Chapter 2: Asian Religions and Their Cultures Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 2: Asian Religions and Their Cultures Deck (26)
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1
Q

Jainism

A
  • Mahavira founded Jainism as an ascetic faith
  • Reasserted the Hindu veneration of all living things
  • Jains wear masks to avoid insects, worrying they’ll hurt them
  • In modern age, many Jainism have gone into business
  • Used the swastika symbols
2
Q

Daoism

A

Dao - “the Way”

  • Refers to people’s obligations and their social roles
  • Dao De Jing - chief text of Daoism (“Classic of the Way”)
  • Their teachings focus on living life as it is and go with the flow
  • Grew under the influence of Buddhism
3
Q

Shinto

A

“the way of the gods”

  • Traditional Japanese animism or nature worship
  • Inspired by the Buddhist example
  • Cult oriented
  • Believed that various bodily functions were “polluting” and had to be cleansed
  • Shinto shrines are located in beautiful areas
4
Q

Shiva

A

“Near perfect God”

  • Believed to be to pure to be approached
  • Blue skinned deity
  • Celebrated as the “lord of both death and life and the genius of procreation”
5
Q

Brahma

A

Creator of the universe

  • First goddess of the trinity
  • Four headed goddess
  • Has a caste called the “Brahmins” which is known as the highest case
    • Present in various rituals of life
6
Q

Vishnu

A

Preserver and protector of the universe

  • Second god of the Trinity
  • Blue skinned god
7
Q

Agni

A

Hindu god of fire

  • Aryan god
  • Two-faced god
  • Also known as the messenger of the gods
8
Q

Vedas

A

World’s oldest religious texts

  • 1500-600 B.C.E
  • Composed of hymns, spells, rituals, and poems
  • Last of the Vedas talks about the nature of the universe and human’s role in it
9
Q

Upanishads

A

Last of the Vedas (chronologically)

  • Talks about the universe and human’s role in it
  • Talks of asceticism and mysticism
  • Also deals with good and evil, morality, and human duty
10
Q

asceticism

A
  • A lifestyle that denies the pleasures and luxuries of life
  • Done to achieve spiritual wisdom
11
Q

Dharma

A

Selfless execution of one’s earthly duties

  • Prince Arjuna is told by the god Krishna that physical death is not important and that duty and the proper execution of it is important
12
Q

karma

A

Consequence of one’s actions

  • If one stays true to their dharma, they will have good karma
13
Q

ahimsa

A

Non-violence / reverence for all life

  • May have originated in Jainist teachings
    • Would later spread to Hinduism and Buddhism
14
Q

samsara

A

Reincarnation

  • Hindu belief that life is a never ending cycle
  • What you reincarnate as is a result of your karma through life
  • Most Hindus are vegetarians because of this
15
Q

Mahayana Buddhism

A

“The greater vehicle”

  • Offered a new approach to Buddhism
    • For those who did not want to become monks or nuns
  • Bodhisattva
    • Saintly beings who delayed their journey to nirvana to help others
  • Stressed the power of good deeds and works
16
Q

Four Noble Truths

A
  1. Life is filled with pain, sorrow, frustration, impermanence, and dissatisfaction (dukha)
  2. Desire is the root of all this as well as the urge for existence
  3. To end suffering, one must become desireless
  4. Desirelessness can be gained by the eightfold path of “Right Conduct
17
Q

varna

A

Roles in society

  • Four varna
    • Brahmin (priests or teachers)
    • Kshatriya (noble warriors)
    • Vaishya (commoners)
    • Shudra (servants and laborers)
18
Q

jati

A
  • Similar to roles in society, but is comprised of hundreds of groups
  • Defined by their job
  • People in their respective jati were expected to interact only with others in their jati
19
Q

Confucious

A
  • Common man
    • No political power or powerful background
  • Believed ideal social order was achieved during the Zhou Dynasty
  • Was born during the Warring States Period which caused him to go into a philosophical occupation
  • From Lu; an important state during the WSP
20
Q

Mencius

A

Confucious’ most famous follower and commentator

  • Believed people are born naturally good but need education to keep the status
  • Encouraged rebelling against those who did not live up to their roles or responsibilites
21
Q

Laozi

A

“the Old One”

  • Contributed to the development of the Dao De Jing
  • Supposedly disappeared and became an immortal
22
Q

Dao de Jing (Tao Te Ching)

A

Chief text of Daosim

  • Contains text that is mystical in nature and purpose is unclear
  • Although the text is mystic, the message of the Daoists is to relax and take things as it comes
23
Q

diaspora

A
  • Dispersion of a small population of Jews abroad in India that resulted in intercultural mixing, spread of Judaism
24
Q

Sufism

A

“Mystic” version of Islam

  • Taught that salvation could only be achieved through prayer and meditation
  • Studied the Qur’an
  • Grew in popularity in India
25
Q

Mahavira

A

Founder of Jainism

  • The great solds one (?)
  • Practiced non violence
26
Q

Theravada

A

“way of the elders”

  • Was very traditionalistic and followed the original faith closely
  • Slowly recognized good works as a soure of “merit”
  • This form of Buddhism was the one that was spread more to Southeast Asia