Henricks, Robert. Title: Confucius, the Tao, the ancestors and the Buddha: Religions of China [video recording]

Notes on Lesson 2: Religion in Ancient China

Ancient Religious Foundation of China – Time of Western Chou (1122 BC –771 BC) & Eastern Chou (770 BS – 256 BC) Dynasties

Two Systems of Religious Assurance based on an Active Deity

1.  Mandate of Heaven

§      “God” in Heaven is just

§      Mandate from heaven to earthly ruler will provide for a just and orderly society

§      Mandate will be removed if earthly ruler causes injustice and disorder

§      Good rewarded, bad punished

2.  In return for proper sacrifices Heaven will provide for a bountiful existence on earth

§      Do sacrifices correctly

§      Do sacrifices in a meaningful way

§      Nature remains orderly, controlled

Question of Theodicy:  What happens to the beliefs if two things don’t occur?

1.  What if injustice & disorder reigns and “king” isn’t punished?

§      Instead the innocent suffer

2.  What if a drought or other long term natural disaster occurs?

§      Nature seems to rebel

In 800BC both occur

1.  King Yu has long unjust, disorderly reign, finally killed in 770BC but:

§      Mandate not really removed – given to son

§      and injustice went on for too long

2.  A terrible drought sweeps the nation, regardless of sacrifices it continues

Theodicy – reconciling a just diety with the existence of evil in the world

If “God” is just why do innocent people suffer?

 

Is God just?

 

The drought especially is indiscriminate punishment – what have we ritually done wrong?

 

Doubts raised

§      New ways of thinking arise

§      New understandings are created

§      Beginning of Philosophy

o    Individuals now can express thought of how things work

o    Sacrifices don’t assure an end to droughts, but need to continue them anyway

Confucius’ expresses this change

§      Diety much more removed from day to day events

o    He wants world to be good but doesn’t control things

o    No longer expect good rewarded and bad punished

§      Sacrifices no longer objective (you sacrifice nature responds)

§      Sacrifices are Subjective – you sacrifice for what it does for you personally

o    Sacrifice teaches decorum and discipline

o    Sacrifice helps with my development

To Confucius success in the world depends on the nature of human beings not the gods