1 / 12

The Chinese Religious Tradition

The Chinese Religious Tradition. World Religions Fr. Llane Briese. Overview of the History. Back to ABBA: What is Religion? Religion in the Mediterranean World Religion in India Religion in China Three Roots in China: Chinese Folk Religions (i.e. Ancestor Cult) Confucianism (ethics)

annis
Télécharger la présentation

The Chinese Religious Tradition

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Chinese Religious Tradition World Religions Fr. Llane Briese

  2. Overview of the History • Back to ABBA: What is Religion? • Religion in the Mediterranean World • Religion in India • Religion in China • Three Roots in China: • Chinese Folk Religions (i.e. Ancestor Cult) • Confucianism (ethics) • Taoism (philosophy of the universe) • Buddhism (philosophy of nature)

  3. Philosophy and Religion • Philosophy: “The love of wisdom” • Ontology / Metaphysics • Epistemology • Ethics • Anthropology • Natural Theology • Religion: The Search for ABBA (the sacred) • Can overlap with philosophy • Theology: Deals with Divine Revelation

  4. Fr. Adolfo NicolasSuperior General of the Society of Jesus Courtesy: The Jesuit Curia of Rome (www.sjweb.info)

  5. Section One The history

  6. Historical Overview • The history of the Chinese religions can be summarized by the four seasons: • Spring (Prehistory–206 B.C.) • Summer (206 B.C.– ca. 900 A.D.) • Autumn (900–1912) • Winter (20th century–Present) • Eclecticism in China • Religion, Philosophy, and Culture

  7. Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C. • Shang Dynasty (1766–1123 B.C.) • Folk Religion: • Archaeological Evidence: Belief of an afterlife mirroring earthly life. • Ancestor Veneration (NOT worship): Mediation • Importance of Patrilineage (tsu): headship on eldest son • Highest Deity: Ti (singular or plural?) • Divination/Astrology: Messages from beyond; reading signs from omens or nature to acquire supernatural knowledge.

  8. Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C. • Chou Dynasty (1122-256) • Folk Religion: • T’ien: “Heaven” • Royal ancestors = intermediaries to bestow good fortune on earth. • Mandate of Heaven: A right granted to kings to represent Heaven on Earth. • Political Corruption making China ripe for religious reform.

  9. Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C. • Confucianism: Based on the teachings of K’ung Fu-tzu who wrote the Analects. • Confucius: An accidental teacher (551–479 B.C.) • Legacy: • Central doctrine: jen(being a real gentleman) • Work ethic and family loyalty • Learning: Building both knowledge and character • Contrast from the origins of Buddhism and Christianity.

  10. Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C. • Meng-tzo (ca. 371–289 B.C.): Human nature = good. Taught that evil would take over if humans did not cultivate their inherent goodness. • Hsun-tzu (298–230 B.C.): Human nature = evil (would lead to legalism). Morality required in order to temper one’s evilness and become good.

  11. Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C. • Taoism: • Lao-tzu: Articulated the central principles in Tao-teChing(The Way and Its Power) • Yin and Yang: Cosmological harmony and complementarity. • 2 Forms (not mutually exclusive): • Tao-chia:More philosophical • Tao-chiao:More religious • What kind of person should I be? • Goal: To live the balance between yin and yang.

  12. Summer: 206 B.C.–ca. 900 A.D.

More Related