...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...
Words: 1428 - Pages: 6
...Islam, and Christianity. In China, the government has restrictions on religion that affect the social level of the Chinese culture. Buddhism is main religion that the government of China recognizes to be the official religion. However, in the United States, there is no official religion that is control by the government. In the United States, religious belief is dynamic and widespread among Americans. Based on 35, 000 Americans age 18 and older, the U.S Religions Landscape Survey reported that that among adults in America 78.4% were Christians, 4.7% were another religion, 16.1% were unaffiliated, and .8 % did not know what religion they were. (PewResearch Religion & Public Life Project ). Additionally, Christianity is the most influential religion in the nation; however the United States has no nationally established religion because of the First Amendment t in the U.S Constitution. According to the Grey House Publishing stated that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has two distinct clauses affecting religion, each representing a fundamental principle and both designed to protect religious liberty. The Establishment Clause prohibits any law, “respecting an establishment of religion.” The Free Exercise Clause bans laws “prohibiting the free exercise of religion.” (Thomas, 2009, p. 217) Under this amendment, it protects the freedom of every individual to worship whatever religion without the government interference. As compared to China, the government has restrictions...
Words: 287 - Pages: 2
...Religion in China was quite common for different areas of the country. The 3 religions were named Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. The different types of religions were important because of the different times in China. Each religion had a different meaning for that religion and time period. Taoism was founded during the Zhou Dynasty in the 6th century. Taoism people believed that one should be with nature and all living things to have a living flow throughout them. Taoist believers didn’t feel that the use of rules and government should be allowed and were very unique in this way. The second religion is Confucianism. Not long after Lao-Tzu found Taoism, Confucius was discovered in 551 BCE. Confucius came up with ways to how people should live...
Words: 472 - Pages: 2
...Buddhism Buddhism was introduced to China around the first century A.D. Since the fourth century A.D, it was widely spread and gradually became the most influential religion in China. Buddhism in China is divided into three branches according to varied language families, namely, Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Pali Buddhism and there are about 200 thousand Buddhist monks and nuns under these three branches. At present, there are more than 13 thousand Buddhist temples that are open to the public, 33 Buddhist colleges and nearly 50 types of Buddhist publications in China. As one branch of Buddhism in China, Tibetan Buddhism is mainly spread in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province with some 7 million believers from Tibetan, Mongolian, Yugu, Monba, Luoba and Tu nationalities. Pali Buddhism is popular in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture and Simao region in southwestern China’s Yunnan Province with over one million believers from Dai, Bulang, Achang and Va nationalities. The believers of Chinese Buddhism are mainly Han people, who live all over China. Taoism Taoism is a typically traditional religion in China with a history of more than 18 hundred years since the second century A.D. It advocates the worship of natural objects and ancestors as was practiced since time immemorial and had various factions in the history; later, it evolved into two major factions, namely...
Words: 591 - Pages: 3
...Chinese religions compared with Western religions Religion has no boundaries geographically, which can be develop and exist in any culture. China is an old country which is able to syncretize distinguished cultures to develop a new look of a religion. Chinese religions have their own features, and western religions which come to China bring new look of Chinese religions. In my paper, I will argue that Chinese religion focus more on practice rather than belief firstly; Hence, Chinese religion associated with the faith with human being features, but not the supreme beings instead. In addition, Chinese religions is free to accept and follow, compared with Western religions. First of all, Chinese religions emphasize people to concentrate more on practice than belief. According to DeBary’s book, it is said “The Chinese were particularly desirous of knowing whether Buddhism could add to their knowledge of elixirs and practices that would contribute to longevity, levitation and other superhuman achievements.” (DeBary, 421) This quotation expresses that, Chinese people do not only believe in Buddhism, but also desire to explore the real use of Buddhism. For this reason, temples and statuary were soon erected all over China (DeBary, 421). Monks who practices the Buddhism in temples and statuary were required to shave their head and not allowed to marry. Yoga and dhyana also come to China from India as a form of practices of Buddhism. In addition, there are many popular religions exist...
Words: 1012 - Pages: 5
...the collapse of the Han dynasty around 200 C.E. Due to the chaos and violence in China; it discredited Confucianism and led the Chinese to see Buddhism as hope. However, not all Chinese agreed with the idea of Buddhism and were strongly against its practice and presence in China. Documents 2 and 3 were supportive of the religion, while documents 4 and 6 opposed it. Although documents 1 and 5 described Buddhism, it remained neutral in the controversy while it gave a reliable view on the religion. Even though these documents were helpful on understanding the different viewpoints on Buddhism around that time, it would be also beneficial to use a document from a female’s perspective. Documents 2 and 3 both viewed the increasing popularity of Buddhism in China to be positive. Document 2 briefly explained the many benefits of joining Buddhism, but its author, Zhi Dun, is an unreliable source. Zhi Dun was a Chinese scholar, indicating that he lived in an upper class life and may not have understood the struggles of the lower classes in China. In addition, Zhi...
Words: 680 - Pages: 3
...non-violence in all parts of life, speaking truth, sexual monogamy, and the detachment from material things. As part of the disciplined and non-violent lifestyle, Jains typically are strict vegetarians and often adhere to a quite arduous practice of non-violence, which restricts the sorts of occupations the may follow (no farming, for instance, since insects are inadvertently harmed in plowing). Read more: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Jainism.html#ixzz32xMJg98y In Buddhism there is not, as in most other religions, an Almighty God to be obeyed and feared. The Buddha does not believe in a cosmic ruler, omniscient and omnipresent. In Buddhism there are no divine revelations or divine messengers. A Buddhist is, therefore, not obediant to any higher supernatural power which controls his destinies and which arbitrarily rewards and punishes. Since Buddhists do not believe in revelations of a divine being Buddhism does not claim the monopoly of truth and does not condemn any other religion. In Buddhism, there is no savior. There’s no one who’s going to do it for us, no place we can hide out for safety. We have to face reality squarely, and we have to do it alone. Even when Buddhists take refuge in the Buddha, what they’re really taking refuge in is the truth that there’s no...
Words: 1008 - Pages: 5
...There are an abundant amount of religious and glorified explanations of how our world has become present day. Society refers to these narratives as myths or legends. Mythology spreads all across the world reaching different cultures, which in their own have ideologies to the present common rituals beliefs that have brought their culture to present form. Although there has been much development in the culture of Chinese mythology, this culture can be traced back 4,000 years to the oldest of myths (Willis 88). Mythology tries to answer the question of earth’s origin through beliefs and cultural myths. In Chinese mythology the earth is said to have formed when chaos ruled the universe, from this chaos a cosmic egg formed for 18,000 years. A divine beast formed within the egg creating a perfect balance known as Yin and Yang. The divine beast burst the egg apart and separated Yin from Yang to create earth and sky. The Yin or light parts formed the male skies while the opaque Yang parts formed the female earth. The beast Pan Gu then lies down and dies so that he may rise up to keep the earth and sky apart. His body parts then become sun, earth, moon, wind, water, and clouds. The symbolism of complementary opposition is a representation of their duality and oneness and is represented in Chinese culture through the Yin and Yang symbol and is a staple in Chinese culture. Mythology has a strong belief in deities and supernatural beings. Pan Gu is a supernatural divine creature...
Words: 889 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 941 - Pages: 4
...EALC 275 Paper 2 Grace Chang The influence of the Three Teachings in Monkey Monkey is an abbreviated translation from the Chinese Classic novel: Xi You Ji (The Journey to the West) composed by Wu cheng’en. The whole book is narrating the story of Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty traveling west to India to get the scripture, which is considered a greater vehicle that can be the salvation to all beings. Although apparently the idea of Buddhism is shown as the major concept throughout the whole small talk, the other two Teachings including Confucianism and Daoism are also sufficiently blended in the whole master piece. As a matter of fact, Monkey blends Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism together, which form in Neo-Confucianism. Throughout the whole book, their characteristics and the experience they went through show the ritual and benevolence in Confucianism idea, adopt the natural way in Daoist philosophy, and explain the path to reach Nirvana in Buddhist belief. The backgrounds of the main characters can represent the influence by three Teachings. First of all, in the whole book, Tripitaka blended the Confucianism ritual and benevolence traits into Buddhism suffering Nirvana process, and eventually got the true meaning of Buddhism and became a Bodhisattva. Tripitaka, the core character of this west Journey, was the son of Chen O who received the first place at the final Court Examination and married the daughter of the minister. Civil Exam was an examination that adheres to Confucian...
Words: 1957 - Pages: 8
...the main stream of Buddhism. There are also dialogues between Mouzi and questioners arguing about the Buddhism’s potential effects on Chinese culture. Buddhism does not put much concentration on philosophical and metaphysical explanations of the Way like other schools of thoughts; neither did it intend to admonish rulers by concerning about political issues. Buddhism’s targeted audience would be those who want to achieve nirvana since it emphasizes a lot on humanity and regards teaching the idea of transmigration to commoners as their priority. The questioners’ suspect tones in Mouzi’s Disposing of Error reveal that most people at that time are suspicious about Buddhism because it is completely different from ideas proclaimed by former religion groups. However, it does not deviate from central ideas but brings more flexibility. Based on the belief that all things are transient, people and rules need to change with time. This is demonstrated by Buddhism beliefs that monks can injury themselves, do not need to marry and give birth to the next generation and even do not have to bow down before a king. Although it seems that Buddhism contradicts with Confucianism’s idea of filial piety as well as disregards Daoists’ desire for immortality, it actually brings humanity to the first place. Buddhism’s arguments are not as effective as Mohists’ or Legalists’ because it does not use logic to persuade people; whereas it has faith in its followers that they would abide by what Buddha said...
Words: 336 - Pages: 2
...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...
Words: 452 - Pages: 2
...Conducting Business in China China’s three historic schools of thought are Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. These three beliefs make up the foundation for Chinese society. Confucianism is mostly concerned with political ideas and social harmony; Taoism is concerned with the health of the human body; and Buddhism is most concerned with psychology and the nature of the mind. Each of these teachings also emphasis the opposite of its main focus. Confucianism promoted social harmony by teaching about self-cultivation; Taoism talked about health by having harmony with the natural environment; and Buddhism taught about the mind by contrasting it with the material world of things. These philosophies influence business because they are integrated into Chinese business by the way business owners interact and deal with one another. Over 80% of the people in China adhere to one of these three philosophies. In Western countries we purposely separate religious beliefs/affiliations with business dealings but in China and other eastern countries they are a necessity of it. In China, business relationships eventually become social relationships after time. This is a stark contrast to Western business relationships that aim to keep it professional at all times even after time has elapsed. In China the more you share about your persona life including family, hobbies, political views, etc., the closer you are with your business partners. In fact, sometimes the majority of business conversations...
Words: 595 - Pages: 3
...India and China have changed over the years and it is still important today. India and China had many religions and philosophies. In India, people believed in Hinduism and Buddhism. However, people in China would only believe in Buddhism and philosophies. Also, philosophies and religions changed people's lives over time. In conclusion, Religion and Philosophy affected people's lives in China and India in many ways. Indians were affected by religion in daily life in many ways. Religion leaders told Indians about religion and it became popular today in many countries. The religions were Hinduism and Buddhism. First, Hinduism believed in reincarnation and most Hindus did their job daily so they would not end up in the lower castes. Also, the lower...
Words: 376 - Pages: 2
...Imperial Rome and Han China were two of the most powerful empires to ever exist. In order to maintain their positions of political power, it was imperative that the rulers of each empire had a way of maintaining unity and controlling the populace. Though they had different forms of government- Rome was a republic, which allowed the people some influence, and Han China was a bureaucracy with one overall leader -each had a unique approach of asserting political control among the population, using varying forms of religion, centralized government, and entertainment for the citizens. 1- Religion: Politically and culturally, religion played an extremely important part in providing political control for both Imperial Rome and Han China. However, both the religions and the way they were used to benefit each empire varied greatly in order to serve the...
Words: 844 - Pages: 4
