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Confucian Teachings. Confucian Overview. “Confucius” is a Romanization of a Chinese name- Kong Fu Tzi(u) or Kung Fu Tzi(u) Born @ 551 B.C.E. Called his teachings juchiao (“the way of the scholars”) Coexisted with Taoism and Buddhism for thousands of years in China.
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Confucian Overview • “Confucius” is a Romanization of a Chinese name- Kong Fu Tzi(u) or Kung Fu Tzi(u) • Born @ 551 B.C.E. • Called his teachings juchiao (“the way of the scholars”) • Coexisted with Taoism and Buddhism for thousands of years in China
Lao Tzu born between 600 and 300 BCE Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE)- early Taoist sects established Inter-related and competing? Confucius born @551 BCE Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE)- Confucian classics used for civil service Inter-related and competing? Confucianism- Taoism Timeline
Confucian Ideas • Five key relationships and their “cross-currents” • Parent and child • Older sibling and younger sibling • Husband and wife • Older friend and younger friend • Ruler and subject • What are the common elements in these five relationships? • Are there any others that could be added? • How would this focus compare to that of Taoism?
Confucian Key Terms • propriety • jen (innate goodness/perfect virtue) • li (honoring of ancestors/right conduct in the five relationships) • filial piety- having a relationship like that of child to parent • Ideal life= the gentleman-scholar/civil servant
“Rectification of Names” • The topic of language clarification appears in book 13 of the Analects • Basic premise= language must be precise in referring to titles and social roles • If one claims a social role, then one must have the character and show the behavior appropriate to that role.
The Five Confucian Classics • I-Ching-The Book of Changes • Shu-ching- The Book of History • Shih-ching- The Book of Odes- poems supposedly collected and edited by Confucius • Ritual- Several books on philosophy, rituals, and even table manners; the most important of these is The Book of Rites • Ch'un ch'iu- The Spring and Autumn Annals- a history of a single Chinese province from about 700 to 500 B.C. Confucius lived in this province and supposedly assembled these annals himself.
The Four Books • Promoted by Neo-Confucians of the 10th-13th century • Analects of Confucius • Analects of Mencius • The Doctrine of the Mean • The Great Learning • Analects=selections or parts of a literary work or group of works
Selections from the Analects • What does Confucius say about supernatural or other-worldly subjects (144:12, 145:3)? • How does he describe the “man of humanity” (146:2)? • What is the most important quality a successful ruler must never lose (145:5)?
ICW task- Choose ONE of the options below • Option One- How would either Confucian or Taoist thinking impact society positively? Could they work together effectively? • Option Two- Generally speaking, what kinds of virtues are suggested by Confucius? How do they compare with “traditional” virtues embraced by Western culture?
Definitions • What is an indigenous tradition? • descendants of original inhabitants of lands now controlled by political systems in which they have little or no control • How can we define “original inhabitants”? • Are indigenous groups always in flux?
People Versus Traditions • Which one can be said to be indigenous? • Religions blend and borrow constantly in order to blend with local traditions • Buddhism – “kami” from Shinto as incarnations of Buddha • Christianity- proximity of Christmas and winter solstice
An Eastern Example- Shinto • “shin” (divine being) + “to” (way) • Animistic • What does this word mean? • Focused on harmony with natural surroundings • Practice surrounds the worship/veneration of kami (same character as “shin”) • Not identified by name until the arrival of Buddhism in Japan
Kami Practices • Kami= spirit or divine thing • Kamikaze - divine wind • Kami are everywhere in natural world • Shrines honor kami • Groves of trees, streams, bodies of water • Enclosed natural space where sacred space begins • Torii (tall gate frames) used to delineate space • Can also be a public hall/offering hall • No images in worship, all is in nature
Kannagara- “celestial harmony” The purpose of Shinto practice is to bring harmony to our lives through nature Living “according to the natural flow of the universe” Misogi- ritual purification through water, often a waterfall Shinto Concepts
Other Shinto Concepts • O- Harai- an exorcism of bad sprits or a ritual blessing • Why is it performed on cars and new buildings? • State Shinto- established in the Meiji era • Last “traditional” era for Japan • If it is state sponsored, how can it be indigenous?
Shinto Practice in Sumo • Shiko- ritual foot stomping to cleanse the ring of evil spirits • Purifying water- splashed into ring for cleansing • Salt throws- also for cleansing the ring • Clapping- done by two sumotori in unison to call the attention of beneficial kami
Shinto Matsuri • Festivals have community/civic as well as religious purpose • Buddhist and Shinto interaction commonplace • Music, dance and artistic expression are all elements in Shinto practice • Check out the ribald stories the narrators enjoy!
