Religion Exam Chinese Religions

Front 1

Yin

Back 1

the negative force in nature recognized in early Chinese religion
dark, cool, and female

Front 2

Yang

Back 2

the positive force in nature recognized in early Chinese religion
light, warm, and male

Front 3

Tao

Back 3

Literally "The Way" or "The Way of Nature"

Front 4

Filial Piety

Back 4

the concept of devotion to elders in East Asian religions

Front 5

Li

Back 5

Confucian term translated as "propriety," "rites," ceremonies," or courtesy"; probably means "the course of life as it is intended to go."

Front 6

Lao-Tzu

Back 6

the founder of Taoism
means Old Master or Old Boy

Front 7

Tao Te Ching

Back 7

Literally, "The Classic of the Way and its Power or Virtue"; the book that became the basis for the philosophy of Taosim
"the way of nature"
Focused on fact that all human achievements are folly, especially elaborate government.

Front 8

Confucius

Back 8

the founder of Confucianism
Really named Kung

Front 9

Analects of Confucius

Back 9

a collection of the teachings of Confucius compiled about 70 years after his death

Front 10

Book of Mencius

Back 10

contains the teachings of Mencius
discusses natural goodness of human beings

Front 11

Hsun tzu

Back 11

famous Confucian interpreter (heterodox)
believed in the worth of rites (li)
denied basic goodness of humankind

Front 12

Kami

Back 12

Japanese for "spirits"

Front 13

Samurai

Back 13

Medieval Japanese Knights

Front 14

Bushido

Back 14

Code of the samurai

Front 15

Torri

Back 15

distinctive Japanese archway

Front 16

Describe the Chinese concepts of Yin and Yang as a unifying explanation of the universe.

Back 16

There is a balance between the forces. Yin is the negative force in nature, seen in darkness, coolness, femaleness, dampness, the earth itself, the moon, and the shadows. The yang is the positive force in nature, seen in lightness, brightness, warmth, maleness, dryness, and the sun. The interaction between them is a factor in the operation of the universe. Besides the sun or the earth, which are clearly yin or yang, the rest of everything in the universe is a combination of the two forces. When they work in harmony and flow smoothly, life is what it should be.

Front 17

By what process did Taoism become magic?

Back 17

Taoism eventually developed into two branches. One branch sought immortality, the endless extension of life on earth. They sought ways to extend life. Some believed solid foods were poisonous and lived only on liquid food. Others sought to use alchemy, trying to find a way to preserve living flesh by use of gold. This led to Gods being introduced to Taoism, particularly the god of the stove, who would help the alchemists at the stove.

Front 18

List the three forms of Shinto in modern Japan.

Back 18

State Shinto -- The state took over the support of over 100,000 Shinto shrines in 1889. Each shrine was dedicated to a local deity, hero, or event.
Sectarian Shinto -- This is the religious side of Shinto. Some sects are mountain worshipers, others follow faith healing, and others are "Pure" Shinto.
Domestic Shinto -- Shinto practice that takes place in the home with a God shelf.

Front 19

Discuss how Shinto is viewed as a reverential form of Japanese patriotism and as a religion.

Back 19

Shintoism is a form of patriotism because its mythology describes the formation of Japan as a land superior to all other lands; its shrines commemorate the great heroes and events in the history of Japan. Shintoism has taught that Japanese emperors were descendants of the sun goddess. Apart from patriotism, it is also a religion. The Japanese worship the land, particularly the mountains. They have aspects of animism and ancestor worship. They have large-scale rituals in shrine, and almost every house has a shrine in which they have family rituals. There are also organized and active religious sects. Thus, Shintoism shows both a reverence for the country and is a religion. Shinto itself means "the way of the gods."