Chinese Religion

1
Chinese Religion Philosophy

• Near the end of the Bronze period, Confucius
  taught the social system was based on respect for
  parents, ancestors, clan, state, and emperor.
• Confucius 551-479 BC
• A. Born into poor family
• B. Excelled at school
• C. Became most learned teacher in China
• II. Confucius teachings
• A. Education for everyone government should
  have the
• best educated people to rule

2

• B. The nation mirrors the family, so
• 1. peaceful society begins in the family
• 2. Way of Goodness code of personal
  ethics/honor that
• rulers should follow
• 3. moral conduct and good education leads to
  true
• wisdom
• 4. study the Chinese Classics (collection of
  history,
• poetry and Chinese literature)
• C. THE ANALECTS collection of Confucius
  teachings by
• his students

3

• D. The Analects essential reading for any
  well educated
• Asian
• 1. taught that the true person is marked by
• unselfishness, courage, and honor
• 2. CHUNG YUNG the Golden Mean moderation
• 3. Filial piety respect and obligations to
  your parents
• and ancestors
• 4. Ritual Propriety acts that show proper
  behavior
• to others
• E. Confucius died thinking he was a failure
  because no
• rulers would follow his teachings

4

• Lao Tzu _at_ 571 BC
• A. Founded Taoism (THE WAY OF NATURE)
• B. His teachings are found in the TAO TE CHING
  Classic of the Way of Power
• C. The Tao Te Ching contains
• 1. meditations and poetry
• 2. teaches the way of NO ACTION
• allow universe to take its course
  people
• should be one with the flow of nature
• 3. humans are naturally good but blinded
• by personal ambition and desire

5

• 4. do not concern yourself with the spirit
  world
• and religion be quiet and follow nature
• and you will discover what is true
• 5. man must learn to live in harmony with the
  forces of nature.
• D. Three treasures
• 1. love
• 2. frugality (dont waste anything)
• 3. WU WEI non-striving be like the water
• that flows yet can wear away mountains
• E. Taoism is symbolized by an un-carved block of
  wood

6

• I. Buddhism
• A. Brahmans had begun to stress ritual over
  behavior, many Hindus began to look beyond ritual
  for understanding
• B. Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born 563 BC to
  Queen Maya who was told by the Brahmans that her
  son would either be a universal emperor or a
  great saint.
• C. Siddhartha leaves the palace to become a holy
  man.
• 1. he becomes an ascetic for many years, but
  rejects then rejects it
• 2. sits under a tree to wait for enlightenment
• D. Buddhism spread to Asia and became
  Mahayana Buddhism Buddha is seen as a savior for
  mankind.
• E. It promises the re-joining of the soul
  (ATMAN) with Brahma (GOD) in Nirvana
• F. The Four Noble Truths
• 1. Human life is suffering and pain
• 2. Greedy desire for pleasure and
  material goods causes sorrow
• Giving up desire frees people from suffering and
  helps their souls achieve Nirvana (perfect peace)

7

• Follow the 8 fold path to renounce desire
• 1. Right understanding-strive to understand the
  4 noble truths and yourself
• 2. Right thought-desire to rid yourself of
  ignorance and hatefulness
• 3. Right speech-speak the truth, no gossip
• 4. Right action- no hurtful behavior
• 5. Right livelihood - make an honest living that
  hurts no one
• Right effort-nurture you good qualities and try
  to get rid of the bad ones
• Right mindfulness-focus your mind to overcome
  cravings, hatreds and ignorance
• 8. Right concentration - meditation - to achieve
  a true understanding of imperfection,
  impermanence, and non-separateness

8

• Buddhist Terms
• Karma intentional action-the actions you did in
  your last life affect the current life the
  actions of this life will be reflected in your
  next life
• Dharma ultimate moral balance-if you break the
  balance, your karma will pay the price.
• Samsara reincarnation-cycle of life, death and
  rebirth.
• Moksha-a state of changeless bliss-it may take
  many journeys on the wheel of life to enter
  moksha (Nirvana)
• Mahayana Buddhism Tibet, China, Korea, Japan
• Beliefs spiritual growth thru the help of
  others. Seek help from a bodhisattva (a saint so
  full of compassion that he refuses to enter
  Nirvana until others can enter with him.)
• Tibetan Buddhism is led by the Dalai Lama, the
  incarnation of compassion.
• Zen Buddhism no emphasis on scriptures or
  bodhisattvas (saints)
• Only direct experience can lead you to truth.
  You must be your own master. Practice meditation
  to purify minds, hope to undo their opinions and
  reach Satori (illumination)

9
Art China

• A. Chinese did not conquer nature, but consider
  themselves part of it
• 1. Neolithic (new stone age) tribes in China are
  defined by the type of pottery they developed.
• a. Long Shan - black fired pottery
• b. Yang Shao - red pottery

10
Long shan pottery-black fired
11
Yang shao pottery-red pottery
12
Neolithic pottery bowl, 10,000 BC
13
Prehistoric flute
14
Xia culture -1800-1500 BC

• First evidence of pictographic writing appeared
  as picture drawing on the bones of animals and
  tortoise shells.

15
Pictograph-woman,child, broom
16
Xia pottery
17
Bronze age-1600-221 BC

• Approx. 1300 BC. This bronze head with gold
  mask was probably used in a temple as part of a
  ritual.
• The Bronze age includes the Shang and Zhou
  dynasties.

18
Shang Dynasty-1600-221 BC

• Oracle bones were used for prophecy. Bones were
  heated and the cracks interpreted for meaning.
  Around 1600 BC. Tribal priests or SHAMANS
• performed the ritual.

19
2 Shang ritual vessels
20
Oracle bones
21
Tortoise shell
22
Shang pottery
23
Shang Dynasty

• Bronze mask

24

• Ownership of bronze meant wealth and power, and
  may have been the origin of the Chinese class
  system.

25
Tang Dynasty

• Striding dragon made of gilt and bronze

26
Chinese emperors

• Mandate of Heaven rulers thought to be sons of
  heaven chosen to rule by gods unless they rule
  badly, then they can be overthrown
• Emperor also known as the foot of the stairs
  and lived in splendid isolation

27
The dragon throne
28
Moat outside of Forbidden City
29
Diagram of Forbidden City
30
Imperial garden
31
Hall of Supreme Harmony
32
Qin or Chin Dynasty - 221 BC

• Short lived, the Qin (Chin) dynasty unified
  northern China (hence the name).
• Under the Qin, writing was standardized.
• Jade burial suits were believed to preserve the
  body.
• The Great Wall of China was completed - over
  1,800 miles long! Built to keep out the Mongols.

33
Qin dynasty (Chin)

• 210 BC - this kneeling archer was buried with the
  emperor along with 7,000 other warriors and
  horses. The imperial guard had personalized
  portrait faces.

34
Necropolis - Qin dynasty
35
Jade burial suit, 113 bc
36
Qin bronze
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)
39
Han Dynasty 206-220 BC-CE

• Under the rule of the Han dynasty, the Silk Road
  (trade route from Asia to Europe) connected China
  with Syria and Rome.
• Buddhism was brought from India to China.
• Sprigging - attaching preformed clay decorations
  were added to pottery.
• Boxes were crafted using red or black lacquer and
  inlaid with mother of pearl.

40
Founder of Han Dyn. Wood block print
41
Han Dynasty

• Belt hook made of jade.
• Jade was thought to bring good fortune and good
  health.

42
Han dynasty - 150 BC
43
Han dynasty-Whats this?
44
Tang Dynasty - 618-906 AD

• Considered the Golden Age of Chinese culture.
• Development of wood block printing would lead to
  the printing of the worlds first encyclopedia.
• Period when millions of images of Buddha were
  produced.

45
Founder of Tang dyn.
46
First printed book 800s
47
Tang Dynasty

• Golden tree

48
Emperess Wu
49
Tang Dynasty

• Gilt and silver open weave censor (used for
  burning incense)

50
Tang statuette-court lady
51
Tang statuette
52
Tang - camel
53
Tang - horse - symbol of wealth
54
TANG - BUDDHA
55
Taliban destroyed this epic Buddhist display in
Afghanistan
56
Tomb guardian _at_525 AD
57

• Painted stone Buddha from around 550 AD

58
Song Dynasty - 960-1260 AD

• Golden age of Chinese landscape painting.
• Also part of the Golden Age, it was the flowering
  Northern painters stressed birds and flowers,
  while in the South, bamboo was emphasized
  (symbolized scholarship and wisdom).
• Celadon - an iron-green glazed pottery was so
  similar to Jade, it was thought to have the same
  properties.

59
Song dynasty painting on silk (1100 AD)
60
Song - poet
61
Song dynasty
62
Ming Dynasty Art
63
Ming Dynasty-1368-1644

• The Imperial Palace (The Forbidden City) was
  built.
• Blue and white ceramics and brilliant colored
  glazes became popular and enamels were applied to
  bronze surfaces.
• Portuguese sailors began trading with the Chinese.

64
Ming dynasty vase-1426 AD
65
Ming vase
66
Qing or Manchu Dyn.1644-1911

• Considered barbaric by the Chinese, the Manchus
  continued trade with the West.
• Asian art became popular, and was produced and
  sold thru out the world.

67
18th cent. Porcelain vase
68
How Chinese saw Europeans!
69
Bound feet for ladies is no longer practiced
70
(No Transcript)
71
Golden lotus slipper 3 inches
72
(No Transcript)
73
(No Transcript)
74
(No Transcript)
75
Qing or Manchu Dynasty-1644-1911

• Opium wars with England-England won, so kept
  shipping opium to Chinas market (mid-1800s)
• Boxer Rebellion - attempt to force foreigners out
  of China (1900) failed.
• People were forced to wear the queue or pigtail