Chinese Religions: Daoism and Confucianism

IDEAS

1. Evidence of religions in the Neolithic period of China
2. Religious significance of Shang Dynasty bronze
3. Laozi and the Daodejing; Zhuangzi
4. Confucius
5. Later Daoism and Confucianism

CHRONOLOGY

Early China Neolithic Period (c. 6000-2000 BCE)
   Yangshao Culture (painted pottery)
Three Dynasties
   Xia (Hsia) legendary - may be Neolithic period
   Shang (1523-1028) - bronze
   Zhou (Chou) (1028-221 BCE) - age of philosophers
      Western Zhou (1028-771 BCE)
      Eastern Zhou (771-221 BCE) - Laozi and Confucius

VOCABULARY - EARLY CHINA

shamanism

divination: scapulimancy

Yijing (I-ching: Book of Changes)

Shangdi (Shang-ti)

taotie (t'ao-t'ieh)

Yellow Emperor (Huang di)

DAOISM

Laozi (Lao-tzu, 6th century BCE)

Dao (Tao)

Daodejing (Tao te ching)

de (te)

yin/yang - five elements

wu-wei

qi (ch'i)

Zhuangzi (Chuang-tzu)

Qigong (Chi kung)

CONFUCIUS

Confucius (551-479 BCE)

Analects of Confucius

tian (t'ien)
   will of heaven
   mandate of heaven
   son of heaven

ren (jen): humanity

li: propriety

rectification of names

the superior person

LATER DEVELOPMENTS

Qin Shihuangdi (259-210 BCE)

Feng Sui

Chinese medicine

The Three Teachings

Falun Gong