1400 Week 7 Flashcards
(17 cards)
What does Wing-Tsit Chan say about Chinese Religion?
Enlightened honour Heaven and ancestors, most people honour popular religions (astrology)
What are Great sacrifices?
Sacrifices performed only by the emperor in their palace
What are middle sacrifices?
Performed within capitals by officials
Rules of middle sacrifices
Must honour the current dynasty and emperor, officials should not make sacrifices to past emperors
What are common sacrifices?
Performed throughout the empire by anybody, sacrifices to god of war, god of literature, the sovereigns, fire god, dragon god, city god, and wandering spirits
Role of the City God
Important at county level, new magistrates had to spend a solitary night of sacrifice at the city god temple, the city was expected to cooperate and bring peace to the district through prayers
What is considered in a bureaucratic model of popular belief?
Gods are officials of divine hierarchy whom have temporary relationships with people and places rather than a connection to the community
What is considered in the personal model of popular beliefs?
Gods are seen as extraordinary persons and their authority is inherent
What potential do virtuous people have after death
Potential to become gods
What can virtuous officials become after death?
City god
What happens to undeserved deaths
They become wandering ghosts
Who was Zhong Kui?
A scholar who killed himself after being accused of cheating in the exams, he was then appointed the position of demon slayer by the emperor
Who was Zao Jin
The Kitchen God, left his wife for a young woman but returned to his wife after becoming a blind beggar, out of shame he threw himself into a stove
Various names for Hell include:
Yellow springs, Avici Hell
Meaning behind Liaofan’s Four Letters:
One act of kindness towards others is much more important than a life of no bad deeds, but even improper thoughts are considered a bad offense
Heterodox religious sects in traditional China
- white lotus sect (banned for promoting the end of the world)
- Christianity (banned because of the Dominicans strong attempt at conversion)
- righteous and harmonious fists movement (banned when western powers invaded Beijing)
How was the Privy Goddess worshipped?
Young girls offered nightsoil baskets at annual ceremonies, worshipped outside temples, sacred pilgrimages, etc
