Chinese Religions Flashcards
The major Chinese Buddha of Infinite Light and Pure Land paradise this side of nirvana. Associated with Guanyin.
Amita-fo
The most revered Confucian scripture, a collection of the sayings of Confucius, probably compiled by the second generation of his disciples.
Analects of Confucius
Branch of Chinese Buddhism that emphasizes meditative direct experience of the Buddha, awakening to nirvana, not just from books or conventional ritual. In Japan it became Zen.
Chan
(the Way) A term used by all Chinese schools of thought. The Daoist path of self directing righteousness and harmony, the ineffable, ultimate, universal reality, hidden behind existence.
Dao
(The Classic of the Way of Power) the primary text of Daoism, in condensed paradoxical poetry.
Dao de jing
The formless, all present, indescribable, infinite essence of all things.
Dharmakaya
The imperceptible, undifferentiated void giving birth to all existence, not-being, nothingness. Central in both Daoism and Buddhism.
Emptiness
Eight Daoist legendary perfected persons.
Immortals
The largely Confucian guides to ritual, propriety, etiquette, and social norms.
Li
Confucian sense of transcendent rightness of the state, closer to religion than most Confucian ideas; may or may not be present in a ruler or state.
Mandate of Heaven
New Romanized transcription of Chinese adopted in 1979, replacing 1859 Wade-Giles system.
Pinyin
Uncarved block, uncut tree, a Daoist and Chan image of ultimate reality.
Pu
Vital energy in the universe and in our bodies; union of yin and yang. A theme of folk religions and Daoism, and synthesized with other traditions.
Qi
Benevolence, human-heartedness, humanistic love toward others; the highest Confucian virtue.
Ren
An educated, sensible, wise man.
Sage
