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Questions and Answers
Which of the three Daoic religions originated in Japan?
Which of the three Daoic religions originated in Japan?
Which of the following is considered an animistic folk religion?
Which of the following is considered an animistic folk religion?
What is the main difference between Confucianism and Daoism in regards to their solutions for achieving harmony between heaven and earth?
What is the main difference between Confucianism and Daoism in regards to their solutions for achieving harmony between heaven and earth?
Which concept of morality is based on loyalty to one's superiors and elders?
Which concept of morality is based on loyalty to one's superiors and elders?
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What is the golden rule in Confucianism?
What is the golden rule in Confucianism?
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Which of the following is considered the most positive view of women in the three Daoic religions?
Which of the following is considered the most positive view of women in the three Daoic religions?
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Confucianism places women at the top of the hierarchy within the family and society.
Confucianism places women at the top of the hierarchy within the family and society.
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What is the main purpose of self-cultivation in Confucianism and Daoism?
What is the main purpose of self-cultivation in Confucianism and Daoism?
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What is the main purpose of Shintoism in relation to the daily life of the Japanese people?
What is the main purpose of Shintoism in relation to the daily life of the Japanese people?
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What is the core concept that unites the Three Daoic religions?
What is the core concept that unites the Three Daoic religions?
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What is the key aspect of 'misogi' in Shintoism?
What is the key aspect of 'misogi' in Shintoism?
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The concept of 'Dharma' has a consistent meaning across various Dharmic religions.
The concept of 'Dharma' has a consistent meaning across various Dharmic religions.
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Which of the following is NOT a component of the Vedic texts?
Which of the following is NOT a component of the Vedic texts?
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The Rig-Veda is considered to be the oldest surviving religious literature in the world.
The Rig-Veda is considered to be the oldest surviving religious literature in the world.
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What is the primary subject of the Rig Veda 10:129, often referred to as the 'creation hymn'?
What is the primary subject of the Rig Veda 10:129, often referred to as the 'creation hymn'?
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The hymns and verses within the Rig-Veda are exclusively dedicated to the worship of one single deity.
The hymns and verses within the Rig-Veda are exclusively dedicated to the worship of one single deity.
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Which of the following is NOT considered a sacred text or scripture within Hinduism?
Which of the following is NOT considered a sacred text or scripture within Hinduism?
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What is the primary source of knowledge regarding the origins of Hinduism?
What is the primary source of knowledge regarding the origins of Hinduism?
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Hinduism is a missionary religion that actively seeks to convert new followers.
Hinduism is a missionary religion that actively seeks to convert new followers.
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Which of the following is considered the ultimate reality in Hinduism?
Which of the following is considered the ultimate reality in Hinduism?
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Brahman is primarily worshipped through dedicated temples and rituals, similar to other Hindu deities.
Brahman is primarily worshipped through dedicated temples and rituals, similar to other Hindu deities.
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What are the three main functions of Brahman, as represented in the concept of Trimurti?
What are the three main functions of Brahman, as represented in the concept of Trimurti?
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Which Hindu deity is associated with love, benevolence, and forgiveness?
Which Hindu deity is associated with love, benevolence, and forgiveness?
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What is the name of Vishnu's most popular manifestation?
What is the name of Vishnu's most popular manifestation?
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Who is Vishnu's consort, the goddess of fortune?
Who is Vishnu's consort, the goddess of fortune?
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Which Hindu deity is recognized as the god of death, destruction, and disease, but also as the god of dance and creation?
Which Hindu deity is recognized as the god of death, destruction, and disease, but also as the god of dance and creation?
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Shiva's most terrifying consort, Kali, is depicted as a peaceful and benevolent figure.
Shiva's most terrifying consort, Kali, is depicted as a peaceful and benevolent figure.
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Hinduism offers a single, unified path to salvation for all its followers.
Hinduism offers a single, unified path to salvation for all its followers.
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The concept of 'bhakti' in Hinduism emphasizes the importance of intellectual understanding above devotion.
The concept of 'bhakti' in Hinduism emphasizes the importance of intellectual understanding above devotion.
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What is the primary goal of Hindu followers in terms of achieving salvation?
What is the primary goal of Hindu followers in terms of achieving salvation?
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Which of the following is NOT a significant sacred text or scripture in Hinduism?
Which of the following is NOT a significant sacred text or scripture in Hinduism?
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What is the most prominent epic poem within Hinduism, considered a story of a great struggle between the Pandavas and Kauravas?
What is the most prominent epic poem within Hinduism, considered a story of a great struggle between the Pandavas and Kauravas?
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What is the name of the epic poem that tells the story of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, who is exiled and later seeks to rescue his abducted wife Sita?
What is the name of the epic poem that tells the story of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, who is exiled and later seeks to rescue his abducted wife Sita?
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Study Notes
East Asian Religions
- Three Daoic religions: Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism
- Originated from East Asia
- Confucianism and Daoism originated in China during the Warring States period (Zhou Dynasty)
- Shintoism is considered an indigenous religion, origin hard to trace, originating in Japan
- Sharing common traits (especially in views on nature and human relationship with it), despite differences in beliefs and practices
Confucianism
- Originated with Kung Fuzi, popularized later by Mengzi and Xunzi
- Initially a philosophy for solving China’s chaotic society during the Zhou dynasty
- Contributed significantly to Chinese ethical and moral dimensions and later developed into a religion
- Emphasis on loyalty to superiors, elders, and others; proper ritual observance for ancestors; self-cultivation through wisdom and trustworthiness
- Ethical principle of "do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you"
- Goal of self-cultivation leads to social and even cosmic cultivation
Daoism
- Originated in China at about the same time as Confucianism
- Sought to address China’s social upheavals
- Laozi, considered a prominent philosopher, authored the Dao de jing, Daoism's sacred scripture
- Emphasis on allowing nature to take its natural course for social order, in contrast to Confucianism’s strict ethical control
- Go with the flow attitude
Shintoism
- Originated in Japan, considered an animistic folk religion
- Hard to trace the origin, developed as an indigenous religion
- Emphasis on spirits or kami in nature
- Used by the imperial family to legitimize their rule and declared as a state religion for some time
- Emphasizing family, tradition, nature, ancestors, purification, and ritual practices
Morality
- Confucianism: Loyalty to one's superiors and elders, proper conduct (rituals), and self-cultivation
- Daoism: Initially advocated that morality not be imposed, but rather follow natural laws; later, confession of sins and moral guidelines appear (following Buddhist influence)
- Shintoism: Following the will of the kami (spirits); purity (in both physical and spiritual senses); belief in basic goodness of human nature, and evil stems from disruptions
Views on Women
- Confucianism: women subordinate to men in hierarchy; obedience, and loyalty expected
- Daoism: balance of masculine and feminine; equal potential.
- Shintoism: varied roles across historical periods of development; initially significant, later under the control of the imperial government.
Hinduism (Dharmic Religion)
- One major common property from the vast continent of India, is complexity and diversity.
- Includes Hinduism and the two branches of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana
- Central to their teachings is Dharma with each religion having its own meaning
Sacred scriptures
- Pass to the next generation through music, recitation, dance, and drama, with Sanskrit as one of the languages of earliest writings
- Two classes: shruti (that which is heard) and Smriti (that which is remembered)
Vedas
- Four basic Vedic books (Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and Atharva-Veda), compiled from earlier oral traditions
- Collection of sacrificial hymns.
- Earliest known Sanskrit literature of Hinduism, Brahma as cited in Mahabharata
- Rig Veda, most important and oldest, dates to 1500–1200 BCE, written in Indo-European language
Upanishads
- Part of the Vedas, translates to "sitting down near" or "sitting close to", implying listening intently to spiritual teachers with knowledge and complete removal of ignorance.
- A compilation of writing containing early philosophical statements that form a basis to later Hindu philosophy.
Ramayana
- Sanskrit epic poem about Rama's journey
- Rama, a prince in Ayodhya, later portrayed as an avatar of Vishnu
- Rama, Sita, and other characters involved in a crucial journey
- Focus on themes of virtue, righteousness and devotion
Mahabharata
- A huge epic poem about a struggle between families
- Pandavas, represented good; Kauravas represented evil;
- Important figure Krishna who aided the Pandavas
- The poem is about four times longer than the Ramayana, eight times longer than the Iliad and odyssey, and fifteen times longer than the bible, highly impacting world religion
Bhagavad Gita
- Celebrated episode within the Mahabharata, considered a sacred text in Hinduism
- 700 verses (Lord's song), narrative of a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna
- Concerns of Arjuna regarding battle and his relatives, and cosmic implications.
Beliefs and Doctrines
- Hindu faith offers multiple paths to salvation (liberation from cycle of life) through devotion to gods and goddesses at temples
- Devotees pray and offer sacrifices to gain favor, in their struggle for salvation; in particular bhakti that conveys the longing of the soul to cling to god.
Hindu Gods and Goddesses
- Brahman: supreme reality, undivided and unseen
- Trimurti: three main forms/functions: Brahman - creator; Vishnu - preserver; and Shiva - destroyer
- Focus on multiple gods and goddesses, with different forms and roles.
- Various vehicles and forms of description for the gods, with emphasis on important figures. Some examples include Bhrama's swan or goose (symbol of knowledge), Vishnu's four arms and dark complexion (with Krishna's flute), and Shiva's constantly erect penis (representing sexual energy).
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