World Religions: Taoism & Shintoism PDF

TAOISM or DAOISM represents the most significant formulation of early Daoist -began in the state of Chu in the southern part of the thought. present Hunan Province. -divided into three sections: the In...

TAOISM or DAOISM represents the most significant formulation of early Daoist -began in the state of Chu in the southern part of the thought. present Hunan Province. -divided into three sections: the Inner Chapters, Outer -focuses on the great mysteries of the Dao; as a religion, Chapters, and Miscellaneous Chapters its goal is to achieve long life and, ultimately, immortality. THE DAO DAO or “THE WAY” -“the way of nature” -ultimate goal of Daoists - it is the foundation of all being, and the way in which -great pattern of nature nature and the universe exist - the origin of heaven and earth and it is also the way in YIN AND YANG which heaven and earth now live. -most well-known Daoist religious symbol. -signifies the perfect harmonic balance in the universe THE DE -For example, day and night; birth and death. -“virtue/ proper” adherence to Dao - encourages inaction in nature and advocates the quiet LAOZI (LAO-TZU) and passive nature of a person so that the Dao, or the -“Old Master” creative principle in the universe, may act through them - a founder who has the mean of his name as old scholar. without interference. -was conceived by a shooting star and was born of a virgin mother, who kept him in her womb for 82 years WU-WEI - said to be born with flowing hair, which signified that he -means -“action through inaction”, “no behavior” or “doing would become a wise man nothing.” - the first important Daoist who is believed to be a senior -It also means “to do without doing” (wei-wu wei) or contemporary of Kung Fuzi “Actionless activity.” - he worked as a government archivist but became -a concept used to negate or limit human action. frustrated with government corruption, and sensing his -refers to the cancellation or restriction of human behavior, unavoidable disgrace he left Chu especially human activities --advocates a “go with the flow” attitude ZHUANGZI (CHUANG TZU) - his last name was Chuang, his given name was Chou, YIN YANG and Tzu means “master,” thus Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) -“yin in its highest form is freezing while yang in its highest means “Master Chuang.” form is boiling” - the second founder of Daoism -interaction of these two establishes he (harmony) - born in the town of Meng in a small state of Sung, near -an important concept in Daoism which explains Laozi’s the border between present-day Hunan and Shandong methodology that everything contains opposite sides, and Province each side depends on the other, which emphasizes the - served as an officer-in-charge of a royal garden during concept of dualism, of two halves forming a whole. the middle of the Warring States period -emphasizes complementarity, interconnectedness, and interdependence of both sides seeking a new balance with DAO DE JING each other. -Daoism’s foundational text -meaning “The Book of the Way and its Power” QI/CHI -a collection of sayings and proverbs, lines from popular -refers to the natural energy or life force that sustains living songs, and clever maxims coming from various beings contributors with various concerns. -literally means “air’ or “vapor” - expounds on the meaning of Dao and its accompanying -sometimes translated as “material force” or “vital force.” concept of De—the power or virtue acquired by a person -considered as the foundation of body and life by means of living in harmony with Dao. -Daoists believe that everything is made up of qi and will eventually return to qi. BOOK OF CHUANG TZU/ZUANGZI - It consists of delightful parables, metaphors, and poetic passages, and is praised for its high literary value which SHINTOISM - espouses the belief that “human beings are basically 2. SHICHI-GO-SAN (SEVEN-FIVE-THREE). good and has no concept of original sin.” -Festival observed every 15th of November by boys of five - polytheistic belief that expresses love and respect for years and girls of three and seven years of age, who visit nature the shrine to give thanks for the protection provided by the - it has no known founder nor god, and it may be practiced kami and to ask for their healthy growth; with other religions such as Buddhism and Daoism 3. ADULT’S DAY (SEIJIN SHIKI). KAMI -Observed every 15th of January by the Japanese who had - spirits and dieties that were reflected in the numerous their 20th birthday the previous year by visiting the shrine shrines which they believe can be found in nature, and to express gratitude to the kami (20 being the legal age of guide their everyday lives by giving them good fortune and adulthood in Japan) prosperity 4. WEDDING RITES. TORII GATE -Patterned after the wedding of Crown Prince Yoshihito - most common symbol for Shintoism and Princess Sado in 1900; - a sacred gateway that represents a gate through the transition between the world of humans and the world of 5. FUNERAL RITES. God and Goddesses. -Since death is considered impure, most Japanese funerals are Buddhist in nature; Shintoism’s funeral KOJIKI AND NIHONGI practices are called sosai. - compilations of ancient myths and traditional teachings, are considered to have a dual purpose: a political as well as a moral purpose OTHERS: - POLITICAL PURPOSE is to establish the supremacy of 1. The word "Mahayana" is the Sanskrit translation for Japan over all countries in the world by legitimizing the "Great Taste." divine authority of the ruling families and to establish the 2. "Dharmakaya" means "truth body” and identical with political supremacy of the Yamato perfect enlightenment that is absolute and beyond - Its MORAL PURPOSE is to explain the relationship existence or non-existence. between the kami and human beings by establishing that 3. Lunyu is the Chinese term for the book Analects the Japanese are a special people chosen by the kami KOJIKI - composed of three books: the first is the age of kami, which narrates the mythology, while the second and third books discuss the imperial lineage, narrating the events concerning the imperial family up to the death of the thirty- third ruler, Empress Suiko. NIHON SHOKI/NIHONGI - records the descent of the Yamato rulers of Japan from the gods - represents a combination of a political purpose with folklores and myths Below are the rites of passage observed by the Shintoists from birth to death: 1. HATSUMIYAMAIRI (FIRST SHRINE VISIT). Newborn children are taken to the shrine to seek protection from the kami; traditionally, the newborn is taken by the grandmother because the mother is deemed impure from childbirth; the ritual takes place on the second day after birth for a boy, and third day for a girl;