Continuity and Change: Religion and Ethics in Classical China

1. Lecture 2.2 Religion and Ethics in Classical China

2. The Stress Between Continuity and Change • Continuity- the preservation of order- conserving values and traditions • Change- innovation and reform- challenging existing order • Each of these forces operate in creating history • Governments are largely conservative forces preserving social order- especially after they are established • The Mandate of Heaven exemplifies the struggle between continuity and change

3. Religion in Classical China • China really never developed a clear prevailing religion • Little speculation about God • God(s) as a general but not a set specific belief • Unlike other cultures, schools of philosophy rather than religious faiths would serve government and preserve order

4. Confucianism Confucius (Western name for Kong Fuzi) • Lived in a time of political decline- Late Zhou Dynasty (551-478 BC) • The impact of historical context on Confucius’ teachings • Outlined the characteristics of good government and social order • The value of wisdom for leaders at all levels • Moderate behavior • Respect for ritual and traditions

5. Confucianism and Chinese Culture • God and society in Confucianism • Acknowledgment of a divine order without any specific concept of God • Confucianism outlined a secular system of ethics • True happiness in doing good for all- humility and kindness- gentility • Sayings captured in collected sayings The Analects • Collected by his students (like Socrates)

6. Confucian Order through Respect for Relationships • Order came from the respect of relationships and hierarchies (statuses) • Dominant and subordinate • Government and governed • Husband and wife • Father and son • Filial Piety- faithfulness to one’s role and proper respect to supereriors

7. Religion and Culture Legalism • Favored a strong state, ruling through force • Belief that human nature was basically evil • In opposition to Confucianism in many ways • Yet the two often combined in exercise of power • Practical- and pragmatic • Distain for ritual and tradition proper manners • Order maintained through force • Governing philosophy of the Qin and early Han dynasty • Qin emperor Shi Huangdi boosted of murdering thousands of Confucian scholars and burning texts • Modern communist leader Mao claimed to have outdone this emperor in persecuting Confuciuanism.

8. Religion and Culture Popular religion • Confucianism has limited appeal- mainly to governing class • Polytheism persists • Conciliation of spirits • Family ceremonies

9. Religion and Culture Daoism Laozi (400s B.C.E.) • Philosopher- during period of warring states • Retreat from society- more spiritual than Confucianism • State cannot solve all problems • Natural and mysterious rat • Dao, cosmic force- The way- sublime • “Those who know Dao can not speak it and those who speak Dao don’t know it” • Balance between strong and weak, dark and light yin and yang • Meditation • Many Chinese were Confucian by day and Daoist by night by night

10. Economy and Society Gender and Family Life • Great emphasis on authority • Parental authority especially upheld • Women subordinate to men

11. How Chinese Society Fits Together Isolation • View of surrounding peoples as inferior • No missionary desires • Buddhism an exception

12. How Chinese Society Fits Together Complexities in Classical China • Confucianism versus Daoism • Many points of overlap • But some antagonism • Balance often upset • Overpopulation might lead to uprisings