study guide
Study Guide- Taoism
2. Describe the Chinese concept of the ying and yang as a unifying explanation for the universe.
Yin
The negative force in nature
Seen as darkness, coolness, dampness
Female
The earth, moon and shadows
Yang
Positive force in nature
Seen as lightness, brightness, warmth, dryness
Masculine
The sun
Although the interpretation might be negative and positive, it is not how we actually depict these two aspects. They represent a balance and are interdependent (cannot exist without each other). These two are like a cause and effect.
3. How could the hexagrams of the I Ching (The Book of Changes) be viewed as means of divination? How could they be seen as having personality and wisdom of their own? Note the editorial work of the Confucianism. - Chinese sought the future in the patterns of the shell of the tortoise or in stalks of grains. The shell of the tortoise was sought to be especially in tune with the rhythms of the universe because of the long life of its inhabitant. - With the casting of coins or stalks of a plant, certain patterns emerge. By identifying these patterns, a prediction is made. When casting the coins, they each represented a trigram that when put together you would compare it to your hexagram number. Each hexagram number had a different reading (they were kind of their own version of a fortune cookie). The readings were a form of divination in the way that they each had separate readings about actions to take in the future. They had a personality and wisdom of their own in a sense that each hexagram had a different reading and action to follow. They each had a different fortune.
4. Why did the decline of the feudal system in ancient China set the stage for both Taoism and Confucianism? - When the feudal system began to breakdown, each school chose a different belief to kind of explain what was happening at that time with the government. Within these schools Taoism and Confucianism developed each with
2. Describe the Chinese concept of the ying and yang as a unifying explanation for the universe.
Yin
The negative force in nature
Seen as darkness, coolness, dampness
Female
The earth, moon and shadows
Yang
Positive force in nature
Seen as lightness, brightness, warmth, dryness
Masculine
The sun
Although the interpretation might be negative and positive, it is not how we actually depict these two aspects. They represent a balance and are interdependent (cannot exist without each other). These two are like a cause and effect.
3. How could the hexagrams of the I Ching (The Book of Changes) be viewed as means of divination? How could they be seen as having personality and wisdom of their own? Note the editorial work of the Confucianism. - Chinese sought the future in the patterns of the shell of the tortoise or in stalks of grains. The shell of the tortoise was sought to be especially in tune with the rhythms of the universe because of the long life of its inhabitant. - With the casting of coins or stalks of a plant, certain patterns emerge. By identifying these patterns, a prediction is made. When casting the coins, they each represented a trigram that when put together you would compare it to your hexagram number. Each hexagram number had a different reading (they were kind of their own version of a fortune cookie). The readings were a form of divination in the way that they each had separate readings about actions to take in the future. They had a personality and wisdom of their own in a sense that each hexagram had a different reading and action to follow. They each had a different fortune.
4. Why did the decline of the feudal system in ancient China set the stage for both Taoism and Confucianism? - When the feudal system began to breakdown, each school chose a different belief to kind of explain what was happening at that time with the government. Within these schools Taoism and Confucianism developed each with