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Religions of China
folk, confucius, daoism, and contemporary religions
53
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 2
10/23/2008

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Term
Lutheran theologian, Paul Tillich's definition of religion
Definition
"ultimate concern" that is what concerns us ultimately
Term
the sacred
Definition
what is experienced as Ultimate reality (that which people expericne as being of ultimate significance or ultimate concern) the ground of ultimate value and meaning
Term
myth
Definition
in religious traditions, a story that relfects something true about human exerience of Ultimate Reality, to take a myth literally is to miss the truth to which it points; myths often express the deepest, most pressing questions of human existence; used to explain the unexplainable
Term
rituals
Definition
formulized and symbolic actions that point to and make present the sacred; they connect the infidivdual to the sacred and bring together members of the faith community
Term
ethics
Definition
a religious community's shared vision of what is good for individuals, communityies, and the world; being a responsible person in the community requires participation in this shared vision; this vision is said to be the foundation for moral living
Term
social organization
Definition
religio influcence and is influenced by social forces; a religion may reflect the class distinctions of a socitey; it may be interwoen with a society's norms for family life; it may support or undermine a political system
Term
phenomenology
Definition
"to describe the phenomenon of religion as it actually exists and as it is interpreted by its pracitioners, whithout imposing value judgements or explaining it on the basis of theories taken from the other human sciences
Term
mysticism
Definition
the intuitive perception of spiritual truths beyon the limits of reason
Term
transeendent
Definition
the understanding that the sacred is beyond, above, or outside of the material universe
Term
immanent
Definition
the understanding that the sacred is present in the world
Term
herrmeneuties
Definition
inerpretation of texts, ideas, images
Term
cosmic unity
Definition
chinese idea that all things- gods, ancestors, spirits, ghosts, human beings, animals plants - are interconnected. Human responsiblity entails learning how to live in harmony with all things within this cosmic unity
Term
the Dao
Definition
the Way of all things; the source or origin of all things; the Dao gives rise to a field of energy (qi) out of which comes the first movement (yang) followed by a complimentary settling (yin)
Term
qi
Definition
an impersonal, self-generating energy, said to come out of the Dao
Term
yin & yang
Definition
two dynamic, ever-changing aspects of qi, everything in the universe is said to be a combination of these two forces
Term
yin
Definition
the shadowed side of a mountain, moist, cold, feminine, winter, yeilding
Term
yang
Definition
the sunlit side of the mountain, dry, hot, masculine, summer, firm
Term
cosmic deities
Definition
supernatural deities such as Di( or Shang Di) or Tain (heaven); seen as somewhat impersonal and distant from the common people
Term
nature deities
Definition
pantheistic understanding that the natral world is sacred; nature deities include the sun, moon, earth, wind, rain, grass, trees, grain; worshiping these nature dieities is a way of showing appreciation for the gifts given from nature
Term
anthropomorphic deities
Definition
gods who had once been human: parents, grandparents, ancestors; culture heros; people who have died tragically and have been transformed after death by the prayers of the community
Term
ancestor worship
Definition
through the worship of one's ancestors, one helps to maintain harmony and balance in the family and the community. the ancestors' happpiness is said to be dependent on ritual observances by the living family. honoring the ancestors brings their blessings, while neglecting them brings threat of calamity, disturbances, disharmony
Term
qing ming
Definition
(aka "clear and Bright festival") sweeping the ancestor's graves; held at the beginning of spring (around april 4th); festival to honor the ancestors by sweeping the gravesite, offering food, prayers, incense, and having a picnic at the gravesite, renewing ties between living family and departed ancestors
Term
shaman
Definition
a person who acts as a bridge between the human and divine realms (both men and women can be shamans); can funcition through trance state as spirit-journey or trance state through possession
Term
divination
Definition
the search for information about the causes of present conditions or about what to expect in the future; oracle blocks thrown in front of god's shrine, divination chairs, spirit-writing, consulting a divination text such as the I Ching, feng shi....
Term
I ching
Definition
Book of Changes: Divination text that eventually replaced oracle bone and tortoise shell divination; held in high regard by Confucius who added commentaries to the original text; confucian classic
Term
feng shui
Definition
"wind and water" divination practice originally used to situate houses, villages, and gravesites harmoniously within the surrounding energy of a particular area; today used to bring auspicious, healing energy into a home
Term
spirit-writing
Definition
a person is chosen by the god or goddess of a particular temple to interpret the writings of the god or goddess for the community of worshippers; includes ethical and moral teachings of the particular deity
Term
tudigong
Definition
earth god; local village deity who watches over the village on a supernatural level, protecting the inhabitants from malevolent forces. worshiped as long as he is efficacious or helps
Term
prosperity, longevity, posterity
Definition
three popular chinese gods who represent the hope for enough money, a long life, and healthy children
Term
confucius(kongfuzi)
Definition
historical person (552-479 BC) who sought to develop an ethical system of government and a harmoious social order in china; believed in the perfectibility of human beings through learning; his teachings have influenced all of east asia
Term
ren
Definition
humaneness; human-heartedness; said to be Confucius' central teaching
Term
li
Definition
ritual propriety; confucian principle of performing rituals with sincerity and a sense of the sacred
Term
reciprocity (shu)
Definition
confucian principle for the conduct of life: "never do to others what you would not like them to do to you"
Term
filial piety
Definition
"predates Confucius but is central to his social vision) respect that children should have for their parents (and that subordinates should have for their superiors)
Term
the five relationships
Definition
confucian social structure related to the ideas of reciprocity and filial piety 1) ruler-minister or subject 2) father-son 3) husband-wife 4) elder- younger brother 5) friend-friend
Term
mencius (mengzi, meng ko)
Definition
follower of confucius who believed in the innate goodness of human nature
Term
xunzi
Definition
follower of confucius who believed that human nature is innately evil, but that people can (and desire to be) taught goodness and virtue
Term
mandate of heaven
Definition
the right of the emperor to rule as a representative of heaven (tian); if the emperor were just, he was said to have Heaven's mandate, but an unjust rulere was said to have lost the Mandate of Heaven
Term
Daoism (Taoism)
Definition
religious tradition said to be based on the tenets of the Tao Te Ching; three schools of Daoism: "philosophical" Daoism (represented by Laozi & Zhuangzi);"church" Daoism (represented by priests who serve the community through rituals such as funerals); "alchemical" or "magical" Daoism that is concerned with various meditations, exercises, elixirs that may help one to attain immortality
Term
Laozi
Definition
legendary founder ofDaoism; said to have written the Tao Te Ching
Term
Tao Te Ching
Definition
The Book of the Way and Its Power; book of Daoist philosophy attributed to Laozi
Term
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)
Definition
4th century BCE Daoist known for famous account of a dream in which he dreamed he was a butterfly (said to exemplify "the transformation of things)
Term
the Dao (Tao)
Definition
the Way of all things; the "unnameable" the "eternally real" the "inexhaustibilie"
Term
p'u
Definition
literally, wood-not-cut; usually translated as the Uncarved Block; Daoist principle that there is a power that resides in people an things in their "original simplicity"
Term
wu wei
Definition
actionless action; Daoist principle that when one acts in harmony with the Dao, things can be accomplished effortlessly and naturally
Term
emptiness/ no-self
Definition
Daoist ideal of the person who is living in complete harmony with the Dao; such a person is said to be lived by the Dao; the ideal Daoist sage (both men and women can become Daoist sages)
Term
The Compassion Society
Definition
syncretistic sect founded in the 1950's in Taiwan' also under the protection of the eternal venerable mother; faith-healing sect that relies on spirit-writers (both male and female)
Term
Falun Gong (Falun Dafa)
Definition
"buddhist Law" movement; has become popular in china in the face of sometimes extreme government prosecution;combines moral, spirtual, philosophical tenets of Buddhism, Daoism, and folk traditions; members of Falun Gong practice meditation and yogic exercises and stress non-violence
Term
CulturalRevolution
Definition
particularly repressive Chinese communist movement(1966-76)which attacked the hierarchical social structure of Confucianism as well as all religious practices and traditions
Term
Mao Zedong
Definition
leader of the chinese communist regime established in 1949 and of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76)
Term
Mao Zedong
Definition
leader of the chinese communist regime established in 1949 and of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76)
Term
chinese daoist association
Definition
government-sanctioned Daoist group in China
Term
Taiji quan
Definition
energy-training practice developed in China in the 18th century; popular martial arts practice in china that has spread to Europe and america
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