Chinese Religions/Philosophies Chinese Religions – are made up of many different religions and philosophies. Chinese people don’t feel that they must choose one religion or philosophy and reject others. Specifically, there are four “ways”: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Popular Religion.

Religion The earliest period we know much about, people in China worshiped many different gods - weather gods and sky gods - and also a higher god who ruled over the other gods, called Shang-Ti. People who lived during the Shang Dynasty also believed that their ancestors - their parents and grandparents - became like gods when they died, and that their ancestors wanted to be worshiped too, like gods. Each family worshiped their own ancestors.

Religion The Mandate of Heaven: Chinese worship that is rooted in the belief that ancestors became divinities and must be worshiped. If Chinese rulers had the approval of heaven and the ancestors, they would be ensured of good harvests, regularity of seasons, balance of yin and yang in the community, and the protection of royalty. The emperor or empress could only rule as long as he or she had the Mandate of Heaven (as long as Heaven wanted him or her to rule). You knew when the emperor or empress had lost the Mandate of Heaven because he or she would then be overthrown by somebody else who would become the new emperor or empress.

Religion/Philosophy Taoism A Chinese philosopher named Lao Tzu (he may be mythical) created the philosophy of Taoism, which became very popular. Taoism is the belief that people should not try to get their way by force, but through compromise and using natural forces in their favor. It is partly a philosophy, and partly a religious faith. Taoists believe that there is a universal force flowing through all living things, and that respecting that force is important to having a happy life.

Yin and Yang – Philosophy The opposite forces of the Yin and the Yang are dependent on each other and contain a “seed” of one another. Yin = Associated with darkness, water, and the female. Yang = Associated with light, activity, air, and the male.

‘Tao means to do nothing, yet there is nothing that is not done ‘Tao means to do nothing, yet there is nothing that is not done.’ Think of Winnie the Pooh and Forest Gump – really!

Religion/Philosophy Confucianism Confucius was a philosopher in ancient China, about 500 BC. His main idea was that people could achieve peace by doing their duty, and cooperating with society. He believed in “correct” relationships between ruler and ruled, husband and wife, father and son, filial piety (a child’s respectful treatment of their parents), and duty to their ancestors and to the gods.

SOCIAL CONTRACT! “At the same time, the government should do its duty to the people, and not abuse them or ask too much of them. The emperor should be cooperative and helpful to the people, just as the people were helpful and cooperative to him.” - Confucius

Philosophy Legalism - A philosophy that believed in order to create order and to keep peace, people who were all basically bad, needed to be kept in line by strict laws and harsh punishments. Legalism was very important reason why the Qin Dynasty worked.

Religion/Philosophy Under the Han Dynasty (AD about 200 BC to 200), scholars working for the emperors tried to find a way to combine Confucianism and Taoism.

Religion Buddhism Enters China at about the beginning of the Christian era and reached its height during the T’ang dynasty (618 – 907 CE) Also concerned with suffering, China’s “spin” on Buddhism included the hope for the “release” of their ancestors that might be tormented in hell. Chinese Buddhists had the great task in translating Indian texts, gods, and ideas into their own.

Religion/Philosophy Under the Sung/Song Dynasty (AD about 1000), a sort of Confucianism combined with Buddhism got to be popular. Scholars reread the old Confucian philosophical writings in Buddhist terms, and tried to get Buddhist meanings out of them. Interesting facts … Mongol conquests (around AD 1200) - a new multiculturalism came to China. Kublai Khan, a Mongol emperor, although he was himself a Buddhist, was very interested in all different faiths and encouraged Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Tibetan lamas to all come debate each other at his court in China. But most people in China remained either Buddhists or Taoists.

Religion/Philosophy Under the Ming Dynasty (AD begins in 1368), Confucianism was again the main principle of the emperors, while Buddhism and Taoism remained popular among ordinary people. Throughout this whole time, however, the old ideas of the Mandate of Heaven, the traditional Chinese gods, and ancestor worship remained normal for everyone in China.