The Chinese Religious TraditionWorld ReligionsFr. Llane Briese

Overview of the HistoryBack 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)

Philosophy and ReligionPhilosophy: “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

Fr. Adolfo NicolasSuperior General of the Society of Jesus

Courtesy: The Jesuit Curia of Rome (www.sjweb.info)

THE HISTORYSection One

Historical OverviewThe 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 ChinaReligion, Philosophy, and Culture

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.

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.

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 Egalitarianism

◦ Contrast from the origins of Buddhism and Christianity.

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.

Spring: Prehistory–206 B.C.Taoism:

◦Lao-tzu: Articulated the central principles in Tao-te Ching (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.

Summer: 206 B.C.–ca. 900 A.D.Continued expansion of Taoism and

Confucianism: A synthesis between the two religions develops:◦Taoism: Rituals of popular religion.◦Confucianism: Ethics and organization of

political and social lifeHan dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.):

Confucius’ teaching becomes state policy.

By I A.D., Confucius had come to viewed as a nearly divine figure.

Summer: 206 B.C.-ca. 900 A.D.Also, in the 1st century A.D., Buddhism arrived

in China. (Flourished under the Sui and Tang dynasties from 581–907.)

2 main (non-exclusive) types of Mahayana Buddhism:◦ Pure Land Buddhism: Amitabha was a

bodhisattva and created a pure land without evil where people could reach nirvana.

◦ Ch’an Buddhism: Heavy emphasis on meditation; Paradoxical stories such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” (Would evolve into Japanese Zen Buddhism.)

III A.D. and later: Synthesis between Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

By VI A.D.: Confucian temples arrived.

Autumn: 900–1912Period of reformation leading also

to an increase in individualism.Neo-Confucianism reinterpreted

the teachings of Confucius in light of Buddhism and Taoism.◦Taoist metaphysics/epistemology◦Buddhist anthropology◦Confucian ethics

Autumn: 900-1912This trend would reverse during

the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) when culture moved towards a more traditional understanding of Confucianism.

Arrival of Europeans (and Christianity)

Fr. Matteo Ricci: Chinese Rites Controversy

Winter: 1912-Present1912: Founding of the Republic of

ChinaWW2: Japanese DominationAfter WW2: Chinese Civil War

(ended 1949).Excursus: The Philosophy of Karl

Marx (1818–1883): ◦Das Kapital (1867–1894)◦The Communist Manifesto (1848)◦Religion as “the opium of the

people.”

CONFUCIAN AND TAOIST SACRED TEXTS AND BELIEFS

Section Two

The Writings of ConfuciusFive Classics: Texts traditionally

attributed to Confucius but which actually predate him.

Four Books: Compiled by Confucius’ followers:◦The Analects: Sayings of Confucius◦The Great Learning: How perfection helps

society◦Doctrine of the Mean: Philosophical

reflections◦Book of Meng-tzu: Sayings of Meng-tzu, the

follower of Confucius.

Confucian TeachingsConfucius believed in T’ien (Heaven)

and other Chinese deities. Was suspicious of excesses of Chinese devotional life.

Confucian Ethical Concepts:◦Chun-tzu: the “superior one”◦Li: The proper way to live; includes

courtesy, etiquette, formality, and respect. (A hierarchical view of human relationships)

◦Jen: “Humanity” or “benevolence” (interior disposition)

The Writings of TaoismTao-te Ching: One of the most famous

texts in world history, traditionally attributed to Lao-tzu.

Holds that Tao is the nature of things, and that all are called to live in harmony with Tao (“the way things are”)

Excerpt:The Tao is infinite, eternal.Why is it eternal?It was never born; thus, it can never die.Why is it infinite?It has no desires for itself; thus, it is present for all beings.

Taoist TeachingsTaoism defies definition; very abstract.Taoism: Describes “the way things are”;

all that exists flows with Tao. Hence, Tao could be viewed as an entirely transcendent, impersonal god.

Wu-wei: “Non-action” or “actions without actions”—allowing nature to evolve without interference; deference to Tao.

Goal: Immortality (via breath control, good hygiene, meditation, etc.)

THE JAPANESE RELIGIOUS TRADITION: SHINTO

Section Three

An Introduction to ShintoLike China, Japan has an diversity of

religious thought: Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

Shinto: ◦Animist in focus; Kami are spirits present

since the beginning.◦Part of the national myth; would be

devastated in 1945.◦XVI c.: Christian missionaries came

(including St. Francis Xavier)◦Home shrines dedicated to kami: Kamidana