Confucianism

Philiosophical system based on the teachings of Confucius, stressing moral order and harmony in thought and conduct

Daoism

Philosophical system based on the teachings of Lao-tzu; followers seek Dao (the "way"), which they blieve governs the universe; also called Taoism

Shintoism

Native Japanese religion characterized by veneration of nature spirts and ancestors (also called Shinto)

Four Books

Acient Chinese texts that outlined the basic system of Confucisn thought

Five Classics

Acient Confucian texts that dealt w/ proper functioning of society, government and religion as well as offering a compilation of acient Chinese literature

Confucius

Chinese phiosopher who lived from 551-478 BCE and whose teachings became the basis for confucianism

Ren

In Confucianism, the virtue of humaneness

Dao

In Daoism, the path of the morally enlightened individual to inner harmony, peace, and longevity; somtimes called the way

Daodejing

Sacred text of daoism written by Laozi; also called Tao Te Ching

Wu wei

Daoist concept of the following one's true nature and living such that one's deeds are natural, effortless, and moral

Shamanism

Nothern Asian animistic religion characterized by the belief that shamans meditate between the visible and the spirit worlds

Kami

In Shintoism, spirtis inhabit all places, objects, and creatures

East Asian Religion

• Prominent are Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism
• referred collectively as the New Religions
• come for individuals to practice elements of various religions
• for in east asian relgions is internal
• more concerned w/ what it means to live a good life 
• confucianism is prominent in china an other eat asian countries
• Confuianism understood as a philosophy
• Doaism is the religious or spiritual practice of living a life that follows Dao
• Daoism practiced most frequently in china
• Doaism roots traced back to yin and yang
• Shintoism is the native spiritual practice of japan
• no single unified shinto religion
• shinto not practice religiously 
• most unifying aspect is that of kami
• Shintoists also place emphasis on the importance of purity of one's soul and purification rituals called harae
• common for Shintoists to also practice buddahsm and maintian buddhist belief (death)
• Some attribute rapid moderization of eastern world to confucian principles and ethics
• Daoism is now offically acknowledged by peoples republic of china
• PRC recognizes five religious  Buddhism, daoism, islam, and catholic/protestant christianity 

Confucianism Video

• A Philosophical belief system 
• originated in china between the 6th aand 5th century BCE
• based on teachings and philosophy of confucius (zhou dynasty thiner); sought to identify the basis of a stable and civilized society
• societal harmony-relationships founded on good and eighteousness
• adopted as the tate ideology of Han dynasty
• ren is central 
• four virtues- righteousness, etiquette, knowledge, and integreity 
• filial piety is also central
• 5 great relationships- father son, elder beother and younger brother, husband wife, elders and juniors, and rulers and his subjects
• debate whether is should be considered a religion or not

The 4 books

Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Analects, and Mencius

The 5 Classics

Classic of Potery, Book of Documents, Book of Rites, Classic of Changes, and Spring and Autumn Annals; Classic of Music

Ru Jia

The Doctrine, or Tradition, of Scholars 

(principle and foundation)

Virtue

Cultivation of this is the most important goal to achieve

Silver Rule

The Precept: do not do unto others as they wouldn't like done unto themselves

Li

In Confucianism, the virtue of propriety and folloing proper etiquette

Importances

Justice, sincerity, loyalty to family, respect of elders, veneration of ancestors, and treatment of all w/ respect

Contemporary Confucianism

• prominent in China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam
• practiced along side a second religion such as chirstianity, islam, and buddhism
• monogamy and fidelity are highly encouraged 
• women have 2 suborniate roles- 1st to father, then to husband, and last to their son or sons should the husband die
• declined during the 20th century

Daoism Video

• East Asian Philosophical and religious tradition
• based on aligning human actions w/ natural order of the universe
• fundamental tenets stem from chinese shamanism and nature worship
• daodejing-key sacred text
• dao is understood as the natural forces that governs the universe
• daoists see universe as balanced between complementary forces yin and yang
• look to harmonize w/ nature
• aviod disturbing natural course
• look to eliminate selfish ambition from actions
• offical religion by the tang dynasty

Three Jewels

Compassion, Moderation, and humility

Qi

Life force contained w/i each person, and preserving Qi leades to a longer life

Contemporary Daoism

• Popularity of Daoism in Taiwan helped save the religion

Shintoism Video

• practice of spirt worship
• indifenous to japan
• doesnt rely on an offical holy scripture or instatutionalized set of beliefs or philosophy
• no division between physical and spiritual world
• spirts and huamns exist onearth and can interact w/ one another
• spirts capable of making mistakes
• each spirt believed to influence a specific aspect of human life

Harae

Purification rituals