1. Chinese
Philosophies
&
Ethical Codes

2. Chinese Folk Religion Belief in spirits Reverence for ancestors
Priests perform blessing rituals:
purifying space
Exorcising evil spirits (“hungry ghosts”)
Astrology
Divination

3. Chinese metaphysics is about…
Energy
Change
Balance
Harmony
Inter-relationships

4. Chinese Metaphysics Movement of cosmic energies:
Rising
Falling
Expanding
Contracting
Rotating
Represented by and expressed in the “five elements” of nature…

5. The “Five Elements”
Fire
Productive cycle
Earth
Wood
Water
Metal

6. X X X X X The “Five Elements” Fire Wood Earth Water Metal
Destructive cycle
Earth X X
Wood X
Water
Metal X

7. Chinese Metaphysics Concepts
Chi – life force, life energy (“ultimate”)
Yin-Yang – harmony of opposites
Yin = passive state of energy
Yang = active state of energy [
Tao – the “way” of the cosmos, of nature
Heaven (t’ien) and Earth
“Mandate of Heaven”
Practical applications: I-Ching and Feng Shui

8. The I-Ching “Book of Changes”
Ancient divination technique (at least 3000 years old)
Intended to guide humans in decision making
Based on combinations of lines representing the ever changing relationship between passive (yin) and active (yang) energy flow of heaven, human, and earth
= yin
= yang

9. China before Confucius
The “Yellow Emperor”
Xia and Shang Dynasties
2070 B.C B.C.
Zhou Dynasty
1046 B.C B.C.
“Spring and Autumn” period
770 B.C B.C.

10. Feng Shui The Chinese art of placement (geomancy)
Means “wind water”– symbolically, the constant flow of wind and water that creates constant change in the world also affects us
Uses the five elements and the eight directions of the I-Ching as the Bagua tool
Seeks to maintain constant and balanced flow of energies (chi) in a space for improved flow of energy in the people who use the space

11. Confucianism

12. Confucianism - Origins
Kung-Fu-tzu (Confucius) “Master Kung”
BCE
Embraces the values of the past
Political aspirations unfulfilled
The “greatest teacher who ever lived”
Rejected in his own day, but the model for Chinese culture for over 2000 years
Meng-Tzu (Mencius) (4th century) continues to develop teachings of Confucius

14. Confucius 551 – 479 B.C.E. Born in the feudal state of Liu.
Became a teacher and editor of books.

15. Confucianism
Concerned primarily with restoring social stability and order
What is the basis of a stable, unified, and enduring social order?
a system of social and ethical philosophy
“only when character is cultivated are our families regulated; only when families are regulated are states well governed.”

16. Goal of Confucianism
To develop one’s Jen: Human Heartedness - the innate goodness of humanity
Thus becoming a Chun Tzu: the “Great Man” or “Gentle Man”
Jen is developed through intentional living by Confucian virtues…

17. Major Confucian Principles
Li --> Rite, rules, ritual decorum (Binding force of an enduring stable society)
Ren --> humaneness, benevolence, humanity
Shu --> Reciprocity, empathy
Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.
Yi --> Righteousness
Xiao --> Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)

18. Confucian Virtues
Filial Piety (Hsiao) - respect for the five constant relationships:
Parent and child
Husband & wife
Older & younger sibling
Older & younger friend
Ruler & subject
Human-heartedness is developed only within the context of human relationships

19. More Confucian Virtues
Rectification of names – a person or thing should be true to its name
Recipricity (shu) – the Golden Rule:
“Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you”
Li (rites, ritual) – the inherent “pattern” in things
For Confucius, Li is especially significant in a social context – propriety or etiquette, the “pattern” of humane behavior

20. 5 Principle Relationships
1. Ruler
Subject
2. Father
Son
3. Husband
Wife
4. Older Brother
Younger Brother
5. Older Friend
Younger Friend

21. Organizing Principles
Status
Age
Gender

22. Confucian Temple Complex

23. Confucianism - Texts The “Five Classics” (of the past):
I-Ching
The Book of History (Shu Ching)
The Book of Poems (Shih Ching)
The Spring and Autumn Annals (Ch’un Ch’iu)
The Book of Rituals (Li Chi)
The “Four Books” (Confucian)
Analects (Lun Yu)
Doctrine of the Mean
The Great Learning
The Book of Mencius (Meng-Tzu)

24. The Analects In Chinese, it means “conversation.”
The single most important Confucian work.
In Chinese, it means “conversation.”
Focus on practicalities of interpersonal relationships and the relationship of the role of rulers and ministers to the conduct of government.

25. Sayings from The Analects
Knowing what he knows and knowing what he doesn’t know, is characteristics of the person who knows.
Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake.
The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others.
To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.

26. Stones Engraved with Confucius' Life Stories

27. Confucius' Tomb

28. Mencius 372 - 289 B.C.E. Disciple of Confucius.
Starts off with the assumption that “people are basically good.”
If someone does something bad, education, not punishment, is the answer.
Good people will mend their ways in accordance to their inherent goodness.

29. Social Cohesion is Paramount!
The emperor is the example of proper behavior
Social relationships are based on “rites” or “rituals.”
Even religious rituals are important for SOCIAL, not religious reasons, acc. to Confucius.

30. Confucianism Persecuted in Qin Dynasty promoted by later rulers
221 B.C B.C.
promoted by later rulers

31. Confucianism as a Religion
Deification of Confucius - statues
Confucian Temples – honoring Confucius
Veneration of the ancestors
Rituals within…
the household
the village
the state
the nation

32. Daoism

33. Lao Zi [Lao-Tzu] His name means “Old Master”
Not sure when he died. [604 B.C.E. - ?]
His name means “Old Master”
Was he Confucius’ teacher?

34. The Dao De Jing The basic text of Daoism.
In Chinese, it means The Classic in the Way and Its Power.
“Those who speak know nothing: Those who know are silent.” These words, I am told, Were spoken by Laozi. If we are to believe that Laozi, Was himself one who knew, How is it that he wrote a book, Of five thousand words?

35. Major Daoist Principles
1. Dao [Tao] is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life.
2. A believer’s goal is to become one with Dao; one with nature. [“The butterfly or the man?” story.]
3. Wu wei --> “Let nature take its course.” > “The art of doing nothing.” > “Go with the flow!”
4. Man is unhappy because he lives acc. to man-made laws, customs, & traditions that are contrary to the ways of nature.

36. The "Dao" [Tao]
To escape the “social, political, & cultural traps” of life, one must escape by:
1. Rejecting formal knowledge and learning.
2. Relying on the senses and instincts.
3. Discovering the nature and “rhythm” of the universe.
4. Ignoring political and social laws.

37. The Universe of Opposites:
Find the Balance!
Yin
Masculine
Active
Light
Warmth
Strong
Heaven; Sun
Feminine
Passive
Darkness
Cold
Weak
Earth; Moon
Yang

38. The Uniqueness of Daoism
How is a man to live in a world dominated by chaos, suffering, and absurdity??
Confucianism --> Moral order in society.
Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order.
Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and less govt. to avoid uniformity and conformity.