Asian Religions:Buddhism, Confucianism,

Daoism, Legalism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism &

Hinduism

Hinduism

•No founder, no time, began in India•Beliefs:

–Dharma: duties to perform in life, determined by caste–Karma: good and bad deeds you do–Moksha: ultimate goal, release from reincarnation & achieving oneness with the Universe–Samsara: the level of births and deaths you are at; if you have good Karma, you will move up the level of Samsara

More Hinduism• Ganges river is holy• Gods: (polytheistic)

– Brahma: the creator– Shiva: creator and

destroyer– Vishnu: Preserver,

transcendent love– Krishna: lover and trickster,

seducer of wives and daughters

• Associated with purity and pollution• Those who work more intellectual jobs are more pure• Pollution is when people come into contact with sweat or excrement; to ensure purity you must marry within own caste

Jainism

•Indian belief system•Founded by Vardhamana Mahavira•Practice Ahimsa nonviolence toward all things•Extremists sweep the ground as they walk to avoid killing insects•Popular among lower class because if all things have a soul there should not be classes; rejected caste system

Buddhism•Founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama, a Prince

–Later called Buddha, “Enlightened One”

•Spread on Silk Road•Taught Four Noble Truths

–Life is suffering–Suffering caused by desire–There is a way out of suffering–Must follow the Eightfold Path

•Eightfold Path–Tells how to stop desiring by living a righteous manner

Buddhism comes from Hinduism

• Goal is to reach Nirvana by breaking cycle of reincarnation and becoming one with universe

• Altered ideas of – Dharma: combined beliefs of 4NT & 8FP– Karma– Samsara: coming into existence as a moral

creature

• Brahmins are not necessary, everyone can achieve enlightenment on their own without gods or goddesses

• Equality among all believers

Era of Warring States

• Last 200 years of Zhou (441-221 BCE)

• Began three philosophies– Confucianism– Daoism– Legalism

Confucianism•Confucius

–Philosopher, believed he could bring an end to existing warfare

•Key was finding good leaders–Most important concepts

•Ren: appropriate feelings•Li: correct actions•Filial Piety: respect for one’s parents•Five Relationships:

–Ruler to subject–Father to son–Husband to wife–Sibling to sibling–Friend to friend

–Became major philosophy during Han–Students compiled his sayings into Analects

Daoism•Laozi wrote book called Tao De Ching (Daodejing) during Era of Warring States•Dao: “the way (of nature of the cosmos)”•Concept of wu wei act by not acting and problems will solve themselves•The less government the better•Symbol of Yin Yang, represents balance•How does this work with Confucianism?

–Be Confucian at work, Daoist in time off

Legalism

•Principle that men is inherently evil and needs strict laws and punishment to behave properly•Strong government = stable society•Used by Qin to end Era of Warring States

Zoroastrianism

•Ancient Persian religion (600 BCE -1500 CE) founded by Zarathustra•Left his family in search of wisdom, God spoke to him•Beliefs

–World is a blessing and one should take enjoyment of it (wealth, sexual pleasure, social status)–World is battleground between good and evil, each person takes part in the struggle–At the end of time god will judge and send to heaven or hell