Taoism, Shinto, Confucianism, China, Japan, Nature, The Tao, Kami, Confucius, Chinese Culture, Chinese beliefs, Wu-Wei, social order, society, sociology, The I Ching, Lao Tzu, Mencius, Chinese psychological orientation, Western psychological orientation,

1. 1
Taoism, Confucianism,
Shinto
Week 8

2. Ancient Chinese Beliefs:
Spirits:
Shen (beneficial spirits-bright, light, sun,
spring) Why would those be positive?
Kuei (dark, gloomy spirits). What’s the
purpose of sacrificing to these spirits?
Tian (Heaven)
Filial Piety: Veneration of ancestors
and respect for elders
Yang and Yin
Divination:
Tortoise shells, grains, I Ching can be
cast with stalks or coins
Chi: Life force, life energy

3. 3
Tian: Heaven
Completed in the Ming
Dynasty (1420), the Temple
of Heaven, called Tian Tan in
Chinese, served as a place
for Ming and Qing emperors
to pray and make sacrifices.
Tablets of the ancestors are
stored inside.

4. Tian
Scholars still debate the meaning of ‘heaven’ to the ancient
Chinese. Is it an impersonal force, a god or benevolent
energy?
I know Heaven loves men dearly not without reason.
Heaven ordered the sun, the moon, and the stars to
enlighten and guide them.
-Mozi
I have heard that life and death are allotted, that wealth and
honors are in Heaven’s hand.
-Confucius

5. 5
Ancestor
Veneration
Family members try to
provide a deceased
family member with
continuous happiness
and well-being in the
afterlife by showing
respect toward them.
Examples of other
cultures that do this?
The unity of family,
lineage, and filial piety
(remaining loyal to
parents) is continued
through this practice.

6. 6
Ancestor
Veneration
Despite the death of a
loved one, the original
relationship remains
intact, and the deceased
possesses more spiritual
power than they did in
life.
The ancestors are
thought of as deities who
had the ability to interact
and have an effect on
the lives of those still
living. How do you view
your ancestors?

7. 7
Chi or Qi
An active principle forming part
of any living thing. Qi is
frequently translated as life
energy, life force, or energy
flow.
Qi is the central underlying
principle in traditional
Chinese medicine and
martial arts. The literal
translation of "qi" is breath,
air, or gas. 5-minute Tai Chi for Health and Relaxation Part 1 of 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiYFxzh0ol4

8. 8
Yin: female, passive, negative principle in nature,
the moon, shaded orientation, north or shady side
of a hill, south of a river.
Yang: male, positive, active principle in nature,
south or sunny side of a hill, north of a river.
Yin Yang
 One of the most fundamental concepts in
Traditional Chinese Medicine; the foundation of
diagnosis and treatment.
 The earliest reference to Yin and Yang is in
the I Ching (Book of Changes) in
approximately in 700 BC. In this work, all
phenomena are said to be reduced to Yin-
Yang.

9. Taoism: The Way

10. The Tao Te Ching
 ‘The classical book about the Way
and its power’
 Dates to 350 BCE (orally) its
author, Lao Tzu, lived in 600 BCE.
 Poetic, mystical, shamanistic-
some chapters discuss trance
states and immortality.
 Seeks to bring human beings into
union with the Tao through
imitating certain qualities in nature
— harmony, lack of strain, and
flowing mystery.

11. 11
Lao Tzu
Author of the Tao de
Ching and founder of
Philosophical Taoism,
which aims at wisdom and
‘pure’ consciousness.
The legend surrounding
his life has themes
important to Chinese
culture: elders, education,
the life of the hermit, the
importance of writing and
passing down wisdom of
the elders.

12. The Tao
There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born.
It is serene. Empty. Solitary. Unchanging.
Infinite. Eternally present.
It is the mother of the universe.
For lack of a better name,
I call it the Tao. It flows through all things,
inside and outside, and returns
to the origin of all things.
The Tao is great.
The universe is great.
Earth is great.
Humanity is great.
These are the four great powers.
Humanity follows the earth.
Earth follows the universe.
The universe follows the Tao.
The Tao follows only itself.

13. 13
The Tao is like
Water
Flowing water is a Taoist
model for being:
Water bypasses and gently
wears away obstacles like
rock, effortlessly nourishes
all living things, works
without struggling, and
leaves all accomplishments
behind without possessing
them.

14. 14
Water and the Tao
14
The Tao de Ching
says:
“Water is the softest
thing on earth,
Yet its silken
gentleness will easily
wear away the hardest
stone.
Everyone knows this;
yet few use it in their
daily lives.
Those of Tao yield and
overcome.”

15. 15
Other Taoist Symbols
Woman: sensitive and
receptive, yet effective
and powerful.
Child: full of energy,
wonder, and
naturalness.
Valley: receptive and
mysterious.
Darkness: can be
safe, full of silence and
possibility.
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16. 16
The Tao
The Tao that can be
named is not the Tao.
The Tao is nameless,
formless, but can be
experienced.
The Tao is the origin of all
things, all is manifested
from the Tao.
(What does this sound
like that we have
studied?)

17. 17
Wu-Wei
Taoists observe that things
happen effectively in
nature: they are balanced
and in harmony.
Humans should live
effectively, without friction,
with balance and harmony,
in personal relationships
and in relationship to
nature.

18. 18
Wu Wei
'Wu wei', taking no
action contrary to
nature.
Wu wei is spontaneous,
creative activity proceeding
from the Tao, action in
nature without ego-
assertion.
Lao Tzu wrote about the
result of wu-wei being
non-interference with the
Tao. He thought nothing is
evil, but it may be out of
balance.
The world is naturally
harmonious; the Tao is our
original state.
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19. 19
Wu-Wei
The Sage is occupied
with the unspoken
and acts without
effort.
Producing without
possessing,
creating without
regard to result,
claiming nothing,
the Sage has nothing
to lose.
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20. Basic Principles of Taoism
Early Taoism was syncretic: includes shamanism, the hermit ideal, desire for
unity with nature, and fascination with health, long life, breathing, meditation, and
trance. (Sounds like…?)
Mystical: what does a mystic want to experience?
Life in harmony with the Dao includes:
Experiencing the transcendent unity of all things, rather than division. (Which
other traditions have this ‘unified vision’ idea?)
The Tao is transcendent. The Tao is the way of ultimate reality-- above, behind
and beneath everything; it is also the womb from which everything is born and
where everything goes when it dies.
The Tao is immanent, in everything as an animating spirit, the driving power of all
nature.

21. The Taoist vision of unity:
Experiencing this unity means functioning on a higher level of
consciousness: this level can only be attained when one stops having
personal preferences.
“Everything has its own nature and function,” says Chuan Tzu. “Be it
disfigured or beautiful, small or large, all are one in Tao.”
What other tradition maintains that the loss of personal preferences is a sign
of a person’s enlightenment?
Taoism is concerned with the direct experience of the universe,
accepting and cooperating with things as they are, not with
setting standards of morality, not with labeling things as
good/bad, negative/positive, etc.

22. Basic Principles for Life in Harmony with the Tao
Simplicity: Eliminate whatever is unnecessary or artificial and appreciate
the simple and the apparently ordinary. Examples of this?
The sage takes a low profile in the world--be like a valley, allowing
everything needed to flow into our lives, rather than aggressively seeking
things out.
Sages were wise, but not a learned and moral paragons like Confucian
sages.
Sages were often artisans, like woodcarvers. Artisans understood
the secret of art and the art of living--to be skillful and creative, they had to
have inner spiritual concentration and put aside externals, such as money,
fame, and praise.

23. The Tao Te Ching
Handout #2 Group questions and discussion

24. 24
What is Feng Shui?
 Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) means “wind and
water.”
 Feng shui is the ancient Chinese science and art of living
in harmony with the environment.
 There are many different approaches to Feng Shui and it
can be very complicated. We are using the Western style
or Black Hat in this presention.
 Feng Shui looks at how Chi moves in an environment!

25. 25
Chi and The Bagua Map
 Chi: A form of life force energy associated
with the environment (also the body).
 A Feng Shui practitioner aids clients to
create harmonious chi - to encourage
health and prosperity, and deter negative
chi that might be creating illness or stress
in the client's environment.
 Feng Shui is the study of chi in a location
and uses a Bagua map.

26. 26
A Bagua Map
A Bagua is a map that overlays the house or office plan and
divides the areas into 8 sections:
 Career
 Helpful people and travel
 Creativity and children
 Love and marriage Fame and reputation
 Wealth and prosperity
 Health and family
 Knowledge and self-cultivation.
 Also a Center section considered an “earth” or “grounding” section

27. 27
Week 9 Taoism,
Confucianism & Shinto

28. Hell realms & kuei at Tiger Balm Gardens, Singapore
28

29. Three Schools of Taoism
Taoism split into three schools:
The Philosopical: individual, and a
person tries to adjust to the flow of
energy called the Tao. These Taoists
seek to conserve chi (vital energy) by
using it effectively.
The Physical: increasing chi through
Taoist yoga (Tai Chi).
The Religious: The church of Taoism
was founded in the second century AD.
In this church Lao Tzu has become a
deity. Priests sacrifice to the immortals,
people make offerings. Ancestor worship
shows continuity of a family lineage;
descendants venerate their deceased
ancestors to show appreciation for
bringing them up and educating them.

30. The Taoist immortals and…
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31. 31
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styles
Taoist Temples
Taoist temples
include statues
and paintings, and
offerings of food,
water, and
incense are
regularly placed in
front of the
images.
(What other
traditions do this?)

32. Religious Taoism
Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-
mythical Chinese Taoist priest
who is believed by some to have
achieved immortality.
A legendary cultural hero, Zhang
Sanfeng is credited by modern
practitioners as having originated
the concepts of T'ai Chi Ch'uan,
as a result of a Confucian
syncretism of Chán
(Zen)Buddhist Shaolin martial
arts with his mastery of Taoist
Tao Yin principles.
▪Chi Energy Amazing Footage
▪Fight Scene from ‘Kung Fu Hustle’

33. 33
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text styles
Taoism here and now
 Taoist influences and concepts like
‘chi’ in pop culture.

34. Homework Questions
 1. What is Confucianism— a religion (beliefs concerning the cause, nature & purpose of the
universe involving devotional and ritual observances, and often a moral code
governing the conduct of human affairs) or a philosophy (the study of general and
fundamental problems, such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and ethics)?
 2. In your own words, explain what Confucius means by this statement, “He whose heart is in
the smallest degree set upon Goodness will dislike no one.”
 3.Explain what he means by this statement, “A Knight whose heart is set upon the Way, but
who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating course food, is not worth calling into
counsel.”
 4. What is the connection between Shinto and the samurai class?
 5. How does the Zoroastrianism scheme of the afterlife affect the ethical teachings of this
religion?
34

35. 35
Confucianism

36. 2. In your own words, explain what Confucius means by this statement, “He
whose heart is in the smallest degree set upon Goodness will dislike no one.”
3.Explain what he means by this statement, “A Knight whose heart is set upon
the Way, but who is ashamed of wearing shabby clothes and eating course
food, is not worth calling into counsel.”
1. What is Confucianism— a religion (beliefs concerning the cause,
nature & purpose of the universe involving devotional & ritual
observances & often a moral code governing human affairs) or a
philosophy (the study of general and fundamental problems?
36

37. The Life of Confucius
▪Confucius was born in 551 B.C.E., in
a China that was then a group of small
kingdoms, during the time feudalism
was ending. Society and families were
undergoing stress!
▪Born to a noble put poor family. Was
educated as a gentleman. In his teens,
he became serious scholar, later was a
tax collector, a teacher and a
government minister.

38. Confucius’ Beliefs
Seeing suffering caused by social
disorder, Confucius thought society
would function properly only if virtues
were taught and lived.
Confucius wanted to create a
superior person and a
harmonious society:
Cultivating “excellent” individuals
as social leaders would create a
harmonious society. In turn, a
harmonious society would nurture
excellent individuals.

39. 39
Confucian Beliefs
 Each human being is capable of being
good, refined, and even great, through
education, the contributions of other
people, and fulfilling one’s obligations
to them.
 Confucius was mostly silent on the
afterlife . His attitude on the subject is
summed up in his statement: “If you
are not able to serve men, how can
you worship the gods?”

40. 40
The Confucian path to
excellence
According to Confucius,
excellence comes from the
cultivation of an
individual’s virtues and
intellect, so education is
essential.
Knowledge and the
development of skills in
poetry, music, artistic
appreciation, manners,
and religious ritual are
important.
Confucius thought that
education shows the way
to wise and happy living.

41. The Five Great Relationships:
 Father-son
 Elder brother–younger
brother
 Husband-wife
 Elder-younger
 Ruler-Subject

42. Confucianism Worksheet
Handout # 1: The Five Great Relationships

43. Handout 1
Handout 3: A Confucian Family
Directions: On this page you have a description of a Chinese family. With your group, decide on how
this family should be ranked with the most powerful on top and the least on the bottom. Design a
chart to show the ranking of each person according to Confucius. Be prepared to share the chart
with the class, and to explain why you ordered it in this way.
Here is a brief description of Confucius’ Five great Relationships:
Father-son, oldest son has unique responsibilities.
Elder brother–younger brother
Husband-wife
Elder-younger
Ruler-subject
A Chinese family ranked in the Confucian Way:
The Kongs live together as an extended family with many members. Albert Kong is the father of four
children. He is married to Anna. Albert has a high-level government job, and he is the oldest son of
his parents. Albert’s parents, Granny and Gramps Kong, live with Albert’s family. Gramps’ Kong has
a younger brother, Hank, who lives with them and is looking for a job. Albert’s four children are :
Nancy, 22, Bert, 19, John, 14, and little Mary, who is seven.
Sketch your ideas for a chart!

43

44. Confucian Virtues
▪Ren: To think of the other
▪Li: Doing what is proper
▪Shu :The Silver Rule
▪Xiao: Devotion to family
▪Wen: Culture (appreciation
and skill)

45. 45
In the Confucian system,
the person who follows
the normative values of
filial piety, propriety and
harmony ends up with a
lesser ego.
In Western societies, the
person who follows the
normative values of
differentiation, self-
determination and self-
assertion ends up with
an assertive ego.
Confucian vs. Western
Psychological Norms

46. 46
Shinto
Japan’s indigenous religion

47. Shinto
▪Kami-no-michi: the ‘Way of
the Gods.’
▪Shinto is ancient, animistic,
shamanistic, in contact with
nature spirits, and mysterious
healing.
▪Human awareness of the power
of nature and the need to be in
harmony with nature is very
evident in Shinto.

48. 48
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text styles
Shinto
Worshipped spirits include the
spirits of departed family members,
distant ancestors of one’s clan, and
great leaders and animal and nature
spirits.
Shinto still exists in modern Japan.

49. Birth of the Kami
Primeval chaos, was populated
by deities, or spirits, called
kami.
Two kami—Izanami (“female
who invites”) and Izanagi
(“male who invites”)—
became the cosmic parents
who created the first islands
of Japan.

50. 50
Izanagi and Izanami gave birth to
additional kami, many of them nature
deities, like a fire god who burned
and killed Izanami as she gave birth
to him.
Izanagi travels to the underworld to
find Izanami, but she is disfigured.
From his tear-filled eyes emerge the
spirit of the sun, Amaterasu (“shining
in heaven”), and the spirit of the
moon, Tsukiyomi (“moon night
possessor”).
Izanami and Izanagi

51. The Kami
▪The Kami: powers in or near this world,
energies that animate nature. The kamis’
presence might be felt in a peaceful way in
nature.
▪The kami can also be felt in the midst of a
terrible storm. In Japan, typhoons are
called kamikaze, or divine wind.
▪Ancestors who become kami live close by,
ready to return to see how their
descendants are doing.
▪
Etrieved April 6, 2012, from:http://www.jref.com/japan/culture/religion/kami.shtml

52. 52
Basic Shinto
Beliefs
Human beings are
fundamentally good, the
body is good, and this
earthly life is good. Shinto
worships fertility and new
life, and sex is viewed
positively, without guilt.
Shinto is focused away from
death, thought of as the
opposite of life and growth.
Shinto worships the life
force, and works to
counteract whatever brings
sickness or death.

53. 53
Shinto Beliefs
According to Shinto,
we must keep our
bodies, houses, and
clothes clean and
bright.
When they become
dirty or contaminated,
we must wash them,
get rid of the dirt, and
purify them with
blessings.

54. Shinto & Buddhism in Japan,
Confucianism & Buddhism in China
Shinto was often associated with
agriculture, fertility, and birth.
Shinto shrines have Buddha images and
adopted Buddhist practices.
Ancestors venerated as kami.
Shinto practices loyalty to family and
clan.
Buddhism with philosophy, serious
illnesses, funerals, and the afterlife.
In Japan, Buddhist shrines have images of
kami, and often have Chinese architectural
details.
Ancient Chinese & Confucians venerate
ancestors.
Ancient Chinese & Confucians practice
loyalty to family and clan.

55. Shinto, Taoism and
Confucianism Diagram
Handout #2 Venn Diagram

56. Handout 3: Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto Venn Diagram
Directions: With your group decide which characteristics represent Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Place their overlapping
characteristics in the place where the circles overlap.
Ancestor veneration birth loyalty to family respect elders
ancestors venerated as kami transcendent unity of everything education
higher level of consciousness spirits animistic virtues
nature venerated letting things flow developing a cultured outlook fertility
using energy skillfully cleanliness hierarchy
Taoism
Confucianism Shinto
56

57. Shinto’s Religious
Practices:
People visit shrines to
pray for health, success in
school and career, and for
those they love.
A visit begins by passing
under the torii gateway.
Worshipers wash their
hands and mouths at a
water basin.
They walk to the building
where the kami is
worshiped, then ascend
the stairs to the space in
front of the room where
the kami is enshrined.

58. 58
Shinto Ritual
They bow, donate a coin,
then ring a bell and clap
several times to gain the
kami’s attention. They bow
again and pray.
When worshipers visit a
shrine for a blessing, a
priest says a prayer, &
waves a branch or wand
adorned with paper
streamers to purify the
devotees and the
surrounding area.

59. 59
A Shinto ceremony
was performed at the
beginning of filming
‘Godzilla vs. King
Kong.’
Guess who won?
Shinto & Godzilla