Explain the role of religion and philosophy in early India and China?

Question

I know I should do my own work but I have been working on this the last week and I can;t write the short essay she wants. Any help woul dbe nice from nice people.

Answer 1

Chinese philosophers developed new ideas and theories to explain economic, political, and social change during the Zhou era. A leading philosopher of the period was Confucius. Confucius’s followers collected his ideas and teaching in a work called the Analects. In time, Confucius's teachings became known as Confucianism.

The philosophy of Confucianism had more influence on Chinese life than any other philosophy. Confucius taught about the importance of family, respect for one's elders, and reverence for the past and one's ancestors. These three concepts form the basis of Confucian philosophy.

Confucius sought to end political disorder of his time. He was not a religious prophet, and he had little to say about gods or about purely religious ideas. Confucius's teachings were not concerned with the meaning of death, ideas about life after death, or issues of faith. Instead Confucius was concerned with political and social unrest and with how moral and ethical leadership could solve those problems. Confucius aimed to encourage strong, positive behavior on the part of China's leaders. He believed that this could be accomplished in two ways. First, every person should willingly accept his or her role in society and should be virtuous. Virtue, according to Confucius, involved correct behavior toward others. Instead of seeking wealth and power, rulers should be honest and honorable toward those they lead. Their greatest interest should be the welfare and happiness of their people. Confucius encouraged only moral, well educated officials to be appointed to lead government and to administer its laws. In this way rulers would set a good example for all. The people, moreover, would willingly follow leaders who lived and goverened according to these virtuous guidlines. Over time many of Confucius's ideas and values were adopted by other Chinese thinkers.

Daoism

At about the same time that Confucius lived and taught, another important Chinese philosphy appeared. According to legend, Laozi founded the philosophy called Daoism. Daoism took its name from its central idea, the Dao, which is defined as "The Way." Laozi saw the Dao as an indescribable force that goverened the universe and all of nature. He taught that people should withdraw from the world and contemplate nature. In this way, they could understand the Dao and live with it in harmony. According to Laozi, people should not strive for material wealth. Unlike Confucius, Laozi shunned politics. He advised people not to seek power. Rather, they should work yo bring themselves into harmony with the Dao by being humble, quiet, and thoughtful. This advice could be found in the Dao De Jing, a compilation of Laozi's teachings.

Daoism became second only to Confucianism in importance to Chinese life. The Daoist ideal appealed to many peasants because of its concern with natural forces. It appealed to many artists and poets because it valued the sponaneity and freedom of artistic expression. Daoism appealed to many Confucianists as well because it encouraged a balance in life. Som Confucianists believed that concerning oneself only with education, politics, and social problems was frustrating and pointless.

Legalism and Buddhism

Like Confucianism, the school of Chinese philosophy called Legalism concerned itself with politics. It differed from Confucianism, however, in that Legalists believed in power not virtue and in harsh laws. In their view, people were by nature selfish and untrustworthy. Peace and properity could be achieved only by threatening severe punishment if people did not obey the laws.

The first emperor, Cheng, followed the ideas of Legalism. He succeeded in creating a very powerful empire. His dynasty ruled, however, for only a very short period. Later Chinese philosophers claimed that the Qin dynasty failed because of its cruel methods. The government of the Han dynasty accepted many of the Lagalist principles of the Qin dynasty. Han rulers, however, also followed the more moderate principles of Confucianism. Many later scholars agreed that the Han dynasty possibly lasted so long because it achieved a balance between Lagalism and Confucianism.

Buddhism in China

Buddhism was another great influence on Chinese thought and religious belief. Missionaries from India first brought Buddhism to China during the Han dynasty. Throughout the later years of the dynasty, violence and lawlessness became increasingly common in many parts of China. Military leaders, competing with one another for power, led destructive raids through many areas of the once peacful land. When the Han dynasty finally fell, many Chinese, especially peasants, turned to Buddhism. They felt that the teachings of the Buddha helped to explain the widespread disruption that accompanied the Han collapse. They found comfort, as well, in the values that Buddhism championed while Buddhist temple a sense of of peace and safety.

Hinduism in India

The major development in acient Indian society was the growth of Hinduism, which became deeply interwoven with the the caste system. Hinduism gradually spread to become India's major religion. It developed through the Brahmin priest' explanations of the Vedas. According to the Upanishads, a divine essence, called Self or Atman. Hinduism teaches that Brahman and Atman are one and the same. This reflects the belief that all things in the universe are of the same essence as God. This belief in the unity of God and creation called monism.

Hindu Practices

Hindus often practice yoga, a set of mental and physical exercises designed to bring the body and soul together. In one form of youga, a person might sit for hours in the same position. Over time, this frees the mind of thoughts about the body. Hindu festivals are combine religious ceremonies, rituals, music, dancing, eating, and drinking. Celebrations might last for days. These festivals represent the seasonal course of nature. Originally it was believed that such festivals helped to promote the return of the seasons. Many acient festivals are celebrated throughout India today. Some Hindus see certain animals as particularly sacred. For instance cows are protected by law because they produce milk, butter, and provide power for plows and carts.

Buddhism in India

Buddhism, another of the world's great religions, also arose in India. Its founder was Siddhartha Gautama. He became known as the Buddha, or the "Enlightened One." He was born in about 563 B.C. One day, after six years of searching, Siddhartha Gautama sat meditating under a tree. Suddenly, he felt that he understood the truth that forms the basis of life. In that moment, according to his followers, Siddhatha Gautama became the Buddha. He spent the remainder of his life teaching his followers to pursue the way to enlightenment.

The Spread Of Buddhism

The Buddha gained only a few followers in his lifetime. Over several centuries, however, his teachings won wide acceptance in Asia. Buddhism split into two branches. Theravada followed the traditional beliefs of Buddhism. Its followers believed that the Buddha was a great teacher and spiritual leader. Theravada was widely accepted in Burma, Siam, Ceylon, Laos and other countries. Followers of Mahayana Buddism, on the other hand, regarded the Buddha as a god and savior. Mahatana Buddhism, which uses more elaborate ceremonies than Theravada, took hold in China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. Over time Buddhism declined in India it was in Asia that Buddhism reached its greatest strength.

Answer 2

O.K. Actually Philosophy and Religion should really be viewed as Philosophy and Theology.

Theology is religion.

Philosophy is not religion.

Both India and China were big on philosophy. Both India and China had a polytheistic religions, the belief in many Gods.

China considers India to be the 'West'.

In India, Prince Bhodiharma sat under an Acacia Tree and becamed 'Enlightened'. The rich Prince gave up all his material things and allegedly walked to the East over the Himalaya mountains (actually he took a boat to China) and arrived in China. Prince Bhodiharma became the 'Buddha' to the Chinese people.

The religion that already existed in China was called Taoism.
Some Chinese considered Buddhism to be a 'foreign' religion because it did not originate in China.

The Buddhists seek enlightenment, the Taoists seek immortality.

Answer 3

A search for "Chinese" and "border sacrifices" will show that "The earliest account of religious worship in China is found in the Shu Jing (Book of History of Book of Documents), the oldest Chinese historical source. This book records that in the year 2230 B.C., the Emperor Shun “sacrificed to Shangdi.” That is, he sacrificed to the supreme God of the ancient Chinese, Shangdi meaning Supreme Ruler. This ceremony came to be known as the “Border Sacrifice,” because at the summer solstice and Emperor took part in ceremonies to the earth on the northern border of the country, and at the winter solstice he offered a sacrifice to heaven on the southern border." The character of Shangdi was very similar to that of the God of the Bible. Some ancient accounts, such as that of the Flood, are also similar to that of the Jewish Bible. (http://www.orthodox.cn/history/200406ancientcnhist_en.htm and other sources) This was supplanted by later religions such as Taoism and Confucianism.

What was the effect? Some historians argue that the rise of science in the West was due to the concept of God as a wise and orderly Creator (See "How the Catholic Church built Western Civilization"; even atheist historians acknowledge this today). Indeed the Catholic church was chock full of priests who were also accomplished scientists (see above book). Perhaps the technological discoveries made in China might have blossomed if they stayed with their original concept of God.

Confucianism restricted the use of discoveries such as the compass to the royal court, thus wasting many opportunities for progress and innovation.

Answer 4

The basic religion and philosophy of India was Hinduism following by the offshoot of Buddhism.

For China is was Confusionism.

There are similarities between the two but developed from different roots.

Answer 5

The ancient Indians were Indo-Europeans, and therefore had a religiouse development that more or less paralleled that of other ancient Indo-Euorpeans, such as the Greeks.

The word religon in the context of the ancient Chinese is a poor choice of words made due to confusion or lack of a better word. There wre no religions in ancient China in the manner thought of as religion in the west.