At the Taiqing/Xiaqing Palace, known as the birthplace of Taoism/Daoism, blue beads form the entrance to a 30,000-square-meters reserve. Blue is a reverent color in the religion, representing the natural flow of water.
The final religion in the three-part series is the tradition of being at harmony with your environment. Taoism, as it is historically known, started to be called Daoism in the 1950s when the Pinyin system of transcribing Chinese characters to the Latin alphabet was developed. The tradition is based on the folk culture of China, permeating today’s society.
Who was Tao/Dao?
The creation of Taoism/Daoism is attributed to Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher of the 6th Century BC. Conflicting accounts of his life place him as a real and mythical character in Chinese history. Traditionally, it is believed Tzu was an official with the royal court during the Many Dynasties period. Here he had access to ancient texts to create the Daodejingor the Bible of Taoism/Daoism.
As a demigod, Tzu is believed to come to Earth through a virgin conception, being born already an old and wise man who lived 900 years. He embodied the Tao and traveled throughout ancient Asia revealing the way to reach a state of ecstasy after he spent years leading the life of a hermit in meditation and reflection.
A statue of Lao Tzu at the Taiqing/Xiaqing Palace shows the philosopher in meditation. Though his actual existence is debated, Tzu is credited with the creation of the religion.
Though Tzu never began any schools of his own, he did have disciples that continued to hand down his teachings until the first writings about him appeared in the 1st Century BC. The oldest form of the Daodejing dates back to bamboo slips in the late 4th Century BC. Today, various sects of Taoism/Daoism have emerged in his honor.
What is Taoism/Daoism?
In Mandarin, the word”Tao” literally translates to “way.” As in Buddhism, living a life dedicated to Taoism/Daoism principles can deliver believers to a state of enlightenment. The tradition shares many other similarities to Buddhism, such as the detachment from material possessions and appreciation for what you currently have.
There are two camps of Taoism/Daoism. Some view the tradition as a religion while others prescribe to only the philosophy. The philosophy and religion emphasize living a life of harmony through the main concept of non-action or wu-wei. Compared to the nature of yielding water, wu-wei is about going with the flow, allowing the universe to be without interruption of intention or force.
A follower worships at the altar of Tzu at the Taiqing/Xiaqing Palace. As a religious symbol, believers pray to him for guidance.
Along with this uninhibited flow, naturalness is also important in Taoism/Daoism. Especially relevant in Traditional Chinese Medicine, this value is practiced through treatment and prevention that comes from Earth-derived substances and body-flow exercises. In this vein, the Yin-and-Yang concept of balance is also found in the tradition.
Known as the Three Jewels of Taoism/Daoism, the core virtues of ci or compassion, jian or moderation, and bugan wei tianxia xia or humility are expected characteristics of any follower. These virtues have affected everything in the Chinese culture from health to politics.
Taoism/Daoism in China
Taoism/Daoism was officially recognized in China during the Tang Dynasty when the royal family claimed Tzu as an ancestor. The common family name Li also traces roots back to Tzu. The philosopher has been praised by various political affiliations throughout time: Anarchists believe his writings on “rightful power” form a basis for the concept while Libertarians praise his idea of individualism in society and smaller government to create social harmony. Through its non-aggression and non-authoritative stance, Chinese revolutionists have often drawn inspiration from Taoism/Daoism.
A Taoist/Daoist monk works on a calligraphy painting. In blue robes, these monks also practice martial arts and other activities associated with the religion.
Like the other religions in this series, Taoism/Daoism has enjoyed periods of popularity and struggled through episodes of disfavor. Schools of the religion first began to appear in the 2nd Century. In 1956, the Chinese Taoist Association was officially created. It was disbanded during the Cultural Revolution but regained official status in the 1980s. Today, the CTA is on a mission to share the principles of Taoism/Daosim with the world.
Your thoughts on Taoism/Daoism?
Though it’s difficult to pinpoint a number of followers for the religion since it is intertwined with so many other traditions, the best estimates place about 400 million people worldwide practicing some form of Taoism/Daoism. What do you think of the religion? What would you want to know more about?
At the Nashan Buddhism Cultural Park in Sanya, China, those who enter through the Dharma Door of Nonduality obtain “the enlightenment of Nirvana of tolerance of the birthlessness of things and beings.” Enlightenment is the highest goal in Buddhism.
Living in China and visiting Tibet (Chris will be posting about that soon), we saw many beautiful Buddhist temples with monks in their orange robes carrying out daily duties of scroll and temple maintenance, religious ceremony and meditations, and visitor relations. Viewing the various relics and traditions, you come to realize how complex and ingrained in the Chinese culture the religion is. Buddhism, with its several branches, can be witnessed throughout Chinese society as the largest religious affiliation in the country, covering about 16 percent of the adult population.
Who was Buddha?
The name Buddha literally translates in Sanskrit to “awakened” or “enlightened one.” It generally means the first awakened person in an era. In Buddhism, the Supreme Buddha, or first awakened being of our time, is attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian scholar. Historians document his life somewhere between the 6th and 4th centuries BC.
There are accounts of his coming to Earth through a virgin birth as an already- perfect being (sound familiar? Yep, another tradition that stretches across all religions). More realistically, Gautama was born to ancient Indian royal parents in what is believed to be present-day Nepal.
The statue of Buddha in Leshan, China, is the world’s largest stone representation of the holy leader. The Supreme Buddha was an Indian scholar by the name of Siddhārtha Gautama.
After living the royal life style for almost three decades, popular belief dictates Gautama escaped from the palace in his late 20s to witness the elderly, sick and dying people of his kingdom for the first time. Moved by this display of human suffering, he began a life forsaking all worldly pleasures and committing to a strict regiment of meditation and Yoga to find enlightenment through travel and study.
No doubt you can recall a story about the Supreme Buddha sitting under the Boddhi Tree meditating for 49 days until he found enlightenment. This came during what is believed to be Gautama’s mid-30s after almost dying of starvation from his austere lifestyle. After his brush with death, the Buddha declared living in either extreme was not the right path and began practicing the Middle Way.
After his awakening, the Buddha spent the rest of his life traveling and spreading the teachings of what his enlightenment had brought him. As he traveled, he acquired many followers, the first of many Buddhist monks and nuns. He passed down his teachings orally until the first Buddhists scrolls appeared almost 400 years after his death at around 80 years old.
What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is a religious path toward enlightenment. As previously stated, there are several branches of the religion. The three main traditions, Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana, are further broken down into sub-branches of the religion. Though the traditions vary in beliefs, common concepts exist in all three.
A guardian stands watch at the Baiju Temple at Palcho Monastery in Tibet. For concerned parents, protection by the guardians can be invoked by monks placing a black mark upon a child’s nose, much like anointing with oil in the Christian faith.
First, reverence is paid in a god-like fashion to the Buddha. In every Buddhist temple, you will find many forms of the Buddha represented in various statues. In Tibet, the red Buddha represents wisdom whereas the gold Buddha provides protection. My personal favorite, the black evil-faced creatures are the four protectors, based on an agrarian concept representing wind, snow, rain and sun. In China, there is the reclining Buddha and Laughing Buddha. Other forms of the Buddha symbolize the past, present and future. Worshipers light incense and bow three times to the statues, asking for good fortune or wisdom.
Next, all traditions practice the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths address the main concept in Buddhism: suffering or dukka. Buddhists believe to end suffering, you must find content in what you are, what you already have, by giving up and relinquishing control. Once you are able to reach this stage, you free your mind, body and soul from all Earthly boundaries. Discovering the Truths of (1) dukkha, (2) the origin of dukkah, (3) the cessation of dukkha, and (4) the path leading to the cessation of dukkha all help you reach that level.
This Wheel of Dharma symbol at the Ramoche Temple in Lhasa, Tibet is flocked by two deer that legend holds were so enamored by the Buddha’s first sermon in the woods they laid down to listen to him. The Wheel of Dharma represents the Buddhist life stages.
The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to end suffering and enter Nirvana, the highest attainment in the religion. To follow the Path, one must obtain the right (1) view, (2) aspiration, (3) speech, (4) action, (5) livelihood, (6) effort, (7) mindfulness and (8) concentration.
The Path is often represented in the Wheel of Dharma, a concept of a cosmic law and order. In the Wheel, there are six stages of the Buddhist life through reincarnation and karma. The first and lowest stage is equivalent to a idealistic hell, souls in continuous strife and struggle. The next stage is a step above hell. Creatures with thin necks and big bellies preside here, always hungry but can never get enough to eat. The third stage is a place of animals where they suffer because they can’t communicate with humans. The fourth stage is a war of fighting spirits. Next are humans who suffer trying to find enlightenment. The sixth and final stage is a dimension of super beings (think angles). Outside of the Wheel, you find Buddha and other beings who have reached enlightenment.
Finally, all the traditions believe anyone is capable of reaching enlightenment. This special place of boundlessness is not only reserved for Buddhas and their direct disciples, but anyone willing to follow the teachings and practice the lifestyle of Buddha can attain awakening.
Buddhism in China
The traditional Chinese lions protect temples and other structures. Here, a female lion (identified by the cub she has, whereas a male stands upon a globe to represent the interconnectedness of the world in the Buddhist faith) at the Jing’an Temple in Shanghai protects the interior while her male counterpart protects the exterior. Since lions are not indigenous to China, it is believed the manes on these sculptures were made after the Buddha. The short hair is similar to the Buddha’s after he forsake his royal patronage and shaved off his long hair.
Buddhism found its way to China from India around the 1st or 2nd Century during the Han Dynasty. By way of the Silk Road, believers entered Mongolia and began to develop Buddhist schools throughout the land. As it was culturally assimilated to the native society, Chinese Buddhism mixed in quite a bit of Taoism/Daoism beliefs to help make it understandable for the locals.
The traditions of Mahayana and Vajrayana are the most practiced in China, though even these have been adapted to fit the Chinese culture. In the Mahayana tradition, believers strive to reach enlightenment for the sake of all beings. This tradition has scriptures dating all the way back to the 1st Century BC that instruct followers in the belief of supernatural beings who embody the excellence of the Buddha. The Vajrayana traditions is mainly found in Tibet, but there are also followers on the mainland. A tantric form of Buddhism, this tradition believes some teachings can only pass from teacher to student through empowerment and not from literature.
During the Cultural Revolution, many temples and ancient relics were destroyed, and monks that defied the government were either murdered or mysteriously went missing. Though the Communist Party has relaxed its rules on religion in the country since Mao Zedong’s death in 1976, Buddhism continues to operate under government control. The Buddhism Association of China, though it offers educational resources, keeps monks and other temple leaders in check.
Buddhist monks lead followers in a small ceremony honoring the Buddha with incense at Longhua Temple in Shanghai.
A resurgence in the religion has recently taken place as the Chinese government invests in the reconstruction and upkeep of temples. Though originally economic ventures in making the temples tourist attractions drove these investments, the local governments are now urging temples to return to their religions meanings as over commercialization is spreading rapidly in the country.
Your thoughts on Buddhism?
Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world today with estimates between 350 to 550 million practitioners globally. What do you think of Buddhism? What would you like to learn more about?
The Shanghai Confucian Temple is the only surviving school of Confucianism in the city. Though no longer teaching, the temple is open for reflection and meditation.
Religion in China has a long and varied history. Through devout ancient worship of ancestors to today’s atheist Communist Party, China has seen its share of belief structures. Today, only five religions are officially recognized by the Chinese government: Buddhism, Taoism/Daoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. In this three-part series, I will be taking an individual look at two of the more unique religions in the country plus an unrecognized one that is widely practiced: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism/Daoism.
A brief history of religion in China
In the ancient dynasties of China’s origins ancestor worship was the belief of the time. People set up elaborate altars to invite and respect family members who had crossed before them. Divination practices, such as oracle bones, were highly regarded.
A loose timeline of the ruling dynasties in Chinese history.
Confucianism was adopted in the Han Dynasty. It was also during this time that Buddhism made its first appearance in the country, believed to come by way of India through the Silk Road. Emperors began to rule under a mandate of divine appointment, believing their placements were ordained by the gods.
Prayer ribbons flap in the breeze at the Shanghai Confucian Temple. Asking for favor, there are three important goals in Confucianism: 1. To get married 2. To meet a friend/acquaintance in an unusual place 3. To find your name on the passing list for government employment exams.
During the period of Many Dynasties, schools of Buddhism began to grow throughout the land, underpinned by the teachings of Confucius. It was also during this time that philosopher Lao Tzu developed the foundation for Taoism/Daoism.
Throughout the Tang to the Ming dynasties, these three religions enjoyed ups and downs, freedom and oppression depending on the whims of the ruling class. As the land became more open to foreigners during the Ch’ing Dynasty, Europeans introduced Christianity to the Chinese people. Under the Republic of China, religious freedom was enjoyed, and many religious structures, such as churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, were built.
After the Communist Party’s victory and the rise of Mao Zedong in 1949, the People’s Republic of China took a hostile approach to religion. Atheism became the designated stance of the nation, and many religious buildings were turned into government offices.
With the end of the Cultural Revolution and the adoption of the 1978 Constitution of the PRC, religious freedom with restriction has been granted in the country. An ongoing revitalization of religious structures can be seen throughout China, but some beliefs, such as Falun Gong, are perceived to be a threat to the government and still face oppression and human rights violations.
Who was Confucius?
A typical Confucian garden incorporates elements from Taoism/Daoism and Buddhism. The pagoda comes from Buddhism’s roots in India, and the great rock represents Yin & Yang energies in Taoism/Daoism. The willow and pine trees relate to longevity.
During a time known as the Warring States, a low-level magistrate yearned for peace as many kings with their strong armies attempted to take over their neighbors (think Game of Thrones). He believed that to create a congenial society, people must develop respect for each other through gaining knowledge. If he could teach the barbaric warlords literature, art, poetry and music, then this knowledge would lead to the respect needed for peace.
The youngest and only able-bodied son, Confucius was born in roughly 550 BC to a 72-year-old father and 18-year-old mother after nine sisters and one sickly brother. Later in life, he would come into government work and befriend Lao Tzu, who would be an early mentor for him.
Encouraged by Lao Tzu, Confucius left government work to spread his teachings on how culture was needed to influence politics for peace. Though largely ignored, he did set up schools that taught his philosophies. As it so often happens, his teachings would not find fame or appreciation until after his death around 480 BC.
What is Confucianism?
A typical Confucian classroom, students would sit lower than the teacher. This relates to the loyalty and respect of position ideal in Confucianism.
Though I’m classifying the philosophy into the religious category for the purpose of this blog series, Confucianism is more of a humanism than a spiritual religion. The ethical system focuses on the scholarly study of humanities to become the best possible person. There are many teachings in Confucianism that deal with society, government, the state of humanity, life at home and much more. Entire series of books have been written on Confucianism, so for the sake of brevity, I will focus on two of my favorite Confucius quotes and how they relate to the philosophy.
1. Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.
As the cornerstone, Confucius always strove for knowledge. No matter how much you learn, there is always more to learn. No mater who you meet or what you experience, there is knowledge to be gained.
2. Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.
Look familiar? The good ole’ golden rule (and just a side note, every religion in the world has some similar belief). In Chinese, there is a concept known as “ren” or 仁. It most closely translates to altruism in Western culture. Man may not be born good or evil, but his actions are what speaks and defines him.
Confucianism in China
Much of China’s culture, society and government has been influenced by the teachings of Confucius. As proper etiquette was so enforced in Confucianism, we still see this in the traditions of Chinese tea ceremonies. Until 1911, to obtain a job with the government, imperial exams were given that tested a person’s grasp of Confucianism concepts. The Communist Party’s ideal of keeping everyone the same pay levels comes from Confucius’ believe of equality among all people. The high regard for one’s parents in Chinese culture comes from the Confucius belief that loyalty to personal positions and relationships was of the utmost importance.
Confucius began from humble beginnings to reach a god-like stature after his death. His philosophy included lifelong learning, loyalty, respect and kindness
Throughout history, Confucianism has come in and out of favor in China. During the early 20th Century, Confucianism principles were blamed for China’s economic downturn. Scholars were ridiculed and persecuted during the Cultural Revolution. Presently, though, there has been a revival in Confucianism thought, even movements to change the Chinese National Teacher’s Day to Sept. 28, the believed birthday of Confucius.
Your thoughts on Confucianism?
Confucianism has not only influenced China, but scholars and societies around the world have put actions in place based on the philosophy. What do you think of Confucianism? What would you like to learn more about? Do you have a favorite Confucius quote?
Yesterday, our family and friends celebrated Christmas with gifts, big dinners, quality time together, and, my personal favorite, a continuous marathon of “The Christmas Story” on TBS. While that was happening, we were on our way to the beach town of Natal, which means Christmas in Portuguese, and we’re looking forward to New Year’s on an Amazon adventure.
While enjoying the hottest Christmas we’ve ever experienced, we did miss our family and friends (especially our new niece’s first Christmas). We’re glad to see through Facebook, though, it looks like everyone had a great time.
Panettone is a traditional Christmas cake, much like the U.S. fruit cake.
Celebrating in Brazil
Christmas in Brazil is similar to the U.S. Decorations are put up, gifts are given, and children are warned to be good for Papai Noel (Santa Claus). At work, Secret Santa or amigo secreto is a huge celebration. The entire office participates, and a dinner is held to exchange the gifts where each participant gives a speech describing their secret friend. Everyone then tries to guess who the person is before he receives his gift.
A performer displays a Carnival costume at the Platforma Show in Rio de Janeiro.
Unlike the U.S., though, Christmas isn’t the biggest holiday for Brazil. We’ve been told Carnival is what it’s all about. Unfortunately, as Carnival is in February, we won’t be here to experience that. If the shows we’ve seen, however, that imitate Carnival are any indication, its going to be an amazing party. There are plenty of parades featuring samba schools and elaborate costumes. In the U.S., Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the closest comparison.
Other holidays in Brazil we have experienced include the country’s Independence Day, Our Lady of Aparecida and/or Children’s Day, Day of the Dead, Republic Day and Black Awareness Day. Many holidays center around the Catholic religion as it’s the largest for the country.
Independence Day in Brazil is celebrated September 7, and it commemorates the country declaring its independence from Portugal in 1822. We spent the holiday in Rio de Janeiro where we saw military members and equipment on their way to participate in a parade.
A popular Brazilian cartoon character, Mônica, and I during Dia das Crianças festivities in Foz do Iguaçu.
Our Lady of Aparecida, also known as Children’s Day, is a celebration of the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Brazil, and children held October 12. We celebrated in Foz do Iguaçu by attending a festival full of kids activities.
A man arranges candles on the grave of a loved one during All Souls Day in Curitiba city cemetery.
November 2 is Day of the Dead or All Souls Day, a part of the Catholic tradition where families remember their past loved ones by visiting cemeteries and cleaning the graves. Unlike in the Mexican culture where the holiday is celebrated with parties, Day of the Dead in Brazil is a very somber day. We visited the city cemetery in Curitiba where we bought some flowers for old graves that didn’t look like anyone had been to for awhile. It was a great experience that I had wanted to participate in for a long time.
The former royal palace of the king of Brazil before the country was declared a republic is now the Museu Paulista of Universidade de São Paulo.
Republic Day is observed November 15 and commemorates the end of the Empire of Brazil and the proclamation of the Republic of Brazil in 1889.
Black Awareness Day is observed November 20 and is celebrated in honor of dark-skinned Brazilians and the end of slavery, which was abolished in 1888 by Princess Isabel. Similar to Black History Month in the U.S., this day recognizes the contributions that those of African descent have made to Brazilian society.
Other holidays in Brazil we were not here for include Tiradentes’ Day April 21 that celebrates the death of the national martyr who aimed to establish an independent Brazilian republic and Labour Day or May Day May 1 like our Labor Day in the U.S. observed each September.
Not our usual elaborate Halloween costumes, but we did get to celebrate at Chris’ language school in São Paulo.
No ghosts or goblins here
My favorite holiday is Halloween, and Chris’ is Christmas. Halloween isn’t actually celebrated here in Brazil as for a long time it was seen as evil by the church and kept out. Known as dia das bruxas here, it’s literal translation is “day of the witches.” Though many don’t dress up (costumes are popular in Brazil, though, for kids and costume parties) and there is no such thing as trick-or-treating, the holiday has gained in popularity here in recent years with the introduction of more expats. With the shunning of Halloween, ghost tours, one of our favorite travel activities, are also not widely available in Brazil.
