Culture and Religion in Modern China
Team Qing
Deborah Barrau Collette Cator Shannon Steffenson David Steffenson
Religion in China
• Religion under Communist rule • Official Religion: Atheist
• Country is greatly influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism
Philosophical Systems and Religions
Buddhism ~ 100 Million*
Taoism ~ 20 Million
Islam ~ 18 Million* Protestant ~ 10 Million* Catholic ~ 4 Million*
* Official Figures from U.S. Dept. of State
Buddhism arrives in China
• From India • 100 Million Chinese • Rituals
• • • occasional services practiced rituals supported a temple
Buddhism - roots
• • • • • • Siddhartha Gautama- prince of Sakya Kingdom Desires=Pain Meditation Eightfold Path Nirvana- merging of spirit with eternal harmony Greater & Lesser
Ch'an or Zen Buddhism
• • • • • Meditation- transmits spirit One reality School of meditation- Bodhidharma Built on Taoism Northern and Southern Ch'an
• Hui-neng (638-713) • One should discover one's own nature, a pure natureenlightenment will follow
Taoism
• Founded by Lao Zi (Lao-Tse) (551470 B.C.) • Tao-te-Ching ("The Book of the Way") • Approximately 20 million followers • Tao means “the way”
• Indicates a way of thought or life • Embodies the harmony of opposites (Yin & Yang)
“Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river” Lao Zi
History of Taoism
• started as a combination of psychology and philosophy • 440 BC, evolved into a religious faith when adopted as a state religion. • 1911,state support for Taoism ended • 1949, Communism reigns • 1966 to 1976, cultural revolution • 1982 to present time, some religious tolerance has been restored
Taoist Beliefs
• Each believer’s goal is to become one with the Tao
• The force that flows through all of life • The Tao surrounds everyone
• Taoists seek answers to life’s problems through inner meditation and outer observation • Development of virtue is one's chief task.
• The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility.
Confucianism
• Confucianism is a philosophy of human nature that considers proper human relationships as the basis of society.
“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” Confucius (K’ung fu-tzu) 551-479 BC
Confucianism Timeline
• Chou dynasty – time of Confucius • 3rd-7th centuries – marked decline • Sung dynasty – neo-Confucianism – becomes dominant philosophy among educated Chinese • Monarchy overthrown (1911-12) – disintegration of institutions and decline of traditions • Communism (1949) – decline accelerates • Mid-1990’s – modest revival
Tenets of Confucianism
• Major Teachings:
• Ren – humanity, benevolence • the highest Confucian virtue - expressed through the five relations • Yi – righteousness • Li – etiquette and ritual
Key Points
• Universal Harmony with people and nature • Spiritual Richness of Mankind
• Philosophies, Religions, Superstitions greatly influence the culture
The End
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." Confucius