The Role Of Yin And Yang And The Religious Practices Of China

The Vedic Age and the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties set the ground work for some of the prevailing spiritual principals of their societies. On the surface, these beliefs appear to be different, but a closer look may uncover some similar experiences and commonalities.

The I Ching, the Book of Change, the foundation of all Chinese religion and science, is an ancient Chinese divination text that provides influential text in religion, literature, and art. It provided guidance for moral decision making, based on Taoism and Confucianism. The I Ching can be read as a microcosm of the universe, explaining how to keep human behavior in unity with the alternating series of nature. Chinese tradition was divided into Confucianism, the exoteric, and Taoism, the esoteric, but both see the world and ‘God’ as a whole, the cosmos. Although different, both religions allowed their followers to find “God” in all things, Confucianism through the natural order, and Taoism through the Tao. Both of these religions encouraged knowledge beyond the physical world and beyond that which can be known with the senses.

The Daoism emerged out of the metaphysical teachings attributed to Laozi. Daoist philosophy stresses an intuitive awareness, nurtured by harmonious contact with nature, and shuns everything artificial. Daoists seek to follow the universal path or principle, called the Dao, whose features cannot be described but only suggested through analogies. Dao is said to be like water, always yielding but eventually wearing away the hard stone that does not yield. The strengths in Daoists, comes from flexibility and inaction. Historically, Daoist principles encouraged retreat from society in favor a personal cultivar of the ying and yang. This making a perfect balance between yang, which are the active masculine energy, and yin, passive feminine energy.

Contrasting Confucianism and Daoism Introduction The purpose of this essay is to contrast and analyze our story through the lenses of Confucianism and Daoism by using three fundamental aspects. The first involves the use of paradoxical language such as positive and negative articulation. The second aspect deals with the use of distinct expression of emotion; Confucianism suppresses emotion while Daoism aims for manifestation of Dao (Cosmic essence). The final feature is the distinct interpretations for the meaning of wuwei (Effortless action or non-action).

In Taoism, the ancient Chinese did not worship a sole deity but rather focused on the religious rituals as means of achieving pure balance with nature and the supernatural forces around them. The Chinese sought to seek out the tao, which could be directly translated as “the way” but in actuality signified an abstract and indescribable essential truth as something to strive for but never truly attained. With in the pages of the Lao Tzu, the tao appeared to embody the characteristics of the jou as supple, plaint, and submissive because “ weakness was the means the way employ”(xxii). In fact, the concept of weakness became synonymous with the tao itself, suggesting the role of submission and passivity were crucial

Like a pendulum in its unavoidable movement, the significant events in our lives come and go and then return again. Just as certainly as the sun rises and sets, the robustness of adolescence will turn to the feebleness of age; we also know that all things pass. In time, sadness diminishes, making room for enjoyment, and ignorance, with effort and persistence, can be transformed into knowledge. To Daoists, nature is the backbone of human civilization and the idea of this force of opposition is called yin and yang. These abstract ideas play a fundamental role in the beliefs of Daoists: “Yin, associated with shade, water, west, and the tiger, and yang, associated with light, fire, east, and the dragon, are the two alternating phases of cosmic energy; their dynamic balance brings cosmic harmony” (Augustin). Believing in the power of yin and yang meant believing in the power of nature over humankind, and this is congruent with the influence of Daoism in art culture.

The religion in China was based off of philosophy. Some of the most influential religions have emerged from Ancient China. Some of the religions are Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. The main book of Taoism was written by Lao Tzu around 500 B.C. His philosophy said that the greatest thing a person can achieve is harmony with the nature. Confucius was a philosopher in 551 B.C., or 300 years before the Han dynasty began. In Confucianism, Confucius believed children should honor and respect their parents and rulers shall rule their people the same way children honor and respect their parents. The last philosophy originated from Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha is an Indian prince born around 560 B.C. Although he had a very fulfilled lifestyle,

In Chinese culture, the world is viewed as a detailed system demonstrated by the principles of yin-yang and the Five Phases. This theory was developed more than 2000 years ago and continues to play a major part in Chinese health culture. The doctrine of yin-yang and the Five Phases describes the human organism as a micro-organism of the universe, constantly looking to maintain balance. Its elements swing between the two poles of yin and yang. Also, the five phases are called the five Evolutive Phases, specifically concepts associated with wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These concepts represent qualities that represent one another in a

Daoism is about the ‘way’ (Dao or Tao) of life, and basis of existence for the Taoist but the Taoist do not consider the Dao to be a god. Taoist believes that the universe and all that is in it comes from the Dao but the Dao is not omnipotent (almighty) but is merely guiding the universe in more of a detached manner. However, there are many deities in the Taoist religion but they are not superior to the Dao but abide by it. All of the deities have specific roles in the religion and are called by their titles rather than their names. Taoist generally avoids things that are an abstract to reality and try to perceive them the way they are at the present time.

From this week’s reading of the Daodejing, as the older contemporary of Confucius, Laozi has some unique philosophical ideas that are different from Confucius. In the Daodejing, Laozi describes the concepts of the universal mother and Yin and Yang. As Laozi emphasizes in the Daodejing, Yin represents feminine and supple, Yang represents masculine and rigid. In Laozi’s opinion, he believes that Yin, in other word, female is the origin of thoughts and valorizes the female over the male. In fact, Laozi repeatedly uses the concepts of “mother” and “children” to illustrate his thoughts in the Daodejing. According to Chapter 52, “The world had a beginning; This can be considered the mother of the world. Knowing the mother, return and

Two of Asia 's most influential religions are Buddhism and Taoism. The correlation between the two massive religions and the difference in the philosophy behind their ideologies also greatly influences the interpretation of metaphysics. The ambiguity both religions strive to understand is the significance & purpose of human life. While Buddhists believe in anatta, the idea that there is no self, and in constant suffering, dukkha, caused by craving, tanha, and can only be liberated from dukkha with Nirvana, achieved through the eight-fold path, Taoists believe that because opposing forces, yin & yang, create a harmony that moves the universe, the

Lao Tzu is one of the founders of Taoism and he wrote the book, Tao Te Ching which contains 81 chapters on different ways to be moral “According to authoritative sources, the main text was written around 500 BCE by Lao Tzu who was a sage, teacher, and scribe who worked for the imperial court of Zhou. It is believed that the Tao Te Ching was originally written in a calligraphy style called zhuànshū, or “seal script,” which was mainly used for official royal seals” (Schuhmacher, 1989). One of the central themes of the Tao Te Ching is the nature of the relationship between the two principles that govern the universe which are Yin and Yang. Traditionally, Yin is associated with qualities like intuition, softness, water and the moon, and is passive, static and contracting. Yang is associated with qualities like intellect, hardness, physical matter and the sun, and is active, dynamic and expansive. Although it seems that they are opposites, in reality Yin and Yang are reverse aspects of the same thing. The two are inextricably one, and cannot exist apart from each other. Yin and Yang represent the perfect symmetry of the universe since everything needs a reverse. For example, without darkness there is no light and without hate, there is no love. To understand the principles of Yin and Yang is to understand the connections of all things, and to not see ourselves as separate and isolated, but as a part of a single

There are four main symbols that represent the beliefs and views of Confucianism. One of the symbols is the Yin Yang sign. There are variations to its meaning depending the school of Chinese thought, but in general, the circle represents a whole, while the halves and dots depict opposites, interactions, or balance. Earth is the ultimate yin object whereas Heaven is the ultimate yang object. Yin represents everything about the world that is dark, hidden, and feminine. Yang represents everything about the world that is illuminated, active, controlling, and masculine. Of the two basic Chinese "ways," Confucianism is identified with the yang aspect.

Yin and yang. Hot and cold. Male and female. The philosophy of yin and yang lies at the heart of Chinese culture. The first references to yin and yang come from the I Ching, the five classic works compiled and edited by Confucius. Taken literally, yin and yang mean the dark side and sunny side of a hill. People commonly think of yin and yang as opposing forces. However, it is really more appropriate to view them as complementary pairs.

Daoism is synonymous with Taoism; in this religious philosophy, the way of nature is central theme of life. It was founded by Lao Tzu in 500BC in China. Lao is believed to have authored the “Dao de Jing”, which details the Daoist beliefs. Dao is a concept, a way, a principle that will lead a person to a happy, peaceful life. Dao can be achieved by incorporating the Three Jewel of Taoism that are humility, simplicity and compassion in one’s life. According to Dao, de Jing “The Way to Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure”.15 Further, there is no concept of good and evil, the Dao is simply the universe, which is perceived as a self- sustaining entity that generates energy called qi. Like other Chinese traditions, Daoist also have great reverence for the spirits of ancestors as well as spirits of nature that is plants, animals, rivers, etc. 16