China's Religious Concepts.

Concepts

Basic:

Wu Chi = 'non-being breath'.

Wu is 'non-being' and so represents 'perfect freedom' since nothing is as yet! It first expresses in 'inactivity' (Yin, black) and 'activity' (Yang, white). Yin and Yang merge into the well known Tao circle symbol representing ' interaction' as Tai Chi. This interaction results in the bringer of change, the I of the I Ching and also referred to as the 'seed'. (Chi is also given as 'life force.')
To access the interacting forces of the universe as symbolized by the Tai Chi and reveal the will of the divine, the shaman and oracles were used as intermediaries.

The I Ching

or Book of Changes must be seen as originating from these oracular traditions.

Chi is the energy of the universe.

It is present in the traditions of medicine, arts and alchemy as well. It is the regulation of this energy that is central to Chinese religion and philosophy.
These are the basic concepts and processes that underlie the development of Chinese thought and literature. It reflects a search for understanding how these principles are to be used and expressed in daily life. The famous Tao Te Ching and the Confucian canon are expressions of this search. How does man, as in humankind, find his/ her place in this world and how do we act in it such that we are in harmony with its powers? That is the question it seeks to answer in this search. Over time the concepts develop and the frameworks become more elaborate, yet they remain connected to this fundamental quest.
Eventually this search becomes known as finding 'the way of heaven' and acting in accord with the 'Mandate of Heaven'. Taoism first and Confucianism later teach how this is to be accomplished. Later on Buddhism also makes important contributions. Through it all the notion of how to live one's live on this earth under heaven is central at the start and remains so today; it pervades Chinese society, its culture and religion.

Taoism.

Chi Nil = energy, life force.

Chi forms patterns in the human body on which medical healing methods are based. Breathing, herbal remedies, acupuncture, meditation and physical exercises relate and apply. Chi is not restricted to the human body, but is active throughout micro- and macro cosmos.

Oracles:

It is advice, wise counsel or prognostication produced by a given process and requiring interpretation. The Greek Delphi oracle was world famous in antiquity. In China bones and yarrow roots were used dating back to before 3900BC.

Lao-tzu: 'Old Master'.

A figure of legends, but without a verifiable record of actually having lived. Tradition holds him to be the author of the Tao Te Ching.

I Ching = Changes Book,

where I is 'seed' as in source of life. The book is an oracle with the polar Yin — Yang of non-action and action at its core. These bring about change, 1, that is directed by the I Ching as the expression of the Tao. The meaning and significance is found in the synchronistic exception to natural law of events that appear as accidental to those thinking in terms of cause and effect. The yes and no answers from the oracle castings, represented by solid and broken lines , would build up eventually to one of the hexagrams on the I Ching. Then the Judgments and Commentaries would be consulted for a final prognostication. 'The I Ching insists upon self-knowledge throughout…' C.G. Jung

Feng Shui:

The balancing of the Yin and Yang with respect to the environment in a systematic manner. It traces its origin to the Neolithic farming techniques about plot location as deployed in early Taoism. Based on the concept of Chi energy and its channels or meridians it seeks to optimize health, quality of life and even the location of furniture with respect to these meridians. This way nature's balance will benefit everyone concerned.

Tai Chi = 'the grand ultimate',

a figure of the cosmos, supreme Ridgepole (Shamanic world tree). It is the place where Yin and Yang meet in interaction.

Tai Chi Ch'uan = 'the ultimate fist'.

It is known in the West as a series of slow motion ballet like movements as seen in parks. Probably began as a self defense technique and also in support of concentration and meditation. The movements may be viewed as an acted parable to the Taoist philosophy. Through such motions the balance between Yin and Yang is restored and the tension in the body released. Earliest reference is during the Tang Dynasty ( 618-907). Various styles are practiced (kung fu). The movements should flow like water. The 'Righteous and Harmonious Fists' movement and rebellion against foreigners in 1900 became known as the 'Boxer Rising', because its members practiced Tai Chi Ch'uan.

Taoism:

The West distinguishes religious from philosophical Taoism. The religious schools aimed at achieving immortality, often resorting to magical and alchemical (some deadly, cinnabar) techniques. As teachings about ethics and human behaviour the Tao come close to Confucianism. In the Tao Te Ching the Tao is described as 'the nameless unnamable' from which everything arises and also returns. It is paradoxical in nature and thus beyond the grasp of the intellect.

Tao Te Ching

= Way Virtue Book or Way Power Book; also: 'The Book of the Way and Its Power'. The book was written by various authors between 500 to 300BC. The oldest copy dates to ca. 200AD. The 'Way' part consists of 37 sections and the 'Te' part of 44. The legendary author Lao-tzu became deified over time, with temples built in his honour. This deification process occurs more often in China's religions, in particular in the so-called folk religious tradition.
The teachings themselves require thought, meditation and life experience for a deeper appreciation to reveal itself. In that sense they could be called 'oracular'. They probably constitute a collection of unrelated, but important insights and truths that were gathered over time. The Confucian 'Analects' are similar and both share that structure with the I Ching. It was only later on that interpretations were written that were of a more reasoned nature.

Wu wei:

= 'non striving or non-action action or action-less action'. It means that the proper response to the ever changing natural flow of events is non-intervention. In the words accredited to Lao-tzu: 'The world is ruled by letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.'

Yin Yang =

'Shady Sunny'. This is as words only, as concepts a rich world of meaning and significance lies within and beyond them. The sunny and shady refer back to the Neolithic farming days and the early Feng Shui concepts. Yin and Yang also relate to the no and yes answers to oracular questions and the broken and whole lines of the hexagrams in the Book of Changes (I Ching).
Long lists of opposing qualities are organized under the heading of the Yin and Yang concepts, such as 'wet versus dry', 'soft versus hard', and 'feminine versus masculine'. Yin and Yang ordered the early universe of human experience in 'the Middle Kingdom', as the Chinese call their own country.

Chi gong

= 'energy — skill' or 'life force — practices' popularized in China and the world. Exercises of the body as well as internalized. This relates to the Falun dafa organization of Falun- gong (Dharma wheel — skill) practices, which aim at changing the world order. Rotating the dharma wheel within the body generates positive energy. (Dafa is the organization, gong is the skill and falun stands for Dharma Wheel or world order).

Confucianism:

Confucianism:

A Western term for the teachings of Confucius as according to Chinese tradition. It is a combination of moral, social, political and religious values and concepts. It finds application in Japan, Korea, Vietnam and of course China itself. It originated ca.500BC and is still practiced. Adherents would call themselves 'followers of the way of Ju and the old sages'. Even though Confucianism is pragmatic and mainly secular in the Western sense, the idea of the 'way of heaven' is never far away and the concepts of Yin and Yang are important to it as well. Where Jen (harmonious living) is the principle, Ju is way to bring it about.

The 'canon'

of Confucianism consists of six collections or books, known as the 'Classic Texts'. These existed at the time of Confucius. Included in it is the '1 Ching', the Taoist classic! His own teachings 'the Analects', were recorded by his students. These 'classics' describe the workings of the world and the way of heaven. It defines the emperor as the 'Son of Heaven' who ruled on earth in accord with the 'Jade Emperor' in heaven. The ruling took place through non action (wu wei) like the North Pole star rules the starry heavens by being at its centre. Here surfaces the concept of the 'cosmic axis' that enabled the shaman to travel into the heavens and mediate the 'will of heaven' at ancient time, just as 'south facing emperor' does now.
Confucianism developed during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) combining Taoism and Buddhism to construct 'Neo-Confucianism'. A Confucian state cult also developed incorporating many 'folk-religious' ideas, such as the worship of nature and local gods.

Confucius

(K'ung-fu-tzu, 551-479BC): He saw himself as a transmitter of the teachings. The Classic Texts of Confucianism already existed in his time. Strictly speaking his own are the 'Analects' as recorded by his students. Around 136BC his teachings become a state cult (Han Dynasty).
It is the ‘historian’ Sima Qian who places Confucius back in the Sang Dynasty when writing was invented (ca. 1500BC). Confucius himself is reported to have studied the 'Book of Changes' later in life.

Ju:

The ethical philosophy of Confucianism, consisting of four concepts.
These are:
Chih, insight or wisdom;
Jen, living harmoniously with others and yourself;
Li, the correct practice of rituals in dealing with life and finally
Yi , the sense of justice, duty and responsibility.

Jen

= 'humanity, love of fellow man'. It is the basic virtue of Confucianism. This concept developed over time: Before Conf. it was the kindness of the ruler towards his subjects. Conf. meant it as meaning ‘the perfect gentleman'. Neo-Conf. saw it as 'forming one body with heaven'. During the Ch'ing Dynasty (17th-18th cent.) it became more social, i.e. 'living harmoniously with others and your own requirements.

Gentleman (Chun - tzu)

= 'ruler, son of a nobleman'; in Confucianism the ideal person in contrast to the 'little man' who just won't do. These virtues are not acquired by birth, but are a natural talent. Plato's concept of the 'philosopher king’ comes close.

Kung fu:

A general term referring to a variety of martial arts. In origin it is a form of Chinese boxing. Shao —Lin kung-fu was developed in the Shao-Lin temples. The Zen equivalent is 'kufu' a form of meditative and mental discipline. It means `to seek the way out of a dilemma'. See also Suzuki 1970.

Neo Confucianism:

The merging of Taoist cosmology (and astrology) with the spirituality of Buddhism and the Confucian concern for good government and a harmonious society. This formulation took place during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279).

Yi=

'righteousness', the moral inclination to do good. It is the making of the right choice out of alternatives. The value of it rest entirely with the choice, not with the consequences.

Buddhism:

Chian:

'meditative absorption' [Being lost in thought, anyone?]. (It is the Chinese wore Sanskrit (India) word dhyana.) Chinese Buddhism, Chan, is based on the teachings of the Maha-yana or 'Great Vehicle' tradition. It means that enlightenment can be achieved by the ordinary person through the help of the returning Buddha helpers called Bodhi-sattvas. Chan developed over time in China, but is attributed to Bodhi-dharma at around 600 (Period of Disunity). In a modified form Chan became Zen in Japan around 800.

Falong gong:

A practice of meditating involving changing the inner 'wheel of dharma' (falong or falun). Its three central concepts are:
Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.
Its organization Falun Dafa is banned in China.

Pureland:

A major school of Buddhism in China and Japan. It was founded in China by Hui-yuan around 400 (Period of Disunity) and brought to Japan by Honen. Amitabha or Buddha Amida is the Buddha figure in Pureland Buddhism. It is a figure of unlimited compassion who redeems his believers through faith and calling his name. He offers incarnation in the Pureland of the West in the here-after. Some sources suggest Christian roots for this form of Buddhism since it has no reference as a school in Asia.

Ox Herding:

The famous ox herding pictures out of the Chan Buddhist tradition. 'Herding an ox' is a metaphor for controlling the mind and its unruly 'thoughts'. It dates to the T'ang Dynasty (618-906). In a series of ten drawings the ox is at first clearly shown, but its outline grows fainter in the subsequent ones and disappears in the end. It is then that: " ... unfettered the ox obeys his master."

Shao-Lin:

A form of Chi-kung . A discipline to cultivate and centre on Chi (energy) and the idea of 'mind over matter' and is based on the teachings of 'Bodhidharma' (He is, according to tradition, the founder of Chan, China's Buddhism).

China’s Religious Concepts, supplement to China’s Spiritual Genius presentation, 2008 , A.D.V.