RELG 402 - World's Living Religions
Module 12 - Chinese Religions
Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Traditional Religion
Module Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to :
- Identify the people and main events associated with Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Traditional Religion.
- Discuss the literature associated with Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Traditional Religion.
- Describe the teachings and ethical standards of Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Traditional Religion.
- Describe the world-view associated with Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Traditional Religion.
- Describe the varieties of worship associated with Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Traditional Religion.
Readings
- Textbook, chapter 8, Chinese Religions
NOTE - the textbook speaks of two religions in China (Confucianism and Taoism). Although it does mention Chinese Traditional Religion briefly, it does not give a full picture of the major influence that Traditional Religion still plays in Chinese religious life. In fact, the Tomb Sweeping Festival with which the chapter opens is part of Chinese Traditional Religion. - Notes on Chinese Traditional Religion
- Notes on Chinese History
- Notes on Chinese Festivals
- Notes on Confucianism
- Notes on Taoism
- Documents on Taoism
Optional InterNet Resources
- Go here for Links to optional resources for Confucianism
- Go here for Links to optional resources for Taoism
- Go here for Links to optional resources for Chinese traditional religion -
Videos of Lion Dances are generally fun to watch. - Useful articles can be found by using Search Engines such as GoodSearch
- Remember - always cite your sources
Study Questions
Before taking the Test, prepare an answer sheet for yourself by answering the following questions. Then you may use it, along with the textbook and the course notes, to answer the questions on the Test and to formulate a thread for the Discussion Board.
You will have to go beyond the textbook, to the course notes, for some of the answers
- How do the Chinese views of the cosmos, and of sin, differ from those of the Abrahamic faiths?
- What is the yin-yang principle, and how do the hun and po souls reflect this principle?
- What were the dates for the Shang dynasty, and what were the characteristics of Chinese religion during this period? (see notes)
- What were the dates for the Zhou dynasty, and how did it come into power? How did Chinese religion develop during this period? (see notes)
- Discuss the concept of Tian. How is dao (also called Tao) related to Tian?
- How did Confucius refine the concepts of Tian and Tianming?
- According to the textbook, what did Confucius regard as the ultimate, paramount task in human life, and what is perhaps the single most important article of faith held by Confucius?
- Discuss the Confucian concept of ren
- Discuss the Confucian concept of li
- According to the textbook, what was Mencius' fundamental article of faith? What was his ultimate concern? What are the "sprouts of morality" in all humanity, and what is the moral progress to becoming spiritually divine?
- How did Zhang Zai summarize the religious mission of Confucianism?
- What is the Daoist concept of the Dao (or Tao), and how does it compare to the Confucian view?
- What is the Daoist view of the ideal course of action for human beings?
- How does Tudi Gong serve his village, and how does his village serve Tudi Gong? (see notes)
- How does Zao Jun look after "his family", and how does his family treat Zao Jun? (the textbook calls him the Stove god) (see notes)
- What is the story of the goddess Mazu, and what rank did she eventually attain? (see notes)
- Write a paragraph on the life and attainments of Confucius
- How does Jason Ch'ui-hsiao Tseng express his religious affiliations?
- What does Chinese traditional religion believe about the soul, what happens at death, and how do traditional Chinese families treat their ancestors?
- What are some of the differences between a Chinese Lion Dance and a Dragon Dance?
For some of your answers you may have to go beyond the textbook
Prepare a set of answers for yourself, then use it to help you answer the Test and post your Thread to the Discussion Board
Discussion Board 12
Thread :
If you are a Chinese Christian, discuss what it is like to be a Christian in China or in a Chinese community.
If you are Chinese, but do not identify yourself as Christian, discuss what you would most like non-Chinese to know about Chinese religions.
If you are not Chinese, or If you are not comfortable identifying yourself either as Chinese or non-Chinese, discuss one of the Chinese religious Festivals.
Replies to 2 of your classmates' threads :
If possible, choose threads which deal with different topics.
Do you have any particular insights and/or experiences which might be helpful to the poster or to your classmates as a whole?
Test 12
Go to the Test Section of the course, and take the test at least once before 12 noon of the Monday following the Module.
You will have 1 hour to complete the test.
You may take the test three times before the cut-off time.
Questions will vary each time you take the test.
Your highest score will count towards your course grade.
Copyright © 1999 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved
