ASIAN RELIGIONS Flashcards
(21 cards)
Zen
A school of Buddhism showing meditation and intuition rather than scripture and ritual. It teaches that enlightenment can come suddenly through deep meditation and awareness.
Zazen
Meditation aimed at emptying the mind. This silent, seated practice is central to Zen Buddhism.
Lao Tzu / Lao Zi
The ancient Chinese philosopher credited with founding Daoism. He is traditionally said to have written the Dao De Ching, teaching harmony with the Dao.
li
means rites or ritual and propriety, and correct behavior. It helps create social order by guiding how people should act.
jen/ren
Kindness, compassion, and humaneness. This is the highest virtue in Confucian thought, showing love and respect to others.
chuntzu (Junzi)
The “ideal person” in Confucianism, who acts with confidence, integrity, and gentlemanliness.
5 Relationships
Father–Son
Ruler–Minister
Husband–Wife
Elder Brother–Younger Brother
Friend–Friend
Confucius / Master K’ung
he great Chinese teacher and philosopher (551–479 BC) who emphasized morality, family loyalty, and respect for tradition.
Analects
A collection of sayings and ideas of Confucius, gathered by his followers after his death.
Ancestor veneration
Honoring deceased family members through rituals to maintain family loyalty and to receive blessings from the ancestors.
Three Faiths
The main belief systems of traditional China: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, often practiced together.
Syncretism
The blending of different religions and philosophies, such as combining Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist ideas in East Asian cultures.
Daoism/Dao
A Chinese philosophy that encourages living simply and in harmony with the natural flow of the universe, the Dao.
Dao De Ching
The foundational Daoist text, traditionally attributed to Lao Tzu, filled with poetic lessons on humility, simplicity, and effortless action.
Qi
The life force or energy that flows through all living things. In Chinese belief, health and vitality depend on a balanced and strong qi.
wu wei
The Daoist principle of “non-action” — living naturally and effortlessly, without forcing events or opposing the natural flow.
Yin/Yang
The complementary forces of the universe: yin (dark, receptive, feminine) and yang (bright, active, masculine). Together, they create balance and harmony.
Shintoism
The indigenous religion of Japan, meaning “Way of the Kami,” focusing on rituals that connect people to sacred spirits and nature.
Kami
Individual spirits associated with specific natural phenomena, powers, and places. They are revered in Shinto as divine presences.
tsumi
Quality of misfortune means impurity, pollution, or defilement, often caused by death or moral wrongdoing. Purification rituals are used to restore harmony.
torii
A traditional Japanese gate that marks the entrance to a sacred Shinto shrine, symbolizing the passage from the ordinary world into the sacred.
