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Chapter 6 Daoism and Confucianism
Learning Objectives
6.1 Describe the ancient Chinese tradition of ancestor worship and the concept of cosmic
balance.
6.3 Outline the practices associated with popular religion and organized Daoism.
6.5 Outline the major teachings of Confucius.
6.7 Discuss the ways in which Confucianism is being adapted to modern concerns in
mainland China and other parts of East Asia.
Chapter Overview
Ancient traditions
Worship and divination
Cosmic balance
Daoism the way of nature and immortality
Teachings of Daoist sages
Teaching Story: Three in the Morning
Popular religion and organized Daoism
Religion in Practice: The Lantern Festival
Daoism today
Confucianism the practice of virtue
The Confucian virtues
Confucianism after Confucius
The state cult
Neo-Confucianism
Key Points
Introduction
Teaching Note: The general goals of Chapter 6 are (1) to present the foundations
Daoism and Confucianism are two religious traditions of ancient China.
o As religious and social forces, they have coexisted for centuries in China
and have spread to other Asian regions such as Korea and Japan.
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The encounter of Buddhism with the Chinese traditions opened this faith tradition
to develop global qualities.
o Buddhism is the most common religion in China.
The idea of distinct religions is not prominent in Chinese social thought.
o Chinese people tend not to strictly distinguish Buddhism, Daoism, and
6.1 Ancient traditions
The spiritual ways of ancient Chinese civilization, dating back to 2000 BCE, have
influenced all later developments.
Worship and divination
Ancestor veneration in the form of rituals called li involves funerals, mourning
rites, and continuing sacrifices.
Ancestors not cared for were thought to cause trouble for their descendants, and
kings sought the guidance of their ancestors through divination using oracle
bones.
Cosmic balance
Also important is the belief that the universe is a manifestation of , an
impersonal self-generating energy with two forces: yin (dark, receptive, female)
and yang (bright, assertive, male). The two forces operate in a regular pattern, a
creative rhythm called the Dao (Tao) or way.
Various forms of divination have long been used to achieve harmony with the
cosmic process.
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6.2 Daoism The way of nature and immortality
Daoism is a scholarly (or literati) label applied to a wide array of beliefs and
practices that range from a philosophical tradition to longevity practices.
Religious Daoism may involve not only Daoist practices but Confucian virtues
and Buddhist-style rituals.
Teachings of Daoist sages
The historical origin of Daoist philosophy is unclear, but it is said to have started
with the Yellow Emperor who is said to have ruled from 2697 to 2597 BCE.
o He is understood to have studied with an ancient sage who taught him about
meditation, health, and military practices.
There are two major texts of the Daoist literati or philosophical tradition.
o The first is the Dao de jing (Tao te Ching,
o The second major text is the Zhuangzi, attributed to the author of the same
name (c. 365 290 BCE), who maintained that the best approach to life in a
chaotic civilization is detachment.
The Dao in Daoist philosophy is extremely difficult to express. It is the eternally
real, unnamable, a mystical reality that cannot be completely grasped by the mind.
o To live in harmony with the Dao, one should experience the transcendent
Such an approach to life is known as wu wei, paradoxically actionless action,
the goal of which is noninterference.
Daoism frequently uses the image of flowing water to illustrate the ideal life.
o Water passing over rocks flows smoothly and effortlessly, yet is powerful
enough to carve great canyons.
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6.3 Popular religion and organized Daoism
The second century CE saw the beginning of organized groups or sects of
Daoism, using long-standing practices such as alchemy, faith healing, sorcery,
and power objects.
Chinese popular religious practice has long included worship of spirits who may
o The Kitchen God is one of the familiar spirits and may be propitiated with
animal offerings.
o
Villages may make collective offerings to spirits affecting their well-being.
The use of talismans is also widespread, as well as worship of virtuous people
understood to have become divine after death.
Inner alchemy
One key component of Daoist practices is individual spiritual practices for self-
cultivation, longevity, and perhaps immortality.
o These practices, said to be passed down secretly from teacher to pupil, seek to
use the energy available to the body for physical health and intuitive
perception of the universal order.
jing), vital life
Literature and folk tradition refer to sages thought to be centuries old; especially
famous are the Eight Immortals.
Daoist sects
Institutionalization of such ancient, esoteric, and popular practices into distinctive
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Master.
The organized Daoist sects developed complex rituals and texts and had
organized clergy.
o Some sects were founded on the basis of visionary revelations.
o Some, such as Highest Purity Daoism, advocated celibacy.
In the fourth century, the Numinous Treasure group arose, assimilating elements
of Buddhism.
o It, in turn, was succeeded by a school called Complete Perfection, the
6.4 Daoism today
Daoist practices are still pursued in communist mainland China as well as
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and overseas Chinese communities.
Chinese temples combine Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist elements; however,
liturgy is usually Daoist.
Throughout Chinese history, rulers have sometimes demanded allegiance to their
own particular form of religion and suppressed others.
Under communism, religion has been persecuted as well.
Academic study of Daoism is intensifying as well.
In both Asia and the West, Daoism continues in three major forms: organized
religious institutions, societies for self-cultivation, and practitioners of
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6.5 Confucianism the practice of virtue
Confucianism originated about the same time as Daoism did, during the sixth
century BCE, an era of great spiritual teaching throughout India, Greece, and
Confucius was born during the Zhou dynasty into a genteel family that had fallen
on hard times due to a change in the ruling dynasty. His father died when he was
three, and his mother died when he was twenty-three. After her death, he entered
a three-year mourning period during which he studied ancient ceremonial rites.
one on music has either been destroyed or perhaps never existed.
Confucius inspired his disciples to put together excerpts of what he taught them,
The Confucian virtues
Codified during the Han Dynasty, there are five cardinal virtues: humaneness,
righteousness and justice, civility (ritual propriety), wisdom, and faithfulness.
Ren (jen) was among these virtues and, according to Confucius, the only way to
save society.
o Ren can be translated as innate goodness, love, benevolence, humaneness, and
human-heartedness.
o It is the most important virtue extolled by Confucianism.
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There are five basic relationships essential for a stable society: parent/ child,
older/younger siblings, husband/wife, friend and friend, and ruler and subject.
Individuals are to cultivate morality within themselves and in turn within their
families, society, and government.
o nciple.
o
6.6 Confucianism after Confucius
Later followers of Confucius added to his thought.
o Mengzi (Latinized as Mencius) stressed the goodness of human nature, and
the virtue of yi (righteous conduct).
The state cult
Confucianism was adopted by the state during the Han dynasty.
During the Han dynasty, the traditional Book of Rites and Etiquette and Ritual
were reconstructed, with an increased emphasis on offerings to cultivate and
Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism, which was popular during the period of disunity that
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five Confucian Classics.
Neo-Confucianists stressed the importance of meditation and dedication to
becoming a sage.
Neo-Confucianism spread to Korea and Japan.
6.7 Confucianism in the modern world
Confucian teaching on the importance of the scholarly life was strongly attacked
by Mao Zedong. During the Cultural Revolution, Confucianism was attacked as
Recent Communist Party leaders have advocated Confucian virtues without
naming them as such. Confucianism, however, is not officially recognized as a
Partly for the sake of tourism, aspects of Confucianism are being revived, like the
gala celebration of his birth.
After the ravages of the Cultural Revolution, there are a few hundred Confucian
Confucianism in East Asia
Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan have been strongly
influenced by Confucian values.
According to Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, Confucianism is
Key Terms
Celestial Master li wu wei
Complete Perfection literati yang
Dao (Tao) Neo-Confucianism yin
Review Questions
1. Describe ancient Chinese traditions such as ancestor worship, divination, and the
concept of cosmic balance.
4. Compare and contrast the practices of Daoism and Confucianism.
Discussion Questions
1. Discuss the ways Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism may be blended together in
practice. Are you aware of similar patterns of blending religion in other areas?
3. Discuss the ways in which Confucianism is being adapted to modern concerns in
Class Activities/Assignments
1. Use the quotations from the Dao de jing on pp. 194 196 as the basis for explaining the
concept of Dao.
2. Have students investigate whether any of the spiritual practices described in the
3. Have students research the current Chines
Recommended Films
Chinese Religions, Films for the Humanities and Sciences, 2001. 57 minutes. Explores
Confucianism, Daoism, Chinese Buddhism, and popular practice.
Pilgrimage 1987, pilgrimages to Tianzhu and Putuo, Columbia University Press,
Last Train Home, Zeitgest Films, 2009. 87 minutes. This is a documentary about the
Additional Class Discussion/Essay Questions
1. Using examples from the chapter, explain how Daoism, Confucianism, and even
Buddhism may be blended in Chinese religious practice.
2. Explain the significance of relationships with humans and nature in both Daoist
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3. What role do Daoism and Confucianism play in contemporary communist China and
other parts of Asia? Use specific examples from the chapter to illustrate your answer.