Confucianism Daoism Buddhism. Eighth to third century B. C.E.

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Audrey Blair
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1 Confucianism Daoism Buddhism Origin Chinese Chinese Foreign Incipit Confucius, B.C.E Orientation Lay Sociopolitical scope Dao/ Philosophy Political philosophy that sees the individual s primary duty as centered on his family and his social milieu and celebrates active involvement on the part of the male offspring in affairs of state. Immanence. The Confucian path is centered on academic and scholarly success, achieving fame and immortality through an official career, and by striving constantly to remain a filial, respectful member of one s family structure. Eighth to third century B. C.E. Lay to begin with, becomes more of an institutionalized religion after the arrival of Buddhism in China Based on the individual s withdrawal from society, politics and family life to pursue one s individual path of immortality through various alchemic and yogic practices. Metaphysical immanence. The Daoist path postulates the possibility of becoming an immortal by using one s physical body to become free of death by renouncing worldly cares and by focusing on yogic practices. The final goal is thus not enlightenment, but defeating mortality and being one with the Dao, in Nature, away from society and mundane worries. First emerges in India in the fifth century B.C.E., starts spreading in China from 2 nd century B.C.E. to third century C.E. Institutionalized religion Predicated upon the complete withdrawal from the world of samsara, from human passions, in order to become enlightened for the sake of all sentient beings (Mahayana Buddhism) Transcendence. Mahayana Buddhism sees human life as well as all other forms of existence, as illusions brought about by ignorance and karma. Its final goal is for practitioners to realize the illusory nature of samsara and move away from it by entering Nirvana.

The realms of the written word in pre-modern China 文言 wenyan (literary Chinese), written.

letters, memoirs, and other written forms of communication by the upper classes and the educated elite.

biographies, and in the Ming and the Qing dynasties it became the language of choice for ghost stories

白話 baihua (spoken Chinese), mostly written, up until the end of the Qing dynasty, used mostly in

2 The realms of the written word in pre-modern China 文言 wenyan (literary Chinese), written. Deployed in high- register literary genres such as philosophy, poetry, history, as well as for letters, memoirs, and other written forms of communication by the upper classes and the educated elite. From the Tang dynasty onwards, it was used to write short stories modeled after historical biographies, and in the Ming and the Qing dynasties it became the language of choice for ghost stories and some popular novels. 白話 baihua (spoken Chinese), mostly written, up until the end of the Qing dynasty, used mostly in vernacular Biction (novels, plays, short stories, ballads) and love poetry. 官話 guanhua (ofbicial Chinese), written. Used in ofbicial documents (legal cases, cour documents, and so on), it evolved from Northern dialects that spread through China during the Yuan dynasty. 方言 fangyan (dialect), mostly spoken. Used in daily life, it played an important role in vernacular Biction, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

3 Circuits of production and consumption in pre-modern Chinese Buddhist literary cultures: A Genealogy. Oral realm Socio-economic contexts of production: Court; private homes during ritual functions (e.g. funerals); temporary collective spaces (e.g., temple festivals and markets); monasteries. Buddha/Guru ò TEACHING sutras, mantras, transmission and empowerments ä Written realm Self/Monastic authors and readers Socio-economic contexts consumption and production: monastery/temporary dwellings-huts, inns, patrons residences, etc. ø memorization and reading STUDY MEDITATION practice and production sutra mantra mantra jataka tales poetry hagiographies essays fiction calligraphy plays painting Visual artsä è ä Visual arts Illiterate and semi-literate masses 文人, courtiers, monks, nobility, merchants Contexts of consumption: Court; private homes in ordinary life as well as ritually prescribed occasions (e.g. funerals, birthdays, and so on); temporary collective spaces of performance and worship (e.g., temple festivals and markets); schools; monasteries.

8 Time period Dreamer Dream characters Dream content/function Dream Outcome Dream interpreters Dream texts Shang/Zhou dynasties King/ruler (or immediate family members) Ancestors, Heaven Messages from outside sources/agents meant to explain, correct and rule the world of waking life. Also, space in which gods, spirits and the living can meet to exchange favors (e.g. new graves, more sacrifices, bountiful hunt, victory in battle); express gratitude for favors received; deliver and receive obscure prophecies Dream interpretation that leads to the performance of rites and ritual actions (to maintain or restore the collapsed moral order that may jeopardize the world of the living, that of the dead, which in this earlier stage coincides with that of Heaven) as well as to wars, peace treaties, exorcisms and so on. Literate members of the ruling elite, ritual specialists. Oracle bones Warring States, Spring and Autumn, Qin-Han dynasties King and emperors; Philosophers; Common people? Self Animals Gods Immortals Ghosts Ancestors Messages from outside sources/agents that are meant to explain, correct and rule the world of waking life. But also: Philosophical messages/explorations from inner Self that illuminate both the nature of the dreaming I/Eye and the ultimate nature of things. Also: spirit journeys; physical and metaphysical paths to awakening and causes of enlightement. Ritual actions; enlightenment; life/career change. Literate members of the ruling class; philosophers; shamans; Daoists. Philosophical treatises; historical annals and records; poetry. Tang dynasty- Qing dynasty All strata of society Self; living and deceased family members; Buddhas and bodhisattvas Daoist gods; Christian God (with the arrival of missionaries); Animals; Local Gods; Immortals; demons; ghosts; ancestors; lovers; foxes. Messages from the dead and gods; Warning from the spirits; sexual paradises; Gate to outer and inner realms (hell, paradise, other countries); space of meditative/transcendental practice; chronotopes. All of the previous outcomes and results as well as: Death Resurrection Enlightenment Exorcism Career change Scholars; fortune tellers; philosophers; shamans; Daoists; Buddhists. Philosophical treatises; historical annals and records; poetry; drama; fiction; short stories.

Between Han and Tang: The emergence of Chinese Buddhism and Religious Daoism. October 1, 2013

Between Han and Tang: The emergence of Chinese Buddhism and Religious Daoism October 1, 2013 review What language did the Aryans speak? What is the difference between their early religion and Buddhism?