The worldview of the civil society, concerned with the well-being of the society and was a function of government.

Although imperial sacrifices no longer performed, many of the conceptions from antiquity are preserved in popular religion at the present time.

From Shang Dynasty (c. 1500-1100BCE)

Attention paid to ancestors

Ancestors ascend to Heaven as good spirits or shen and
are an integral part of the family
-- ensuring fertility, bringing success in the hunt, protecting family against harm.

To this day traditional homes have an ancestral shrine, containing Spirit Tables of ancestors,
pieces of wood on which names are inscribed.

Gods

In addition to spirits, are gods of various kinds, especially of the land.

Each piece of land has its own god and are arranged in a hierarchy of importance,
reflecting size and significance of territories.

Gods were originally notable human beings

Divination

Various ways to discover whether gods and spirits favor an undertaking.

One is use of oracle bones, others are use of sticks and divination pieces.

Ritual (Li)

Man will prosper if he is in harmony with Heaven and Earth.

Chief task of emperor is to maintain this harmony by carrying out proper ritual.

Power or Te

This is the magical power which gods and spirits possess.

It can be good or bad, and is also a quality of a great individual

Chou Dynasty (c. 1100-500BCE)

In their own tradition the Chou referred to God as T'ien, Sky or Heaven -- is just and righteous and expects the same from humans

Mandate of Heaven: T'ien Ming

Ruler rules only by will of God and God gives mandate only to the just.

Under Shang, Te had meant magical power whether good or bad.
With Chou it comes to mean moral power, virtue.

Period of Warring States (c. 500-221 BCE)

Ceremonies became largely mechanical and term, Ti'en, Heaven, became dominant

Numerous thinkers attempted to speak to problems of people,

most significant was Confucius

The Five Classics

I Ching, book of divination

Shu Ching, Classic of History

Shih Ching, Classic of Poetry

Li Chi, Booth of ritual

Ch'un Ch'iu, Spring and Autumn Annals

CONFUCIANISM

Heaven has given us our nature; our pathway to a good and successful life lies in carrying out the will of Heaven.

We do that by living according to our human nature: developing our sense of humanity, cultivating a sense of fellow-feeling with other human beings.

K'ung Fu TzuM> (552-479 BCE)

Emphasized virtue or character as foundation of civilized society.

Advocated return to teachings of early Chou sages.

He did not found a worldview in sense that the Buddha, Jesus, or Mohammed did.

Aim was to transform governing class in outlook and conduct.

The Four Books

Teachings of Confucius found chiefly in

The Analects -- earliest and most reliable collection of his thoughts

The Doctrine of the Mean

The Great Learning Five Great Relationships

1. Father-son
2. Elder brother-younger brother
3. Husband-wife
4. Friend-friend
5. Ruler-subject

One has only to consult social role
to know one's duty

Family is primary model for
all groups; age determines position

Mencius (Teachings of disciple Men Tzu)

Teachings: Heaven is transcendent moral power

Human nature essentially good

Tao -- Way, path or road, and for Confucian, usual meaning is the

Jen Tao, path man ought to travel, because it has been ordained by Heaven.

The noble man embodies the Tao in his own life.

Human-heartedness, Jen

Five Relationships

Father and son

Husband and wife

Elder brother and younger broth

Older and younger in general

Ruler and minister

Rules of good behavior, Li

Just as inner life of Noble Man is governed by Jen, so his outer life is directed by Li

Concern for others, altruism, Shu

Conscientiousness, Chung

Power of Virtue, Te

Harmony, Ho Go to Chinese Buddhism

Yang and Yin

During fourth century B.C.E. doctrine of Yang and Yin was formulated. This is view that everything in nature is composed of two different but complimentary cosmic forces.

Yang is male, bright, warm, active, positive; in sky, summer, sun, day

Yin is female, shady, misty, cool, passive, negative; earth, winter, moon, night.

Both forces are necessary

In first 500 years after Confucius
Confucianism began to emerge
as officially endorsed philosophy

In next 1000 years, state temples
and ritual were organized.

In next 1000 years, absorbed
elements from Taoism and Buddhism

Greater simplicity in ceremonies

In 20th century, formal Confucian
education and ritual lost most
governmental support