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Title: The Chinese Way (Sao Chiao)

1
The Chinese Way(Sao Chiao)
2

I. Introduction
A. Religion in the Far East quite different
than religion in India
1. Concern in India is ultimate realitythe
Far East is not concerned with such issues
2. There is a radical humanisma desire to
live in this world
3. Humanity is the measure of all things
4. Humanity has no need for a savior, since
humans are not sinful or evil
5. Humanity is basically good and only needs
proper education of precepts or examples to live
the virtuous lifeno word for sin in Chinese

6. Thought could be seen as an ethical system,
with stress on the state and peace
7. No concept of separating the sacred and
secular
8. There are no dogmatic or categorical
statements
9. The apprehension of truth is always partial

B. Three faiths in China co-exist and a Chinese
could belong to all threethey are complementary
rather than rivalsthus the Sao Chio
1. Tao ChiaoTaoism
2. Ju ChiaoConfucianism
a. Literally means the way of learning b.
It is the most revered of the 3 traditions
c. It stresses hope for humanity through
education
3. Fo ChiaoBuddhism
a. Fo is the word for Buddha
b. It is a special appeal in face of death
and afterlife

5
Pre-History
6

I. Three Cultural Heroes, 2800-2600 BCE
A. Fu Hsiinventor of writing, hunting,
trapping, and fishing
B. Shen Nung, inventor of agriculture and
mercantilism
C. Yellow Emperor (c2700 BCE), invented
government and Taoist philosophy

II. The Three Sage Kings
A. Yao (2350 BCE)
B. Shun (2250 BCE)
C. Yu (2205 BCE)
D. These kings ruled with perfect wisdom,
clarity, and virtue
E. In Chinese model of history, human events
follow discernible cycles in which times of
great virtue and wisdom are followed by times
of decadence and decline

First Emperor
8
Background of Chinese Religion
9

A. Confucius and Lao-Tse emphasized they were
only transmitting the wisdom of the ancients
B. Political history
1. Like most ancient cultures, Chinese culture
centered around rivers
a. Most important is the Yellow River
b. Second most important is the Yangtseit
divided North and South China
c. Third important river is the Si River

2. Government began with the Hsia Dynasty (c.
2005 BCE-1765 BCE)
a. Last of sage kings, Yu, founded a
dynasty of kings, Hsia
b. Began with virtue and wisdom ended with
rule of Chieh who was decadent and cruel
c. In 1766 BCE, Husia dynasty overthrown by
Tang, who founded the Shang dynasty

3. The Shang Dynasty was from 1765-1122 BCE
a. Began worshipping Shang-tiLord on High
b. Ancestors dwelled in heaven after their
death and continued to show interest in family
c. Obligations to remember the ancestors

4. The Chou Dynasty was from 1122-721 BCE in
the West and 276 BCE in the East
a. Confucius and Lao-Tse lived in the East
at this time
b. Both went through experience of
disillusionment with government
c. Kingdom became divided
d. Chou invented the tien ming (Mandate of
Heaven)

e. Chinese character for emperor (ti)
consists of three horizontal lines joined by a
vertical linerepresents the connection between
heaven (at top) and earth (at the bottom)
f. Relationship is mediated by the emperor
represented by the horizontal line
g. Heaven tien desires that humans be
provided for their needs the emperor function
to provide those needs

h. If the emperor fails to see to the welfare
of the people, heaven withdraws its mandate and
invests it in another

5. From 722-221 BCE there was a gradual decay
of the feudal system
a. The Period of The One Hundred Schools
(551-223 BCE)
b. Most important figure is Kung Fu Tzu or
Confucius
c. Lao Tzu also wanted to reform government
d. Mo Tzu was third major school
e. Legalists emerged during latter years
6. In 221 BCE Shih-Huant-Ti united China
again considered to be one of the greatest of
emperors

C. Mythology of the first human
1. Pan-Kur was considered to be the first man
a. He formed the earth and sky out of
primeval chaos
b. He lived for 1800 years
c. His breath was the wind, voice the
thunder, and the world grew as he grew
d. His remains formed the sacred mountains
of China
e. His eyes became the sun and moon hair
became the trees
2. The myth tells how certain human kings were
able to teach humanity arts, crafts, etc.

D. Early Characteristics of Chinese Religion
1. Animism
a. Especially evident in early Taoism
b. The spirits were given an important
role in human life
c. Northing occurred by accident
d. Everything influenced by good spirits
(shen) or evil spirits (kwei)

2. Ancestor Worshipveneration and reverence
for ones ancestors
a. Death does not break family bonds
b. They may be able to renounce gods, priests,
and religion before they would renounce an
ancestor
c. Children always have first responsibility
to their parentsdeeply ingrained

3. Religion was centered in the Emperor and
sanctioned by the state
a. Religion was a state religion
b. Center of religion was identified with
imperial rule
c . Chinese word for god is the same word as
ruler
d. In Chinese Shang-ti--Supreme Ruler, Son of
Heaven
e. Loyalty to state is a religious dogma
f. Citizenship is part of religion

4. The Chinese concept of nature as a sacred
and essential context of human existence
a. Nature appeared to be both changing and
constant
b. No real concept of creator or creation
c. To help explain the dualism of change and
consistency, the Ying (darkness, cold, female)
and the Yang (light, warm, male) was established
d. Another aspect of nature was the mixture or
proportions of the five vital forces (water,
fire, wood, metal, and earth
e. With the Yin-Yang dualism and the five
vital forces, there is the Chinese explanation
of nature

5. Folk Religion
a. Early folk religion was an attempt to
explain nature and employs a logic more symbolic
than that of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements
b. It emphasizes the similarities and
differences within nature, whatever shape, size,
or name attributed to elements
c. Magic was popular due to the practice of
feng-shuithe study of winds and watergeomancy
(1) it has as its aim how to position a
building most auspiciously
(2) in a convoluted symbolism employing
dragons and tigers, it tried to make the living
forces of nature yield good fortune by figuring
out the spiritual lay of the land
(3) for example, straight lines were to be
evil influences
(4) trees or a fresh pond could ward off evil
influences
d. Mediums and shamans played important roles
e. Evil was personified and capable of being
exorcised

22
Confucianism
23
Introduction

I. Confucius (Kung Fu-Tsu 551-479 BCE) can be
seen as the father of Chinese culture by
transforming the ancient traditions into the
beginning of a code of conduct for social
relationships and a political philosophy and
would become state orthodoxy in the Han dynasty
(206-200 CE)

He lived during a time of great chaos and
political turmoil
A. Warring semi-independent states were fighting
for favor with the emperor during Chou Dynasty
Social structure was feudal land aristocracy
He became minister of justice in his home state
of Lu where he brought about reform and was
successful
The rule of ChI became jealous of the
improvement of Lu and tried to sabotage Confucius
by sending to him wine, women, and song
Confucius left politics in disgust

F. He became a wandering teacher with a small
band of disciples and met with rebuff and
disappointment
G. Many corrupt leaders did fear his influence
H. At age of 70 he returns to Lu and spent five
years writing
I. He was precise in personal appearance---he
liked and stressed ceremonies
J. He was not interested in pomp and majesty
per se, but did believe that outward acts are
important

II Is Confucianism a religion?
A. Depends upon ones definition of religion
B. It is not a theistic religion
C. He was not iconoclasticjust not concerned
with celestial matters with so many problems on
the terrestrial sphere
D. It can be seen as a religion in the sense
that there is an emphasis on faith, for example,
commitment, humanity will not be changed by
precept but by example

27
Confucian Classicstwo types

I. The Wu Ching the five classics
A. Book of HistoryShu Ching consists of
chronicles, speeches, and other material from the
Chou period
B. Book of Poetry Shih Ching consists of 305
songs or poems dating from 10th to 7th centuries
BCE
C. Book of Rites Li Ching a 2nd century BCE
compilation of earlier materials dealing with
ceremonies

D. Book of Changes I Ching book of divination
E. Annals of Spring and Autumn Ch-un Chiu a
chronological record of important regents in the
state of Lu from 722 to 481 BCE

II. Ssu Shu The Four Books
A. Book of Great Learning Ta Hsueh
B. Doctrine of Mean Chung Yung
C. Annalects Lun Yu
D. The Books of Mencius

30
Key Words

I. Jen basic Confucianvirtue of man, authentic
character, supreme valuethe measure of all men,
highest and most profound concept
II. Yi righteousnessit is Jen operating, an
attitude toward moral situations it is moral
awareness and doing ita form of social
relationships
III. Li courtesy, politeness, proper procedures,
propriety, moral discipline display of anger and
hostilities cause a loss of face, great stress on
discipline

IV. Hsin constancyloyalty, a supreme
attribute
V. Chi moral insight, points to being morally
enlightened
VI. Shu negative golden rule, reciprocity
VII. Chu Tzu the superior man, one who avoids
extremes

32
Importance of Jen

I. The word points to a stress on ideal
humanity, goodness, manner, human heartednesshow
one person relates to another
II. The Chinese character of Jen is the
character of man combined with the character of
two
III. Jen could be translated as living
integration of mans essential function
IV. Mencius said Jen is what best becomes a man
V. It is the product of successful
interpersonal relationships

VI. There are five basic human relationships
A. State-citizen
B. Father-son
C. Husband-wife
D. Elder brotheryounger brother
E. Friends to friends reciprocity of equals
VII. Three of the relationships (2,3,4) have to
do with entire family since the family is the
logical beginning of Jen
VIII. Jen may also be seen in psychological
aspect a kind of psychic integration
IX. Mencius said of Jen, It is the mind of
man great aim of learning is to find the best
mind
X. Jen is achieved through the other four words

34
Specific Teachings

I. Ethics of family lifeprimacy of life
A. The family is not an ultimate, only an
intermediate step
B. The family must prepare the child for
social living
C. The golden age cannot occur without proper
family relationships
D. Seems to give great place to women held
for monogamous marriage

II. Government and Politics
A. He taught divine right and popular
sovereignty of kings
B. The king is bound to the laws of the state
if not, the people should revolt
C. Every person has right of full
participation in society based on own merit
D. Aristocracy was not based on birth it is a
scholarly class
E. A kind of democratic aristrocracy
F. Anyone has right to attend the best
universities

III. A bias against wealth
A. Ones life does not consist of the
abundance of things
B. A person who wants only wealth has wrong
sense of value
C. Emphasis on educationprimarily character
building

IV. Historical Development of Confucianism
A. Mencius (372-289 BCE)
1. Best known of post-Confucian scholar
2. Lin Yutang calls him the democratic
philosopher
3. A brilliant and active writer
4. Expounded on human nature
5. Stresses that humanity is intrinsically
goodcame to be the Chinese view of humanity
6. Evil is the result of ignorance, lack of
example, lack of culture
7. Changed concept of Jen to a more human
endeavor

8. He proposed a religious theory that history
moves in cycles, depending on how a given ruling
family handles the te (power to govern well)
(a) an unjust ruler would lose the mandate of
heaventhus revolution may occur
(b) the king would bring prosperity only when
he convinced the people that the things of
the state were their own

39
B. Hsu-Tzu (294-238 BCE) 1. Wrote essay, The
Nature of Man is Evil 2. claimed that only the
imposition of laws and the guidance of teachers
could bring about reasonable conduct among
people 3. Without government, humanity would
evert to savagery 4. Attacked much of
Menciuss writings
40

C. Mo-Tsu (c. 491 BCE)
1. Somewhat critical of Confucianism
2. Stressed the concept of universal love and
equality of all people
3. Denounced extravagant ceremonies
4. Was utilitarianproper motivation is
necessary
D. Yang-Tsu (325-235 BCE)
1. Closest to hedonism
2. Stresses individualism almost to point of
anarchy
E. The course for 400 years after Confucius
would be against ConfucianismShin Hwang order
all copies of classical books burned since the
scholars opposed him
F. During Tang Dynasty, Confucianism would
become established

V. Neo-Confucianism
A. During Sung Dynasty (960-1279 CE),
Confucianism would include some metaphysical
interpretations of nature and humanity
B. Partially due to influence of Buddhism
C. Neo-Confucian philosophy of nature involved
interaction of two elements, principle and ether
1. Ether was breath and basis of material
universe
(a) all solid things were condensed out of
ether and would eventually dissolve back into
it
(b) in its dynamic form, ether was ultimate
form of yang in its still form, it was
ultimate form of yin
(C) it preserved the tension of dualities

2. Principle, etymologically related to veins
in jade or the grain in wood, it was the
pattern running through all material
thingstheir direction and purpose
(a) If one opposed principle (went across the
grain) all things would become difficult
(b) Principle was considered to be innate in
human beingsit was natures guidance
D. Chu His (1130-1200 CE)
1. Was master thinker of Neo-Confucianism
2. He developed a kind of scientific
philosophy, stressed physical nature

VI. Rise of Confucianism
A. Taoism and Buddhism reached zenith during
Chang Dynasty (600-900 CE)
B. From 907 CE there is rise of Confucianism
C. Confucian temples becoming common over all
China as a result of Neo-Confucian thought
D. Temples usually faced south in order to put
the Confucian table (altar) at the north because
it was the center of worship
E. In the 1530s there were waves of
anti- Confucianism

E. The Ming emperors ordered that all statues
and tables of Confucianism be destroyed
F. The Manchu Dynasty in the 18th century would
be pro-Confucian for political reasons
G. With overthrow of Manchu Dynasty in 1911 and
influence of Sun Yet Sen, China become
pro-Christianhe identified Confucianism as being
resistant to change
H. Confucian strength would gradually decrease
I. With Chian-Kai-Shek, Confucianism was
deemphasized
J. Mao and communism took over in 1949 and
religion was outlawed

45
Taoism
46
Introduction

A. Founder or systemitizer was Lao Tse (500
BCE)
B. He was a mystic and philosopher
C. His language was obscure because he
distrusted language
D. The Tao Te Ching was introduced by Lao Tse
E. Lin Yuntang wrote that the best single force
to understand Chinese thought is the Tao Te Ching
F. Taoism dominated by
a. humanism
b. naturalistic monism
c. mysticism

47
Meaning of Tao

A. Originally it simply meant a road or a path
and the way in which something was done
1. The Way of Heaven would be ruthless when
autumn comes no leaf is spared because of its
beauty
2. The Way of Man, among other things, meant
procreation, thus eunuchs would be far from the
Way of Man
B. Would come to mean the way in which the
universe worksultimately seemed to be very much
like God

C. Yin-Yang
1. Yin is black, negative, damp, female,
principle
2. Yang is red, active, positive, bright, dry,
sunny, open, male
3. Goal of Tao is to find the rhythms of
lifeproper balance of life
4. Harmony, balance of Yin-Yang, important in
Chinese thought
D. Taoist approach to life
1. Lao Tse taught the highest apprehension of
life is totality (Yin-Yang)
2. Goal of life is to live in harmony
3. Tao technically not identified with God
Tao preceded God

E. Concepts from the Tao Te Ching
1. It is not possible to understand words by
translation
a. Tao is impossible to translatecan mean
many thingsway, absolute law of universe,
first cause, creative force in nature
b. Lao Tse and Chuang Tse used the term
one to help express Tao
2. Lao Tse seeks to show that comparisons are
relative with no objective reality
3. The achievement of Tao is not through
intellectual exercise
4. Each object has both qualities of the
opposite (potentially)
5. When Tao is one, it is emphasizing that it
is a higher unity, transcendental, the source of
duality

6. The One is
a. Chouall pervading
b. Painall embracing
c. Shineverything and everywhere 7. The
Tao helps to break the self-ego it is
identified with the I
8. Tao helps to bring one into the realm of Wu
(non-being) Wu is neither living nor dying
9. The concept of Wu-Wei would come to mean
quietism, non-aggression, non-meddlesome action

F. Taoism revolves around three words
1. Taonature and non-action truth, eternal
law of nature
2. Tevirtuebuilding up of the ideal man
a. In early usage, Te could be good or bad
originally seemed to be similar to Indian
concept of Karma except that Te is
manifested in the present rather than the
future
b. Te is anything that happens to one or that
one indicating that as a consequence, one is
going to meet with good or bad luck
c. Te also associated with planting
d. Te also associated with potentialitythus
a latent power

3. Naturethe natural, Taoism looking forward
to an idealistic society where one can live by
nature

G. Chuang-Tsu (399-295 BCE) was greatest Taosit
teacher after Lao Tse
1. He developed Taoist concept of logic
2. What impressed him was the influence of
ones viewpoint
3. The way to peace, spiritual ecstasy, and
long life is to join natures rhythms
4. The Tao throws off human judgments
5. He attacked those who believed they could
tie language directly to thought and, thus, able
to clarify all discourse
6. Language is only symbolic

H. Taoism would develop into a religion and
would begin a decline
1. Magic took place of mysticism
2. For centuries it was a faith of spiritsbad
magic
3. A hierarchy develop similar to Roman
Catholicismthere was a bishop above all
bishops
4. In the 7th century CE it became the
official religion of China and was a powerful
religio-political institution

5. Beginning of Taoist religion starts about
345 CE with Chang-Tao-Ling
a. In spite of its degenerating into a
religion, it still had positive vales
b. It had an emphasis on physical culture,
affirmation that body is the starting place of
a good life
c. It had a cheerful outlook on life
d. It promoted community service

56
Chinese Buddhism
57
Introduction

I. Buddhism entered China through central Asia
and later from India about the time of Christ
II. The presence of monks and lay believers at
court was favorably mentioned in a decree by
Emperor Ming (58-75 CE)
III. By the 2nd Century CE main outlines of
Buddhism established
IV . Accepted by Chinese at first with
hesitation but by 3rd century Chinese emperors
were adopting Buddhism by creation of a divine
hierarchy, a voluminous canon, and a monastic
community

V. By the 4th century Buddhism in China was
flourishing
A. Splendor of the Buddhist pantheon and
ritual, with its novel conceptions which embrace
10 heavens, 10 hells, rebirth, and salvation of
individual souls of common people proved
irresistible
B. Sutras were translated in terms borrowed
from philosophic Taoism
C. Chinese Buddhism tended to increasingly
ignore the intangible goal of Indian theology
and the complex theories of the Buddha
D. They tended to stress more practical
objects, such as immediate response to prayer by
the protective Bodhisattva Kuan Yin, direct
rebirth into the Western Happy Heaven of
Amitabha, and salvation by coming Buddha Maitreya

VI. By the time of the Mongols (1190-1294 CE),
Buddhism was the most popular religion
A. Kublai Khan welcomed a gift of relics from
the raja of Ceylon
B. He conferred the title Teacher of the
State upon a Tibetan Lama
VII. By the time of the Ching (Manchu) Dynasty
(1640-1912 CE) Buddhism had become completely
naturalized and regarded as an indigenous faith

60
Chinese Buddhist Sects

I. Tien Tai (Heavenly Terrace)
A. Founded by Chih-I (538-597 CE)
B. Believed that the Lotus Sutra contained
essence of Buddhism
C. Main writing was The Profound Meaning of
the Scripture of the Lotus of the Wonderful Law
D. A Chinese version of Nargarjuna
E. He stressed that the cosmic mind is defined
as universal emptiness

II. Ching-Tu (Pure Land Buddhism)
A. A very different form of Buddhism
B. Traditional founder considered to be
Hui-Yuan (c. 402) who founded the White Lotus
Society, united in a vow to be reunited in the
pure land or western paradise of Amitabha Buddha

C. Forumulator of the doctrine was Tan-Luan
(476-542)
1. Sought religious solace due to a grace
illness
2. Came to the doctrine of the Amitabha
Buddha (the Buddha of the Pure Light)
3. Humans are sinners and by personal
relationship to the savior Amida they may be
rescued
4. His commentary on Vasundhus Essay On
Rebirth emphasizes the faith of Pure Land
5. Humans must call upon the name of Amida,
repeating his name in fidelity the chant is
na-mo a- mito-fo (greetings to Admida Buddha)
6. In the Pure Land, all is happy

63
Chan (Meditation)

I. Founded by Indian monk Bodhidharma (late 5th
or early 6th century)
II. Stresses enlightenment rather than
knowledge or good deeds
III. Chan is Chinese translation of Sanskrit
dhyana (meditation)
IV. Principle text is the Lankavatara Sutra

Most imminent successor was Hui-neng (6th
patriarch)
Teaching is found in the Platform Sutra
Believed that enlightenment comes suddenly since
the Buddha-nature is intrinsically pure, one need
only let it manifest itself
This belief would cause a split in the sect
would be called Southern Chan school
The Northern school held that enlightenment must
come gradually and thus counseled regular
meditation