...In this section of the paper the interactions of Daoism, and how they influence both the modern world and the assigned religion. Cosmology (yin/yang) is the first interaction is discussed on how it influences the world and the religion Daoism. Yin and yang is a continual transformation. Cosmology is the underlying foundations and system of Cosmo, which is the center on correlative cosmology and systematic correspondences that has a worldwide view predicate on yin-yang interaction and its five phases. The five phases is a classification system for everything. The phases are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Water, is the softest, and the most yielding element. Fire is described as the hottest element. Metal is considered to be the hardest element. Blue Dragon is the symbol of wood that represents a principal symbol of yang. White Tiger is the symbol of yin. The reversal of the metal elements is often found in the I-Ching. The classification system represents both yin and yang just at different times and moments throughout the day. The five phases are not the only attributes of cosmology. Cosmology other attributes are, five directions, five colors, five flavors, five planets, and five viscera. All these attributes that are a part of cosmology are used in Daoism religion to help the believers and members to worship, pray, believe in their God that Daoism has faith in. These attributes influence the world through yin and yang. Yin is the dark sides, which are harmful aspects...
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...University of Phoenix Material Daoism Worksheet Complete the following questions in detail. Answer each question with a 1- or 2-paragraph response that includes a reference citation. Make use of Experiencing the World’s Religions and other sources in your research as you complete the questions. 1. Describe the principles of yang and yin. As stated by the Shen-nong website, “Ancient people were greatly interested in there relationships and patterns that occurred in nature. Instead of studying isolated things, they viewed the world as a harmonious and holistic entity” ("Yin yang," 2005, p. 1).Yin and yang are best described as complementary ways for explaining relationships between objects.Yin is referred to as dark, cold, lower, rest, inward, and female.Yang is referred to as bright, hot, upper, movement, outward, and male. One can not exsist without the other. This is not the same principle as good and eveil. The two forces of Yin and Yang work together to make up the univserse and exsist in everything in the universe. These two complementary forces helped the ancient people explain and understand nature, energy, and the human body. 2. The main scripture in Daoism is the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching). What is the history and importance of this text for the tradition? The Daodejing is a book made up of five thousand Chinese characters and is seen as one of the world’s greatest books. It is the main scripture for Daoists and the title is translated as...
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...customs of east Asia are laid by following the roots of their religions. Daoism and Confucianism are two of the most popular religions in China. Daoism or also known as Taoism , is traced to the collection of poems called the Dao dejing ( The classical of the Way and Its Power). For Daoism , daoist truths must be experienced by oneself. The Dao is a manifest in the yin and yang forces. The Yang is described as as force representing the active, hard, warm dry, bright, positive masculine, and the yin has the exact opposite of the previous descriptions. These two are complementary forces which must be in balance in order to de ideal. In Daoism , everything in nature consist of these two energies. In Daoism the main problem with society is that one does not know who they truly are and we keep resisting ourselves from our actual self. In order to be in harmony, ones goal is to have a natural and simple life. This can be done by practicing the Wu wie which means inaction or nonpurposeness, meaning no ambitions, no desires, no needs. If a person is able to achieve such , they would be able to live the natural and simple life and be in harmony with the Dao. Now, the other religion also commonly used or lived by in china is Confucianism. This religion was from the time of Confucius, he was the founder. This religion was preoccupied with the way of social harmony, instead of the cosmic harmony as it was seen in Daoism. In Confucianism, humans are improvable by personal and communal attempts...
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...Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism were all introduced to China during the chaotic Warring States period in part due to intense interstate warfare. These philosophies acted as a guide for not only citizens but rulers as well. Thus, the popularity of these philosophies varied depending on the ruling family’s ideology. Therefore, philosophical beliefs helped govern and build positivity. This week, I will be comparing Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism, and their role in addressing the chaotic late Zhou period. Confucius, also known as Master Kong, was a justice minister and the founder of Confucianism. His school of thought primarily focused on ambiguous rituals which allowed man to find their inner “goodness.” Despite his focus on ceremony, Confucius’ teachers were to be thought of as an ethical system rather than a religion. Thus, he taught his followers to be respectful to their family members, ancestors, and elders:...
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...Zhuangzi is the man who incorporated a prose of constantly changing styles, with embedded verse passages. Many of his works were humors. The poems transitions from wise jokes to moments of profound melancholy and then to tight philosophical arguments that turn imperceptibly paradox. Zhuangzi helped create Daoism, which traces as back as the 6th Century. Daoism is about people living without worldly possessions and resting in non-action. On the other hand, there was not a religion of choice and Tao acted as a universal belief. The people of Tao believe that there is no God, but that the universe springs from the Tao. “The One” is the essential energy of life that enables people to be themselves and live in accordance to the Tao. Later on, Taoism...
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...ASIAN RELIGIONS NARRATIVE ROUGH DRAFT: TAOISM I am Taoism, also known as Daoism. I am considered both an indigenous Chinese religion and philosophy due to the diversity of Taoist belief. My philosophical side accepts death as a natural returning to the Tao while my religious side is magical and emphasizes health and healing as ways to gain immortality. The root word in my name is Tao, which means “way”, is the central harmony. Tao is part of all things yet greater than all things. It refers to the road extending in one direction. For example, a road with many forks and or directions is not considered Tao. Tao is not a substance nor can it be perceived. It is often described as formless, nameless and defying convention. You could say it is...
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...In ancient China many different rulers tried to unify and rule the country using a variety of methods such as Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism. Each theory has its own set of rules of how people should act both in public and privately. The overall goal of each philosophy was to set a standard, acceptable living that would ensure harmony and success for the society. However, each theory was different and therefore had different results on the dynasties. I believe the best way for the people of Chinese government to succeed in a peaceful, stable, society occurs when both Confucianism and Legalism philosophies are combined. The theory of Legalism encourages to be scared of your leader, not inspired by them. Almost every crime, had a harsh punishment, which scared people from behaving that way, without question. It gives the people almost no civil rights or personal freedoms outside of the laws they must follow. The legalists believed in the well-being of the state or region, not an individual person. Legalism may be seen as inhumane to many because of all the killings from the forced labor. However, Legalism was a very successful philosophy that did provide China with stability. There were numerous achievements accomplished for China under the Shi Huangdi who followed legalism. “Emperor Qin divided the empire into 40 administrative units called “commanderies” 1 which were further divided into districts and counties. He created separate provinces and districts headed by officials...
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...Comparisons and Contrast of Jainism and Daoism Both Jainism and Daoism (Taoism) have ancient roots going back a few thousand years. Statues and yogic seals found in the Indus Valley show that Jainism was practiced by civilizations as far back as around 2500 BCE, while Daoism appears to have originated around 2000 years ago. Although Jainism is older by about 4500 years both have continued to have to be practiced by numerous followers seeking a level of enlightenment. Although having over 6 million followers little has been known about Jainism outside of India. This may be due in part to there being no written scriptures in regards to this religion for a large part of its history. Rather the teachers of Jain would orally spread their knowledge whilst wandering the land. While Jainism was more or less “contained” in India, Daoism teachings are widespread throughout the world. Unlike Jainism, Daoism is a philosophical teaching and not a religion. This may help explain why so many people around the world choose to follow it as an escape from the “industrial rat race.” Yet when compared side to side, it is easier to understand how one would choose to follow Daoism over Jainism. To say that Jainism is strict is an understatement. To follow Jainism successfully one would have to adhere to teachings such as the teachings of Mahivira, the man credited with giving Jainism the form that is practiced today. These teachings include the three jewels: Right belief, Right knowledge,...
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...According to Professor Vincent Shen, human being in the postmodern society has been facing two major problems: mental nihilism and environmental crisis (171). And as he wisely pointed out, the teaching of classical Confucianism and Daoism provides us with a solution: return to simplicity and reconstruct the harmonic relationship for both mind and environment. Furthermore, generosity towards many others, as a dynamic tension inside both classical Confucianism and Daoism, can be practiced through strangification. And this generous strangification towards many others, is the source of practical value in classical Confucianism and Daoism (295). In this reading report, I will try to show my critical reflection on Professor Shen’s wisdom in Chapter 8 and 13 of his anthology. For classical Confucianism represented by Confucius, reciprocity in social relationships is the fundamental phase of...
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...China and India China and India are two great civilizations that have been heavily influenced by religion and it has played a major role in their lives. The main religions from both of the civilizations are Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Although China and India were governed by their beliefs and it determined how they were supposed to live their lives, the civilizations have different lifestyles and believe in different aspects of life. (Siwei, 2010) (Buddhism & Hinduism Compared, n.d) Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism have been a major part of life for the Chinese. In c. 500 B.C.E, Confucianism, a system of teachings by Confucius, was founded. Although many people consider it to be a religion, Confucianism is thought of more as a series of teachings. The way the Chinese go about life or think is often based on the teachings of Confucius. Two thousand years ago, Buddhism came into existence and was implememnted into the Chinese culture. Buddhism is solely based on the teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the belief that suffering is the path to overcome. Siddhartha Gautama is the founder of Buddhism. Written by Laozi, Daoism is a spiritual philosophy that focuses on living in harmony and peace....
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...Compare and contrast Daoism (Taoism), Legalism, and Confucianism. Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism share similarities as they worked together to form schools of thought that worked to exercised a deep influence in Chinese political and cultural traditions. They also worked to bring political and social stability to China during the years of the Zhou dynasty and the period of the warring states (Bently, Ziegler & Streets, p.100). The differences among the three is Confucian’s involved themselves in society by holding government positions and made concrete efforts to solve political and social problems while promoting harmony in public life. The Daoism’s believed that it would be pointless to focus on social activism. Instead they focused their time trying to understand the principles of living in harmony as they believed that someday there would be harmony to society as a whole (Bently et. al. p.103). The Legalists were unlike the other two. They did not concern themselves with ethics, morality or property nor did they care about the place of human beings in nature, instead, they placed their focus to the state, which they sought to strengthen and expand at all costs (Bently et. al. p.104). What did each system stress as most important? Daoists thought that they should withdraw from the world of politics and administration so that humans could not live in harmony (Bently et. al. p.103). Legalists’ sought to channel as many individuals as possible into...
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...Colvin Confucianism and Daoism (Taoism) REL 212: World Religion Instructor: Professor Joel Goldstein Daoism is one of China’s major religions indigenous to the country. The primary belief is in learning and practicing “The Way” (Dao) which is the ultimate truth to the universe. Confucianism and Taoism are both ancient Chinese styles of living. Confucianism believes in setting good examples for others to follow primarily in 5 key relationships: ruler & subject, wife & husband, older & younger sibling, friend & friend, father & son. While Daoism (Or Taoism) was a way of living in which there were not many rules and believes in the dialectical philosophy of inaction. Through nature and harmony you can be happy. This is where yin and yang come from. Daoism is also known as Taoism, Daoism traces its beginnings to Sixth Century BC when Chinese philosopher Laozi wrote the iconic book Dao De Jing on the tenets of the Dao. Laozi’s successor, Zhuangzi, further developed Daoist principles. Daoism is an organized religious tradition that has been continuously developing through China, Korea and Japan for a little over two thousand years. Daoism has now spread around the globe from Sydney to Toronto and includes among its followers people from a whole range of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. Day by day, Daoism is truly becoming a world religion...
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...Daodejing Characterization of Early Daoist Teachers Since every chapter of the Daodejing describes Daoism in different aspects it is believed that several authors contributed to the completion of it. The Daodejing is very poetic and mysterious. The early teachers of the Daodejing seemed to pass things down that was difficult for ordinary minds to comprehend as a way to get people to analyze and understand the world around them. Meanings encrypted in different ways and metaphors constantly used seem to be a common characteristic between the early teachers. Although they were oddly written, all of the passages seemed to give a basic insight on the early teachers’ perspective of things. The Daodejing characterizes common human weakness and meant to effect the way people think or react. Early teachers believed that the truth about the “human mind” can only be sought from within. Outside influences and worldly thing will not guide you to understand yourself. Based on the Daodejing, the early teachers also believed that the understanding of self is given as a gift from nature not acquired knowledge that you just so happen to stumble upon. The text of the Daodejing offers a practical way of life and dismisses any ideas of human immortality. These passages were intended to restore peace and harmony to a world that the early teachers believed was in disarray. The text stresses the importance of learning to resolve things naturally and to restrain from unnatural reactions. The Daodejing...
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...Philosophy and Religion China’s history has been full of richness of culture, mainly due to how they progressed with philosophy and religion. Since the beginning of the Chinese’s civilization philosophy and religion has been at the forefront of Chinese culture. From the ancient oracle bones and bronze inscriptions to the development of different schools of thought, the Chinese have always been adept for the time period in philosophy and religion. And over the course of their history they have combined the two in a manner that suits their needs, through this evolution and combination of the two they have become a strong nation. Oracle bones were the corner stone of the early Chinese dynasties such as the Shang from around 1200-1050 B.C (Shang pg. 1). In one of the articles it attempts to explain the use of these bones by saying that the kings of the Shang Dynasty would “attempt to communicate with the spiritual forces that ruled their world by reading the stress cracks in cattle bones…” (Shang 1). These kings would apply a heated poker to the bones which would produce cracks that they would analyze based on the direction and deepness of the crack. Recently these bones and the records of the king’s analyzation were uncovered. An estimated 150,000 oracle bones were found, and have references to the god of the Shang, Di (Shang pg. 1). This type of analysis by the kings is an early form of a religion, and the building blocks for later philosophy and schools of thought in China’s...
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...Lee Skinner ( Person # 37646847 ) World Civilization 1 William Newsome Ramya Sreenivasan The Treatment of Confucianism and Daoism The treatment of Confucianism and Daoism are seen abundantly throughout The Chinese Maize Murders. Many social values of Confucianism are portrayed through Judge Dee, the hero of the novel. The novel portrays the Confucians as having rulers with impeccable intellect and knowledge. The Daoist is viewed as people that do not value thought and education,” Knowledge is bad because it creates distinctions.”( Craig textbook, pg 54) This is supported by the Dragon and Worm analogy in the story. The novel ultimately endorses the values of Confucianism. This is exemplified through the main character Judge Dee and is supported by the fact that the three main conflicts of the story are solved by Confucian thinking and reasoning. The relationship between these two philosophies is seen as Confucianism learning from the thoughts of Daoism. Judge Dee is the ideal Confucian. He rules with rich morals and deeply thought out justice. The Confucian idea that the smartest men should rule is shown through Judge Dee. He is a brilliant man that uses his wit and knowledge to solve case after case. He uses violence when he has to but he prefers to outsmart his opposition to resolve conflict, just as the thoughts of Confucianism state. He demonstrates the Confucian ideas of proper conduct, compassion, generosity and righteousness. Throughout the story he holds up to these...
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