaos will
ensue
Confucianism--
Hsun Tzu
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human nature is naturally evil and
that Heaven is impersonal,
operating according to natural laws
rather than intervening on the side
of good government or responding
to human wishes
Humans must hold up their own end
Confucianism--
Chu His
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the individual is intimately linked
with all of the cosmos, “forming
one body with all things”
Confucianism

Confucianism focuses on ways of
developing a just and orderly society
Confucianism
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From about 200 B.C.E. until the beginning of
the twentieth century, Confucianism was a
state church-the official religion of China
But after the 1949 Revolution, the communist
government of the new People’s Republic of
China vigorously repressed religion.
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Today, though officials provide no
precise count, hundreds of millions of
Chinese are still influenced by
Confucianism
Almost all Confucianist live in Asia
There are 100,000 followers of
Confucius in North America
Central teachings
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We must always subordinate our self-interest to moral principle.
In family, the individual must be loyal and considerate
Families must remain mindful of their duties toward the larger
community
Layer upon layer of moral obligation integrates society as a
whole
Li – Sacred Rituals
Yi – Right conduct
Veneration of ancestors
Tradition
Confucianism
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On might argue that Confucianism is a less a
religion than a model of disciplined living
The historical dominance of Confucianism
helps explain why Chinese culture is skeptical
of the supernatural
Confucianism shares with religion a body of
beliefs and practices that have as their goal
goodness, concern for others, and social
harmony
Neo-Confucianism

Zhu Xi (1130-1200) developed a branch
of Neo-Confucianism called the rational
wing. It emphasized study and
investigation of Li, the pattern behind
human and natural relationships.
Communism in China
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Confucianism continued to actively influence
Chinese life until it came into conflict with
Western ideas, especially Communism in the
1900s.
For many years, the Chinese Communist
government opposed Confucianism because
the philosophy encouraged people to look to
the past rather than to the future. However,
government opposition ended in 1977
Shinto
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Country of origin is Japan
It means the way of the gods
Central beliefs
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Kinship with nature
Goodness of Creation
Kami Spirits
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Kami are the basic force in mountains,
rivers, rocks, trees, and other parts of
nature
Kami are the basic force in such
processes as creativity, disease, growth,
and healing
Shinto
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Shinto emphasizes rituals and moral
standards.
It does not have an elaborate philosophy
It does not stress life after death
About 3 million people practice traditional
Shinto
Shinto priests lead ceremonies called matsuri
Shinto
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Shinto myths appear in the Nihongi
(Chronicles of Japan)
Kojiki (The Record of Ancient Matters)
Both written in the A.D. 700s
These myths tell how the kami created the
world and established customs and laws.
According to Shinto mythology, the sun
goddess became the ancestor of Japan’s
imperial family
Shrines
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There are more than 100,000 Shinto
shrines in Japan
Some public shrines consist of several
buildings and gardens.
Individual worshipers recite prayers and
offer gifts of cakes and flowers to the
kami
Ritual and practice
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Purification – It consists of a confession of
sins committed by individuals and by the
nation as a whole, followed by a request that
the kami remove the impure conditions
caused by these sins.
Tea ceremony
Festivals
A) Life-cycle oriented
B) Seasonal
Respect for relations and roles
State Shinto-
tenets included
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obedience to the will of the divine
emperor
the connection of Japan with its kami
ancestors
the submission of the individual to the
greater good of the empire
Buddhist and Confucian
influences
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Buddhism is still practiced side-by-side with
Shinto
As for Confucianism, seventeenth-century
Japanese Confucian scholars attempted to
free themselves from Buddhism and to tie the
Chinese beliefs they were importing to the
ancient Japanese ways
Under the influences of Confucianism, Shinto
developed such moral standards as honesty,
kindness, and respect for one’s elders and
superiors
Shinto today
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In general, the ways of Shintoism are
indigenous to Japan, and they remain so.
Outside Japan, Shinto beliefs and practices
are common only in Hawaii and Brazil,
because many Japanese have settled there
Shintoism has not been a proselytizing
religion (that is, it does not seek to convert
others).
Discussion Questions
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What role does nature play in the practice of
Shinto?
How does Shinto understand the sacred?
How do Shinto practices and ceremonies
reflect its respect for nature and the sacred?
Historically, what influences has Shinto had
on Japanese society and politics?
Integrating Questions
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How do Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto
demonstrate a reverence for nature?
Why do you think that Taoism, Confucianism,
and Shinto are so closely tied to the historical
cultures of China and Japan?
What elements of Taoism, Confucianism, and
Shinto are characteristic of the Eastern
religious traditions that we have studied in
this course?