There were people who supported and followed the new religion of Buddhism as it started to grow and make its place in China. Document 3 is written by an anonymous Chinese scholar and it defends the Buddhist faith from someone that is accusing it from being subordinate to Confucianism and going against the Chinese culture by not having a family. The author defends Buddhism with logic and replies that Buddhism and Confucianism cannot be compared because of how different they are from one another, and that goodness and wisdom would replace the value of having a family. Document 2 is written by Zhi Dun, also a scholar of a high position, and it discusses how one can find enlightenment from devoting to Buddha’s ways and not by worldly pleasures. The point of view on document 2 is affected by the situation that was going on in China, and that was the rise in splurging of earthly pleasures and riches that was the result of trying to escape the pain that was caused by the invasions of nomads. Zhi Dun points out this situation when he says, “…in this era of sensual pleasures.” Zhi Dun condemns this sensual group of people by pointing out that they are going against the teachings of Buddha that includes, “Sorrow…delight and passion, the craving of sensual pleasures,” (Document 1). Document 1 is a first-hand source from Buddha himself that states that sorrow comes from craving and desiring sensual pleasures, which was exactly what the people Zhi Dun was talking about were doing.…
The town was destroyed and many of the residents were sold into slavery and various rebellions occurred in the following years. Nevertheless, the blame cannot all be placed on the community members alone. According to Yangming, “the government failed the citizens by not properly teaching them in addition to a lack of families regulating themselves or exerting good influence on their fellow villagers.” This compact also shows Yangming’s fondness of Confucian ideals by giving community members a list of guidelines they must follow in order to improve society as a whole. By focusing on the ideals of Confucianism, the author thought citizens would become “good.” Confucianism exists to educate people to be self-motivated and to enable people to assume their responsibilities, which cultivates a better self and a harmonious society, which is…
The story represent the relationship between the daughter and mother and the relationship between the traditinal practices of chinese and the modern world. The mother really what her daughter to succeed in her undetermined talent.…
Ancient texts and modern day texts share many themes in common with each other. These texts both use stories as a way to tell the reader something important that the author feels to be important. Each text may be from different time periods where life is different from one another but they still have a commonality between each other. Their themes are the subject that connects them together through the years. The theme that is appearing is “the good life.” It appears specifically in two texts such as The Daodejing and The Death of Ivan Ilych. These two texts express in their writing about how it is better to live a good life without any excess of anything. These texts have a similarity, they wish to show the reader that it is better to live…
This represents the hope for the town of Perdido Beach. An instance of hope for Perdido beach was when Sam (one of the leaders of Perdido Beach) and some of his friends found the Lake Tramonto and they checked if it is fresh water and Sam said, There has been a lack of water in Perdido Beach for a copious amount of time. Lake Evian (the water source they used before) has been dropping dramatically. Because of the drop in the amount of water in the lake civilians get smaller portions of water. As a result of this situation people do very outlandish and brash things to get what they need. They are so thirty that they could drink their own urine (☺ Hyperbole). Perdido Beach is having a really tough time with everyone getting the virus. Drake is trying to kill everyone exists in the FAYZ, and individuals are trying to kill innocent people (Albert). With all of theses pressing issues, they can stop worrying about one thing, which is the lack of water because they found another…
Liu compares himself with James Baldwin and agree his statement “the world is white not longer and it will never be white again” because Baldwin was first black who step foot in the tiny Swiss village and ending up feeling not much a stranger , and liu felt that after his journey that he is not an alien but he is a citizen . Liu feel that he has neglected his heritage, and that he lost something. That even though he could speak Chinese and cook Chinese food he could not claim to be Chinese at the core. But he would not admit he is “white inside”.…
“The Third Noble Truth is the Truth of the Stopping of Sorrow: It is complete stopping of that craving…being released from it, giving no place to it” (Document1). The spread of Buddhism in China was due to the appeal it had on the people and the influence it made on the culture, like the Third Noble Truth states, stopping sorrow leads to one being content and being released from any heavy sorrow weighing you down, a life which describes and explains the spread of this particular religion in China, the way of life appealed to the people. Although many officials and scholars disagreed to the Buddhist ways, it did not stop others from converting and spreading the religion. In this essay I will discuss the spread of Buddhism in China and the impact…
While feudal warlords fought over land, the people of China suffered. Even in the midst of this semi-civil war, they had to deal with the nomadic Mongolians attacking their northern border. The people needed something to put their faith in, and that is where they found Buddhism. In a time of so much death, destruction, and despair, Buddhism alleviated people’s sorrows by explaining how to stop the miseries of their lives through the Four Noble Truths. (Document # 1) People like the scholar Zhi Dun promised that those who followed the Buddhist Scriptures and lived the Buddhist lifestyle would be rewarded with Nirvana, the extinction of desires, and the in the afterlife. (Document # 2) Zhi Dun would have followed Buddhism because the invading nomads were driven by greed to pillage and plunder, that having no desire for material things would lead to peace. Those who converted to Buddhism gave up the Confucian way of life, which put importance on family, property, and having a place in society. In the work, “The Disposition of Error”, a Chinese scholar defends Buddhism by saying these things were decadent luxuries of the bourgeoisies, which only provide a desire for more of the luxurious items/activities. He argued that failure to fulfill desires only leads to sorrow, and that wisdom and the Buddhist way of life could replace those desires, therefore replacing the sorrow. (Document # 3) Due to of all said wondrous promises, and the fact that the…
Before 570 C.E., a majority of Chinese scholars viewed Buddhism as a positive aspect of their culture. Right after the fall of the Han empire, China was in chaos and was not as unified as they used to be. The bureaucracy was weakened and China was politically unstable. The common people and the scholar-gentry class needed something to look to. Documents one, two, and three were all written before 570 C.E. and they demonstrate how Buddhism’s teachings benefit all people. Document one is according to Buddhist tradition and states that life is full of sorrow and that the only way to stop sorrow is by stopping cravings and selfish desires. By following the Four Noble Truths, people will be relived from their sorrow. Document two, written by Zhi Dun, states that whoever follows Buddhism’s beliefs and lives their lives purely will reach Nirvana and will not have to suffer anymore. Because of Zhi Dun’s high status…
From the Mencius’s argument on "benevolence”. It can be seen that there is not much difference between basic content and Confucius "benevolence" such as未有仁而遗其亲者也. They are both piety and seems to satisfy the moral norm of Confucianism. But Mencius apply benevolence to politics, "benevolent governance" is put forward, revoke the high achievement of personal moral cultivation. This brought great effect on Chinese political thought.…
Following the Revolutionary War, many tribulations arose in the newly independent thirteen colonies. Problems such as disunity, slavery, foreign/interstate relations, land disputes, and national debt led to the formation of the Articles of Confederation in 1777. America's first constitution, however, only lasted ten years until fifty-five delegates met in Philadelphia with the same common purpose: to preserve the American union, protect the American democracy from abroad, and curb the unrestrained social reformation rampant in other states.…
The social classes were separate and they sacrificed and prayed for the health and protection of their families. The kings of China prayed for protection in war and victory. "Blood is the ideal conduit." (Sterk 86) Man had a duty to sacrifice his own thought or behaviors for the sake of tradition. Cooperation helped in doing so, helping their society grow strong as a people. When one passed on, they sacrificed others for safety and guidance in the…
Back when I was in Kweilin, people did not think about the fancy cars that make the putt-putt-putt sound or the mortgage on their house. Their worst troubles were their children’s moans of hunger. Most people only dreamed of their next meal. Everybody had humility, all these Chinese people bound under the same problems, all of them having to work hard. Even though they were so different, they learned to cooperate and work together.…
This government pushes individuals to show respect to their elders and concern for those in lower social levels. Obedience and loyalty to one’s family and ancestors, good service and manners are expected at all times. Confucius said: “ I don’t worry about not having a good position; I worry about the means I use to gain position. I don’t worry about being unknown; I seek to be known in the right way.” it stressed good conduct and careful thought in all things and enveloped qualities like loyalty, self discipline and respect for your ancestors, elders and…
About fifteen percent of children in the U.S. are constantly absent from school because of illness, making them much more likely to fail and eventually drop out. If all schools would make everyone get vaccinated the number of ill children would go down. Immunization is very important for the health of all children. All children should be immunized before starting school to help prevent widespread diseases, to help fight infection, and expand the child’s immune system.…