Transcript What principles should guide human conduct

Major Asian Belief Systems
Confucianism, Taoism
and Buddhism
Question of the Day…
What principles
should guide human
conduct and ensure
order in society?
Confucianism
Confucianism: Origins
• Confucius was born in
551 B.C.E. during the
Zhou Dynasty
• Teachings became
popular during the Han
Dynasty
• Developed a philosophy
to promote peace and
harmony through
proper behavior
• Teachings collected in
the Analects
Confucianism: Teachings
• Five relationships govern society
–
–
–
–
–
Ruler and ruled
Father and son
Older brother and younger brother
Husband and wife
Friend and friend*
• One person has authority over the other,
and has a responsibility to set a good
example and take care of the other
Confucianism: Teachings cont.
• Loyalty, courtesy, hard
work and service are key
values
• Family and society are more
important than the
individual
• Stressed filial piety
• Education is the gateway to
improvement of the
individual and society;
contributes to the practice of
ethical behavior
“To enrich
your family,
there is no
need to buy
good land:
Books hold a
thousand
measures of
grain.”
- Confucius
Confucianism: Influence
• Under the Han Dynasty
(around 200 B.C.E.)
Confucian philosophy gained
strong influence
• Government run by the most
learned men
Above: Painting depicting students
studying for the exam
Below: Recreated cell, where students
would have taken the exam
– Students attended university
– Had to pass a Civil Service
Examination on Confucian
teachings, as well as Chinese
law, history and traditions
– System lasted until the 1900’s
• WASL?
Taoism/Daoism
Daoism: Origins
• The origins of Daoism
are unclear
• Attributed to Lao Zi,
during 500- 400 B.C.E.
• Developed a
philosophy based on
non-action (going with
the flow!)
• Teachings recorded in
the Tao De Jing (The
Way of Virtue)
Daoism: Teachings
• Simplicity is a key
value
• The best way to live is
the natural way
• A society with rules
is an artificial
creation that disturbs
the natural order
Yin-Yang:
Complimentary opposites.
“You can conquer others with power, but it takes
true strength to conquer yourself”. - Tao De Jing
Daoism: Influence
• Led to dominance of
nature in Chinese
painting and poetry
• Daoists made
advances in science
and technology
– Magnetic compass
– Gun powder
Question…
What would Daoists
say about
Confucianism?
Buddhism
Buddhism: Origins
• Founded around 530
B.C.E. by Siddhartha
Gautama who lived in
Northeast India
• Rejected the Hindu
caste system and
materialism in favor of
individual spirituality
• The teachings of the
Buddha were recorded
in hundreds of
documents
Buddhapada: Footprints
of the Buddha.
•Arrived in Southeast
and East Asia around
100 C.E.
Buddhism: Schools
• Theravada
– Practiced in Sri Lanka,
Burma and Thailand
– Considered the original
school of Buddhism
• Mahayana
• Vajrayana
– Practiced in Tibet,
Nepal, Bhutan and
Mongolia
– The lama (or guru) is
central to this practice
• Zen
– Practiced in China,
Korea, Japan, Vietnam
– Practiced in Japan
and Tibet
– Emphasis on
– Branched off from
meditation
Theravada, some
• These are just a few
differences in scriptures
examples!
and practices
Buddhism: Teachings
• The Four Noble
Truths
– 1. Life is suffering
– 2. Suffering is caused
by wanting and
aversion
– 3. Suffering can be
overcome and
happiness attained
(Nirvana)
– 4. The Eightfold Path
leads to the end of
suffering
Dharma Wheel: Roof
decoration on Tibetan temple;
the wheel represents
reincarnation and the
Eightfold Path
Buddhism: Teachings cont.
• The Eightfold Path
Mudra (or symbolic hand
gesture) symbolizing the
Eightfold Path
– 1. Right view or
understanding: of
nature and the path of
transformation
– 2. Right thought or
attitude: acting from
love and compassion
– 3. Right speech: clear,
truthful, uplifting and
non-harmful speech
Buddhism: Teachings cont.
• The Eightfold Path
– 4. Right action:
following the Five
Precepts
– 5. Right livelihood:
based on the principal
of non-exploitation
– 6. Right effort:
conscious evolution
– 7. Right mindfulness:
awareness of all things
– 8. Samadhi: onepointed-ness of mind,
enlightenment
“Buddha with Attendants”
Korea, 16-17th Century
Buddhism: Teachings cont.
• The Five Precepts
– Do not take the life of anything living
– Do not take anything not freely given
– Abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual
overindulgence
– Refrain from untrue speech
– Avoid intoxication, that is, losing mindfulness
Vocab. words
• Atman: The innermost essence of the individual
(soul)
• Nirvana: The state of perfect insight, eternal rest,
and ultimate truth
• Samara: The opposite of Nirvana- the
indefinitely repeated cycle of birth, misery, and
death.
• Brahmins: The highest Hindu caste. Brahmins
inherit their caste position and their occupation
as priests. Siddhartha was born and raised a
Brahmin.
• Om: “The word of words” A verbal spell or
ritual incantation used in meditative
contemplation.
Buddhism: Influence
• Where
Confucianism and
Daoism focused
on life on earth,
Buddhism offered
an afterlife
• Buddhist
monasteries and
temples became
centers of village
life
Young
monks-intraining in
Cambodia.
Buddhist
temple in
Kyoto, Japan.
Appeal: Confucianism and Daoism
dealt with life on Earth.
Buddhism was a religion that
offered an escape from the
suffering of an earthly life.
The Chinese could accept diverse
ideas, As a result, many Chinese
followed Buddhist, Daoist, and
Confucian beliefs at the same
time.
Review
Buddhism
Confucianism
Daoism
Question..
Do you think it is possible to
follow Confucianism, Daoism,
and Buddhism
simultaneously?
Religious Patterns in Asia
• East Asia (China, Korea & • Southeast Asia (Thailand,
Japan)
Cambodia, Malaysia,
Indonesia, etc.)
– Early times: Confucianism,
Daoism, Buddhism
– Contemporary times: Maoist
Communism, Daoism and
Buddhism
– Contemporary Times:
Hinduism and Christianity in
smaller numbers; Buddhism
and Islam in larger numbers
Dynasty
Dates
Shang
1700s-1122 BCE
Zhou
1122-221 BCE
Qin
221-206 BCE
Han
206 BCE- 220 CE
Sui
581-618 CE
Tang
618-907 CE
Song
960-1279 CE
Yuan
1279-1368 CE
Ming
1368-1644 CE
Qing
1644- 1911 CE