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In order to become a deity, an individual must attain the status of immortality. The only way for these individuals to attain such status is to master the Five Precepts of Buddhism and reach Enlightenment. Once this is accomplished then the individual can become a deity. However, each God and Goddess only emerges as a real worshipped entity once they have become enshrined through lore and mythology. The Monkey King is perhaps the best known deity in China because the mythology that surrounds him is one of China's oldest and most popular narrative traditions. This story entitled "The Journey to the West" is the real foundation for Monkey King's status as a God within Chinese culture.
The concept of heaven and hell are also confusing when viewed from a western perspective....
In Chinese culture, the perception of heaven is that of a supreme power that reigns over lesser Gods and men. The term used for heaven is "t'ien" which may refer to a deity, to impersonal nature or to both. Rather than being viewed as a place, it is most often referred to as a powerful force. At the same time, the traditional conception of a "heaven" can be equated to the Divine residence of the Gods, where the Jade Emperor holds court along with all the other Gods of Chinese mythology. Hell in contrast is thought of as a traditional place of damnation. Popular mythology portrays hell as a place where many deities and spirits reside and punish sinners in a variety of horrible and painful ways. In this sense, their depiction of hell is much closer to the western image.
Chinese Civilization Prompt 1: Pick two passages about education and explain what makes them "Confucian" or "Neo-Confucian." Zhu Xia's Neo-Confucianism Program which is labeled "Preface to the Family Rituals" both exhibit the qualities that are found in the writings and teachings of Confucius. Confucianism is the philosophical and ethical system of belief based upon the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius which is then applied to daily life, including education and religion.
2. Discuss the concepts of non-action and spontaneity (tzu-ran) in the Tao-Te-Ching and Chuang-Tzu The main tenants of Taoism were put forth by Lao Tzu and Chuang-Tzu in their writings. The principles of non-action and spontaneity were the most important principles that the Taoists preached, and were central to their understanding of true knowledge. Paradoxically, they believed that knowledge is not to be attained by accumulation of information, but actually by
Chinese First Emperor as with the Egyptian pharaohs, the tomb was a microcosm of the world that they knew in life, and filled with the objects that they would use in the afterlife. In early times, servants, soldiers, concubines and entertainers were even put to death so they could serve the monarch in the next world, although later these were mostly represented by statues and replicas. For the First
Samantha Vargas Chinese Religion Intro to Cultural Anthropology Ch'en, Kenneth K.S. Buddhism in China: A Historical Survey. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1907-1964. In this text, Professor Kenneth Ch'en writes a historical account of the development of Buddhism and how it modified as it grew. Buddhism is a unique religion in that it has been adapted to incorporate the cultural attitudes of the various countries in which it is found. Within China, Buddhism took
It upheld, rather than tore down, the existing order. The search for salvation could be seen to be connected to performance of one's duty here in the material world. Confucianism was indeed an important philosophy in the Tokugawa Period, but Japanese forms of Buddhism, together with native Shinto practice always remained central to the Japanese religious experience. As in Korea, Confucian ideals found support because of their emphasis on
Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism Taoism, Confucianism, and Judaism There are several major religions in the world and in different parts of the world the religions are quite diverse. In China, two major religions are Taoism and Confucianism, while in the West one of the oldest religions is Judaism. These religions are quite different, with historical, theological, and philosophical differences. But they also have certain aspects in common, such as honesty, integrity, and compassion.