Part 2 Chapter 5

Part 2 Chapter 5
Eurasian Cultural Tradition

This Chapter discusses in detail some of the original cultures, religions, philosophies and traditions of the early civilizations in Eurasia.

• In 2004, about 180 married couples in Beijing, gathered in front of a picture of Confucius, whom they considered their country’s ancient sage, they all took an oath, pledging fidelity to each other and promising never to divorce.

• This took place in a small communist country, which had not honored Confucius and his teachings for a while before.

• A lot of political leaders that were communists began encouraging “social harmony” as the country’s cultural landscape was changing.

• Buddhism has also had resurgence in China. Many temples were destroyed during the beginning of communism but they have since been reopened.

Some of the religions and/or philosophies of the Classical Era

Religion/Philosophy	Religious figure	Location	Key points
Zoroastrianism	Zoroaster	Persia	One God, conflict between good and evil
Judaism	Hebrew prophets	Middle East	High God, chosen people, justice
Hinduism	Upanishads	India	Brahmins, karma, moksha, goal of liberation, rebirth
Confucianism	Confucius	China	Social harmony, secular, education, family is a model
Jainism	Mahavira	India	Creatures have souls, nonviolence, opposed to caste system
Buddhism	Gautama	India	Suffering is caused by desire, end by moral living and meditation
Daoism	Laozi, Zhuangzi	China	Withdrawal from the world, into nature simple living
Greek Rationalism	Socrates, Plato, Aristotle	Greece	Secular explanation of nature and human life
Christianity	Jesus	Palestine/Israel	Love based on intimate relationship with God/Jesus
Christianity	Saint Paul	Palestine/Israel/East Rome	Religion for all under one God, savior is Jesus Christ

Cultural traditions in more detail:

China and the search for order - tradition of state building

• Zhou dynasty - 1122 BCE - Mandate of heaven
• Political Unity
• Zhou dynasty - weakened - 500 BCE
• Unity that China had before was gone, period of chaos, violence and disharmony

 Legalistic approach

• Legalism was seen as the answer to the chaos
• laws and rules laid down and strictly enforced
• Pessimistsic view
• Legalistic approach cause harsh reunification of China under he Shihuangdi and the Qin dynasty - 221-206 BCE
• After legalism no philosopher or ruler presented or advocated their ideas ever again

Confucianism

• Figure was Confucius - 551-479 BCE
• Key in solving disorder in China
• Confucius was a thinker and a teacher
• Teachings were called the Analects
• Created a body of thought
• No laws and punishment
• Moral examples
• Unequal relationships
• Relationship between superior and inferior such as father/son, husband/wife
• Analogy relationship between superior and inferior is that like the wind and grass, the grass must bend when the wind blows
• Education was the key to moral betterment
• Became a central element of education system and people had to take examinations to gain official positions
• Set the tone for defining  the lives of women - Ban Zhao - 45-116 BCE
• Usually the only women that could afford the education needed to pass the exams were that of wealthy men

Daoism

• Figure was Laozi - 6th century BCE archivist
• Writings were called the Daodejing
• Zhuangzi philosopher - 369-286 BCE
• Thinking was counter to Confucius thinking
• Encouraged spontaneous, individualistic and natural behavior
• Focused on nature
• Central focus was the Dao - the way of nature
• Encouraged people to withdraw from society and education 
• Valued self-empowerment and encouraged people to retreat to nature
• High powered figured considered Daoism and Confucianism, the yin and the yang of Chinese symbols, during the say they practiced Confucianism and at home after work they retreated to nature and practiced Daoism

Traditions of India

• Embraced the divine and spiritual things
• Main religion - Hinduism - had no historical founder
• India was known for embracing diversity

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Discussion questions:
1) Name at least two (2) Thinkers/Philosophies from the Classical Era and discuss their practics and beliefs.
2) When comparing Jesus to Buddha what do you find to be the most significant differences?
3) What was distinctive about the Jewish religious tradition?
4) In what ways was Christianity transformed in the five centuries following the death of Jesus?