Date post: | 02-Jun-2018 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | sankalp-akash-singh |
View: | 223 times |
Download: | 0 times |
of 41
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
1/41
Chapter 2
Philosophy andReligions
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
2/41
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
3/41
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
4/41
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
5/41
The Development of Chinese Philosophy
The philosophy in Pre-Qin times ()
The orthodox philosophy during the
Han Dynasty (
) Metaphysics during the Wei and Jin
dynasties ()
The buddhist philosophy during the
Sui and Tang dynasties (
) Neo-confucianism in Song and Ming
dynasties ()
Application philosophy in the Mingand Qing dynasties (
)
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
6/41
The philosophy in Pre-Qin times
()
The philosophy in Pre-Qin times wasmarked by the emergence of various
ancient philosophical views. The most influential schools were
Confucianism (
), Taoism (
),Mohism (
) and Legalism (
)
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
7/41
Confucianism
The school takes theteachings of Confucius asits core of thought andregards the words and
deeds of Confucius as itshighest code () ofbehavior.
It advocates thebenevolence and justice,allegiance andforbearance (
), the doctrine of thegolden mean (
) and
values the ethicalrelations of men.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
8/41
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
9/41
Mohism
Base on the teaching ofMozi, the schoolcherishes universal love
which states that if allthe people in the worldloved one another, therewill be no hatred,calamities, and
hostilities.
In politics and ethics, Mohism proposes
honoring virtuous people, opposing fatalism (
) and aggressive wars, and upholdingthriftiness and simple funerals.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
10/41
Legalism
Legalism, begun by
Hanfeizi, espouses (
) laying down laws
to unify the thoughtof people, promotingagriculture to achieveaffluence (
),
waging (
) wars togain strength andpower, andestablishing a system
of bureaucracy (
).
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
11/41
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
12/41
Stress on Spiritual Existence
Ancient Chinese philosophers studiesdifferent kinds of philosophical problemsbased on reality and experience, but all ofthem paid attention to the study ofexistence. all pursue in order to achievethe highest spiritual state.
e.g.
Confucianisms knowledge of life throughdisposition and consciousness;
Taoisms search for spiritual freedom; Buddhisms Nirvana().
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
13/41
Stress on Practice
Chinese ancient philosophers wereconcerned with the relationship betweenknowledge and practice.
Example:To prefer it is better than only to know it.
To delight in it is better than merely toprefer it.( )
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
14/41
Stress on Morality
Every school of ancient Chinesephilosophy was a kind of moralphilosophy. Almost everyphilosophy stressed moralpractice.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
15/41
Stress on Harmony
Ancient Chinese philosophy stresseson harmony, and the pursuit ofharmony between man and natureand also between man and man.
E.g.Mencius said Opportunitiesvouchsafed by Heaven are lessimportant than terrestrial advantages,which in turn are less important thanthe unity among people. (
)
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
16/41
Stress on the Intuition
Chinese ancient philosophy didnot adhere to formal rules ofstructure and system in thought
and often resulted infragmented () thoughtswritten on paper. It wasthrough reflecting on lifes
experiences and intuition thatphilosophical ideas were formed.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
17/41
Characteristics of Chinese Ethics and
Morality
Traditional Chinese ethics that reflectthe high standard or moral pursuit ofthe Chinese people and embrace
ethical wisdom of lasting value: Seeking Harmony and Maintaining
Equilibrium()
2. Collectivism over Individualism
3. Spiritual Life over Material Life
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
18/41
To Chinese people, harmony ispowerful word. Maintaining
equilibrium is the ultimate purposeof harmony.
Seeking Harmony and Maintaining
Equilibrium ()
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
19/41
Collectivism over Individualism
Traditional Chinese values attach greatimportance to collective interest. Anindividuals values can be realized onlywithin society as a whole, as that is the
groundwork of ones existence.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
20/41
Spiritual Life over Material Life
Chinese people advocate morality intheir behavior.
Self-cultivation in morals is
emphasized, and is considered to bemore important than ones materiallife.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
21/41
Religions
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
22/41
The Taoist Religion
Taoism is the indigenous ()religion in China.
Lu Xun once said, The Chinese roots
are deep in Taoism. If one tries tocomprehend Chinese history andculture, he must first comprehendTaoism and the Taoist religion.
The Taoist religion evolved out of
witchcraft (
), necromancy
)and self-cultivation techniques. Itshighest belief is called Dao, its bibleis called Dao De Jing.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
23/41
Zhang Daoling
The Taoist religion wasfounded byZhangDaolingin the Eastern
Han Dynasty and becamevery popular during theSouthern and NorthernDynasties.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
24/41
Taishang laojun
Taoists revered () LaoZi as the originator of theTaoist religion and calledhim Taishang Laojun(
).
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
25/41
Taoism Temples
Taoism temples are places for Taoistpriests to self-reflect and carry out theirreligious activities.
The layout of the Taoism temples evolved
from the traditional square-shapedChinese courtyard,
also resembling
that of Buddhist
temples in design.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
26/41
In front of Taoisttemples, there aremountain gates,
Huabiao (marblepillar) and fangan
().
Outside the Huabiao
is the earthly world(
), inside it isthe celestial place(
).
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
27/41
The most sacred Taoist mountain
Dragon-Tiger Mountain
Dragon-Tiger Mountain is located atthe southwestern suburb of Yingtan,Jiangxi Province. It is the birthplace ofthe Taoist religion.
According to a legend, when the
elixirs were made, a dragon and a
tiger were seen above the mountain.
So, the mountain was renamed afterthe celestial animals (
).
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
28/41
Buddhism
Buddhism was first introduced intoChina in the first century. During theSui and Tang dynasties, Buddhismentered its golden age.
The theory of Buddhism is based onthe theory of samsara ()meaning that living beings orbit
around the six spheres of heaven,hell and earth, just like an ever-turning wheel.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
29/41
The doctrine of Four Noble
Truths ()
life is suffering,
the cause of suffering is desire,
the answer is to quench () desire,
the way to this end is to follow the
Eight-Fold Path ().
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
30/41
Buddhism Temples
Chinese Buddhist architectureincludes pagodas, temples andgrottos. Earlier Buddhist
temples usually combinedpagodas and a courtyard-styletemple.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
31/41
The First Buddhist Temple
The White Horse Temple
The White Horse Temple, located 21 km east ofthe Luoyang City, Henan Province, was thefirst officially built Buddhist temple in China in
the Eastern Han Dynasty.
It was named after the white
horse that carried theBuddhist scriptures fromIndia to Luoyang, then thecapital of the country.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
32/41
The Famous Buddhism
Mountains
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
33/41
Islam
Islam was introduced into Chinain the seventh century.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
34/41
Mosque
A mosque is always a high-domedbuilding with sweeping arches, flowingarabesques () and toweringminarets ().
Inside, a mihrab,or niche (), whichsymbolizes the place where theprophet () led the prayer, is set
into the middle of the qibla wall inorder to indicate the direction of Mecca().
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
35/41
Judaism
A Jewish community with a JewishSynagogue existed from the 12th (Song-Dynasty) until the middle of the 19thcentury in the old city of Kaifeng in Henan
province, China.
The uninterrupted existence of thisreligious and ethnic group, lasting for more
than 700 years in totally different socio-cultural surroundings strongly dominatedby Confucian moral and ethical principles,is a unique phenomenon, not only inChinese history, but also in the thousands
of years of Jewish civilization.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
36/41
Judaism
A Jewish community with a JewishSynagogue existed from the 12th (Song-Dynasty) until the middle of the 19thcentury in the old city of Kaifeng in Henan
province, China.
The uninterrupted existence of thisreligious and ethnic group, lasting for more
than 700 years in totally different socio-cultural surroundings strongly dominatedby Confucian moral and ethical principles,is a unique phenomenon, not only inChinese history, but also in the thousands
of years of Jewish civilization.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
37/41
Judaism
Although existing almost in isolation and withoutany contacts with the Jewish diaspora outsideChina, it still managed to keep alive Jewishtraditions and customs for hundreds of years.
However, although it experienced neitherdiscrimination nor persecution on the part of theChinese, a process of gradual assimilation went
on. Up to the 17th century, the assimilation ofthe Kaifeng Jews intensified and escalated.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
38/41
Judaism
It resulted in changes in Jewish religious andritual customs, social and language traditions, aswell as intermarriage between Jews and otherethnic groups, such as the Han Chinese and the
Hui and Manchu minorities in China.
In the 1860s, the Jewish synagogue in Kaifengcollapsed because it had long been in disrepair.
As a consequence, Jewish religious life, togetherwith the Jewish identity in the community, cameto an end.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
39/41
Judaism
The existence of the Jews in China was unknownto the rest of the world until Matteo Ricci met aJew from the Kaifeng community by accident atthe beginning of the 16th Century.
It was then that European research on the Jewsin Kaifeng began, mostly carried out byEuropean missionaries.
However, the Jews in China remained almostunknown to Chinese society until the beginningof the 20th century, although they had existedin the country for over 700 years.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
40/41
Judaism
Research on the Jews in China gained newattention around the world through thereappraisal of the experiences of around 25,000Jewish refugees in Shanghai during the Nazi
period.
8/11/2019 Chapter 2 Philosophy and Religions
41/41