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the Judges in ancient Israel. Ances–
tor worship was already a central
part of the religion of the Chinese
royal house certainly as early as the
14th century a.c. Chinese kings of
tliat period took for granted that
their departed royal ancestors lived
in heaven with Shang Ti, the "Su–
preme Ruler of Heaven." The kings
believed that if their earthly con–
duct pleased their heavenly ances–
tors, those ancestors would persuade
Shang Ti to send down blessings on
China; if displeased, cursings.
This ancestral cult was gradually
adopted by the aristocratic class and
later by the Chinese masses in gen–
eral. By praying to their departed
forebears in the spirit world, so the
Chinese b'elieved, they would reap
benefits here on earth.
Other elements of early Chinese
religion included a belief in animal
and nature spirits, local gods who
watch over towns and villages, the
idea of fate or destiny, and elab–
orate rituals (including, at one time,
human sacrifice).
Confucianism
lt
was not, however, until the 6th
century before Christ that Chinese
religion and philosophy really began
to flourish. The setting was the declin–
ing years of the Chou dynasty ( 1121-
256
B.c.),
a period of national unrest
during which warring Chinese states
were maneuvering for power.
The first important personality to
emerge in China during that period
was Confucius (551- 479 a.c.), a
near contemporary of the biblical
prophet Daniel. His Chinese name
was
Kung Fu-tse.
He evolved a
system of social ethics and values
which has been followed by the Chi–
nese for well over two millennia.
Confucius' later disciples, includ–
ing the famed sage Mencius
(Meng–
tse),
gathered together a collection
of bis sayings-called, in English,
The Confucian Analects- and
pop–
ularized bis .teachings. Though slow
to find favor at first, Confucianism
formed the dominant philosophy in
China by the 2nd century
B.c.–
eventually becoming the state reli–
gion. Centuries later, Confucius was
even deified and venerated as a god
by sorne of his followers.
12
Confucianism is often considered
more an ethical philosophy or sys–
tem than a religion in the strict
sense. Confucius, however, did be–
lieve in heaven, and encouraged the
ancient Chinese custom of ancestor
worship as a part of proper respect
for elders. Confucius also believed
in the continued existence of the
soul, but had only a vague idea of
what life after death was like.
In themain, Confucianism is more
concerned with how to conduct one–
self in
this
world than in contemplat–
ing "the beyond."
It
stresses family
loyalty, personal virtue and respect
for others. The Confucian "Silver
Rule" admonishes: "What you do not
want others to do to you, do not do
unto them." Confucius believed that
evil is essentially unnatural, and that
~~
Ancestor worship was a
central part of the
religion of the Chinese
royal house certainly as
early as the 14th
century B.
C.
' '
human nature is good. Compare this
with thewords of the biblical prophet
Jeremiah (who lived a generation
earlier than Confucius) in Jeremiah
17:9.
Taolsm
·About the same time that Confucius
was instructing bis disciples, a rival
school, called Taoism, was founded
by the philosopher Lao-tzu, said to
have .been sorne 50 years older than
Confucius. Taoism has been the
chief rival to Confucianism in
infiuencing Chinese philosophy and
culture.
Wbether Lao-tzu was really an
historical person is an unsolved
question among modern critics.
Lao-tzu is credited with authoring
the
Tao Te Ching,
the basic work on
which Taoism is founded.
Unlike Confucianism, Taoism
emphasizes the occult, magic, divi-
na tion and mystical experience.
Taoism became popular among the
more uneducated Chinese.
Taoism teaches that man must
conform to the
Tao
(Way)-a diffi–
cult-to-define term referring to a
cosmic energy or force of nature. As
a way of life it involves a quiet,
unresisting acceptance of the course
of nature. Taoism also teaches an
immortal soul, and like Confucian–
ism presents only an obscure picture
of the afterlife.
Taoism later began to stress alche–
my and the search for the "elixir of
immortality." Taoist belief has fre–
quently been associated with secret
societies. A Taoist theocracy was
established in the second century
A.D .
and endured until abolished by the
Chinesegovernment in 1927.
It
is recorded, incidentally, that
Confucius and Lao-tzu met in 517
a.c., but neither could understand
the other's position, so divergent
were their views. As with Confu–
cius, Lao-tzu was later deified and
worshiped.
Buddhlsm
Confucianism and Taoism were
native Chinese religions. The third
great tradition in China, however,
was of foreign origin.
Missionaries from India and Cen–
tral Asia brought Buddhism to Chi–
na in the 1st century
A.D.,
during
the rule of the powerful Han dynas–
ty (202
B.C.-A.D.
220).
lt
did not,
however, really begin to make head–
way in China until the 4th century.
Thereafter Buddhist teachings were
rapidly · assimilated into Chinese
philosophy_and culture.
Buddbism had begun in India as
a reform movement within Hin–
duism.
1t
was developed in the latter
half of the 6th century a.c. near
Benares in northern India by Sid–
dhartha Gautama, the Buddha or
"Enlightened One," who had re–
putedly achieved bis "enlighten–
ment" through deep meditation. In
his teachings, the Buddha empha–
sized self-denial, contemplation and
compassion.
The cornerstone of Buddhism is
embodied in "Four Noble Truths":
that suffering exists; that the cause
of suffering is desire; that suffering
The PLAIN TRUTH